65 Mojo Risen

[GreyDX]

Hi, I'm new here.
Tom Morgan
Medford Oregon
GreyDX

Just starting a new project. A 65 C-10
I put some before pictures in the welcome section.

I build bikes, so I know how to put things together, but I have no idea about parts options and things like that for trucks. All advice along the way is very welcome.

Here is where I am today

[GreyDX]

Here's a question to start.
If I put a 700R4 on here, do I have to change that crossmember. Other things I should know?

[murdoc]

welcome to the website man!!! looks like you have a good project on you hands, i hope you enjoy every minute of it. the 700r4 conversion will require you to move back your current trans mount several inches, id guess around six, from your 4 speed crossmem. location. i would at the same time convert the 2 piece drives line to a single, if you indeed have a two piece...alot more to it than that but thats where i would start since your down to the frame. also find out what your rear end ratio is, i have heard that many of the 700r4 guys like to go with the 373 rear end, its helps out on the freeway...

[GreyDX]

>also find out what your rear end ratio is,

How do you go about finding out what your gear ratio is?

[blackedoutharley]

The easy way is to jack up the rear and mark the driveshaft and the tire. Spin the tire 10 revolutions and count how many times the drive shaft spins then divide the numbers.

Other way is to take off the rear cover and count the teeth on the pinion & ring gear and divide these numbers. (some gear sets are actually maked with the ratio).

[SIR]

are you going to swap out for a 5-lug and power brakes? if you are going to tear it apart you might as well do the up grade.. a "72 up grade" is a bolt in job and well worth it IMHO........

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by GreyDX

Here's a question to start.
If I put a 700R4 on here, do I have to change that crossmember. Other things I should know?

I forgot to add... If you look at the picture with the parking brake crossmember. You will see on the bottom rail on the frame there is another set of holes. Those are for the automatic crossmember. They used powerglides ususally for those years. The brake crossmember is in the rear holes. You can use those holes for the 700R4 because it is 1 1/2" longer the a powerglide or TH350...

[Captainfab]

For a trans crossmember for your 700R4 you can use any auto trans crossmember from a '67-'87 2wd pickup or Suburban.

[Anthony Fremont]

Cool deal and welcome. I arrived a couple of months ago in pretty much the same boat. I've wrenched on a few cars and my bike, but I was pretty clueless about these trucks. You should like it here, theres plenty of good help available.

[SIR]

HOWDY from grants pass!! little "before and after" sounds like you have a good plan hope to see more soon......

[blackedoutharley]

The transmission in your truck (sm420 if original) does not use a rear crossmember. The trans mount is actually the mounts under the bell housing. The picture seems to show your front u-joint as resting on the crossmember that the e-brake mechanism is bolted to.

From what I can tell, from looking into doing the same conversion to my '65 C-10, you will need to buy or make a crossmember, tailshaft mount, new front driveshaft, add a trans cooler of some sorts and cut out the old bell housing mounts currently in use.

Hope it works out and how about some more pics of your truck?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Yes.. for the 700R4 conversion you will need to remove the crossmember that sits under the bellhousing and also remove the parking brake cable crossmember and get one from an automatic truck or an after market. You can find lots of parts using the links on this site or go to www.chevytalk.com and they have some links there also. Some other places are www.truckandcarshop.com and also http://www.classicperform.com/ There is also ece. http://www.earlyclassic.com/ and many many more.

[steverino66]

Welcome - you're in the right place.
Your user name has that Doors song stuck in my head now!

[Chevy Fleetside]

I dont know about Medford but down here you can't run open wheels. They must have fenders. Or at least mud flaps.. Maybe some flaps with your scull and cross bones...

[GreyDX]

I suppose that brings up the sticky question of what is a fender. Think they have a legal definition somewhere?

This is how I would handle the problem on a bike : )

[SIR]

I.M.H.O. it's gonna get even warmer in your cab with a set up like that have you considered "lake-pipes"?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Im thinking the exaust is going to swirl around his window when he is driving with it open. Could make for some heavy sleep, if you know what I mean.. It looks cool though.

[GreyDX]

Yeah, I will probably end up with something like lakes.
I think I could try to work around the heat. They mount to a brace on the bed and I could work up a subtle heat shied on the cab, - might still get hot though.
The exhaust fumes will probablt be a problem too, I like the windows down.

There is just too much of the back of the cab showing though, throws of my feng shui : )

I'll have to think of something.

Scraping rust out of the rocker panels today...