TX '64 Under Way

[CMFT]

What's going on guys? New guy here, like many, watched the forums for a long time, but finally joined up once I was ready to pull the trigger on a C10. After searching for a good driver, I found this truck locally and pulled the trigger. It needs work, like most of them do, but really happy with my starting point.

A few specs:

1964 St. Louis built
Big back window
350 under the hood with a Turbo 350 tranny
Edelbrock intake
Holley 4 barrel
Fresh paint - Charcoal gray and cherry red
Interior is fairly stock, less a B&M shifter, which will be replaced in the future

This will be a driving project, as I refuse to do anything that will take it off the road long term:

Chrome side trim molding
Get it lower to the ground - starting with springs/spindles, bagging later down the road
Power steering and brakes
Disk brakes
Re-locate gas tank under bed
Re-wire entire truck
New wheels - likely nostalgic
Rear chrome bumper
LED's front and rear - I like to be seen on the road
After all of the above, will move on to a modern fuel injected motor. Hoping for an LS1, but there is a 5.3L lingering in our group right now that may need a new home.

Haven't had a chance to get pic's with my good camera, so here's what you get for now...

[timmytimm3]

Sharp looking truck!

[jdoisher]

Nice truck!

[knomadd]

Nice starting point! And Welcome from Houston area!

[MitchFloyd]

Welcome! Good looking '64 you got.

So, what's the plan with the truck?

[jimmydean]

Damn good looking truck.

My bag setup was only about $600 with a little shopping and sourcing, I didn't bother with a static drop since it was easier to do it all once.

[Ta2Don]

and welcome aboard!!!

[McMurphy]

Hello and !!
Looks like a real nice project starter you have there!
Good luck with it, and enjoy !!

[CMFT]

Thanks for the comments guys. Excited to get this going. Picked up a few things from Southwest Classic's over the weekend, but placing a big order this week, including:

-Front power disk brake conversion
-CPP drop spindles (2.5")
-Front (2") & rear (5") drop coils
-New shocks all the way around
-Shock relocate
-Front sway bar
-Power steering kit

Once the weather clears up I'll get some better pic's posted. Engine bay is fairly clean and the interior was also freshly painted. PO put on a seat cover which will work until I decide to put in leather.

[1963c-10]

Great looking 64 your working on. Would love to see some more pics

[CMFT]

Thanks. The weather has been horrible here over the past 3-4 days, so it hasn't left the garage. The carb, choke and timing were all screwed up when I got it, so I've been tuning it and should be ready to go this evening, provided the rain stops.

Ran into a few issues last night: Half my lights quit, then the screw holding my blinker arm came loose, so I had to pull the steering wheel. Once I began putting the wheel back on, I realized there was no nut holding the wheel on when I got the truck. Really scared me, as I have driven the truck a few times now and if that wheel had come off, bad things could have happened. Picking up a new nut tonight. I got my lights working again, but my driver's brake light isn't working. Changed the bulbs and checked all connections, but still can't get it going. I have an EZ Wiring kit at the house, so I imagine I will be re-wiring this truck at some point in the future. It has the original fuse panel with some cleaned up wires, but a lot of the wiring is original, so its got to go. Holding off on my big order mentioned above until I figure a few of these smaller issues out. I don't like stuff just sitting around, so I'll order it when I'm ready to take it on.

[1963c-10]

I would add grounds from the taillight assemblies to the frame. GM was horrible with not adding enough grounds to these style trucks and many of the light issues are ground related.

[CMFT]

Alright, been a few week delay, but getting small things done (nothing noticeable in these pic's though). Figured I'd show some better pic's of what I'm starting with.















I installed the side trim pieces this weekend, so I'll get an update on that later this week. I've got a few things on order (front disk brakes, under-bed gas tank, new gauges, wheels, etc) and I'm in process of finalizing my plans for the suspension. Those rally wheels will be for sale locally very soon.

[bj383ss]

Awesome looking truck. Can't wait til my interior looks that good.

So how comfortable is the shifter. I have one of these in a none running car and debated on switching it into my 64' It has the tall truck one right now but it is not a cable shift just straight up bracket bolted to the trans. It is very had to put in gear and the wife doesn't like it. When you pull it out of park trying to go to reverse it jumps to neutral. I Though it was the shifter but its the trans that is hard to shift. I believe it needs a cable shift.

Bret

[CMFT]

The B&M shifts really easy. No issues getting it in and out of gear. You do have to lean down to grab it, but if you don't mind that, it's fine. I don't think it goes with the style of the truck that I'll have in the end, so it will get replaced later on down the road. It works really well for now though.

[Captainfab]

I somehow missed this thread......Welcome to the forum

I'm really liking the colors on your truck, and it looks very straight too.

Looking forward to the changes and upgrades you have planned.

[Delmo]

Welcome, super clean ride.

[CMFT]

It's been a few weeks since I've chimed in, been waiting on parts and finally got the truck to the suspension shop. There are several good shops here in the DFW area, but Hale's Speed Shop was on the top of my list, so the truck was taken to them on Sunday and work has started. I'll go full Porterbuilt in the future, but it'll be a staged process that will take some time.

I'll snap some more pic's as I'm able to make it to the shop over the next week or so...









And if you don't know about these guys, you should...

[1963c-10]

Sounds like the project is going along nice. Thanks for sharing the pics too.

[SCOTI]

Is the plan to install your accumulated front end parts & just match the drop in the rear to that? Leaving it the OE rear truck-arm set-up w/some tweaks?

[lil hoodlum]

Very nice truck!

Subscribed


Keith

[CMFT]

Front:
Power disk brake conversion
Drop spindles
Sway bar
Factory arms and cross-member

Rear:
High C-notch - didn't want to have to do it twice, so going big the first time even though I won't utilize it all right now
Will level it out with bump stops
Mustang gas tank in between rear frame rails
2 x 2.5-3 gal tanks and 2 x compressors will be under the cab

Plans are for a raised bed floor and I'm hoping to finish it up some time next year with the drop members.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by CMFT

Front:
Power disk brake conversion
Drop spindles
Sway bar
Factory arms and cross-member

Rear:
High C-notch - didn't want to have to do it twice, so going big the first time even though I won't utilize it all right now
Will level it out with bump stops
Mustang gas tank in between rear frame rails
2 x 2.5-3 gal tanks and 2 x compressors will be under the cab

Plans are for a raised bed floor and I'm hoping to finish it up some time next year with the drop members.

Sounds good. Relocating the rear bags or just bags w/blocks for now?

[tinydb84]

I have seen many of their LS swaps. You going to do that too??

[rusty76]

Wicked nice truck man.