My 66 GMC LWB

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by Shaky

The third brake light is slick. I like the dash panel too. The '60-'66 panels really lend themselves to customizing (at least they're easier than the '67-'72 clusters).

Thanks Shaky

Ya, I love everything about these trucks. So easy to work on, highly customizable, and just look too cool

Is that your panel? Looks cool I'm planing to do the same in the future, but for now, I'm going to restore the spare panel with a few mods and then later put some Auto Meter classic gauges in similar to the one in your pic.




Tony

[Shaky]

Yes - that's the one my brother and I made for my '66. It's just the '66 frame (black) with a 1/8 inch flat plate attached to it. I did the layout in CAD, printed it to scale, taped it to the plate, and then hit it with the hole saws.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by AZ66GMC

And... I started working on my spare instrument cluster. I got some cool little LED lights for the turn signals, high beams and alternator.

I'll post more details soon






Tony

Tony that third light looks like it was always supposed to be there. Way cool. I have also been keeping my eye open for a spare gage cluster to refinish and customize. I saw an old Pontiac dash that would be cool to graft in as well but at the moment, I want to keep it simple.
Nice job so far.

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by Shaky

Yes - that's the one my brother and I made for my '66. It's just the '66 frame (black) with a 1/8 inch flat plate attached to it. I did the layout in CAD, printed it to scale, taped it to the plate, and then hit it with the hole saws.

Looks good Shaky! I may do something similar in the future




Tony

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Tony that third light looks like it was always supposed to be there. Way cool. I have also been keeping my eye open for a spare gage cluster to refinish and customize. I saw an old Pontiac dash that would be cool to graft in as well but at the moment, I want to keep it simple.
Nice job so far.

Thanks Chris The light is a great upgrade for our trucks.

I just got my gauge decal sheet from Classic Parts of America, but I'm not too happy on how it looks... It's not the same exact layout as the original and the numbers on the speedo look a little deformed... I may just scan my original into Photoshop and see if I can make my own.




Tony

[kieth]

I know what you mean about that speedo redo kit, I have it sitting on my desk and it looks like crap....let me know if you have success with photo shop. Also where did you get those led's for your dash as you can tell I am in the middle of redoing a 66 GMC also......Kieth

ps I am redoing my instrument cluster right now and am going to try chrome paint first to see how it turns out, thought I would run pinstripe tape the color of the outside of the truck on the small chrome bezel all the way around the dash panel and I just scored a sun 5000rpm tach.....still looking for a clock---gave up on a bat-ometer they do not exist. Kieth

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by kieth

I know what you mean about that speedo redo kit, I have it sitting on my desk and it looks like crap....let me know if you have success with photo shop. Also where did you get those led's for your dash as you can tell I am in the middle of redoing a 66 GMC also......Kieth

ps I am redoing my instrument cluster right now and am going to try chrome paint first to see how it turns out, thought I would run pinstripe tape the color of the outside of the truck on the small chrome bezel all the way around the dash panel and I just scored a sun 5000rpm tach.....still looking for a clock---gave up on a bat-ometer they do not exist. Kieth

Hi Kieth,

I got the LED's from ebay. This is the seller that I got mine from eBay

They have different colors and will combine shipping

I used some scrape Lexan to make the fillers to insert in place of the original indicator lenses. I used and 1 1/8" hole saw to cut them out and then the LED fit right into the pilot hole for the hole saw

I have been working a lot of hours, so not had much time to work on the truck. hopefully tomorrow I'll get time to work on the dash

I'll post pics soon




Tony

[AZ66GMC]

I found some time today to work on the gauges. I was not happy with the gauge decal kit I got from Classic Parts, so I made my own

I wanted to do something different, but keep the original look to some extent. Instead of the factory white letters on black, I decided to black letters on tan to match my interior. I think it looks awesome with the black bezel. What do you think?

























I painted the backplates for the fuel and temp gauges and they need to cure. I should have it done on Tuesday since I will be home watching the roofer's install a new roof on the house.

More pics to come



Tony

[Alan's Classic]

Nice work, they look great.

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

Nice work, they look great.

Thanks Alan I'm just scratch'n the surface of perfection such as your build




Tony
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dinos63]

very cool !! thats a great look, trucks slick!!

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by Dinos63

very cool !! thats a great look, trucks slick!!

Thanks Dino

I'm hoping to have the truck back together soon and stop by your shop

I will be at Good Guys this weekend, probably Sunday if I have to work Saturday. Hope to see you there and finally meet you



Tony

[Dinos63]

Originally Posted by AZ66GMC

Thanks Dino

I'm hoping to have the truck back together soon and stop by your shop

I will be at Good Guys this weekend, probably Sunday if I have to work Saturday. Hope to see you there and finally meet you



Tony

tony that would be cool

[chev-obsession]

sweet build!

AZ66GMC - how do you like the '05 chevy seats?

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by chev-obsession

sweet build!

AZ66GMC - how do you like the '05 chevy seats?

Thanks man

I love the seats. I wish they could go back one or two more notches on the sliders, but at 6' I'm still comfortable. I have a tilt column that helps some. I still need to mount the center seat after I remove the gas tank in the cab. I got a rear tank that I hope to install in the next few weeks.



Tony
Posted via Mobile Device

[66-PMD-GMC]

Tony, your build is coming along great.
I am at decision time.
Continue with the LWB leaf frame build that I have boxed and added 3/4 ton disk suspension front and rear,
or use the trailing arm SWB frame with the 6 lug disk/drum combo that I recently picked up and swap cabs.
OR, do the insane... add another truck to my build list and build both...
The question is, do I really need 2 SWB trucks and a 3/4 ton plus the suburban???
Your build does look good, simple and sane.
That's why I keep popping in... seeking a little sanity..

[Corts60]

Hey Tony, how did you make the tan gauges?I think they look killer.
Posted via Mobile Device

[AZ66GMC]

Thanks Chris. I would love to go wild on this truck and do some cool things, but funds are limited and I just want to drive this thing . Even as it sits, it's great to cruise in, but I want to do small upgrades that won't take it out of commission for long periods. Of coarse, if I had a second 66, one of them would get the full treatment if I had the money

Hi Cort, I actually made a decal from clear shipping label paper by scanning the original instrument back plate into photoshop and cleaning it up for printing. I painted the backplate with tan paint and then cleared them after installing the decal . The hardest part is getting the decal on straight as it sticks too well... Thanks for the comment

Here are a few more pics that I haven't posted yet.












Tony

[protrash64]

Hey Tony, did you get your engine sorted out???

[AZ66GMC]

Originally Posted by protrash64

Hey Tony, did you get your engine sorted out???

I'm planning to pull the top end Saturday. I'm trying to decide if I want to just spend the money now and get the heads done, or just replace the valve springs, push rods, cam and lifters. I have all of those parts and also have a new timing chain and high volume oil pump. The engine only has less than 60k, but it has sat for 3 or so years...



Tony

[66-PMD-GMC]

WHOA BABY! do I know about shoestring budget builds Tony.
I search the countryside for parts that I can afford and time being the only thing on my side, I actually find good deals.
Not too long ago I was tripping over TH200-4r transmissions (the grand national type 4spd autos) and now that I want one I can't find one to save my butt. SBC motor parts are so freaking cheap that I question my sanity at times for using my Pontiac motor and I need to pull out the dyno sheet to remind myself why I did.
It is fun to drive these trucks that's for sure.
I sometimes wish I could just work on my truck until I get sick of working on it but I don't have an extra two years to try that.

[AZ66GMC]

I finally got the dash back together










Tony

[AZ66GMC]

I got my cam and lifters swapped out yesterday and just finished breaking it in. I used the original valve springs for the break in, so now I just need to swap them out with the new ones when the engine cools down

Once this is done, I moving on to the gas tank relo project



Tony
Posted via Mobile Device

[AZ66GMC]

I got my cam, lifters, springs and chain swapped out last weekend

I made a video of it running... It's nothing too special, just a Comp Cams High Energy 268. It sounds good enough for me and has more power


http://youtu.be/HkW7C-UOOMA





Tony

[daverod]

Very nice. You make me want to go work on my engine.