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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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My first truck
Hi everyone. So I have been researching 60-66 trucks on here for a while and I found a '66 SWB with a 350 and T5 a few states away that was pretty cheap and has a solid frame. Supposedly it was from Texas and has had two Vermont owners before me. It needs some rust repair on the rockers and door bottoms but that isn't too much of a drag sinced the floors and cab mounts are good. I'll probably just hack some sheet metal over the holes for now so it will take a sticker and drive it. I'm not looking for any kind of show truck, I just don't want to spend any time on the side of the road with the hood up.
I have a pretty sizable list of things I want to do to make it reliable and nice to drive. First thing I did was rewire it with an American Autowire classic update harness kit. It took me one hour to strip out all the old wiring and about 18hrs to install the AAW kit along with a couple changes like separate headlight relays and running a 12G power wire to the rear for an intake fuel pump. I still haven't put in the underdash courtesy lights the kit came with, but I'll get to it eventually. Overall an excellent kit that saves a lot of time. I have done lots of EZ Wiring, Ron francis & Painless kits and I know this was a great deal. It does sort of suck that the DS vent handle opens into the fuse panel but I'll make do. The rest of the list is; Fabricate under bed fuel tank - don't need 50gal in the bed, it leaks anyway Small mirrors New starter - current one smokes! Nicer steering wheel Insulation in cab with carpet (it does get cold here in the winter) New oil pressure line to gauge Add mechanical speedo sender to trans (hope they overlook this for inspection) New engine mounts - engine flops like a fish now Tune up, reseal ramhorns to head, cap, rotor, plugs, wires EFI for under $800 - Megasquirt II, Walboro 190lph, GM TBI Front discs with 2.5" drop spindles and probably power brakes with wheels to fit over it all. Electric power steering - maybe 7" H4 conversion headlights Technostalgia LED taillights and retrofit their '57 chevy front LED turns 90's OE serpentine setup with AC comp and bigger alt Vintage Air AC/Heat Nicer, hidden exhaust, maybe a single turndown under bed. 2" lowering blocks in the rear, front and reat springs with frame notch Snow tires and LSD for winter! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I'll try to take more pictures as I go. Wish me luck! -Adam |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: los angeles,ca
Posts: 3,617
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Re: My first truck
Welcome! Nice truck!! I say lower and swap the steering wheel. And drive it! (oh and I'd change the seat too) but that's just me
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 553
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Re: My first truck
Great looking truck.
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#4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Oregon City, Or
Posts: 758
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Re: My first truck
Welcome! Nice looking truck!
__________________
63 short fleet Patina build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=287751 Man I want another one. |
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#5 |
Senior Enthusiast
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Spokane Valley, WA
Posts: 8,356
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Re: My first truck
Welcome to the forum! Nice clean truck to start with, and always good to have a plan before getting started. Looking forward to the updates.
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My Build Thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444502 |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Thanks everyone. I'm loving all the good info here!
The more I work on my truck the more I'm feeling like this will be a good truck to get around in with a little style. I wish I could lower it now, but I really need to get it inspected, on the road and sell my lexus first. So boring, reliability and safety stuff is my focus...mostly I have made some progress though. The giant, old, leaking tank is out and I made one out of 3003 1/8" aluminum. It holds just over 21 gallons and hangs down 10" from the supports the wood bolts to. I made it with a 4x6" plate in the right rear corner that holds my return line, a hanger with a 190lph pump on it and a 0-30 ohm classic instruments fuel sending unit. For now it's running using the return line as the feed to the carb. The pump sits in a two quart sump so won't suck air. The filler tube is from some scrap 1.5" sch40 aluminum pipe I bent up and a cap from Allstar. I put two 1/2" vents on the tank and a -6 fitting/cap on the front for a drain. The filler goes completely flat for about a foot before dropping 2" into the top of the tank but it seems to fill well with the big vents and smooth first bend. A real gas pump will be the test I guess. The OE fuel gauge now works too ![]() This first pic is of the 30 breaker and two relays for the headlights. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#7 |
60-66 Nut
![]() ![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Posts: 23,248
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Re: My first truck
Welcome to the forum
![]() That looks like a fairly nice truck to start with. Nice work on the fuel tank, filler and pump/sender assembly.
__________________
Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: FT Hood tx
Posts: 25
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Re: My first truck
WOW you have a great start nice truck
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,927
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
I like the truck! They look good in red. How do you like the T5 tranny? Do you have the info on what the gearing in the T5 is and also, what rear diff gearing does the truck have? Just curious because I'm doing my build with a T5. Can't wait!!!! Jay
__________________
My 65 C10 build: www.lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com Want to know more about T5 transmissions? My website has a T5 Info Page and a Step by Step T5 rebuild. |
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#10 |
Post Whore
![]() Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 10,384
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Re: My first truck
Very nice!
__________________
1966 Chevy C10 "Project Two Tone" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596643 1964 GMC "Crustine" semi-build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=665056 My youtube channel. Username "Military Chevy": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h...fzpcUXyK_5-uiw |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Jay, I like the transmission so far. I have only gone about ten mile on it before I parked it but it shifts great. I was told the rear is a 4.10:1. I'm suspecting that the whoever did the swap didn't use a centering ring between the gearbox and bellhousing (pretty sure it needs that). Also I need to put a sleeve and seal in the tail shaft housing and figure out the speedo gear.
Megasquirt comes in the mail today! |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,927
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
If you have the 4.10 rear, man that truck should have a lot of punch off the line. What kind of RPMs do you have at highway speed? (or maybe you haven't driven it enough yet?) ![]()
__________________
My 65 C10 build: www.lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com Want to know more about T5 transmissions? My website has a T5 Info Page and a Step by Step T5 rebuild. |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
There is no adapter. I was thinking it was the stock three speed bellhousing with a camaro t5 and an s10 tail housing. Doesn't that need a ring made to center the box in the bellhousing? I'm hoping the speedo drive gear is in there (in the right spot) but I haven't popped the electronic sender out to see yet. I need to do more research on the transmission stuff... I got the fuel pump relay wired in today after work. Also picked up a $50 GM tbi throttle body and cleaned it up. I'm making a thick aluminum adapter to bolt to the stock IM. Also made my an injector harness (the damn plugs are $12-15 each!) that just goes to a three pin weatherpac so I can unbolt and unplug the tbi stuff if needed. ![]() |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,927
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
I have a 1988 WC Camaro V8 T5 and the input shaft is the correct length, so it does NOT need an adapter plate like the S10. The 2nd pic shows mine sitting in place for a mock fitting. No adapter plate. I already did the tailhousing swap. The 3rd and 4th pics show the differences between an S10 input shaft and a V8 Camaro T5. I do not know if a V6 Camaro input shaft is the correct length or if it needs the adapter plate. You can see more T5 stuff on my website - just click the T5 Info Page at the top of my website page. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
__________________
My 65 C10 build: www.lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com Want to know more about T5 transmissions? My website has a T5 Info Page and a Step by Step T5 rebuild. |
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#15 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Lambertville, MI
Posts: 1,860
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Re: My first truck
Nice pics with measurements there, subscribed!
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Searcy, AR
Posts: 4,203
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Re: My first truck
![]() ![]() Looking forward to updates ![]()
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DON Proverbs 27:17 ![]() US Air Force Retarded errr Retired My '65 Stepper Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=533920 My '60 Rusty Patina Build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...66#post7402266 My '72 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...59#post7204359 SOLD |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
I got the Megasquirt ECU in the mail and got is mounted on an aluminum plate on the bottom side of the glovebox. I also got a couple power wires for it hooked up and the ECT sensor mounted in the intake. I need to connect the fuel pump outlet on my tank to the line and make up a couple -6 hoses. The rest of it is just hooking up the ECT, IAT, TPS, injectors, Idle motor and vac line to the MAP sensor. Bolt on the throttle body, then hopefully the basemap I made will start it right up. I'm so sick of the Edelbrock 4bbl on it, can't wait for modern fuel management. |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 1,927
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Re: My first truck
Maybe you could do me a favor? I have a 1966 e-Brake setup that I pulled from my 1966 parts truck. It has a cable guide that looks like a pig tail. There is one on each frame rail. If you still have an original e-Brake setup on yours, maybe you could help me figure out which hole it should go in on each frame rail? Maybe? No rush. Thanks
__________________
My 65 C10 build: www.lugnutz65chevystepside.weebly.com Want to know more about T5 transmissions? My website has a T5 Info Page and a Step by Step T5 rebuild. |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Sure, mine might be stock. I'll have a look and let you know. I need to get under there this weekend anyway. Thanks for the info on the transmissions!
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#20 |
Who Me?
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 4,067
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Re: My first truck
Nice truck and welcome to the forum!
__________________
![]() 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold) |
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Detroit MI
Posts: 1,209
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Re: My first truck
Hi Snailed , I bought 4 63-65 trucks in Berwick Maine like 20 years ago and still have the 63,it was my daily driver til I moved to Michigan in 97 ......... You have a great truck there nice work ! ..
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Thanks guys, I think it will make a nice daily driver. I bet 20 years ago they weren't rusted out like all the Maine trucks are now
![]() Bought an OE serpentine setup off a '98 C1500 for it. It includes all the bolts, crank pulley, alt, ps, ac and waterpump. Hopefully I can weld something on it if the bottom hole on the passenger side doesn't line up. I know I can drill the top inner one in the head. If not I'll clean it up and sell it and get a setup from the V6. |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
I got the MegasquirtII all installed and running! I tested the fuel system for leaks, loaded a base tune and it fired up first try. It starts and drives sooo much better than a carb. The wiring was very easy, fun actually, and once I learned a little bit about configuring the ecu to work with the sensors it was just like tuning any fuel managment system. One step closer!
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Woolwich Twp, NJ
Posts: 445
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Re: My first truck
I grew up in Maine so to find a beauty in the northeast that isn't all rusted out..... nice work - watching this build for sure.
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64 Step Side - The Mistress |
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#25 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Portland, Maine
Posts: 219
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Re: My first truck
Quote:
So here are some shots of the adapter I rigged up. The bottom is a potmetal Mr Gasket 4bbl adapter that came on the truck and the top is some 3/4" thick aluminum from some kind of huge antenna someone scrapped and a co worker donated a chunk to my project. I made the part that fits the TB and then just hogged out the flared shape with a big endmill in a Bridgeport. I matched it to the adapter plate and then smoothed it all together with a carbide burr. I welded them together the best I could (the pot metal is super dirty and inconsistent) and did a little bit more grinding to get rid of any big bumps. Then I cut about .025" off each side in the mill to make sure it was perfectly flat and it was ready to bolt up. ![]() I made a some injector plugs from terminal pins and loomed it up in some techflex wire stuff I had left over from making some home audio stuff. Adding this short harness make it easier to remove the TB and provides a good place to split the injector B+ wire. ![]() I welded some steel -6 AN male ends to the factory fuel line fittings and added a -4 port on the side of the feed to check fuel pressure from. These ended up working out really nice for about $15 ![]() This is what I came up with for the fuel plumbing. The feed is 3/8" Copper nickle tube that we had at work. The return is 3/8" aluminum my friend gave me. I had some Earls Prolite hose left over from my last project car so I bought some black Earls hose ends and some matching 3/8" tube to AN adapters. The filter is a Fragola 10 micron with O-ring to AN adapters in the ends. The zip-ties holding everything to the old feed line are from NAPA ![]() ![]() And here is the whole deal mounted up with some RTV and four cap screws. I ordered some black braided loom yesterday to cover the whole EFI harness in. ![]() I registered it today and took it out for a drive. The fuel neck will not handle full throttle on the gas pump. I'm sort of bummed about it but I don't foresee changing it anytime soon. Yes, I spilled a pretty good amount of gas into my bed and onto the ground at the gas station. oops. I'm having a problem with an intermittent misfire on the left side. I think it's cyl 1 and 2 judging by how the timing light is very erratic on these two and no others. I idled the engine way too rich for a little while trying to figure out some settings and cleaned the plugs after (they had a very thick layer of soot on them...but I'm thinking I didn't do a very good job getting around the porcelain. It has no misfire at full throttle, middle to high rpms. I might try some new plugs tomorrow or at least switch sides and see if the problem follows. The cap, rotor and wires have less than two hours time on them and the wires have been checked by using a set of known good ones. |
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