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11-08-2007, 09:51 AM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hoover, AL
Posts: 6
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my 62 - long way to go, not sure where to start
first post - sorry for the length; hope you can wade through it! i've been lurking for a couple years now, reading and absorbing, and now i've got a serious itch to get to work on my '62 - but i'm a bit overwhelmed as to where to start. so, i figured i'd post here and get some of your thoughts!
for a bit of history, the truck is a '62 C10 fleetside w/ the 235ci 6cyl and 3-on-the-tree. near as i can tell, the original color was desert beige - it's been repainted (~25 years ago) but was painted something close to the stock color, i believe, and it's tan right now. i'm the 3rd owner - and my granddad was the 2nd. he bought it used in the mid/late 60's from a local dealership in north mississippi and it's been in the family since. it was a farm truck the last few years of its active life, and then after my grandparents passed it basically just sat in their backyard for a few years under a tree. when i finally got a garage i could put it in, i brought it over here and it's been garaged for the last several years. on to the pics: it's in pretty good shape all-in-all, but needs a little attention all over. the only real rust is in the bottom of the doors and the floorboards - and those are isolated. i have no welding ability, so i may have to let someone else do that stuff, but hopefully i can at least get the mechanicals in good order and then focus on the bodywork. i think what i want to do is first get it back on the road for as little investment as i can get away with - which means sticking with the 235/3-spd for now. eventually i'd like to have an aggressively cammed small-block in there, maybe a 383 stroker or even an LS2 or something....but first things first, eh? the trans is probably in good shape, but the clutch is completely shot. the brakes are also shot, and i think the steering probably needs an overhaul. of course, all the belts and hoses are dry-rotted, too. so, where to start? -- brakes - i want to keep it 6-lug but upgrade to discs all around; would the early classic 2 1/2" drop spindle/disc conversion kit be my best bet? -- suspension - i want it lowered, but i can't go too aggressive w/o bags or i'll never get it into my driveway. do you think the 2 1/2" front drop spindles w/ maybe a 4" drop leaf kit in the rear would work OK? -- clutch - any input on a good option for a replacement? -- interior - i'm going to try to find a '99+ silverado 40/20/40 bench w/ the integrated seatbelts, and i'll probably relocate the gas tank to below the bed...other than that it's passable for now. -- wheels/tires - i may do wide whites on steelies at first, or i may try to get a set of newer OEM chevy/GMC 20's to put on there. we'll see. -- paint - eventually i'd like to repaint it lemans blue (the C5 corvette Z06 color), but for now i'll leave the patina'd tan paint as it sits - it has character. -- bed - i'll replace the rusted out tin sheets that are in there now with wood slats like it had originally. -- miscellaneous - i'll probably pull the motor apart to clean out the sludge that i'm sure the oil has become by now, and i'll have to go through all the window/door seals. there are probably another 100 things i'll need to do as well - mirrors, add power steering, update the lighting, etc.... well, i've taken enough of your time - thanks for reading, if you've made it this far! i'd love to hear your input on where to go w/ this thing - your comments are welcome! any suggestions on what i need to get to do this right the first time (and not have to replace something again later) would be great - it seems that early classic enterprises and LMC truck will be good parts sources so far; are there others that you've used with good results? anybody in AL w/ a line on a good salvage yard in the birmingham area?
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blake - 1962 C10 fleetside - desert beige, 235ci/3spd (immobile at present) - 2008 chevrolet suburban Z71 4wd - blue granite (mine) - 2005 acura TL - satin silver (hers) |
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