65 SWB fleetside build. NEED YOUR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE!

[Slowtruk]

Guys, I bought this truck out of the weeds the other day. $900. Pretty straight, usual rust under the doors and lower fenders. No rust up above by the drip lines or roof. Been repainted at sometime...has no holes for the trim on the bed and doors and behind the windows, so I can only assume that option wasnt chosen or they welded them all up. Heres the initial "show off thread" I posted a day or two ago so you can run thru it, if you want, its just one page. Lots of pics.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=479648

One thing I'd love is for yall to check in frequently and give your much needed advice, this is not my first project as I had a '64 GMC suburban before as well as my current side-truck an 85 C20 I saved and rebuilt the engine, and love that truck. I also have a 05 suburban kid hauler and just totalled my hot rod 01 chevy 2 weeks ago. so the red 85 is my daily now.

However I know yall know all the tricks to these 60's trucks. Right now my laptop likes to freeze up when I try to post pics, so I'll start this thread and then add photos from my iPhone.

I washed it, cleaned the inside, put it on stands and steam washed the chassis and all that. has original balljoints cause the rivets are still there. Looks pretty solid. Of course someone put a plywood bed in that rotted away again.

Goal is to make her run first. I may be only 26 but I've been through this enough to know that slick paint doesnt make it go. So Thats the first priority.

Sad to say It came with no engine or trans nor a driveshaft. Kid said it had a 305 v8 when he got it, drove it to school and back until the rad busted and overheated the engine. Said it came with an inline six originally. 3 on the tree trans. I'd love to find all that and redo it with a six cause they are so cool, but I want it on the street. I have money to get all this going, but dont want to spend a large chunk on securing a six and then rebuilding it.

I have a 350 that came out of a 87-88 burb, smokes but I'm gonna tear it down and rebuild it like I did the 85. I'll hve the block honed and cleaned, an I'll replace EVERYTHING besides the crank and rods, unless they need it. Might even do a nice cam. need a 700r4 but cant find one lately. I have a friend who will rebuild it cheap. If I put a big enough cam in the 350, I have a brand new all billet triple disk 3800 stall converter from Circle D in Houston that I could put in...It wuld be nasty. Also have another $1000 in beefy 4l60e parts that would swap into the 700r, mostly. not sure if I want to do that or not.

Tonight I took out the rusted through battery tray and ordered another one. Tomorrow I plan on buying heater hose, plugs and wires, dist cap and rotor,fuel pump, oil pump, water pump, oil, coolant, then I'll order the gasket set and hopefully Ill know soon what needs to be done with the engine hard parts. I'd just like to get the easy parts such as the wires and all that out of the way and on the shelf for when I need em.

Questions right off the bat!

1. The area that holds the radiator is only about 27" wide. I noticed the rad in the 85 is 34" wide roughly. Do I mke room for a bigger rad if possible, or stick the small size in there and hope it cools?

2. the kid told me when he bought the truck it had 305 v8...which tells e with the proper motor mounts the 350 would sit right in there. WHat about the trans? He didnt say what trans was in it, I texted hima sec ago with no answer yet. It is manuel 3 on the tree shift inthe cab still, with no other shifters in sight. So that means he had to have a manuel 3 speed in there right? Will they even bolt up to a 350? I assume so since they had them behind smallblock v8's back then? IDK.

3. where abouts does anyone know of the relocation kit to put the gas tank under the bed? That can be done while I'm waiting on the engine and securing a trans...Ive also noticed a lot of people buying blazer tanks and sticking them between the frame rails in the back.....

4. Pulled out all the little bolts that go in the heater box to remove the heater core, but still cant fig out how to get it out. Looks like there may be two tiny stamped parts holding the halves together. Dont know need more tinkering time.


I know this is a novel ad I apoligize, but Im super excited to have this truck. Ive even thought about, after its running and I can drive it everyday, saving up and going back to the inline six it wouldve had. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AND PLEASE COMMENT!!! I need the help! And I appreciate it. pics in a sec

Forgot to add, the gas tank is new, and the whole truck has been rewired from front to ack using harness's from Classictrucks.com. They did a good job