My 1963 Build Thread

[Dinos63]

A LATE WELCOME FROM AZ ,LOOKS GOOD YOU HAVE DONE ALOT OF WORK

[custom63]

Originally Posted by Dinos63

A LATE WELCOME FROM AZ ,LOOKS GOOD YOU HAVE DONE ALOT OF WORK

Thanks Dino
Its been a long road. Someday I hope to see some light at the end of the tunnel. BTW your crew cab project is coming along awesome! I'd love to do a dropmember but for now she is getting spindles, bags, and a basic notch. Guess I can always "upgrade" later.

[Dinos63]

Yep ya can ,look like like you have a good plan and the dudes here are the best and tons of info and talent

[custom63]

Got a few things done over the last week. Finally got the rest of the bed apart and nicely put away with the rest of my sheet metal. Did a little bit of frame clean up and degreased the old engine and tranny that is currently sitting in her. I ended up using oven cleaner that I got at the dollar store. At a fraction of the cost of regular engine degreaser it did very well. Now I just have to pull the engine and tranny so I can start tearing into my front suspention.

Here is a shot of the sheet metal all stacked up out of harms way and
the before pics of the engine/tranny

[custom63]

And here are the after shots.....not bad for 4 dollars worth!

[TimE]

Money well spent!

[joe231]

nice work!

[custom63]

I posted this in the WIW page but it seems that area doesnt get that much traffic so here I go. I need to sell the 230 engine and 3 speed tranny out of my 64 parts truck but I havent a clue on its worth. Anybody have an idea??

[custom63]

Hello All,
Well its only been about 2 years since my last post. Its crazy how busy life can get....especially once you have a kid. But ive been following along with other members rides and have seen some awesome progress and ideas.....keep up the great work everyone.

My little update is on my doner control arms. They have been degreased, wire wheeled, old bushings knocked out and new ones installed and I picked up a new set of lower control arm U-bolts. Just need to install the new ball joints and give them a fresh coat of paint. Next is the front crossmember. Just a little bit more with the wire wheel and it will be ready for paint as well.

I also got a visit from the big brown truck. He dropped off a Clifford water heated intake and a 1970 Chevy Van tilt column. Question for someone about the intake. Can someone help me out with the plumbing of the water lines? And does anybody know why there is a threaded hole on the side of it? Do I need a plug? Or what?

Thanks for any input you guys can give me.

[awbrown]

The threaded hole is for your vacuum tee or a line to the power brakes or pcv or trans , what ever needs vacuum........ nice truck , I have 2 63's ......

[custom63]

Small update on very slow progress but alot has changed in my build plans. Decided to ditch the I6 250 and picked myself up a '99 LS1 with only 40,000 miles on it. Wiring harness has already been streamlined to a 3 wire hook up. Now I am on the look out for a good tranny to put behind it. I'll get pics of it up here soon. Now I am just trying to figure out what is the correct combination of adapter plates, motor mounts and headers/cast manifolds to make it all fit well between my '63 frame rails.

Suspention and frame work is coming along. Front end is done and ready for assembily. I cleaned up and stitch welded my rear trailing arms and installed new bushings. Still need to install my mild C-notch in the frame and also trying to figure out the best budget minded option on getting my rearend switched over to 5 lug.

Lately it seems all I have been doing is collecting parts with minimal prgress but I guess thats the way it goes. Hopefully after the holidays Ill have more to to work on it.

[custom63]

UPDATE!
Im back at it boys!
After a looong hiatus im back to working on my project. Last time i stopped i had my daughter. Well this time i stopped cuz i had my son! My schedule is a nightmare but im trying to work truck time in. I am not gunna lie. The thought of selling my project did cross my mind but i could not let her go.

Latest is install of my CPP rear mild frame notch. Planned it out, made some homemade templates and cut and grind i went. Man, talk about death by rivet removal. Did end up with a but of a clearance issue with the panhard bar frame bracket. I had to massage the notch a bit.
Also por15ed my trailing arms.
Cut out 4.5" osd holes in the trailing arm cross member for exhaust passages. Still have to weld in the pipe sleeves to stiffen things back up.
Next is hopefully 5 lug axles for the rear and getting her rolling again.
Then on to sheet metal work.

[custom63]

Oops. Here are the pics