New Guys Builds

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by protrash64

.....just keep at it and you'll get there sooner or later. What color are you painting it?

Gun Metal Gray.
Off white roof line, can't remember the freaking color name..... dang old age!
Nope! Sat here for 10 minutes and can't remember the dadgum color name...

Anyway, thats the color I am painting the 66 GMC.

I am doing a gray interior too.
The wheels will be white and I am looking for a chrome grill but the bumpers will be white too.

[LostMy65]

Am I the only one that think these trucks look cool even without a bed?

[66-PMD-GMC]

With the tool box straped across the back everyone thinks it's a short wheel base.
I think thats kinda funny...

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by creep

Don't fight it, that only makes it worse!

I am just today seeing the clarity in your statement creep.....
In through the nose.... out through the mouth...
aaaahhhhhhwwwwuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

[66-PMD-GMC]

I have been playing with motor combinations for more than a week now and just couldn't seem to get anything together with less than 10.75 to 1 compression.
I have a supply of my old race parts and they aren't the best pieces to use for a truck motor.
A few days ago I ran into a guy that changed all that. I now have a nice flat top piston motor that will land me just inside the 9-9.5 to one compression range which is perfect for my application.
The Motor came along with a fairly fresh TH-400 and that will replace the TH-350 I have with a manual valve body and 3000 stall speed torque converter.
I'll be tearing down the motor tomorrow and checking it over for clearances and such. Probably run a hone through the cylinders and install a fresh set of rings and possibly.... bearings, but it seems pretty tight right now.
I have a brand new melling high volume oil pump and a crank scraper to install and then I'll button it up, bolt it to the transmission and drop it into the truck.
I want to get this truck to a point that I am just cleaning, sealing, priming and painting and ultimately to the point of putting some paint on the outside.
But isn't that what we all want on these threads?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Gun Metal Gray.
Off white roof line, can't remember the freaking color name..... dang old age!
Nope! Sat here for 10 minutes and can't remember the dadgum color name...

Anyway, thats the color I am painting the 66 GMC.

I am doing a gray interior too.
The wheels will be white and I am looking for a chrome grill but the bumpers will be white too.

Cameo white roof, gun metal gray or charcoal gray body and bed.... medium gray interior....
I REMEMBERED!

[66-PMD-GMC]

It has been an eventful last few weeks.
After bolting a motor together and discovering that my compression was going to be around 11 to 1 I did some scrounging around and found some different heads to use on the two motors I am building.

The 66 truck will be used to pull a car trailer and anything else I need to do.
I am putting together the 411 cid Pontiac mill I found and bought and I'll use iron #6X-4 heads, 2.11 int. 1.66 ex.. Compression will be 9.4:1, a RV FI cam will give it a bit of a rumble but it's all about torque on this motor. I have 68 RA III HO exhaust manifolds that use 2.5" exhaust pipes and flow masters that are on the quiet side.
I am using a TBI unit on an edlebrock P4B intake and an aftermarket ECU for induction. The transmission is a HD TH-400 and the rear is a 14 bolt 3/4 ton unit.
The biggest problem was/is a large crack in the center of the frame that was discovered when I started putting weight on the frame.

The 63 Suburban is getting the 440 inch Pontiac mill.
It was put together using a 69 400 block that was in my 67 GTO once upon a time.
Forged full floater flat tops, forged 428 crank, H beam rods, roller cam/valve train and Iron 2.11 int 1.77 ex. #98 heads. This combo makes 10.2:1 compression. It will be fed by twin AFB Carter Carbs on an Offy dual quad intake. The exhaust are hooker long tube headers and 2.5" exhaust into flowmaster 30s.

The suburban will have a 3.73 12 bolt and a TH-400 and will be my Hot Rod.

Now with all of that decided.... and the indecision behind me in the project, it is time to find a frame for the truck and concentrate on the 66 first once the motors are buttoned up and put away until I am ready for them.

[rondog4416]

LOVE THOSE PONTIAC ENGINES. I HAD A 84 MONTE CARLO SS WITH A 455ci RAM-AIR VI IN IT,COUNDN'T KEEP TIRES ON IT !! WHAT A BLASS TO DRIVE !! KEEPMUP THE GOOD WORK !1

[Captainfab]

What about repairing the crack in the frame?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

What about repairing the crack in the frame?

I may be able to fix the frame but it is a LWB and I want the turning radius advantage of a SWB. I love to be able to back a trailer into Yoga position parking places and a SWB sure makes it easier.
That crack was not noticed when I scrubbed the frame and gave it a squirt job with black paint.
It's a T shaped crack and when I set the motor/trans and cab on the frame it flexes out and opens up.
I may have to drop the frame on a frame jig and see if it is twisted.
If I find a SWB frame, I'll stash this one and move on.

[Captainfab]

Is the crack in an area where it could be cut out while shortening it to a short wheelbase frame?

[66-PMD-GMC]

The frame is repaired.
I will probably leave well enough alone unless I find a swb leaf spring rear suspension frame before I go much further.

[AZ66GMC]

Hey Chris,

How's the truck coming along?


Tony

[spudtruck]

Hey '66 it looks like you are really doing well on your build. I envy you down in the warm country. I lived down there about 30 yrs. ago for 2years. Loved the winters hated the summers. We have had only single digit highs for the last couple of weeks. Makes it tough to go out and work on the ride.

Wondering if you have any pictures of the bed you want to put on?

[66-PMD-GMC]

I was hoping for a new camera from Santa but no camera under the tree ....
Give me a little bit and I'll have a camera and the build photos...

[66-PMD-GMC]

Huge change in the project.
With the price of gas and a truck necessary to run parts around town etc.
I have changed everything.
I am moving my 66 GMC cab to a SWB chevy trailing arm/coil spring frame.
I hear Rat Rod in the future...
I am putting my 63 Chevy cab on the 66 leaf sprung LWB frame and adding a 250 6 cylinder. Eventually I will build an OHC 6 that I have from a 68 firebird to replace the 250 Chevy.
The SWB frame will get my 440 CI Poncho motor once I have the LWB 3/4 ton rolling.
I am photo tracking the builds and this weekend I should have the cab on the LWB 1/2 ton frame with the 3/4 ton drive parts.
I am going with a NV4500 behind the 250 and final drive is the 3.42 14 bolt shown earlier in this thread.
The 250 is bolted in and the trans is ready to bolt up. All easy as pie with no cab in the way.
The power steering box is installed and the hydro-boost is ready to bolt to the cab.
Barring any interuptions, I want to have the drive train fired up and the cab set this weekend if not more.

Why the huge change? $3.80 a gallon X dual tanks= $100+ dollars to fill the thing and gas aint heading down in price soon.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Down to P/S brackets for my 65 235/250. Once I find those my truck is mo-bile...
Woo! Hoo!

[fryer1979]

You mobile yet? looks like you've made some good progress, any new pics? I figured after chatting on my page a little I would swing by and see what you were up to on yours. Funny how fuel prices can really affect the destination of a project like that. Keep at it bud, nothing like driving these old classics.

[66-PMD-GMC]

I practically destroyed my frame horne trying to adapt power steering to my truck.
I have a 69-72 frame now and I am trandfering everything over from the old frame to the new.
It's a mess but progressing.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Current status;
79 GMC won't be allowed to be registered again until I buy $1500 worth of emissions garbage to pass the equipment part of the emission inspection so I am parting the truck out.
The 66 has a L6 with a SM420 behind it for the moment. Trying to upgrade to a 5 speed eventually.
The 63 Chevy has a new (old but new to me) clean sweet dash from a GMC and all new (again to me) GMC front chrome and a nice GMC tail gate.
The 66 is a parts runner, get me around to pick stuff up truck.
The 63 has 16.5 wide M/T street radials for the rear and will be a 70's style cragar wheeled hot rod.
I have a OHC 6 from a 68 firebird that may find it's way into the 66 but we will see.
Photos to come... the old ones of the 66 don't count any more...

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

I am new to the group but have been reading some of the threads for more than a few weeks.
I live in Apache Junction AZ and have a 66 GMC that I have been working on for about a year. I am using a 72 3/4 ton chassis. Not really a big deal build like some of the builds on here. My 66 will be used as a working truck for the most part.
I have a few photos so far and I will be taking more as I go along.
I also bought a 63 GMC cab this morning.
It will be going on a frame I am building using a 66 front half spliced to a 79 rear half. It will be a short bed when I am done.
I won't be "slamming" it as that's not my style at all. I am not into the C notched, airbagged rides. It will be sitting lower than stock at a height that I like but again, I'll need to post some photos soon as I noticed that many of you like the photos as do I.
I am going to try and post a photo of a truck that I have on my computer. If it goes through, it is about the ride height that I like. Maybe a smidge lower....
This looks like a pretty good group for the most part and I am excited to be among my own gearhead kind.

Where did the turn signal's go or do you signal by hand? I like the looks of that I assume you are mounting them in the grill by the wires hanging down. Oh and welcome to the forums....Vernski

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by Vernski

Where did the turn signal's go or do you signal by hand? I like the looks of that I assume you are mounting them in the grill by the wires hanging down. Oh and welcome to the forums....Vernski

Hi Vernski,
That photo was one I downloaded from the internet to show how high I want the front bumper off the pavement. It isn't my actual truck.
I like the GMC turn signals and plan to incorporate them in my build.
I have too many irons in the fire and everything is on hold for the moment.
I have 4 trucks and got overwhelmed with them and the other work I have going on.

[Vernski]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Hi Vernski,
That photo was one I downloaded from the internet to show how high I want the front bumper off the pavement. It isn't my actual truck.
I like the GMC turn signals and plan to incorporate them in my build.
I have too many irons in the fire and everything is on hold for the moment.
I have 4 trucks and got overwhelmed with them and the other work I have going on.

I know all to well about to many iron's in the fire, just take it one day at a time till you get focused on what you want to accomplish with them. Sometimes money and time don't come together well these days just hang in there...Vernski

[56taskforce]

I like the idea of the Pontiac motor it is a blast from the past for your GMC as 55 to 59 GMC’s used Pontiacs for all V8 trucks I have a 56 GMC with a factory 316 to bad the truck is way to rusty to save I would defiantly use the factory Poncho motor. I have kept this motor thinking that a Pontiac or old GMC guy would want it and I have posted it on CL multiple times without any bitesoh well I am sure someone building a 56 Poncho or GMC will be happy I saved it some day.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by 56taskforce

I like the idea of the Pontiac motor it is a blast from the past for your GMC as 55 to 59 GMC’s used Pontiacs for all V8 trucks I have a 56 GMC with a factory 316 to bad the truck is way to rusty to save I would defiantly use the factory Poncho motor. I have kept this motor thinking that a Pontiac or old GMC guy would want it and I have posted it on CL multiple times without any bitesoh well I am sure someone building a 56 Poncho or GMC will be happy I saved it some day.

The only problem with that Pontiac engine is that it has no motor mount holes on the side of the block.
If the timing cover is in good shape it could be re-used and a front motor mount could be fabbed and there ya go.
The specs on that motor are as follows;
316/317 CID 3.93750 Bore 3.2500 Stroke 2.500 Main dia. 2.250 Rod dia.
The mains are a full half inch smaller than those of a modern V8 Poncho, the rods are the same. A 4 inch piston with a late model 400 crank turned down to fit the mains would give you 377 CID. With a good set of Pontiac heads thats good for an easy 360 HP. Use a 428 crank and you'll get 402 CID and I think you can see where I am going...
The 66 has a 250 6 in it with a 235 head and SM420.. want to squeeze some mileage from this one.
The 63 will be the rat killer... bwaaaahahahaha