64 C10 Stepside "Jaybird"

[Jeff La]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Thank You Don

To answer your questions I used 3M mico polishing compound with a machine.
Amazon.com: 3M 06044 Imperial Compound and Finishing Material - 32 fl. oz.: Automotive
But I must warn you this is an original cluster lens. I had two. The other one was a repro and it buffed the lettering right off of it.

I was going to reset the speedo but couldn't figure out how. I actually increased the mileage! It doesn't really matter to me as the engine and trans are not new.

Have a good Memorial Day. Remember what is important. The Heroes who died for or freedom!

So true

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Thank You Don

To answer your questions I used 3M mico polishing compound with a machine.
Amazon.com: 3M 06044 Imperial Compound and Finishing Material - 32 fl. oz.: Automotive
But I must warn you this is an original cluster lens. I had two. The other one was a repro and it buffed the lettering right off of it.

I was going to reset the speedo but couldn't figure out how. I actually increased the mileage! It doesn't really matter to me as the engine and trans are not new.

Have a good Memorial Day. Remember what is important. The Heroes who died for or freedom!

Thanks for the info Bret, and I agree, "Remember what is important. The Heroes who died for our freedom."

I scored a bunch of gauge cluster parts last week from another member who had sold his truck, so I now have another cluster lens, I believe both are originals… The only questions still remaining are… Am I right in assuming you polished both sides of the lens with the product you mentioned, and did you take any special precautions concerning the markings?

And if you consider re-setting your odometer, give me a call, it's a rather easy process...

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Thanks for the info Bret, and I agree, "Remember what is important. The Heroes who died for our freedom."

I scored a bunch of gauge cluster parts last week from another member who had sold his truck, so I now have another cluster lens, I believe both are originals… The only questions still remaining are… Am I right in assuming you polished both sides of the lens with the product you mentioned, and did you take any special precautions concerning the markings?

And if you consider re-setting your odometer, give me a call, it's a rather easy process...

Don,

Post up a pic of yours to confirm. But the original one I had the lettering is a paint and light greenish like the gauges. If you run your fingers across you can feel it. The other one I had the lettering was an off white and obviously printed as one swipe and it was gone. I started out slow on the original and the applied more pressure until I was sure it wasn't going to come off. I polished the front side 4 times and the back once and then finished with a coat of wax. Here a before and after. Most of the nastiness was on the outside.

DSCN7483 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

DSCN7484 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

It still has some imperfections and deep scratches the polishing won't take out but I think it looks much better than before and it is saving an original part. The worst scratch on mine is to the left of the oil pressure gauge. You can still see it in the pic. It has polishing compound in it.

[pimpston65]

good job on the oem equipment save, I just finished the same project.

[1963c-10]

Great job on the wiring and the cluster & cluster lens!!!!! Makes a huge difference in appearance.

[Ta2Don]

Bret, here is a pic of the 2 I have, both are OEM Survivors…
The printed sides look to be in pretty good shape and the outer sides are decent as well, both have a couple of decent scratches that I hopefully can buff out...
IMG_3392 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

I'm going to refurb this gauge cluster prior to install so as I spot others doing this I'm gathering as much info up front as possible, Thanks again...

One more question… did you use a buffer as in one to do paint work, or would a buffing wheel on a bench grinder work also?
I sure don't want to destroy either of these...

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Bret, here is a pic of the 2 I have, both are OEM Survivors…
The printed sides look to be in pretty good shape and the outer sides are decent as well, both have a couple of decent scratches that I hopefully can buff out...
IMG_3392 by Donald Olivo, on Flickr

I'm going to refurb this gauge cluster prior to install so as I spot others doing this I'm gathering as much info up front as possible, Thanks again...

One more question… did you use a buffer as in one to do paint work, or would a buffing wheel on a bench grinder work also?
I sure don't want to destroy either of these...

Don those are just like the one I did. I used a power buffer to do mine. I don't think the 3M stuff I showed you would work on the bench grinder. Its kinda runny. I always apply to the part I'm polishing and then rub it into the buffer before turning it on so it doesn't sling everywhere. I didn't post it but I also lined the inside of my tubes with the reflectix tape and it made a huge difference. You can get it at Lowes.

Got these from this forum but lost the thread they are from

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Don those are just like the one I did. I used a power buffer to do mine. I don't think the 3M stuff I showed you would work on the bench grinder. Its kinda runny. I always apply to the part I'm polishing and then rub it into the buffer before turning it on so it doesn't sling everywhere. I didn't post it but I also lined the inside of my tubes with the reflectix tape and it made a huge difference. You can get it at Lowes.

Got these from this forum but lost the thread they are from

Attachment 1408591

Attachment 1408592

Attachment 1408593

Lugnutz65 is who they are from...

[Mikes66ChevyC10]

Truck is looking great and awesome job on the wiring! That's one job I'm not looking forward to!! LOL

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by Mikes66ChevyC10

Truck is looking great and awesome job on the wiring! That's one job I'm not looking forward to!! LOL

Thanks Mike.

[bj383ss]

So I am on vacation as of today and have a long list of stuff I want to get done. I put in 9 hours today this is what I got done.


Ran rear body harness
Ran gas gauge and courtesy light
Hooked electric choke into engine harness
Hooked up all the wiring for MSD box
Ran horn and front harness to core support
Installed firewall pad and inside heater duct
Hooked up heater hoses. Need to buy a new 5/8" one
Bumped engine over to tdc and installed dist and plug wires(my wiring is good so far)
Cleaned ash tray handle
Got all the parts rounded up for sandblasting I need to blast.

Firewall pad installed. Bought this from Carandtruckshop. Its made in USA. I was very impressed with how well it fit. I bought the tool for installing the fasteners and had no problem. It was kind of tricky to get the very center above the hump to fit right but finally got it in there. For anyone buying one from them it comes with fasteners. It doesn't say it does so I bought them separately as well. And it comes with 11 pcs but I only used 7. I installed the inside heater duct after the firewall pad.

20150606_091420 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150606_091422 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150606_091435 by bjohnson388, on Flickr


I ran all the wiring in convoluted tubing and secured with rubber clamps or electrical tape.

20150606_165453 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

I'm not crazy about how the firewall pad fasteners poke thru but what can you do. For anyone who buys the AAW harness I did it came with this grommet for the rear body harness. I bought the 6pc firewall grommet set from Carandtruckshop and it didn't include this one.

20150606_165440 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Installed the temp sender and ran the wire to it.

20150606_165508 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Ran front harness and hooked up horn. Only thing left to plug in under hood is the heater blower wire and the park lamps harness. This tubing is just sitting there. Will get it all straight when I get clamps for it.

20150606_165515 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Courtesy light and gas gauge wire. I left some extra just in case. I ran a wire fish to get this installed. Ran the fish up to the hole and the pulled the wire through from top. Got it the first time.

20150606_165654 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150606_165658 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

MSD Distributor and plug wires installed. (I'm a little scared the distributor dropped right in on the first try and even lined up with the oil pump drive shaft. That never happens to me). I robbed all this from my Caprice. I painted the cap black to disguise it as a points distributor but the wires kinda of give it away. I need to adjust some of the wire holders the headers on the truck are different than the ones on the Caprice. So I need to take some slack out of the wires. Still need to tidy up the batter cables maybe buy some longer ones so I can tuck and hide them better and secure them with rubber clamps.

20150606_173027 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150606_173032 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150606_173038 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks sweet BJ! Awesome work!!!

[clemdaddy]

wow Bret... you had a great day. everything looks fantastic. you should take more vacations.

[yj4000]

Very nice work!! Looks great.

Ryan.

[Ta2Don]

Super Clean...

[Jeff La]

Looking great

[1963c-10]

Starting to come together real nice. Looks great!!!!

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Looks sweet BJ! Awesome work!!!

Thanks TJ.

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

wow Bret... you had a great day. everything looks fantastic. you should take more vacations.

Only get 4 weeks a year. Wish I got more HA

Originally Posted by yj4000

Very nice work!! Looks great.

Ryan.

Thanks Ryan

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Super Clean...

Thanks Don

Originally Posted by Jeff La

Looking great

Thanks Jeff

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Starting to come together real nice. Looks great!!!!

Thanks J.

Yesterday finished repairing the steering wheel. It is ready for some High build primer coats. Want to get it as smooth as possible. I didn't have any high build primer so I decided to strip the grille of all its parts and paint. I didn't strip the paint from the mesh part because I am going to cut this out to make it look like a C60 grille.

20150609_151424 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150609_151433 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150609_151458 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

20150609_151505 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

I saw a truck with one of these Corvair van grille inserts in it. Looked pretty slick but it was a chrome grill. If I were to get one and strip it of chrome an paint it white wonder how it would look. Either that or get the bowtie from a C60 grille. Or a whole C60 grille would be cool.

Screenshot_2015-06-09-16-12-59 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Worked in the woodshop last night and got 4 drawers installed. Only 12 more to go!

20150609_193337 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

[Ta2Don]

Diggin' the woodworking...

I also saw the corsair van grille insert and really liked that too...

[62 Barnfind]

Looking good Bret! I like the Corvair insert Idea on the grill.

[1963c-10]

The steering wheels coming out nice. Like I mentioned on FB, I've done 3 so I know the tedious work involved, but it'll look great once painted.

And like everyone above.....nice score on the grill insert.

[dwcardfan]

I like the grille insert idea. I think it would look good.

[bj383ss]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Diggin' the woodworking...

I also saw the corsair van grille insert and really liked that too...

Thanks Don. I like working on the truck in the morning to mid afternoon and then coming home and making some sawdust. Makes for a complete day. Wish I could do it everyday. But alas have to work in order to pay for all these things. HA

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

Looking good Bret! I like the Corvair insert Idea on the grill.

Thanks Jon

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

The steering wheels coming out nice. Like I mentioned on FB, I've done 3 so I know the tedious work involved, but it'll look great once painted.

And like everyone above.....nice score on the grill insert.

Thanks Jon. I haven't bought one yet

Originally Posted by dwcardfan

I like the grille insert idea. I think it would look good.

Hope to find out soon.

[bj383ss]

Here is where the steering wheel is at. Two coats of high build and still needs a few places feathered around the hub. That area is real tricky to get smooth.

20150610_151536 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Cut the center mesh out of my grille. Wanted to mock it up to see how it looked but I took the buckets off can't mount it. DOH!!

20150610_121725 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Grille is in really good shape. Has a couple of small dings across bottom part that I was able to knock most of out. Will finish with a little filler

20150610_121741 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Sanded and CLR'D the back of the grille and grille support and sprayed all the rust left with Loctite Rust neutralizer.

20150610_151543 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

They will be ready for some primer and paint in the next few days!

By the way does anybody know what color the headlight cups are suppose to be painted? They look like they might have been anodized. Probably will paint them aluminum.

20150609_133840 by bjohnson388, on Flickr