1966 custom cab short

[jrusher]

Started putting some trim back on and mocked up the west coast mirrors. I might touch the front fender up with some blue, after wet sanding lots of old repair work started showing through

[Arne]

Nice work on the paint blend. Should look really good with some future "patina-izing".

[rbruno68]

The paint match is great on your patches. How did you get something close but maybe not exactly the same? I will be looking to do the same on mine. Mine is red but has of course faded. I don't initially plan to pain the entire truck, but need to do a few patches. Did you have a paint shop try to match the faded blue or did you sort of guess. Looks great.

[jrusher]

Thanks . There’s a paint shop I use here will match it up manually to the panel I bring them and get it really close . Other paint shops I’ve used just scan it and it’s never really that close for a match .

Originally Posted by rbruno68

The paint match is great on your patches. How did you get something close but maybe not exactly the same? I will be looking to do the same on mine. Mine is red but has of course faded. I don't initially plan to pain the entire truck, but need to do a few patches. Did you have a paint shop try to match the faded blue or did you sort of guess. Looks great.

[jrusher]

Steering wheel came out looking good . I used por 15 epoxy to fill in all the cracks. I refurbished one for my 65 as well as the one I put on there years ago was white

[65truckowner]

Looking great.

[jrusher]

Had to cut a spare driveshaft down, I kept the original along with the Sm420. Cut about 15” as the T5 transmission is quite abit longer. Usually I do it at work in a large lathe but was on days off so I just cut it at home with basic hand tools and welded it up .

[jrusher]

Hammered out some dents on the grille and gave it a good polish. Touched up the chev lettering as well. Pulled the slot mags off and blasted and coated the steelies . I like the look of the slots but also like the look of the original rims with chrome caps just like how she was ordered. Found a 63-66 sport bumper I had a 68-72 as well they fit so much better but will run the early gen one. Have to shim the box up abit at the rear as it sitting low.

[jrusher]

Next up clean up and paint vent window frames install new glass and seals. Blasted seat frame up and fix one broken spring . Going to resuse the seat foam after I priced out a new foam set $525 shipped CAD. Mines not in too bad of shape . I’ll add some foam where needed

[joesscamaro]

You've been busy! Cleaning up real nice and good work on the driveshaft!

[jrusher]

Thanks Joe! Ya been going at it. Trying to button everything up as i booked it in for the inspection next week

Originally Posted by joesscamaro

You've been busy! Cleaning up real nice and good work on the driveshaft!

[jrusher]

Finished installing new door glass, vent glass and all door hardware . Redid seat used the original foam and after trying seat out foam is way too soft . I’ll have to source some foam out locally or order the foam from states and redo the bottom of seat .

[jrusher]

Cut the s10 shifter down and utilized a spare original shifter . Tried using a original shifter boot but boot and plate were too small diameter for the throw so used a hurst shifter boot and plate . I’ll have to put a bend in it as shifter is fine with seat all way back but if the wife drives truck seat will be further ahead and will be hitting seat

[jrusher]

Cleaned up the original lap belts I’ll use them to get it through inspection and probably go 3 point like my other trucks . Went for test drive all was good accept for power steering control valve was acting up. I rebuilt the valve and ram/cylinder maybe still air in system will have to do some more troubleshooting. I unhooked ps belt for inspection.

[jrusher]

Inspection went pretty good. Shop failed it on rear pinion seal leak and said it had a couple brake line leaks . Pinion seal was bad I popped a new one in and went over brake lines everything was new and was just residual oil from bleeding brakes. Still have too do some paint/patina matching and polishing but it can wait for abit . Went for beers yesterday , my buddies 42

[cwcarpenter98]

Nice work! How do you like the s10 5 speed so far?

[jrusher]

Thanks! First gear is like bull low just like the sm420 . Shifts nice around town I haven’t had it on the hiway yet. The 283 is sure slow I’m too used to driving my 6 litre boosted truck lol

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Nice work! How do you like the s10 5 speed so far?

[jrusher]

Up next will be this 46 survivor. It runs and drives but needs some work to get it road worthy. It’s too original to molest but I picked up a 45 as well last summer with no drive train so I”ll probably end up putting a ls in it and update suspension , front end etc . Be hanging out in the pre 47 forum for awhile

[jrusher]

The ratios in my t5 aren’t the greatest on the hiway I’m revving 2800 rpm at 60-65 mph and 1st gear is like a granny gear . I should of looked into the specs more before I bought it . I found a Camaro t5 last night for cheap so will swap that in as the ratios are much better . Also putting a set of camel hump heads, cam, intake and carb to help the 283 out

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Nice work! How do you like the s10 5 speed so far?

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by jrusher

The ratios in my t5 aren’t the greatest on the hiway I’m revving 2800 rpm at 60-65 mph and 1st gear is like a granny gear . I should of looked into the specs more before I bought it . I found a Camaro t5 last night for cheap so will swap that in as the ratios are much better . Also putting a set of camel hump heads, cam, intake and carb to help the 283 out

Sounds like you got one of the 4 cylinder s10 5 speeds with the .8 something overdrive. The new combo for the 283 should be a good time!

[PowerdbyChevy79]

Originally Posted by jrusher

Finished installing new door glass, vent glass and all door hardware . Redid seat used the original foam and after trying seat out foam is way too soft . I’ll have to source some foam out locally or order the foam from states and redo the bottom of seat .

That interior looks great!!!

[jrusher]

Yes it’s a 4 cylinder S10 tranny . The Camaro V8 ratios will suit this 283 much better

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Sounds like you got one of the 4 cylinder s10 5 speeds with the .8 something overdrive. The new combo for the 283 should be a good time!

[jrusher]

Thanks !

Originally Posted by PowerdbyChevy79

That interior looks great!!!

[jrusher]

Made a couple changes on the 66 over the summer. Found I was down compression on two cylinders so figured I’d just yank it as I have to swap t5 transmissions out. I bought the 283 used and didn’t tear it right down before installing it, anyways found a valve seat popped out of place and a bent valve . I came across a nice 327 for a good deal so figured I’d throw the 327 in place and keep the 283 on the sidelines . Well ended up going right through the 327 as I didn’t want any suprizes. Pistons were in decent condition same with cylinder bores so I just gave it a good hone and new rings and bearings throughout. The thing was a L79 old school spec build pretty much , 10.5:1 compression, trw pop up pistons , 462 big valve heads , big cam, roller rockers and rotating assembly had been previously balanced. I put a smaller comp cam 262h cam and lifters in and had my 461 heads recently all rebuilt from the original 283. I'll get the big valve 462 heads rebuilt as I found a L79 short block while looking for other parts and build it up later for another project.

[jrusher]

Got some vette 2.5 ram horns to replace my 2” ones . Found a 327 iron Intake and a quadrajet carb that I had to rebuild. Had to modify the drivers side ram horn to fit my original alternator brackets . The vettes use a different bracket design