Project: Tiki Express, '65 C10 Panel Truck Build

[chevy_mike]

Thanks!

Well I got the fittings and finished up the MC to Prop Valve lines. Very happy with them and have to say this NiCopp brake line is the easiest stuff I have ever worked with. So easy to bend and doesn't kink or rust!

[343CA]

Very clean set up. I sold my 55 wagon to buy my 65 burb.

[chevy_mike]

Been making a little progress on the panel. Brakes are bled. Swapped out the fuel line from pump to carb and ran the pump into a fuel can. Put a new battery in and amazingly I got it started with little fanfare. First time is has run in 5 years.

Got a new power steering pump and painted that all up. Mocked up the pump. Need to do a little shimming of the bracket to line up the pulleys. Finally installed the rear doors weatherstripping, which I have had for 4 years.

Making progress...

[chevy_mike]

Well, another minor update. I had pulled the fuel tank, not knowing there was about a half tank of 5 year old gas in it. Dang it was heavy but the transmission jack helped a lot. Drained the tank and it looks nice and clean inside. Bought a new sending unit, just to be proactive (don't really want to drop again) and glad I did as the old one was missing the filter sock on the end. Put all new rubber gas filler and fuel hoses on and got it back installed. Just need to change a couple more pieces of fuel line and that system should be done.

One step at a time...

[chevy_mike]

Got some more done this past weekend. Finished up all the new rubber fuel lines. Ready to pour gas into the tank. Finished up the rear panhard bar. Got it adjusted to center the rear end at ride height. Worked on getting the PS pump shimmed to line up the pulleys, only to find out the pulley is bent. I did get the PS lines mocked into place.

Little by little, getting there.

[Captainfab]

It's good to hear you are making some progress.

[chevy_mike]

Well I am knocking out projects little by little. Ordered a replacement PS pulley from Summit and got things in alignment. Figured out the hose routing. Test fitted the new fan shroud and found the fan was sitting in to far so ordered a new spacer which should fix that. Since I had the front stuff off, I decided to replace the balancer, which I knew had issues as the timing marks never lined up. Glad I did!!!

Here is why old balancers should be replaced. The outer ring not only rotated but walked out. The pulley was keeping it on. From the backside you can see the rubber has a missing area and was pushing out as well. This was a disaster waiting to happen. This engine is from '81 (based on numbers ran) so it's not even as old as many ones from the '60's and '70's.





New one

[northern 85]

Wow good catch!!!!

[chevy_mike]

Well knocking out little items bit by bit. Got the new fan shroud installed. Finished up the power steering lines and started getting the system bled. Still have a little air in the system to get worked out but mostly done. Put fuel in the tank and got it fired off.

Still have lots of little stuff to go but making progress.

[Captainfab]

It sounds like it won't be long before you are driving this down the road

[The Rocknrod]

What drop in inches are those rear springs?

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

What drop in inches are those rear springs?

Okay, a little update on the rear springs. The CPP "heavy duty" 4" drop springs were actually giving me closer to 6" of drop, even though CPP claims they are for Burb and Panels. I only had about an inch or so between the axle and frame. This made it look a little too low in the back compared to the front.

I talked to the guys at Early Classic Enterprise about this issue, as I only wanted a 4" drop. They suggest to people with burbs/panels, to order 1" less dropped spring then the actual drop you want. In my case I ordered a set of ECE springs in a 3" drop and actually got the 4" I wanted. Now I got the rake I wanted and way more axle to frame clearance.

Hope that helps.

[The Rocknrod]

That makes sense, thanks.

[chevy_mike]

Well I have been doing some work the last couple weekends on the panel. Been getting some projects completed that I have put off for quite a while.... okay for the last couple years...

When I worked on it back in 2017, I found all of the ball joint and tie rods boots had cracked, even though these were all brand new parts. It really pissed me off as I knew I would have to disassemble the front suspension again, to replace the boots. Then I couldn't find replacements easily so it sat. I finally found some info to replace the boot with Prothane boots, which should last a very long time. I pulled apart the front end, which came apart much easier then it did with all of the original parts. Ok, check that project off.

The last thing I was working on in 2017 was drilling out the lower control arm u-bolt mounts. Stock was 7/16" and GM upgraded to 9/16" versions because they were having some breakage issues. I had gotten 3 out of 4 done but then my air drill died. I finally got the 4th one done.

I put in some different rear springs, since the CPP "Heavy Duty" 4" dropped springs gave 6-7" drop. Way more than I wanted. Replaced them with ECE 3" dropped springs, which gave me the 4" I wanted, per ECE recommendation. They said for panels/burbs, go with 1" less drop then what you want to end up with.

Now with the rear sitting how I wanted, the rear end was shifted off center, from side to side. Readjusted the panhard bar and got things centered up.

I also got the front sway bar remounted.

Last thing was dealing with the leaking calipers, where the hoses mount to the calipers. Back in 2017 I had bled everything and was dealing with those leaks. Tried new copper washers (even though the ones installed were new) and still no luck. Even replace one caliper, which I hoped stopped it. It seemed to but after sitting a couple days, was still leaking. I have read that many of these calipers when being rebuilt, the rebuilders are causing issues with the threads/mounting surface by removing the little "rings" or putting too much taper at the beginning of the threads. This is causing them not to seal correctly. I decided to upgrade from these and bought a set of Wilwood D52 replacement calipers. These are dual piston and it seems so far, no freaking leaks!!! Here's a pic of one installed.

At this point I think the suspension and brakes are all done.... finally. Next up is the cooling system. Ordered a new radiator and have new hoses. Hoping in the next couple months to finally have this on the road.

[chevy_mike]

Been knocking out a few more things on the panel. Got the old radiator and water pump out. Replaced with new pump and radiator. Upper hose is good, need to sort out the lower hose.

Then I pulled the old exhaust manifolds off and put on a set of ceramic coated 2 1/2" exit ram horn manifolds. Fit great and looks good. Making progress and getting closer...

[Captainfab]

Nice! Is that radiator from Auto City?

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Nice! Is that radiator from Auto City?

Yes, Auto City on Ebay. It is a nice unit and I like it being aluminum (with large tubes) but has a factory appearance. I am not a fan of the flat fabricated tank design, since when you open the hood, it stares you right in the face.

[Captainfab]

How does the top hold down, the lower saddles and rubbers fit the tanks?

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

How does the top hold down, the lower saddles and rubbers fit the tanks?

Sadly my panel was not originally with this radiator setup so I am not sure what the PO had done. The top mount wasn't even with my truck as someone made a sheet metal holder. I am not sure if there was different tank sizes or not. The top one I have fits okay but the rubber is fairly hard and doesn't quite let it sit all the way down. Where it bolts to the top of the core support, it's about a 1/2" up, so I am going to make a spacer. The lower saddles are not original to this truck and not sure if they are correct for this but they were big enough that the lower tank fit with a little room.

If you were swapping an original like kind for like kind, it would likely fit well.

[chevy_mike]

Finally had time to finish up the cooling system with new hoses. Got coolant in and fired it up for the first time in a years.

Next things is to get the shifter linkage slop down to a manageable level. Right now you can't tell which gear you have shifted into (manual car 4 speed trans). Then get the new Dakota Digital VHX gauges installed and mount the seats. After that, should be alignment and exhaust system and should be able to drive it.

[Captainfab]

It sounds like you just might be cruisin in a Burb this summer!

[chevy_mike]

Got a bunch more little things done over the weekend. Actually have it sitting on it's own wheels for the first time in about 3 years. I even washed it for the first time in that long. Looks good. Too bad the roof paint is toast. Side areas look okay but the top completely spider cracked and lifted. Whole roof needs to be repainted.

[chevy_mike]

Chipping away at more stuff to be done. Had my best friend come out and wired up my Dakota Digital VHX gauges. This is the second time I have used the VHX line (did my '72 El Camino) and just love them. Found a few electrical gremlins I'll need to work through. Funny story, we were trying to figure out why the headlights were not coming on (it had gotten dark by now) and until I went around to the front did I notice the problem. I hadn't put the grill assembly back in yet... My buddy was looking to throw something at me.

Some pics

[chevy_mike]

Knocking out more items. Got the gauge cluster installed and mounted the driver's side seat.

[chevy_mike]

Yesterday was a HUGE milestone. I needed to switch places on my side yard, between my '55 Chevy wagon and the Panel. Wagon does not run so I had a couple friends over to help push it out of the way. Then, for the first time in over 7 years, the Panel moved under it's own power!!! It actually drives!

I still have a number of little things to still do before it's ready for the road but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Oh, this is open manifolds, not exhaust yet. LOL

Video my wife took,
65 panel moves under own power

Here's a pic on the street.