'63 Model B

[jonzcustomshop]

awesome! I was looking at some of my running boards the other day, and it reminded me of this build.... cool to see there is progress!

[wilcoxgarage]

Progress... Such a relative term. So, I finally got around to building brackets and mounts for the fenders and bumper. No more wood blocks holding things up in front. The fenders originally mounted with a 2-3" gap between them and the hood/body but as low as the body is now I had to tighten the gaps and build the fender brackets on the top side of the fenders. They originally supported the fender from the underside, but even with the fenders tighter to the body and hood, suspension travel is tight.

[Ta2Don]

Cool to see some progress...

[cAlvis165]

Looks great!

[Captainfab]

Excellent work. It's too bad your earlier pics are no longer visable.

[wilcoxgarage]

Thanks! Here's one a friend just picked up. Still has the big V6. Interesting that this truck (1965?) is a drop axle leaf sprung front end. Years ago it was a Seattle Pottery Supply delivery truck. Has a two speed rear and a lift gate. This makes three trucks of this series that I know of within a mile radius of each other.

[piratexpress1369a]

cool find for your friend ..what are his plans and will he join us with a build too...awesome work on the fenders and bumper

[wilcoxgarage]

Originally Posted by piratexpress1369a

cool find for your friend ..what are his plans and will he join us with a build too...awesome work on the fenders and bumper

Not sure he wants to even start on it. He's got a few other projects that are cooler and aren't quite so far off.
And thanks!

I finally got around to getting it running. Exhaust was partly done, made a blockoff plate for the clutch linkage hole in the firewall, new single (brake only) master cylinder and some of the brake lines, cooling system, fuel, shifter and trans cooler. Took it for a short drive but shouldn't have. Throttle was sticky and with the angle I had the linkage set up at the first quarter inch of pedal travel was 3/4 throttle, the brakes weren't bled, the vacuum line wasn't run to the transmission-so first gear only, the battery was suspended from the frame with nylon rope, no seat; sitting on a box, and the turbo mufflers didn't really muffle much. Was fun though! I fixed most of the issues and added an additional muffler off of an '08 Dodge Ram P/U. Much quieter. I've ran it for a couple hours so far and it hasn't risen above 160°- big enough radiator for two engines.

[wilcoxgarage]

Then I scrubbed it with scotchbrite pads and water, washed it and blew 10 years worth of dust and dirt out of the cab, cleaned the glass and wiped the bare metal pieces down with Penetrol.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good!

[Southcity]

Wow! looks great, please share more pics when you can.

[Ta2Don]

[piratexpress1369a]

looks awesome ..got to hate that strange feeling of not quite stopping when you though it would .

[mud.man.rj]

Now that is a cool big beast.

[wilcoxgarage]

Leaky wheel cylinders! Interesting one piece brake drum and hub. Had a heck of a time getting it off so I built a quick puller. As soon as I got one side done the other side started to leak. So 4 new cylinders. Shoes still had plenty of life left so I just cleaned them up and put it back together.

[wilcoxgarage]

New seat! Before and after. Had a bus/coach upholstery specialist, Gene Willingham, rebuild and cover the original bench in grained vinyl with light gray saddle stitching. It came out better than I had even hoped. Got some wiring and light circuits sorted out too.

[wilcoxgarage]

Lights

[wilcoxgarage]

Exhaust hanger. The leafs are so stiff I broke the two rubber hangers I had on it at first so I tripled up each side. Seems to be OK now.

[mud.man.rj]

So why 2 new mufflers into an old single muffler, won't it choke it off and lose some performance, why not just 2 new even into 1 tailpipe.

[wilcoxgarage]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

So why 2 new mufflers into an old single muffler, won't it choke it off and lose some performance, why not just 2 new even into 1 tailpipe.

In a word, cost. I wanted it really quiet, but I had the turbo mufflers and thought with 2 1/4" tubing and tail pipes it would be close to being quiet. It was not. I asked around to see if anyone I knew had a big OEM muffler I could add on to what I had. My neighbor was putting Flowmasters on a Dodge truck so this one was free. This setup doesn't hurt performance at all. Even if it did I've got torque to burn.

[mud.man.rj]

Well it looks stealthy anyway, how does it sound, quite quiet or not to bad. I just added a Magnaflow 2 in and 2 out single muffler to my 77 Jeep Cherokee Chief with a 360 Amc with dual 2 1/2" exh and sounds not to bad, thought it would be a bit louder but no miles on it yet at all. Just had no room for 2 mufflers at the back.

[namloc]

Hope to see the truck out driving around in future soon. Got a 1941 Ford coe in the works myself also . Got to make the GMC roadworthy first.

[wilcoxgarage]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

Well it looks stealthy anyway, how does it sound, quite quiet or not to bad. I just added a Magnaflow 2 in and 2 out single muffler to my 77 Jeep Cherokee Chief with a 360 Amc with dual 2 1/2" exh and sounds not to bad, thought it would be a bit louder but no miles on it yet at all. Just had no room for 2 mufflers at the back.

It sounds great! Slightly louder than a late model V8 at idle due to no cat's and the engine pulling air in is what you hear from in the cab. I like it. The last loud truck I had just got tiresome to listen to for long periods. Age I guess.

[mud.man.rj]

Ya I know what you mean, just turned 54 a few weeks ago and still like my V8 S10, really fast, fairly loud but the Cherokee Chief is just a cool old 4x4 cruiser, still moves with the 360 but is kind of relaxing.

[namloc]

So just a few days after posting hope see the rig out on the road.There it is at Pacific Raceways in the pits. To cool.