Scott's 65 Build Thread

[srsummers]

Well I have been on this forum for more than a year now. I have asked many questions, learned a lot and met some great fellow truck guys (Dino63, Protrash, Evlpmkn). Now it's mine turn to share what I've done. I bought this truck last Halloween (2008), it was a CL find for only $1500. It didn't run, had some frontend damage, the wiring was hacked and it had no interior.

Here's the day I picked it up







http://i905.photobucket.com/albums/a...happy30017.jpg

[Clyde65]

Not a bad find, IMO. What are your plans?

[srsummers]

First task was to get the engine started. I had to replace the intake manifold due to a crack. The B&M shifter also had to go. I put in a Gennie shifter. Also, Found some wheels/tires on CL for a good deal.




Then I took on the wire harness and gauges (none of which worked)
Here's before

[srsummers]

Old harness and the new harness...what a difference.



Wire harness after

At this point I'm thinking "What have I gotten myself into here"
I just kept going.

[srsummers]

I went with the So-Cal gauges and made a backing plate

[scotts62]

Cool man nice build so far, ill keep an eye on this thread

[srsummers]

After all of that I replaced the grill support and grill. I drove it around for a while. I even entered it into a car show at one of my buddy's school car shows and even won first place for classic truck.

I did forget to mention that I was the only classic truck in the show (the white 64 that's parked next to me entered as a sport truck, not a classic truck). Anyways I got a nice trophy that I hung up in my office.

[markeb01]

Nice looking truck to begin with, and great progress. That's what is so much fun about the smaller events, you can actually come home with an award without needing a 6 figure hobby budget.

[Captainfab]

Nice truck! You've done some nice work on it. What are your plans next?

[lakeroadster]

Great job on the modifications and thanks for documenting your work in this build thread.

[protrash64]

Cool job Scott......glad to see the pics finally. Dont forget to put a grommet on the harness into the engine compartment.

[Alan's Classic]

Awesome progress and work on a cool truck. Congrats on the award.

I'm working toward the "Hanger Queen Award" I know most will know what that is.

[srsummers]

Thanks guys. I have much more to add to the forum, it's just more time consuming than I thought. I tore down the entire frontend (cab forward) in May and my current plans are just to get it road worthy once again. Good news though, I did drive it today. It had no front clip, just core support and inner fendors. The wheels are so badly out of alinement the they made marks on the street....but it still moved on its own and I call that progress.

[scotts62]

i remember those days, thats a good feeling to drive them even if they are like that.

[srsummers]

Well shorty after that car show I decided to address the front suspension. It was in bad shape, which was no surprise since the original upper ball joints were still riveted in place.

I had the entire front suspension sandblasted and powdercoated and I just couldn't bolt all that nice stuff to that nasty old crossmember. Before I knew it, things got out of control.

I then started repairing the shock mounts, filling uneeded holes in the fire wall

[srsummers]

Here's the firewall/frame before paint (rattle can)


I decided to assemble the crossmember on the frame before paint.


Then I painted the Firewall (Rustoluem Hammered Black) and frame (Dark Grey Metallic)

[srsummers]

Then I put the frontend on as one piece.

Then once it was rolling again I decided that if I was ever going to paint the frame under the cab...I better do it know. Remember that when I started this project I was only going to rebuild the front suspension.


I had some serious holes in the frame from the original manuel trans crossmember being removed with a torch and the many holes drilled from the new cross memeber (I did some of those).


Then the inner fendors and core support.

I used a factory drum booster from a 3/4ton parts truck I had and ran new brake lines.

[srsummers]

While I had the cab off I undercoated the bottom.

[rwolf9653]

Dude, that is looking good!

[TimE]

Lol!! That front end job kinda snowballed on you huh?

Looks really nice though. Keep up the great work!!!

[198plus]

Great job looks great.

[scotts62]

Man it looks sweet, nice work!!

[srsummers]

After I got all of the suspension parts back together I was going to simply re-ring and put fresh seals (since the previous ower told me the engine was resently rebuilt).

Once I got it stripped down to the block it was a different story.

Metal in the pan and the crank was trashed.

I used my car to take the block to the machine shop. You should have seen the guys face when I pull up to the dock.


I got it all put back together. It was bored 0.40 stock with a mild (262) Comp Cam.

[srsummers]

I bolted the block to my Turbo 400 and it dropped right in. Then I fought with linging up the motor mounts for about 3 hours


Before

After


My Grandpa even come down and help assemble the engine.

[SCOTI]

Dang.... Movin' right along despite the detours!