dantimdad's 66c10 budget resto mod

[dantimdad]

Greetings!

I have been a fan of 64-66 chevy trucks since the first time I rode in my dad's ton dump bed when I was 5. That truck was the first vehicle I drove, changed brakes, water pump and did an oil change on.

Since then I have had 8 c10s and a 65 gmc SWB. All of them where made road worthy and sold.

This one is for me!

I was looking for a V8, LWB, 4spd. I though that's what I bought but, because it didn't run correctly (and I didn't look closely enough) I wound up with a 5 spd. That's ok, because it works very well and I think I will enjoy the mileage increase it offers.

MAN! That was long winded!

On to the plan:

I want to pep up the 307 a bit in it, put in a 73 6 lug disc brake cross member, patch up the myriad of rust holes, relocate the gas tank, turn it into a flat bed (I will explain this later) and paint it.

The good:

86 IROC 5 speed
very strong running 307/HEI/4bbl from a 69 chevelle
aluminized dual exhaust
oddly enough, the entire front clip is basically undented and rust free

The bad:

way more rust than I saw at initial inspection
someone tried to weld in sheet steel in the bed and burned through any
possibility of saving it, hence the flatbed.
windshield is shot
someone hacked the wrong sized whole in the dash for a stereo


What I have done so far:

cleaned the stock gas tank and sealed it
new fuel pump
new sending unit
sent quadrajet for a rebuild (it ran great but had to be primed to start)
bought a 94 silverado bench seat, seat belts
bought 3rd brake light from 96 suburban
rebuilt brakes
fabbed by own shifter stalk from 1/2 round bar (first whack at something like this)

I will post pics soon. I can't seem to find the dang thumb drive with all the before pics.

The next things on my list are:

scrap the bed
weld up the rust hole in the drivers door post
rebuild the hinges
weld up the bad spots in the floors

I should have that list done in the next two weeks and will take pics along the way.

dantimdad

[chevyrestoguy]

You've got a good plan of attack!

I am a big fan of budget stuff. Those builds are the most fun because you don't raid your bank account, and you have to use your brain to figure out how to make it all work on the cheap.

[Jeff La]

Waiting to see your pics. I used to run up your way to Fredrick's equipment, hadn't been in a while, need to make a trip soon.

[dantimdad]

Thanks guys!

Well, I found the thumb drive and it's corrupt. I will take current pics tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I need to sell/trade the original seat. I repaired the springs, cleaned and painted the lower frame. The back is in pretty good shape so I left it covered.

I might have carpet for it tomorrow. I have been told the carpet from the 94 silverado I got my new seat from will fit with some slight trimming. I think I can get it for $20 and clean it. The only thing left to buy for the interior, besides paint, will be vinyl for the door panels and arm rest (building those) and the visors.

I bolted in the new seat last night, it fit perfectly. Just had to drill the rear mount holes then bolt it in. I wish everything went that easy.



dantimdad

[dantimdad]

Hey, chevyrestoguy, lemme know if you want to get rid of the firewall/cowl block off plates. I removed the dog house heater and am cooking up an electric system.

dantimdad

[dantimdad]

Score!

I fixed the laptop of the daughter of the guy who runs the salvage yard. In turn he gave me the carpet for my truck!

I will be uploading pics soon.

dantimdad

[dantimdad]

OK, here is what the brakes looked like when I got it and after I rebuilt them:




I am pretty sure you can see why it wouldn't stop!

Here is a pic of the truck when I first bought it:




Sorry I don't have more before photos. I will take more as I progress.

dantimdad

[dantimdad]

Found a pic of the seat before and a video of the engine when I first got it running.

[firefighter736]

Nice truck, gotta love those white/black combos

Looking forward to your updates!
Posted via Mobile Device

[dantimdad]

Thanks!

I do like black and white as well, but, my son wants candy apple red with tan interior. Being that I'm color blind, I'll defer to the artistic 11 year old that helps me wrench on the truck.

dantimdad

[dantimdad]

Another score!

The driver's front door post is rusted out where the check strap goes. I fixed a guys computer who happens to be a tool and die maker where they make auto body and chassis parts. He's going to fab up the drivers door post for me for free.

Then, it'll just be a cut and weld operation. This was going to be the only visible patching I had to do so I wanted it to look good and they don't make that as a patch panel.

I sure hope my luck holds out on this build!

dantimdad

[C@rnut001]

Great looking truck. Keep us updated as you work on it.

[dantimdad]

I got the carb back from the rebuilder yesterday.

It's just incredible to be able to turn the key and not hit the gas and have it purr like a kitten.

Whoever worked on the truck before needs to be slapped. The rebuilder didn't believe the truck even ran before until I showed him a video. It was completely packed with sludge and missing a metering rod!

Well worth $120.

dantimdad

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by dantimdad

I got the carb back from the rebuilder yesterday.

It's just incredible to be able to turn the key and not hit the gas and have it purr like a kitten.

Whoever worked on the truck before needs to be slapped. The rebuilder didn't believe the truck even ran before until I showed him a video. It was completely packed with sludge and missing a metering rod!

Well worth $120.

dantimdad

Sometimes I have to stop and just know when it is time to pay a professional to do the job. Trial and error is ok sometimes, but you would never see me rebuilding an engine; it just isnt in my skill set.
I can tear a carb apart, clean and rebuild it, but adjusting it is something I get someone who knows to do for me.

Good looking project you have! to the board, hope you keep us posted !!

[dantimdad]

Well, we would make a good team. I can rebuild an engine but, have never successfully rebuilt a carb.

I definitely know my limitations. However, I constantly push myself to learn new things. The rebuilder is selling me a buildable carb for $50. I am going to get a kit and try it just for grins.

So far, on this build, I have learned to weld, forge and properly adjust a quadrajet.

I am going to learn to lay down candy too. I plan on starting with a fender and do it a couple times down to bare metal and back until I am comfortable enough to shoot the whole truck.

[dantimdad]

UPDATE:

I took a couple pics for you to see where I am at:





The seat looks like it's got dirt on it in the pic but, it's very clean. You can also make out part of the shifter I built.

I took it for a drive today at it runs like a scalded dog!

dantimdad

[Sick5]

looks good

[dantimdad]

Thanks!

It's a start. The plan is to, since it's mechanically sound now, pull the body panels and start repair work on them and pull the engine and trans and start on the detailing on them as well.

Should get started next weekend.

Steven

[chevyrestoguy]

You are going to love that seat. To me, those are the most comfortable seats for any truck. A touch on the firm side, but very comfortable. I've got one in my '55. It's a solid bench (not a 60/40) with cloth upholstery and a flip-down armrest. I have looked everywhere for another one like it, and have yet to see another one. I'm guessing that it was for a standard cab.

As far as the blockoff plates, as soon as I get my A/C stuff hung back on the firewall, I'll definitely sell them. I got them to keep the critters out while I'm doing my build. My cab is an A/C cab, there are are holes everywhere in the firewall.

You're making good progress!

[dantimdad]

Thanks, chevyrestoguy!

It was, indeed, a regular cab. I really like the armrest feature and, you're right, the seat is VERY comfortable. I know where there are 5 or 6 of them in fair to very good condition. Too bad you're not closer.

Well, I am going to start patching next weekend and it will prolly take 3 or 4 weekends to get to the firewall. If you have them by then, cool. If not, I'll fab up plates.

I am going to fabricate an electric heater system so the firewall will be smooth except for a wiring passthrough, brake booster and steering column.

Steven

[McMurphy]

Pretty sure the 68-70 El Camino have seats like that, with head rests. I thought I had one, but the junk yard guy did not want to part out the rig it was in since the car was mostly complete.
Too bad too, because it was in primo condition.

[dantimdad]

I was explaining my truck to a friend and I realized, in the middle of it, my truck sounds like the Johnny Cash Cadillac song:

66 C10 LWB
69 Chevelle engine
73 Corvette intake and carb
94 Silverado seat, carpet, seat belts
96 suburban 3rd brake light
86 IROC 5 speed transmission
mid 80's HEI distributor and alternator

plan on (or have bought):

69 dual float bowl MC
73 c10 6 lug disc cross member
78 cadillac power antenna
76 c20 sway bar

LOL! My truck suffers from mulitple personality disorder yet it's functional.

Steven

[dantimdad]

Here is the first section of rust to be fixed:



And cutout:



Tomorrow I am taking the cut piece to a metalworking friend to be reformed.

Steven

[dantimdad]

I got a few things done on the truck this weekend.

I installed one of the visors from the silverado. The only issue is that it doesn't swing to the side. The only way to mount it causes it to hit the ceiling before it can make it all the way sidways. But, I am going to leave it. It works great as is.

I got my third brake light mounted. Just need to wire it in. It honestly looks like it was designed to go where it is.

Also, the shifter I built works great. It just had an unnerving flex when I put the truck in reverse. I took a piece of 3/16" plate and welded it to the flat portion of the shifter stalk and then ground everything pretty smooth. It's rock solid now.

Plans for next weekend (after the CBI show and swap meet) are to weld in the patch for the door post and the dime size holes in the cowl bubble, install the passenger visor, all the seat belts and wire the third brake light.

I will take pics of where I am tomorrow if I get home before dark... I ran out of light today.

Steven

[dantimdad]

I figured out the shifter knob and got it mounted to the stalk. It's back in the truck now but, I can't decide on a finish yet. It's made out of a wooden doll head from Hobby Lobby and happened to be 50% off this week!





Total cost for the shifter stalk and knob: $8.00

I also got some rust patches welded in. Pics of that tomorrow.

Steven