Project Okanagan Sunset

[Snowbound]

Hey fellas, I wanted to start a build thread to hopefully help other out who might be going through the same thing as I am.

My truck is a factory orange 1965 C-10 short box step side. I bought it from the family of the original owner in southern Washington state. It is as clean and rust free as anything I have ever seen and has been a real treat to work on thus far.

My plans for the truck are:

1. Replace the front drums with a CPP disc brake kit.
2. Slightly lower the front and rear with spindles and springs.
3. Replace the 230/3 speed combo with a 383/TKO 600 combo.
4. Add a mild sound system and add sound deadener and carpet.
5. Add seatbelts and redo/upgrade the seat.
6. Buff up the original paint and see how it looks. Paint it a few years from now.

For those wondering about the title, the Okanagan valley is in the interior of British Columbia and stretches down into WA state. It is very dry and arid here in the summer and the number of lakes through the valley make it a beautiful place to live and play. We enjoy the nicest year round climate in Canada IMO.

Some pics to get us started.......Found the build sheet and original registration from '65!

[Snowbound]

Ooops, upside down...

Some shots from the surrounding area. this is a few miles north of my place.

Can't get pics to load....

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Snowbound

Ooops, upside down...

Some shots from the surrounding area. this is a few miles north of my place.

Can't get pics to load....

We are neighbors!!
Sorta....
Hello and to the board!! Wife and I are from Spokane, just a bit south of you I suppose, but we live in Alaska for the moment.

Good to see another new build around here! Hope you keep us in plenty of photos, which by the way can be a little tweaky to get to load up.

[Snowbound]

Started to polish the hood. Was coming up pretty good.

[Snowbound]

Farmer bumper is gonzo....



Old 230 runs good, but no balls. Gonzo!



Look at the rockers. Not even a pin hole!





BTW, uploaded the pics to Google Picasa then link the URL. Way better!

[Snowbound]

Front end is stripped and painted. Started doing it in place, but was too hard. Way easier just tearing it down to the bones.

Semi gloss POR brushed on. First coat looked perfect. 2nd coat was glossier than I would have liked, but not too bad. Sand blasted the frame with a cheapo pressure pot blaster and a bag of black copper slag. Still finding sand everywhere!

[Snowbound]

Time for some assembly pics. CPP Grand Slam kit with drop spindles and 1" springs. 4" drop in the rear.

I couldn't get the lower ball joints to seat in fully. Picked up some Moog stuff and it just fell together like it was supposed to. Will be sending CPP my thoughts on the offshore? junk the are using.

[Snowbound]

Picked up some rallies that I blasted and started painting. Be a shame to cover up those nice rotors......



These are on my wish list....So few choices in 6 lug wheels....

[wannabelower]

Nice build so far!
I say stick with the rallies.
IMO, any thing 5 spoke looks kinda funny on a 6 bolt truck unless they have caps to cover up the lugs.

[wannabelower]

Also, if you don't mind me asking... What did you pay for the sweet gem?

[Snowbound]

Paid just over 5k for her. Probably would be cheaper to buy one finished, but half the fun is creating your vision.

It's cheaper than therapy!
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[markeb01]

What a beautiful truck in great condition.

[CRGRS 66]

CPP kit looks great, subscribed

[HouldenCaulfield]

Great looking truck, I am possibly going to buy a 64 in similar condition for a similar price. Could you have converted this to 5 lug when you bought the grand slam kit?

[Snowbound]

Originally Posted by HouldenCaulfield

Great looking truck, I am possibly going to buy a 64 in similar condition for a similar price. Could you have converted this to 5 lug when you bought the grand slam kit?

I could have done 5 lug but didn't want to mess with the rear axle.
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[CRGRS 66]

Here are the pictures you asked for over in my build thread. You best ask others because I don't know, but I believe that the perches are the same, not sure about the mounts, suspect they are different. I suspect that you just need to move the perches back for a small block (holes should already be there).

What's your name bud?

[Snowbound]

Those perches are in the same location as mine. I thought the V8 was mounted in the forward position?

Is your truck a factory V8?

Brian

[jdl71]

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

Here are the pictures you asked for over in my build thread. You best ask others because I don't know, but I believe that the perches are the same, not sure about the mounts, suspect they are different. I suspect that you just need to move the perches back for a small block (holes should already be there).

What's your name bud?

If you're swapping from 6cyl to V8 one of the perches is different. I think it's the right, but someone will step in here and correct me if I'm wrong. the other side is the same and I don't think they have to be moved on the frame, but it's been about 10 years since I did that myself and get a bit foggy sometimes.

[Snowbound]

Originally Posted by jdl71

If you're swapping from 6cyl to V8 one of the perches is different. I think it's the right, but someone will step in here and correct me if I'm wrong. the other side is the same and I don't think they have to be moved on the frame, but it's been about 10 years since I did that myself and get a bit foggy sometimes.

I've been told the 230/250 perches are the same as a V8, but the 292 are different on one side. Guess I'll find out when I drop the 383 in!

There is a 3rd hole in the frame rail and another slotted hole in the crossmember, that I was assuming was for the V8 location. My perch did not sit flat on the crossmember in that location though. You can see how there is a relief in the crossmember in the rear location for the perch to sit.

Brian

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by Snowbound

Those perches are in the same location as mine. I thought the V8 was mounted in the forward position?

Is your truck a factory V8?

Brian

Hey Brian, yes, mine is factory 283. Funny, I thought the 6's were mounted in the forward position, what in blazes was mounted in the forward position?????

[66C06]

LOL@ Craigerrr!

Welcome to the board! Good to see another stepside! You guys are making me jealous! I can't wait to get back home and start my build! 40 more days!!!

[jdl71]

Nice truck. Even with 4 original hubcaps. The painted ones seem impossible to find all the repro's offer is chrome. I'd say you did good for $5k considering the amount of rust you don't have to deal with.

[Snowbound]

Originally Posted by jdl71

Nice truck. Even with 4 original hubcaps. The painted ones seem impossible to find all the repro's offer is chrome. I'd say you did good for $5k considering the amount of rust you don't have to deal with.

I hear you there. I could have bought a rusty truck locally for $2-4k and spent another $3-4k on rust repair. This one has zero rust through.

I just finished up painting the other spindle and callipers with VHT Cast Iron finish and they look great.

So I figure I will mock up a rally wheel......nope. Hits the calliper and steering knuckle. WTF? CPP must have sent me the big brake kit by mistake. Rotors measure about 13".

Now I need to get the right rotors, or go buy new wheels.....Gaarrrrr

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Snowbound

I hear you there. I could have bought a rusty truck locally for $2-4k and spent another $3-4k on rust repair. This one has zero rust through.

I just finished up painting the other spindle and callipers with VHT Cast Iron finish and they look great.

So I figure I will mock up a rally wheel......nope. Hits the calliper and steering knuckle. WTF? CPP must have sent me the big brake kit by mistake. Rotors measure about 13".

Now I need to get the right rotors, or go buy new wheels.....Gaarrrrr

What year is the wheel?
If it is pre-1970ish it wont work no matter what.
Not sure what year they actually came out with disc brakes, but I know the mid 1960s wheels wont fit anything with disc.
Sorry about the brick wall... I know I have run into a few of them myself in my build.

[cdt4307]

nice truck great find and deal