'64 C-10 Stalled Project Rescue

[Arne]

As promised in my Intro thread, here's my latest project. Details coming soon...

[Warrens69GMC]

Don't get me wrong, but something is "off" with that one.

Maybe the wheel and tire package? IDK

Is it on a newer frame?

[Arne]

No, stock frame, albeit a long to short conversion done by the previous owner. But the bed is not properly located or attached, and the wheels are WAY too large. Both of those items are on my list. (List is getting pretty long...)

[cwcarpenter98]

The lists usually get longer before they begin to get any shorter. I like the green! What wheels are you thinking of going with?

[Arne]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

The lists usually get longer before they begin to get any shorter.

Don't I know it. Check out the intro thread I linked above to see some of my previous projects. Not my first (or second, third or even fifth) rodeo.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

I like the green!

Given that I didn't pick the color (painted before I bought it), I'm really happy with the color. Not totally period, but a classic Chevy color just the same.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

What wheels are you thinking of going with?

Still up in the air. The ones on it now are very deep (reverse offset) 15x10. Leading candidates are 15x8 stock type with OE hubcaps. Looks like the suspension is lowered with springs on both ends, maybe 2" in front, 3" in back (as a guess).

The truck is equipped with a 305 V8 and A833 4-speed manual overdrive 'box, both dating from the early '80s. Engine has an Edelbrock 4-barrel on a Performer manifold, with open block-hugger headers, otherwise stock. New exhaust is also on the list.

5-lug conversion with front discs as well. Lots of new stuff to go with it. "Some assembly required," as they say.

[The Rocknrod]

Well cool project, great start as projects go.

[Braunschweiger]

Yes, cooles Project and nice Paint.

[cwcarpenter98]

I'm a big fan of steelies and hubcaps, so that obviously have my vote
The drivetrain sounds like a decent cruising setup that should be fun

[Arne]

I've been working on some reassembly up front, which is fun, and also gets a bunch of parts off the floor of my storage area. Will be looking at the brakes this weekend, and maybe starting on the bed as well.

[Arne]

Found a bad wheel cylinder on the LR yesterday (seized and leaking bleeder screw), hope to pick up a replacement today. There may be other brake issues too, but I need to fix this first one before further tests.

Also, I've determined the bed wood that came with the truck is not correct, both the mounting holes and the plank widths are wrong. So new wood will be needed as well. Details here - https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=838551

[Arne]

Replaced the wheel cylinder today, big improvement in the brake pedal feel. The truck is not ready for the road yet, so I can't say for sure how it stops, but I'm optimistic.

I need to either secure or remove the bed so I can make it drivable. Need to get it to DMV for a VIN inspection, and also to a muffler shop to make it quiet. Soon, I hope...

[88Stanger]

very nice looking truck to start with. waiting to see what all you do with it.

[Arne]

Today's tasks - re-engineering the parking brake (it works now!), and working on the bed mounting. I'd still prefer to get the bed temporarily secured so I can get ready to drive the truck to DMV and a muffler shop, as opposed to removing it for the trip.

[Arne]

Today I got the bed sorted out, and mounted temporarily using the (wrong) wood kit that came with it. For the first time since I bought it, it doesn't look like it has a camel-back frame.

Getting closer to being semi-road-ready. Next up is brake lights...

[Arne]

Well, the job of getting enough lights working to make it reasonably street-worthy has seriously mushroomed. I knew the existing wiring was garbage and would need replaced at some point, but I figured I could patch a few temporary wires in to get brake lights and turn signals without too much hassle.

I was soon convinced otherwise. It became obvious as I started digging in that I was wasting my time. The farther I traced back a problem, the more new problems I found. There just isn't enough good wiring left to build on.

So this afternoon I ordered a considerable load of new wiring sub-harnesses. Not all of them, but the main fusebox harness, the front and rear light harnesses, and the missing engine compartment harnesses as well. This should get me to semi-street legal, after a week or two's work.

[Arne]

This week's box o'parts arrived today (one day late due to yet another FedEx screw up), and it is rewarding to plug in new, proper wiring and see things begin to work properly. While I still have some final wire routing and securing yet to do, I now have pretty much all the lights working—tail, brake, parking, all turn signals, and the low beam head lights. No high beams yet, I failed to notice that the dimmer switch had been bypassed by a PO at some point, and will remain so until I get around to getting a new switch. I have not installed the new main under-dash harness and fuse box yet, nor the new engine harness pre-configured for HEI. The new turn signal switch is installed, and works and cancels properly.

I also bought and installed some new stainless tailgate chains.

Thinking ahead, soon I'm going to need to deal with the choke. The little 5 liter V8 has an Edelbrock #1405 (600CFM with manual choke). Existing choke cable is useless, so I'm trying to decide whether to convert to electric choke, or to get a new cable assembly for it. I'm torn—an electric choke seems civilized and user-friendly, but leaves an empty hole in the gauge bezel.

Any thoughts on which choke I should go with? Bear in mind that at some point I will need to sell this truck, so future sale-ability is key.

[The Rocknrod]

You could purchase the electric choke kit Edelbrock makes for their carbs, I have done that in the past.

[Arne]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

You could purchase the electric choke kit Edelbrock makes for their carbs, I have done that in the past.

Yes, if I convert the choke I figured I'd use the Edelbrock kit. Just not sure what I'll do with the choke hole in the bezel.

One thought I had that isn't going to pan out is that my truck came with a retro-cool vintage hazard flasher kit. Rather crudely wired in (looked like it was installed by Cro-Magnon man), but I can fix that. I was hoping that I could mount it in the choke cable hole, but there isn't enough clearance behind the bezel for that. So back under the dash it will go.



While I'm thinking about wiring, I'm quite pleased with the new harnesses I got (made by American Autowire), especially the under-dash harness with the spiffy new fuse block.

[Arne]

Originally Posted by Arne

Yes, if I convert the choke I figured I'd use the Edelbrock kit. Just not sure what I'll do with the choke hole in the bezel.

Figured it out. I'm going to add an intermittent wiper switch right next to the normal wiper switch. I can probably even use the original choke cable knob on it for a OEM look.

In the mean time, the wiring replacement continues. The farther I go, the more things I get working. I should be able to finish the wiring tomorrow. Then finish the driver's door (new window rubber and weatherstrip), and secure the rear fenders.

Last task before firing it back up for a trip to DMV will be exhaust. I've currently got none. I'm a little reluctant to drive it with just those open block-hugger headers (both for noise, and also a bit worried about thermal shock at the exhaust ports/valves with no exhaust to temper the cold air when I shut it down hot). Might need to cobble something together, but hate to buy parts that might not be able to be used when I later have it done right. Still mulling this one over a bit.

[Arne]

Built an adapter harness for the hazard switch so no wire taps or cuts in the new harnesses are needed, and mounted it hanging under the dash like before.

And I didn't like it. Very amateur looking, and all the back end was easily visible. So I decided to remove the totally burned out cigarette lighter and mount it there instead. After all, who uses a lighter these days?

Much happier with this spot.

[Arne]

I haven't spent as much time on the truck as I'd like over the past week or so, as I've been helping my son and his wife rebuild a rotting deck. I finished my part of that project today, and so I'll be able to spend more time getting the truck back on the road.

I've got just a little more work to do routing and securing the new wiring in the engine compartment. Then on to the new window and door rubber for the driver's door (passenger side was finished last week). At that point I'll secure the rear fenders.

Once all that is done, I think the truck should be able to self-propel. If so, then I'll get exhaust and the DMV papers.

Longer term, the plan is for new 15x8 steelies with big 275/60 tires, power rack & pinion steering and A/C.

Still a fair ways to go. The target date is early June, so I can show it off (and perhaps sell it) at a big local classic cruise event near by.

[Joe Pass]

Nice project.....

[Arne]

Got the new wiring pretty well sorted today, and after rigging up a temporary hand choke, it started right up. Loudly. But other than the noise, seems pretty good all around. Generator idiot light goes out immediately, and my meter says the later model 3-wire alternator is pushing 14.4v at fast idle.

Started on the left door and window rubber this afternoon. Should be able to wrap that up tomorrow, then I can work on the rear fenders. Will start talking to exhaust shops next week.

[The Rocknrod]

Cool, good to hear you got it started. Ya no exhaust is loud indeed.

[Arne]

Finished up the window and door rubber on the left side today. Actually backed the truck out of the garage to make more room to work on the door weatherstrip. I'm going to have to look at the clutch adjustment, it engages a bit high. But both foot and parking brakes work fine.