Fryer1979 '66 C-10 Build

[protrash64]

Check the radiator tank on the return (upper hose) side. They crack and can just leak or violently blow a hole thru while driving. I've done a radiator every 55k on my '99.

Could happen on either side of the tank in my experience.

[fryer1979]

Appears to be good, but thanks.

[fryer1979]

Here is a couple more shots to show just how clean she really is:







And of course a little "team spirit":



Now that this whole ordeal is done and over with, I can get back to my snail pace at work on the Junkyard Dog. My next update should have some progress pics, hopefully next weekend.

[fryer1979]

Ok, got a few more update photos for anyone still following along.

Here is a shot of my accomplished days work just the week before Thanksgiving (and my wife's unfortunate accident):



And here is what I spent all of my New Year's day doing:



Looks like I have finally gone from a mostly complete truck to a pile of parts. I'm pretty happy for a days work, all major disassembly is finally done.



SOMEONE COME GET THIS NICE, CLEAN, AND BASICALLY RUST FREE CAB OUT OF HERE! I was going to cut it up and scrap it, but it is just too damn nice! First one to show up with a truck or trailer gets it (no papers included).

[66-PMD-GMC]

That snow looks like a B@#$ to work in... I am very thankful for the climate I have in Arizona

[redneck6]

dam you are making good progress when ya want to make a scrap run let me know . got a torch if ya wanna barrow it .

[fryer1979]

I've already scrapped as much as I plan to. A friend wants the frame for his one-off rod project, the front end is for my truck. Since that dually rear is severely shortened I am thinking about taking tha axles, brakes, and hubs off, having some new 5-lig axles made up and use it on my '65.....sure would be bullet-proof, and would let me get those 10" wide wheels I'm gonna run further inside my fenders.

I was gonna scrap the cab, but our scrap yard pays so little for "tin" as they call it, I'd rather have someone who needs it use it rather than get the $10 they would likely give to me (isn't even worth the time to cut it up). I may be forced to scrap it sooner or later though, my landlord at the shop isn't going to let me keep it there long, and I don't have any room inside to keep it.

[fryer1979]

Got a little more progress going on. Didn't bother taking any pictures since everything is under the truck, and my phone doesn't take very good pictures in that kind of light. All that is left now to pull apart is: removing the cab shell, pulling the bed off, pull axle housing and trailing arms. Once that's done I can start cleaning, refinishing, and reassembly.

[66-PMD-GMC]

We want more PICS...
BUY A CAMERA
You don't have any drop lights for pics with that camera phone?..

[66-PMD-GMC]

did you get the link I PMed you?

[fryer1979]

Yes I did get the link you sent me, thank you very much. And yes I do have a couple drop lights actually, just not much worth taking pictures of at the moment.

There is going to be a bunch of progress coming soon as I am getting a small chunck of cash to get a head start on getting it rolling. I am also working on getting a different shift that gives me more time to work on the truck, and overtime at work is beginning to slow down as well. Stay tuned for a lot of updates starting in spring.

Here's a teaser shot into the shop taken a month or so ago. Truck is quite a bit more disassembled now.

[fryer1979]

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted on here. Went through a three month tour on a really crappy post, no internet access, and a couple of nasty colds. I've had some pretty heavy lows with the project, and received some really bad news regarding the title. Basically put, there is no legal for me to register this truck with it's current vin number......ever. So, I came to a decision and totally changed my direction. This current project is going to be mostly reassembled, and stored for a future 4x4 swap. I'd like to have one of these trucks in a 4x4 chassis, and since in California vehicles are registered by their chassis, I could swap in a few year latter chassis and be able to register and drive it. I'm not going to scrap her or sell her off so don't worry. she's just going to go into deep storage for a while.

In the mean while......I stumbled across this: Gentlemen, I introduce Tanya;






Tanya is another 1965 C-10, small window, long bed. She has the original 230 ci inline six, and the granny gear 4 speed, While she is a little more rusty than Junkyard Dog is, she is still in solid and driveable shape. In fact I drove her the entire 80+ miles home on the highway. I gotta say though, these trucks sure don't like highway speeds. I can't even describe how much I enjoy driving the old girl around, but those of you who have driven one know exactly what I mean. Plans remain similar to the last one, only this time things will be done one step at a time with keeping her on the road as a main goal. The only question that remains is: Should I start a whole new build thread for Tanya, or just keep on going in this one?

[fryer1979]

Well, here is an update for the Junkyard Dog if anyone is still following this thread. Tomorrow I am going to look at a 77 shortbed, stepside, heavy-half 4x4. A friend of mine has it sitting on his property (he has the title for it as well), and told me that if I don't want it he's gonna haul it off to scrap. The truck has a 350 and a 4 speed granny transmission, and only needs minor work to be running again. Not much talk of price yet, but he did mention it cost him a couple hundred to get it back up here from Sac, and I know he knows he will only get $200 for it at any scrap yard here. We'll talk money tomorrow after I check it out, and I'll get some pictures posted up for anyone still interested in this build of mine. As always, cheap/junkyard prices and parts are the name of the game.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Are you thinking about putting the 66 cab on the 77 frame??
That would be cool, I know a guy that has a 63 cab and bed on a 78 4X4 frame.
I know there is a 3" differance in wheel base.
Doesn't the cab need to be channeled to make that work?
Oh, the wheels are spinning so fast in my head it hurts.... OUCH!

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Are you thinking about putting the 66 cab on the 77 frame??
That would be cool, I know a guy that has a 63 cab and bed on a 78 4X4 frame.
I know there is a 3" differance in wheel base.
Doesn't the cab need to be channeled to make that work?
Oh, the wheels are spinning so fast in my head it hurts.... OUCH!

Yeah, most likely I will be using just the cab from the 65 on the 77 frame and running gear. The 77 is a short-step and this 65 is a long fleet, so I may just match up the cab to the existing bed. I'll see how it looks, and if I don't like it then I can just keep my eyes open for a good shortbed. As far as I know the only change really needed is the cab mounts themselves. I have seen a few people talk about clearance on a rear crossmember, but I also have grinders and a welder.....I'll make it work.

[66-PMD-GMC]

The guy I know sectioned in the frame horns from a 63-66 into the 78 frame so he could use a stock front bumper and a custom made push bumper thingiemajob,
moved the fleet box forward an inch and a half and the cab back an inch and a half,
used repositioned frame mounts to raise the cab for some reason and used blocks under the bed for sort of a body lift I am guessing.
He has 18X44 mudders and the truck looks pretty dog gone cool and I'm not a big 4X4 fan.
He also used a divorced Tcase for some odd reason but again, I don't know 4X4's

[fryer1979]

If I do go through with this build as a 4x4, an inch or so really won't make much of a difference to me. I never plan to win any shows with her (unless they have some kind of "rough and ready" award). I'm looking for enough lift to comfortably clear a set of 35" mud terrains, maybe even 37s if I can. Body and interior will be covered in spray-on bedliner. Full cage will be added to the interior and tied to the chassis, and the chassis will be boxed and braced. I'll build full custom bumpers from plate steel and include winch mounts for the front and rear. A modified body lift kit for a square-body 4x4 should be quite adequate to solve the cab fitment issues (in conjunction with my grinder and welder). She won't be very "pretty" to most, but for me she will be beautiful. Plus I will finally feel safe driving in the San Fransisco traffic when I go visit my brother-in-law. Seriously though, I've just always wanted to build a rough and ready kind of off road truck out of a classic Chevy. And around here, there is way more off-road recreation than there is on-road, hell if you're a partier like my wife and I get to be sometimes, there are a lot of people that live in places that require 4 wheel drive just to get in to. 4 wheel drive is just a part of life here, and absolutely necessary when we are getting pounded with snow in the fall, winter, and early spring. I've had a 4x4 of some kind ever since I started driving almost 20 years ago, and I've been wanting to build one like this for just about that long. I still love my 2 wheel drive cruiser and my hot rod Camaro, but those have to be parked a few months out of the year and I'd really like to spend that time in another classic Chevy.

If I do go this route with Junkyard Dog, I will document with photo and story as much as I possibly can right here. My wife is on board for the project, and I really want to so I don't see why I won't. It just might take a little time, cash flow....ya know?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Good luck in whatever you do to it.
It's your truck to build however you want.
That is the fantastic part about hotrodding...

[fryer1979]

Thanks man.
And you are exactly right, that is one of the best things about building cars and trucks.

[fryer1979]

So I went out to look at that short-step 4x4 today. To be honest it is really too nice to use for my purpose, and a little too far apart to pick up for a driver though. Too many projects already for me to pick up another one. I'm going to go back out there again soon and take some pictures so I can post up a for sale ad here for him. This truck is very rust and damage free, and would make someone a great project. If someone is following along here and would like a project like this, keep an eye out for the for sale ad in the square body section.