1965 GMC "Bessie" build thread

[shrunken66stroker]

Bessie is lookin good. Love the copper lines.

[chevyrestoguy]

Very nice work! I like the radio idea, too. When you get the bodywork done on the dash, it'll look 100% factory. The setback of the radio and the rounded corners is a nice touch. Smoothed out dashes are cool, but I kind of like my radio and my glove box for the convenience factor. You'll have lots of folks scratching their heads with that mod, and that's awesome.

[chevelle518]

Jared,

Did you get you get that column from LKQ, I was there a couple a week's and noticed that old orange truck.

I would like to come by and see you in a couple of week's.

Randy

Do you have some stock 6 lugs rim's?

[1stseries55]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

Bessie is lookin good. Love the copper lines.

thanks man...appreciate it

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Very nice work! I like the radio idea, too. When you get the bodywork done on the dash, it'll look 100% factory. The setback of the radio and the rounded corners is a nice touch. Smoothed out dashes are cool, but I kind of like my radio and my glove box for the convenience factor. You'll have lots of folks scratching their heads with that mod, and that's awesome.

thanks.. it will definately not look like any other 65 GMC dash

Originally Posted by chevelle518

Jared,

Did you get you get that column from LKQ, I was there a couple a week's and noticed that old orange truck.

I would like to come by and see you in a couple of week's.

Randy

Do you have some stock 6 lugs rim's?

how's it going Randy.... yeah the column came from LKQ, every once in a while they have something there..

give me a call ... I have a set of rims..they are not in the greatest of shape but you can come check them out if you want

[chevelle518]

Jared,

Have you been to Richards junk yard in Denton, if you haven't let me know!!!

[65Guy]

Nice work. When you used the 87 booster how much did you have to shorten the brake rod. Do you have pics of it installed before and after?

[1stseries55]

Originally Posted by chevelle518

Jared,

Have you been to Richards junk yard in Denton, if you haven't let me know!!!

driven past it on the way to Lowes motor speedway.. it is never open when I am in the area.. I'd be up for a trip to check it out.

Originally Posted by 65Guy

Nice work. When you used the 87 booster how much did you have to shorten the brake rod. Do you have pics of it installed before and after?

65guy... I have not gotten that far yet.... I just mocked it up on the firewall to drill some additional mounting holes.. I'll post up that project when I get there.




In my continued quest to keep the truck as period correct in apperance as possible, I welded 4 bolts to the underside of the dash around the stock speaker location (that was fun #%@%). Then I made this setup with some cheap 3-1/2" speakers. It fits nice and looks good.

[1stseries55]

still working on the cab (slowly) all the floors, rockers and cab corners are done..

grinding and welding on the cab became monotonous so I decided to fab up a new guage pod to mount under the dash. It came out pretty good....




so unless I find something else to get me sidetracked it will be back on the cab tomorrow.

[Alan's Classic]

I understand getting sidetracked. Pod looks good!!

[motiveauto]

Truck looks sweet, how was the front end swap? Ive been considering one for my 65 and i am desperately looking for some feedback.

[1stseries55]

Originally Posted by Alan's Classic

I understand getting sidetracked. Pod looks good!!

thanks Alan..... my wife came in the garage and asked if the gauge pod was something that was absolutely necessary to get this thing on the road... I said definately, it will not go anywhere without all the extra's I add to it.

Originally Posted by motiveauto

Truck looks sweet, how was the front end swap? Ive been considering one for my 65 and i am desperately looking for some feedback.

thanks for the compliment
the front end swap is pretty straight foward, have to drill 2 holes and elongate 2 more and everything else lines right up... do a search on disc brakes and there are dozens of related posts that can explain it better than I can.

[1stseries55]

Well it has been a long time since I have posted but I am still here....

It has been a crazy year, got laid off in January...got a new job in May...so truck building slowed down a bit.

But the new job is great ( I actually like it....weird) and I am finally getting back in the game.

I had to temorarily make room on one side of my garage to do some work on my wife's car. So I took the cab off of the dolly and set it back on the chassis... here are some pics...
I almost forgot how cool this thing is

[Cops053]

awesome build, Semper Fi

[rudy350]

1stseries55 Hey bud hows it going anything new yet???? i love your whole set up like crazy . theres alot of thing i would love to ask you

[1stseries55]

Hey Rudy,
Thanks for the interest. Wow it has been over 2 years since I posted anything on my build...crazy. We sold our house last year and built a new one. I had to put both trucks and all my tools in storage for 6 months. I am finally to the point with my new shop that I can actually start working on something again. Still have to run my shop air lines and a few minor things. It sounds like a bunch of excuses but I have been non-stop with non-truck related stuff for awhile. Hopefully after the 1st I can get back at it. If you have any questions on anything feel free to ask I'll do the best I can to answer them.

Thanks

[rudy350]

jared.

i know what you mean family always comes first, like me i just got marry but taking it slow with kids lol. so your doing a shop in your new home??

one of my questions was the steering box you have on it, is it from the donor burb??

[1stseries55]

yeah I finally got the shop I wanted... it is 26x36.. I wish I could have gone bigger but it is still better than what I had.

the steering box is off of the donor burb.... I used the CPP mount kit. The kit I got came w/ a pitman arm and an adapter for the column shaft at the ragjoint. Have no idea how it will work but in theory it should at least as good as an 87 burb...lol

[allaboutchevelles]

Hey Neighbor, I dont know how I have missed your build sheet. Your real close to me if you still live in pittsboro. I live the next exit up from moncue so I can be in pittsboro in 15 minutes. Your truck is coming along nicely. We may be chasing the same parts, lol I did get the tailgate from the guy in apex right off tenten road. Those doors I got about 3 years ago from some where near gram and burlington. Hope to see some updates on your truck soon.

[1stseries55]

you are not far at all.... I am right off of 64 @ Mt. Gilead rd. We should get together sometime. Hit me up for the April Charlotte show.

[cutb4udye]

Is there an update on this bad boy cuz this is going to be one sick ride!!!

[aggie91]

He has been on recently, lets hope there is progress...