1966 Low budget build thread

[j_persinger66c10]

Ok guys and gals I have decided to start my build thread.
Here is a little history, First, my wife allowed me to build a rat rod of some sort, but said she wanted it to be a truck. So she 1st allotted me a $1000 budget to find and build my truck. Now, I already had a SBC 305 and a TH350 automatic sitting at my father's, so I was good on the motor and tranny part. I just needed to find a donor vehicle.
Well a co-worker of mine happened to have a 1966 chevy short bed step side for 24 years and decided he would sell it. Now it was already set up for a SBC and had 3 inch exhaust ran all the way back. So I picked I bought and brought it home.

[j_persinger66c10]

I got it home and decided my plan, I wanted to put a bench seat back in it, remove the gas tank from the cab, put a tilt column in it, update the wiring, convert the brakes to a dual res. master cylinder and get it road worthy.


Here I took the doors off and the seats out getting ready to pull the brake/clutch pedal assembly and steering column.

[j_persinger66c10]

Here is the mess under the dash when I started to take everything apart.



Old Master cylinder pulled

[j_persinger66c10]

Better Doors installed

[j_persinger66c10]

Automatic Tilt Column installed out of a 1979 Chevy Van--Cost $100 at a local salvage yard


Modification to the pedal housing that I had to notch out for the Neutral Safety Switch.


Here is the lower shaft out of a 67-72 Chevy truck, Here I had to drill out the two nylon stops and take the upper flex joint apart and hammer down the shaft about 4 inches I believe. I think I had to get it to about 17 1/2" in total link mounting point to mounting point.

[j_persinger66c10]

Dual Reservoir master cylinder installed out of a 1967 Chevy truck bought at Oreilly's for about $20 and it bolted right up using the same pushrod and everything. As you can see I also had to cut out a spot on the inner fender for the flex joint on the steering column to pass through.

[j_persinger66c10]

Now here is the heart of the beast out at my dad's shop. It was completely rebuilt, with a mild cam, factory aluminum intake, ported-polished heads, shorty headers and a holley 600 cfm carb. I plan on installing it the by the end of this month.

[j_persinger66c10]

Here I am cutting out the mess of a rear cross member the previous owner had, I forgot to take the pics prior to the start, but attached to the rear cross member was a piece of C channel along with a drop down hitch welded to it as a brace support for the rear C channel bumper along with another piece of C Channel running at an angle welded in to support the other brace. It took 4 cut-off wheels and about 6 hours of hammering and prying to get all of the welds and braces off. But I did succeed.
Here it is washed in my driveway




This was the original bumper on the back with a homemade trailer hitch.


Here it is with the bed off and the rear cross member cut out to make room for my rear mount gas tank.


here is my rear mount gas tank mocked up for the fit. I am using a 1965-68 Ford Mustang/Cougar Gas tank. It holds 16 gallons and will bolt from the top side of the frame. I did have to notch the frame out to get it to drop in. I took about 1" to 1 1/2" out of each side of the rear frame.


here is the rear frame with a new rear support welded in and the frame painted.

[j_persinger66c10]

Here is my seat that I picked up at a local salvage yard for $40.

[j_persinger66c10]

So far I have completed the upgrade on the brakes, I had to run new lines on the front and installed two 10 p.s.i check valves from Speedway motors in line to help with the drums. I've installed my tilt automatic column from a 1979 Chevy Van. Repaired my cab with newer doors and rebuilt the door latches and window assemblies, repaired the floor and made it solid. I have moved my fuel tank to the rear and will be running my fuel lines this week and begin on my wiring upgrade for my truck. I purchased a 12 circuit universal wiring harness from Speedway and will tackle that. I will update with more photos when I can.
So far I purchased this truck on Feb. 8th 2014 and have been working on it almost non stop for at least 4-6 hours a day using basic hand tools. Those rivets and welds holding that rear cross member in was a pain using a chisel and a 16 0z hammer to beat out.

I have a deadline of the 1st weekend in April to have it road worthy for our 1st car show here locally. So far my original $1000 budget has gone out the window, but I am still into this truck for less than $2000 and probably will end up around $2500 or so when it is all said and done (for now anyways).

[bj383ss]

Nice start. You are zipping right along to the finish line. Did you run original style brake lines in the front? Or did you make them yourself?

Bret

[NEWFISHER]

Nice work, looking good!

[1963c-10]

Welcome to the forum. Nice job and cool project.

[j_persinger66c10]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Nice start. You are zipping right along to the finish line. Did you run original style brake lines in the front? Or did you make them yourself?

Bret

I ran them myself, I've got a tubing bender and flaring tool that I used to make my own.

[chevyrestoguy]

I like builds like this. You're being smart with your money, you're hitting the wrecking yards, and you're doing it all yourself. Yeah, you're going to go past your original budget, but don't get discouraged. Even at $2500, you're going to have a vintage truck with a new engine and upgraded brakes, steering, and fuel system. I'd say that you're way ahead of the curve.

Great work, and keep it up!

[rusty76]

I'm in for this one as well.....you know me I like'em low budget builds.. Cool truck.

[sprinter11r]

Looking good. Ill probably see you around some time. Is the car show you are wanting to make Bob Hillers show?

[j_persinger66c10]

Originally Posted by sprinter11r

Looking good. Ill probably see you around some time. Is the car show you are wanting to make Bob Hillers show?

Yes it is, I've made that one the last few years in my 1981 El Camino, but I sold it and now am working on this one. I doubt I will have any body work done by then as I am just wanting to get it running for the show.