1965 LWB Stepside Build

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Looks AWESOME Andy

Thanks John!

Got my POR15 delivered today from Summit...I had already disassembled the grille light buckets and blasted and painted them. Then I wirewheeled the backside of the grille and put 2 coats of POR15 on it. I also blasted and painted one of the hood hinges...Need to put POR15 on the back of the grille support tomorrow also. Wednesday, I should be able to clear coat the grille and support.

[J Williams]

Progress is looking good!

[cwcarpenter98]

Take it for a spin like that

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by J Williams

Progress is looking good!

Thanks...It is coming along now! I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Take it for a spin like that

Funn you say that...I said to my wife...want to go for a ride in the truck?! If it had exhaust I would!

I got the back of grille support cleaned up with a wire wheel...going to put some por 15 on it Monday. Then I will clear coat the front of the support and paint the part behind the grille black like original. I hope to get that grille on at some point this week...then the hood!

[roll_the_dice]

Glad I had this emblem to remind me what truck I had. It has been so long I almost forgot!

[roll_the_dice]

Trying to keep from buying "new parts"...I am doing some cleaning up on the grille/grille support...decided to see if I could clean my headlight bezels...blasted them, then sanded with 220 and 320 grit paper...night and day difference. Going to clear coat them this week so they don't rust again...

One bezel done, one to go!

[roll_the_dice]

Got the back of the grille and grille support coated with POR15 over the last 2 days. I also painted the grille support behind the grille satin black. I think it was originally flat black, but all I had was satin black so that is what I used. I need to still clear coat the grille and support...then I can get it all together. I also cleaned up the parking light buckets and painted it silver. Getting closer to getting the engine bay closed up...waiting on my exhaust shop to be ready for me...they are backed up at the moment, which is fine since I want to have the hood on when I take it in.

One picture before paint and one after. The support is just sitting there since I am not ready to install it.

[Johns 66]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Got the back of the grille and grille support coated with POR15 over the last 2 days. I also painted the grille support behind the grille satin black. I think it was originally flat black, but all I had was satin black so that is what I used. I need to still clear coat the grille and support...then I can get it all together. I also cleaned up the parking light buckets and painted it silver. Getting closer to getting the engine bay closed up...waiting on my exhaust shop to be ready for me...they are backed up at the moment, which is fine since I want to have the hood on when I take it in.

One picture before paint and one after. The support is just sitting there since I am not ready to install it.

For sure like the black inside the grille support. This is really looking good Andy

[cwcarpenter98]

Looks great! I also like the black behind the grille. It will make the grille stand out much better that way

[roll_the_dice]

So funny how this truck was re-painted back in the day. Some places were sanded down to metal and done correctly...some were primed on top of the original green.

Earlier this week, I sanded the grille support in hopes of finding a good bit of green paint. The only place I found any was on the top where the hood overlaps the grille support. I guess they were too lazy to raise the hood to sand?

Anyway, this is what the top of the grille support looks like now after sanding and clear coating. I love how the original green shines through.

[Johns 66]

Looks Awesome Andy...I for sure like how the green comes through as well

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Looks Awesome Andy...I for sure like how the green comes through as well

Thanks John!

Got the grille support mounted and sat the cowl on to see what it will look like.

I want to reclear the hood then get it on in the next week. I will get the grille mounted this weekend also.

[cwcarpenter98]

That spot is underneath where the filler pieces are, so they probably didn't care to do much prep work on that certain area. It's looking good though!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

That spot is underneath where the filler pieces are, so they probably didn't care to do much prep work on that certain area. It's looking good though!

You are right...I just sat the filler pieces on for looks and it covered 95% of the green.

[Johns 66]

Oh heck yea.....
On another note Christian is becoming the C10 Jedi Master

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Oh heck yea.....
On another note Christian is becoming the C10 Jedi Master

Hey now, I don't think I'm there quite yet. Still a padawan

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Hey now, I don't think I'm there quite yet. Still a padawan

Close young Carpenter.

[roll_the_dice]

So I am talking to a friend last night. He has a 68 Camaro and he said..."do you still want rally wheels for your truck? I am not going to use the ones I have. I bought them cheap and will sell them to you for what I paid." He thinks they were off a Corvette and are original. Either way, I just need to go pick them up. 15x7 and 15x8. They just need to be painted or powder coated. I will post pics when I get them.

So the question is will my 255/70/15 tires fit both 7"& 8" rim? I know nothing about tires and sizing for rims.

[cwcarpenter98]

That probably will work, but if you're trying to keep it where you can easily rotate the tires and want 15x8s, someone out there probably has a pair they would trade for the 15x7s

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

That probably will work, but if you're trying to keep it where you can easily rotate the tires and want 15x8s, someone out there probably has a pair they would trade for the 15x7s

Thanks Christian...that is a good idea. Once I pick them up, I can figure it out.
And yes, I would like to be able to rotate the tires...I didn't really want staggered wheels, so maybe I can find a suitable trade.

[Captainfab]

Corvette rally wheels will have the 5 x 4.75" wheel stud pattern. Isn't your truck is 5 x 5"

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Corvette rally wheels will have the 5 x 4.75" wheel stud pattern. Isn't your truck is 5 x 5"

Hmmm good catch John. I will verify what he has. He thought they were Corvette wheels...so is the 68 Camaro 5 x 4.75" also?

[Captainfab]

Yes the Camaro would be 5 x 4.75" also.

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Hmmm good catch John. I will verify what he has. He thought they were Corvette wheels...so is the 68 Camaro 5 x 4.75" also?

[roll_the_dice]

maybe they aren't Corvette wheels...but I talked to my friend today and he said they are 5x5. I am going to get them later this week. If they don't work for my truck he said he would take them back.

[350TacoZilla]

If they aren't the normal truck\van rally wheel they might be something oddball like caprice or impala. I keep thinking they were 5x5 also.

Hope you get to drive it soon man it looks great!