65Custom Build Thread

[65Custom]

Well its welded in and has changed slightly from the first go round, I think it will look good once it is finished out and motor is in etc won't really notice it that much, but serves the purpose of getting the motor pushed back and fitting in better.

[65Custom]

Piece of advice
What ever you do not ever add up all your invoices to see what your project has cost you.

[65Custom]

Getting a little hood repair the front inner structure was rusted but the exterior hardly showed any signs of rust. Cut down the steering column 3" to be able to fit the steering linkage for the rack. Mounted the rear sway bar. Filling all the little holes which showed up after the sand blasting.

[65Custom]

mounted rear sway bar

[65Custom]

The hood front inner support is repaired and installed back into place
Front sway bar is in place
I like this Tailgate mod

[65Custom]

coolc10 is now making an air box to go with the center ac vent he sells,
I purchased one and I am really happy with how it seals to the front ac vent cover this will really make a difference in how well this vent works.

[Braunschweiger]

Nice Part, looks good

[65Custom]

Update, temp wheels on ready to be put back on the ground soon 15 years since it has had wheels on it. inner fenders needed to be modified to fit over the new coil-overs and also need cover the old steering column hole in the inner fender. Front wheels are more centered in the wheel well now, that turned out well, once the bed is back on we will get a look at how the rear wheels align in the opening, since the front worked out so well the rear should look just as good.

[65Custom]

The tailgate is now finished

[65Custom]

Getting down to the last few bits of things needed before going to paint and body work.

Inner fender changed, removed the steering column slot since it is not needed.

[joesscamaro]

Nice work! Looking really good. Are you sending it to a body shop or will you be taking that on yourself?

[65Custom]

Originally Posted by joesscamaro

Nice work! Looking really good. Are you sending it to a body shop or will you be taking that on yourself?

She's going to a paint and body guy, I would like to leave that up the professional.

[65Custom]

Test fitted the steering linkage and decided on going with a race truck trans tunnel, leaving it open so it will run cooler and easier to work on.

[350TacoZilla]

Looking great man. A bolt in tunnel makes a big difference for access, makes me wish everything came with it from the factory.

[65Custom]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

Looking great man. A bolt in tunnel makes a big difference for access, makes me wish everything came with it from the factory.

Yeah forgot about the bolt in trans covers, that would be a good idea but actually we are just going to raise it up with fixed panel just give enough for the 4L80E

[65Custom]

So small update not much happening in the last couple of weeks but we did find out that engine mounts have built into them about 3 degrees of angle, this makes sense but we were just not thinking about it, so we were swapping the mounts from left to right to get the engine moved back where we wanted but ended up having to swap them back and cut them to get the best placement and keeping the 3 degrees angle, this also gives us a little more trans clearance than we had, we wont have to raise the floor but maybe 1/2" to give a little more insurance.

[65Custom]

Small update raised the floor about 1/2" to give more room for the trans.

[65Custom]

Not a lot to show a few little things the list of todo's is getting smaller.
mounted the gas pedal, fixed a bracket for the parking brake and had to cut out some of the frame stiffeners to get the trans cross member mounter, Next to fix a center point of the steering column for less fussing with it for easier reassembly. Next will be to weld up the pin holes on the patches in the floor and firewall, remove the cab and coat the bottom of the floor with lizard skin heat and insulation coating. I also want to put the coating inside the doors. I hope it doesn't add too much weight to them!

[65Custom]

Bottom of cab is prepared to be sprayed with heat shield and insulation.

[65Custom]

Inside doors coated with heat and insulation protection
Floor bottom coated with same top and bottom
A little more seam seal roof and bedsides a little clean up on the frame and protect it from overspray and next reassembly body to prepare for body work and paint

[88Stanger]

Damn Fine Job Sir!!
Its been a while since I was last here, but great job!!

[65Custom]

Originally Posted by 88Stanger

Damn Fine Job Sir!!
Its been a while since I was last here, but great job!!

Thanks, it has been a long road or should I say a garage stay

[65Custom]

Cab back on frame, protected the frame with plastic wrap in prep for painting. Done a little more seam sealing the back of the roof is a little rough otherwise it sealed all right. sprayed the firewall under the fender inner fenders with insulation and heat shield.

[joesscamaro]

You're making good progress! What gas pedal assembly are you using? Also, that looks like the stock brake pedal?

[65Custom]

Originally Posted by joesscamaro

You're making good progress! What gas pedal assembly are you using? Also, that looks like the stock brake pedal?

It is a Lokar gas pedal and the break pedal has a later disk brake pedal pad welded on, I dont recall if we did anything else to it.