Ian's Tennessee Honey '64 Short Box Step-side - England

[ibrown50]

Gentlemen, thank you for your kind comments


A bit of an update (across 2 posts) .....Part A

I’ve been doing a lot of odd jobs recently, I finally got around to fitting the choke cable,



Put the belts on the engine, put fluid in the PS pump etc. etc.



So before I do my final round of rust repairs (I’m saving that for the dark nights ) I’ve decide to do the fuel tank and exhaust.

I need to know where the exhaust will exit the truck and I need to know how high above the frame the tank can sit so before starting on these jobs I’ve fitted the rear cross sill and new rear bumper which is a ’67. For anyone thinking of fitting a ’67 bumper to their 64-66 truck I’m here to tell you it’s an absolute doddle. I bought brand new rear brackets from Brothers along with the new rear bumper and it all bolted straight up, (no grinding out holes or anything like that), they even come with new nuts and bolts.





Next task was to assemble a decent selection of exhaust bends and connectors

[ibrown50]

Update Part B

I have long tube headers which are 1.5” primaries running to a 2” collector, these should give good flow whilst reducing back pressure, this then runs to 2.5” mufflers. So my theory is, as the exhaust gradually increases in diameter this causes a low(er) pressure area at the rear drawing the gases away from the engine??

The first real challenge was routing the exhaust around the panhard bar

so there was loads of this



and this



which resulted in this (can you spot the difference)



but it fits well

[MacQuigley]

I'm watching with interest! This really should be job I tackle sooner rather than later and definitely before I put the bed on!

[Grizz1963]

Another short, but in my view, necessary update, report, call it what you may.

This Internet has put so many of us in touch with each other, furthered hobbies, friendships etc.

When I bought my Chevy C10 one of the forums I started to frequent was a dedicated truck forum, for all Chevy trucks. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/index.php

On here I along with other people around the world, but specifically in the UK got to meet Dale who was a creative, and driven petrol head and builder. Always supportive, full of advice and gentle, generous and kind in his friendship.

His last amazing build:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=655167

Dale was a Quadroplegic since 1984 after a Motor Vehicle Accident but none of that ever stopped him pursuing any of his hobbies.
As his girls said, he was the tallest man they ever knew, despite never seeing him walk.

Sadly, he died on the 10th of November and those that knew him, lost a great friend and mentor.

Today a parcel was delivered, he and his daughter were collecting very personalised pieces for myself, Ian Brown and Mate Martin who all have C10 trucks in restoration process, included were Ontario plates for 1964, '65 and '66
Thenparcel had been sent to Ian, who then redirected the contents here in the UK.
After his death, his wife and daughter fulfilled one of his wishes, to send out to us the pieces they collected, along with hand written notes from both ladies.

This is incredibly touching and humbling.

It again restores faith in mankind.

I have a new fridge magnet that will hold a significant place in my kitchen and home.








I feel honoured, along with Ian and Martin, to have known Dale.

RIP Friend.

[mjh1965]

That's me you and Rian running with a 67 rear bumper then . Looking forward to seeing the exhaust fitted . That's one of the jobs I will be doing in the winter nights , once I get the cab sorted and put back in the garage so I can work on the chassis in the carport.

[MacQuigley]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

That's me you and Rian running with a 67 rear bumper then

Well I'm sticking with a 62 rear bumper. 1 because that's what I bought and 2 these 67 bumpers are becoming as common as muck

[ibrown50]

Originally Posted by mjh1965

That's me you and Rian running with a 67 rear bumper then . Looking forward to seeing the exhaust fitted . That's one of the jobs I will be doing in the winter nights , once I get the cab sorted and put back in the garage so I can work on the chassis in the carport.

Yes roll on the winter when there's nothing else to do

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

Well I'm sticking with a 62 rear bumper. 1 because that's what I bought and 2 these 67 bumpers are becoming as common as muck

Yes Bill they're everywhere

[ibrown50]

Tank Install Part 1

I decided a while back to relocate the tank from the cab to the rear of the chassis I’ve started the exhaust but the exhaust and tank install kind of go hand in hand. Ideally, I wanted a tank that was not too deep so that I could still get a spare wheel slung underneath but I couldn’t find anything that would work here in the UK, I know there are loads of options in the US but shipping costs proved too much. I also looked at have one custom build but again the cost was more than I could justify. I bought this 15-gallon aluminium tank off the shelf for a little over £100 ($125),






It’s not actually a bad fit (albeit a little deeper than I would have liked) and comes fitted with a GM sender, sadly 0-90 ohm not 0-30 and AN-10 feed and returns. It’s top fill like most fuel cells, I am going to fit the fuel filler in the wheel well somewhere with a filler door on the rear fender, so I’ll need to convert it to side fill. Oh life (and truck building) is just full of compromises.

Job number one was to get it roughly in position so that I could measure up the brackets, a plank and two jack stands worked out just fine.





For the brackets picked up some 1 1/8” x 1/8” strapping at my local metal super market



To be continued.....

[mjh1965]

More weight over the rear end is always a good idea . Mine is already fitted that's why I am keen to see how you do the exhaust

[Grizz1963]

Very very neat Ian.

Unlike Martin, I will stick with my old rear fitted tank.

[mjh1965]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Very very neat Ian.

Unlike Martin, I will stick with my old rear fitted tank.

Rian you were lucky, yours was already relocated to the rear when you got your truck. Mine like Ian's was in the cab , not a good idea and like I said I wanted more weight over the rear tires . Mind you I think Bill is going to need the most weight over the rear (454) comes to mind

[ibrown50]

Tank Install part 2

The beauty of having the tank in the right position is the measuring and the test fitting the bracket is really easy. I've made a "H" shaped bracket to support the underside of the tank





and simple "U" brackets to hang the tank, this means that there is no load on the aluminium brackets, all bracket were bent up using a bench vice and a 4lb hammer.





I'm going to use this noeprene tape between the steel brackets and the aluminium to prevent any "rub", its cloth backed, super strong and expands between 1/8" and 1" so takes up any gaps.

[ibrown50]

Tank Install 2 ½

I’m converting the tank to side fill, I bought this 2” aluminium tube from a local store that does tuning parts, mainly for German imports and rice rockets, it has a really small dent so I got it for £5.



The plan is to run through the tube through right-hand chassis rail and I’ll put a filler somewhere in the rear fender.




Marked the hole position on the side of the gas tank (measure twice cut one) and cut with a 2” hole saw.



The swage on the tube creates a great positive location. The tube a quite long so my plan is the fit three gussets for support it (better safe than sorry) seen here at the carboard template stage.





Joining the tube to the tank is going to be breaking new ground for me. Firstly, the tank is T6061 which should really be heat treated after welding to prevent cracking etc and secondly, I don’t have access to a TIG welder anymore. I rang Henkel chemicals helpline (they used to supply paints, adhesives and sealers to Nissan and Rolls Royce when I worked there) and spoke to a really helpful bloke called Mike. He recommended 3 options, I am going to used Loctite 3450 mainly because of its resistance to petrol (sorry) gasoline. On the test data after 5000hours of exposure to gasoline it still retained over 90% of its original strength. I have some on order, I’ll let you know how I get on!!

[realvc]

What a great connection with a Tuba Trucks built C10, history, Goth, Halloween. Very cool indeed.

Thanks for sharing the pics.

[Palf70Step]

That is a very cool gathering!

[Palf70Step]

Sad the loss of someone like Dale. Very kool what they did for you guys over yonder.

[ibrown50]

It’s months since I last did an up-date but in fairness, months since I had any truck time. Finally got back to it last week and finished the fuel tank install which included fitting a 0-30-ohm sender which appears to work fine with the gauge in the dash.



For the fuel line I’ve used 3/8 aluminium hard-line which is fine but like copper will work harden and could crack if not securely clipped to the chassis.



I used these plastic clips, they’re a push fit with a cover that clips over the top making them double secure.



I used AN-6 fittings and stainless braided hose to connect the tank to the hard-line

[ibrown50]

It’s always a good idea to install a decent size fuel filter, this one comes with AN-6, -8 and -10 fittings and is has rather pretty red anodised finish,



Of course I couldn’t resist personalising it



The hard-line feeds straight into the underside and the top feeds back to the fuel pump with a couple of AN fittings and some more braided fuel line,



From the tank to the pump to the carb I’d already installed a Summit Racing kit which includes filter, hoses, chrome hard-line and fuel pressure gauge, it’s a decent kit and very good value.

[MacQuigley]

Looking good Ian. Desperate to get back onto mine but I'm not quite done with the Vette yet though I am close.

[ibrown50]

Well it’s just no good (as my mum would say) I’ve not really had much truck time for the last 6 months and the other UK contributors to this forum have been fairly quiet (from a truck building point of view) too.

Luckily for me there are many threads on here which provide the necessary inspiration when needed, I’ve just re-read Rocknrods 64 stepper thread (that truck is soooo clean) and Bill is almost finished his C3 so it’s time to crack on.

My next job is the last of my rust repairs and I’ve been putting it off for longer than I ought to, so this weekend I’ve completed the tear down. With this truck I have learned to expect that beneath every tiny paint blister is 7lbs of bondo and a rusty hole.


This is what it looked like when I began





I hoped that the drivers side would be better than the passenger side, passenger sides are often worse as they are "in the gutter" but if anything it's actually worse



And when I was finished

[MacQuigley]

We having a race to the finish line now we have both started again? :-) :-) :-)

Would be the longest race in history!

[Palf70Step]

Glad to see you back at it. Love seeing your quality work.

[ibrown50]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

Ian, at this point my silence indicates only my respect for the members of this forum.
Inside my head the Pirate is swearing at the artists of your repairs.

You are a brave man, but we know it will be good.

Thanks Rian, I don't know about brave, more probably too dumb to know any better

Originally Posted by MacQuigley

We having a race to the finish line now we have both started again? :-) :-) :-)

Would be the longest race in history!

Yes Bill I agree, most races need a stop watch, our need calendars

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Glad to see you back at it. Love seeing your quality work.

Thanks Bill, that's very kind of you to say so, like most of us on here we do our best with the skills we have

[ibrown50]

Progress update,

On first fitting I discovered the floor / inner rocker repair panel had been mis-hit, it looked as though there had been in-sufficient set on the finish die so effectively it was too short on one corner, this meant the floor would not line up, it wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to be a problem. The simplest fix was to “stretch” it, so I cut it with a plasma disc, pulled it apart slightly and then welded up the gap.






With this done the floor fit was remarkably good and it was soon clamped and then tacked in place,






I have to replace the bottom 6 inches of the A post which is welded to the inner footwell. I find it useful sometimes to trial fit parts (especially re-pops) as a process of elimination. I trial fitted the inner footwell before I cut off the remainder of the A post. It fits perfectly so now if there are any fit-up problems after I repair the A post, I know it’s not this panel.

[Palf70Step]

Great looking work Ian!