1965 LWB Stepside Build

[straight6chevyguy]

Good to see ya back and at it!
I like the seat.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by straight6chevyguy

Good to see ya back and at it!
I like the seat.

Thank you sir! I picked up the seat Saturday, but it is still in the back of my SUV being "quarantined" haha I am waiting on some new seat bolts then will get it in later today or tomorrow. Pictures don't do the seat justice. I will post more when I get it out of the SUV.

[roll_the_dice]

Finally getting around to the master cylinder for the hydraulic clutch. I decided to paint the MC to make it pretty...just don't want it to rust. I also finally made my throttle linkage. I have had the parts for a while, but got it finished. I used a 5/16" brake line to cover the threaded rod....might as well paint it right? I think they both look good.

I need a second pair of hands to help me install the MC...but will get it done this week.

Slowly getting it put back together...one thing at a time.

[roll_the_dice]

Got the clutch connected the brake MC...next is the brake pedal to the booster...then all 3 pedals will be connected...YAY!

Here are some random pics of the finished install and a better pic of the throttle linkage.

[cwcarpenter98]

I like the painted clutch MC. Also, nice trick with the brake line over the threaded rod. It definitely makes it look cleaner

[roll_the_dice]

Thanks Christian...appreciate it. I really like the throttle linkage...gives it a pop under there.

[roll_the_dice]

I wanted a "Crafty B", but couldn't justify the $ for it. Crafty B's are works of art though.

So instead I Got my new gas cap installed today. I used the same location as was on the truck when I bought it, just upgraded the cap to a Cobra style cap. I wanted something a little different than normal back there.

[RDrancher]

Looking good man!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by RDrancher

Looking good man!

Thank you sir..much appreciated.

[roll_the_dice]

Got some better pics of my new recovered seat and one of the new gas cap...well my wife took them. She is a better photographer than I am.

[The Rocknrod]

What year seat is that from? DO you know or did it come with the truck,

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

What year seat is that from? DO you know or did it come with the truck,

It came with the truck when I bought it, but obviously not original to my truck.
I researched months ago and determined the seat is out of a 71 based on the cover that was on it. This was the seat before I had it recovered.

[roll_the_dice]

So I ordered a threaded rod to finish my brake booster to pedal install...I ordered a 2 foot section. I only need 6-8 inches. This is how it arrived today. I thought for sure it was the wrong length!

The 2 foot rod came in an 8 foot tube! I also ordered a clevis pin and it came in a separate box both from the same location. I paid $5 total in shipping...they lost money on that, but I have what I need.

These are the things in life that make me laugh!

[SkinnyG]

Do you have pictures of how you did the fuel filler?

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Do you have pictures of how you did the fuel filler?

The bed is still off the truck, so I haven't hooked it up to the gas tank yet. I "think" I am going to use a flexible fuel hose, but not sure yet. I will need to figure out the bends and length after the bed is installed. Both the Boyds Welding gas tank and cap use a 2" ID hose.

This is the one I bought for pictures and measurements.

PS--The hole was already in my fender from the PO and a generic fuel cap. I sat the cap in the hole and lined it up and used a spring loaded punch to mark 2 holes...Drilled and attached then marked the remaining holes and installed.

[roll_the_dice]

Got the seat installed today. Need to get some more pictures, but I do like it lots. I had to install the steering wheel and shifter to make sure everything was going to work right.

[roll_the_dice]

Moving right along...taking my drive shaft to be shortened at the end of the week.

While I wait on the driveshaft, I am going to start on the A/C install. I opened everything up today and pulled out a few pieces that needed painting. Two firewall pieces and the passenger side fresh air duct cover.

So I painted them today...will clear coat tomorrow. Here they are drying after 2 coats. Going to look "cool" when finished.

[roll_the_dice]

Took my driveshaft in to have it reworked Thursday. I was told I would get it back this coming week, but they seemed backed up. Once I get the drive shaft in, will get the brakes bled and finish the hydraulic connections to my clutch MC to the trans. Getting closer!

[roll_the_dice]

Moving along...installing the A/C while I wait on the driveshaft.

[roll_the_dice]

Most of what I post in my thread is just for me so I don't forget things...and I use it as a timeline. I like going back and seeing what I have done and when.

While I wait on my driveshaft, I am trying to stay busy. So that was my task this afternoon. I have been wanting to do an electric oil gauge. I have seen a few threads where people used one out of an 81-87 Chevy Truck.

I pieced enough together to at least try to do what I wanted. I am not a welder so my welds are not pretty but are strong enough and they aren't seen.

I used an extra set of gauges I had, but will move the oil gauge over to my gauge later this week. This is the "finished result. I still need to paint the needle and reface the gauge.

I did enlarge the mounting post holes to 1/4" and drilled the middle post. The enlarged holes because it did not fit flush otherwise.

I am also going to do the same with a voltmeter I picked up at the same time as the oil gauge. The needle is different on the oil gauge, but I am OK with that.

Here are a few pictures I took while doing it. Took about 3 hours to do and I was winging it for the most part. I learned a lot and will do the voltmeter a little differently.

Will take more pictures after I finish it and put it in my finished cluster.

[roll_the_dice]

"Final" Gauge Cluster..I added an Electric Oil Pressure Gauge as described above...and today I added a Voltmeter, since I don't trust the AMP meter that was in it and AAW doesn't support AMP meters.

I am going to paint the round portion of the Oil Gauge needle black so it blends better...

I hope to install the cluster in the truck in the next couple of weeks.

[cwcarpenter98]

That's a great lookin' cluster! While you're in there for painting the round part of the needle, have you thought about trimming the needle a bit to make it closer to the same length as the other needles in your cluster?

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

That's a great lookin' cluster! While you're in there for painting the round part of the needle, have you thought about trimming the needle a bit to make it closer to the same length as the other needles in your cluster?

Thanks Christian...I thought about trimming the needle...and probably will. I also need to paint the tach needle orange to be consistent also.

I also ordered a different oil pressure gauge that has the same kind of needle that is OEM that I am going to try. If it works like I hope, I may not have to cut the cluster piece.

I am doing John's cluster for him so I have time and a few clusters to play with to "perfect" it all. Then I am going to sell a few refurbished clusters.

[cwcarpenter98]

Nice! Sounds like you've got a good plan ahead

[roll_the_dice]

Picked up my driveshaft yesterday afternoon and installed it this morning. Finally starting to feel like I am getting somewhere.

Now on to getting the brakes bled and the hydraulic clutch plumbing hooked up.