Mesquite 1966 C10 - LS3 W/Air Ride

[1963chevyshort]

This is a sweet build and has helped me with a couple of questions i had in my head

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by 66ChevyMax

I think I like the shifter in the middle position better. Photo is 2nd gear.

I like it, that looks perfect.

[TJ's Chevy]

Man this is an awesome build! Keep up the good work!

[Shooters_7]

I really want to see this truck done and hear how it rides!

[eric8]

I saw a pic of a crossmember, but I seem to have missed where you said what crossmember you used or how you got it to work with that tranny. Looks great!

[66ChevyMax]

Well hello again, been gone for a while but I'm back in the shop working on the truck. Like many others here I will take this time to talk about something other than the truck.

The truck was for the most part broken down and put back to where it is today in just over a year. While admitting some burnout setting in and the fact we had dust storms that filled the shop with dust once a week, work came to a halt.

Last year I began to get the feeling back and was excited to get started again and finish this sucker. But as happens someone had other plans.

The start of my "FUNK"

September of last year my youngest child Adam age 12 had a seizure while at school. He had been sick (cold) for a few days and the seizure happened on his first day back while in athletics. My wife goes to pick him up and I meet them at the emergency room thinking this is related to him being sick and is a one time thing (WRONG). Just before the doc was to send us home he had another one in the ER in front of me and his mom. There is no family history of this and we have never seen one in person, needless to say it freaked the **** out of us both.

They did some test and told us he has Epilepsy. He continued to have seizures every 10 days or so for months. We were very lucky that all of them happened at the house and we learned to read the signs which would give us about a 30min warning. He was not able to recognize the signs.

Needless to say this put us on total watch and freaked me and his mother out for some time. I am glad to say we have found the correct meds and he has been seizure free for almost a year (praying and fingers crossed).

Also this year my business partner's younger brother who I have known for over 20 years took his own life at the age of 62, very sad and hard to come to some kind of logic for this, still looking for answers.

Things are better now, spent two weeks cleaning the shop (43 dust storms this year) and have been working on the truck for the last week. Will post some pictures of progress later.

Thanks for reading my "why I'm in a Funk" story

See you soon

[Modges'66]

Wow!
Very sad to hear these stories.
I am glad that that your son's epilepsy is currently under control.
That has to be an overwhelming experience to endure, and I truly cannot even start to imagine... Things like these will certainly re-prioritize items in your life!
I am happy to see that you are back, and that this project didn't just die.
This is a thread that really got me going during the beginning of my build!
I cannot wait to see progress pics!!!

[duallyjams]

Family comes first, good to hear from you, you know that if you ever need anything we are here for you also.

[likaroc13]

Really hate to hear, but I know where you're coming from. My truck has been slow-going for a while now, but it's definitely at a halt now that my dad is sick. I'm glad your son is doing better, & I pray that he keeps doing well. So sad to hear about your business partner's brother as well. Glad you're getting back to the truck though, & hopefully it'll be good therapy for you.

[mcfarlnd]

In our prayers. Glad to hear your son is doing well.

[bigc1066]

You are in my prayers brother, my 2 year old was just given the same diagnosis before Thanksgiving but with medication and a lot of therapy we have seen a huge growth in her. They told us at Children's Dallas we had activity on both side of the brain causing significant delays since birth. And with all her therapy and Doctors I had to put my truck on the back burner. Hoping to start back up soon.

[66ChevyMax]

Clutch and & breaks are working:

[66ChevyMax]

Air Ride rough-in, compressors are on the frame the rest will be behind the seat:

[66ChevyMax]

Here is how she sits today, steering is up next:

[66ChevyMax]

Thanks Modges, I'm glad to be back in the saddle!

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Wow!
Very sad to hear these stories.
I am glad that that your son's epilepsy is currently under control.
That has to be an overwhelming experience to endure, and I truly cannot even start to imagine... Things like these will certainly re-prioritize items in your life!
I am happy to see that you are back, and that this project didn't just die.
This is a thread that really got me going during the beginning of my build!
I cannot wait to see progress pics!!!

What's up Dually, I appreciate that, I feel bad for just dropping off and not keeping everyone up to date, it was a very stressful time.

Originally Posted by duallyjams

Family comes first, good to hear from you, you know that if you ever need anything we are here for you also.

Thanks for the prayer likaroc, hope your dad gets well soon. I am really enjoying the work again.

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Really hate to hear, but I know where you're coming from. My truck has been slow-going for a while now, but it's definitely at a halt now that my dad is sick. I'm glad your son is doing better, & I pray that he keeps doing well. So sad to hear about your business partner's brother as well. Glad you're getting back to the truck though, & hopefully it'll be good therapy for you.

Thanks man.

Originally Posted by mcfarlnd

In our prayers. Glad to hear your son is doing well.

Bigc, I totally understand the back burner issue, it can be frustrating customizing these trucks with trying to find this part and that part not to mention the 2 weeks looking for one brass fitting, I had enough stress and didn't have it in me to continue with the truck. I'm glad your child is making progress, Epilepsy is strange, some can be handled with meds and others get no help whatsoever. The first med we started with did not work and they kept upping the dose, then they added another med on top of that. He was taking 12 pills a day at one point. Eventually dropped the first med and now he only takes the second, one pill in the morning and one at night (totally doable).

I hope you can get back soon, but these little guys come first!

Originally Posted by bigc1066

You are in my prayers brother, my 2 year old was just given the same diagnosis before Thanksgiving but with medication and a lot of therapy we have seen a huge growth in her. They told us at Children's Dallas we had activity on both side of the brain causing significant delays since birth. And with all her therapy and Doctors I had to put my truck on the back burner. Hoping to start back up soon.

[McMurphy]

Just a quick high five on progress, and life in general getting into a smoother groove for you !!
Been a long dry spell around here without you.

[tune_1]

Glad to see you back. Hated to hear the events that have struck but glad that they are doing better.

Dwight

[66ChevyMax]

Steering column is in:

[66ChevyMax]

I see you moved south, though not nearly far enough south

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Just a quick high five on progress, and life in general getting into a smoother groove for you !!
Been a long dry spell around here without you.

Thanks tune, kids can wear you out

Originally Posted by tune_1

Glad to see you back. Hated to hear the events that have struck but glad that they are doing better.

Dwight

[duallyjams]

column details

[66ChevyMax]

Ididit universal tilt column, brushed aluminum

Originally Posted by duallyjams

column details

[malo66]

Fantastic work. Inspirational for my build in the not too distant future.

[Figuarus]

Any progress? I'd love to see the finished result!

[66ChevyMax]

Have had some shop time lately and made some good progress.

Got the drive by wire mounted:

[66ChevyMax]

Installed a stop for the clutch: