'66 Longbed 327 w/AC project

[cortcomp]

Trim will be in a couple weeks when the fenders are on, i like to save those details for last..LMC or MAR-K or someone has a pic showing what clips where, i need to find it so i know what to do!

[clemdaddy]

on the side molding... i think its better to use the clips with a nut in all the holes. i have had bad results from the pop-in plastic clips or the spring metal ones, they rebound and cause dents in the molding. with the nut type you can slowly pull each piece tight without being too tight. mar-k will make up a special clip set that is all nut type clips and its definitely worth it. as long as you don't have the door panels on its easy to access all the trim holes.

just a suggestion that might help...

[Ta2Don]

Just checked out Coulter's thread and he went with Mar-K… Pics look very cool!

Here's a Link… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...449548&page=48

[cortcomp]

Been a productive day, hope to get as much or more done tomorrow. Feels good to see things come together! Ignore the two boards i had backwards for a moment.

[wayno]

that bed looks so nice.. great job

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

Great Workmanship

[Jeff La]

Those boards shine, looks great

[cortcomp]

Thanks guys! Hoping to get that other side done today (wheel tub and along pass side) and harnesses, lights, tailgate hardware, etc.. The aftermarket tubs are ok but they don't allow the bedside to come as close as they should so one hole was off and we had to drill it out (was mostly in line.) They need trimmed about 1/32 or 1/16th in one spot where they "tuck under" the bedside. At least one side was that way, haven't done the other yet. The front panel was aftermarket too, the upper holes didn't line up and couldn't find a bolt, standard or metric, that fit the threads. Drilled those 4 out and used 5/16 SS bolts with nylocks.

[TJ's Chevy]

WOW! That's looking super sweet!

[cortcomp]

Got the bed finished, everything tightened down and locktite so nothing comes loose. Got more of the motor together, waiting for PS pump now. I knew the AC bracket was going to hit that bypass fixture so i found a 45 degree fixture online, took about 1/2" off the hose, and everything seems like it will work. Snug as a bug, but no belt interference that i can see.

[cortcomp]

Couple more

[62 Barnfind]

Great work on the bed. The stain and clear look nice with the color.

[pdxhall]

Great progress, man. The bed looks awsome!

[cortcomp]

Lots of work this weekend. Big things left are: finish making shifter mount and make shifter rods for the tranny (got a lot of that done), figure out what to do with driveshaft (have new made, find used, run the one i have with 1" longer yoke...) Dropping wheels off to get sandblasted so i can paint them. Found out evaporator is leaking, need to get one on the way asap. AC harness should be here monday or tuesday, hope i can knock them out. Have to clean up and re-mount the saddle tanks. Maybe have time to paint the new AC face plate. Have to hang exhaust and break motor in. 1000 details everywhere!

This forum is invaluable, knowledge here is second to none!

[cortcomp]

Got the shifter mount 99% done, and the reverse rod that came with the kit will work, and two straight threaded rods, i'm thrilled! Friends pitched in today, got some sheetmetal on. Wheels have been blasted and primered, will be painted body color. Should have rebuilt and balanced driveshaft back monday or tuesday. Long weekend in front of me!

[cortcomp]

Relay harness for the headlights hidden and spliced in, more shifter mount work. Came up with the below for the NP440...moves the shifter up and forward. The reverse rod + rod end worked from the install kit, think i cut like 1/2" off (without rod end, about 1/2" too short.) The other two looks like they'll work as just straight threaded rod which i had left over from the pontiac. PO butchered the floor, going to cover it underneath with some kind of patch, not sure what yet. Moving forward though!

Got the parts from old air to rebuild the evap box (turns out their evap is threaded and if you just run the hoses into the evap box, no extra work needed to eliminate hose barb end fittings. great guys to work with over at old air products, overnighted everything to me so i could install this weekend.)

[siggyfreud]

Looks awesome. Your thread and progress is inspiring. Looking forward to seeing the rims.

[TJ's Chevy]

WOW! This thing is looking totally sweet! Diggin the script valve covers!

[cortcomp]

Thanks guys!

IT LIVES! Did break in tonight, except one leaky hose clamp, seemed to go well. Tomorrow change oil, finish some heater wiring, finish exhaust tail pipe tweaking, hopefully get brake lines finished.

[TJ's Chevy]

Wow!!!!!!!!!! Looks good!!!

[cortcomp]

more slow progress today, exhaust done, some more mini-wiring done, brakes almost done. Used master and front lines from, i think, a 72 c10 power drum. They're close enough to tweak, but i don't like how they run by the manifold (i think they did from factory too, on the 66, later seems to run outside the frame.) No time now, but would like to re-do brake, heater, and ac lines maybe in a year or two.

Helpers got the bumper straight finally (this truck was tapped in the front at some point i think so there are a couple places that are slightly off)

Rear bumper and parts, mirror, trim, etc tomorrow after brakes and tying up inside.

Also, moving it outside today, shifting sucked ass. Couldn't get it all the way in 1st and now it wants to stick in reverse. Going to work on that tomorrow as well. I THINK coolant leaks done (tower clamps -_-), no oil leaks so far, power steering is drinking fluid filling things up, slowly getting there, probably going to be a late day saturday and then some crazy washing before heading down south on friday am.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good on wheels!

[markeb01]

I was going to rave about the beauty of the bed, until I saw the rest of the truck and it all looks like that! What a beauty! Nice job.

[cortcomp]

Thanks man!

Here's us last night at midnight. Have the wrong bumper brackets so no rear bumper, some small stuff to do, thing needs a bath, and at the tire place getting aligned and AC charged. (And brakes bled.)

[cortcomp]

Ride to the wheel place was pretty harrowing with only tranny to engine brake and parking brakes...nothing like running three pedals, the shifter, the steering wheel and a brake lever...interesting drive.