Bringing the '65 back to life

[racecougar]

Went tool shopping with Dad this morning, then finished up the wheel well lip on the driver side panel while he painted bed floor boards. Back to fighting the rust monster tomorrow.

[racecougar]

Cut out rust, create a patch panel, weld, blend, repeat.

[racecougar]

Fixed a bunch of small issues on the drivers bedside today (holes, dents, rust, etc.), then zipped out the rusty inner panels.

[racecougar]

Nice, clean, inner panels all welded in. The drivers bedside is ready for bodywork and paint.

[aggie91]

Nice progress!

[racecougar]

Thanks! Hoping to knock out the inner panels on the passenger bedside next weekend.

[racecougar]

Dad started bolting the floor boards into the bed today while I cut the inner panels out of the other bed side (hence all the dust).

[racecougar]

Had to replace a bit more sheetmetal on the passenger bed side, but the inner panels are now fitted, tacked, and screwed in place. I'll finish it up when I'm at the shop next.


Dad finished installing the floor boards. Changing the layout to a uniform board width was well worth the extra effort, in my opinion. Don't mind the dust, I was making plenty of it again today.

[60chevyjim]

nice job . I like the bed floor too.
who sells the inner bed side parts you have there ?
thanks jim

[racecougar]

Thanks, Jim. Mar-K makes the inner bed panels, and they're great pieces.

[88k5jimmy]

Originally Posted by racecougar

Another aggravating day over at the shop. We started looking at/disassembling the steering columns to see what parts we'll use, what we need to get, etc., but I need to do some research. We're trying to use a '72 auto column with parts from the original '65 manual column, to eventually operate a cable shift 4L80E. Not exactly sure how that is all going to work yet.

What did you find out about swapping the 72 column in? I've read that the 72 year columns don't secure the same on the original mount under the dash and some people have used a large hose clamp to secure column to the mount. How did you secure the 72 column to the original mount?

Thanks

[racecougar]

Originally Posted by 88k5jimmy

What did you find out about swapping the 72 column in? I've read that the 72 year columns don't secure the same on the original mount under the dash and some people have used a large hose clamp to secure column to the mount. How did you secure the 72 column to the original mount?

Thanks

Finished that up a few pages back.


The column is secured to the stock column/handbrake mount via a hose clamp. You can see it in this pic.

[racecougar]

Took last weekend off because I was sick, plus had other projects that needed to be done. Back at it today though. Finished up replacing the inner panels on the passenger bed side and welded up the holes in the top rail from the tool boxes.

[racecougar]

Bed mock-up is underway. We're both anxious to get it painted and set it back on the frame now.

[racecougar]

Fit the tailgate, squared everything up, drilled the rest of the holes in the front bed panel, then started addressing the tubs. Looks like we'll need to add ~5-3/4" from each of the original tubs to the ones in the photo. Unfortunately, the portion needed from the original tubs will require a fair amount of repair work (lots o' rust).

[racecougar]

Got a good start on the driver side tub today. I'll get back to it next weekend.

[racecougar]

Started welding up the other tub this morning.

[racecougar]

Somewhere during the production run for these trucks, GM decided to change the stamping for the rear wheel wells. The original '65 pieces featured an additional character line (a little ledge) that the other set of tubs did not have. I spent the morning correcting that, as well as the bolt hole locations on the passenger side tub. I'll address those issues on the driver side tub next weekend.


Now we're getting somewhere. The passenger side tub needs a little rust repair, then it will be ready for body work and paint. The driver side tub still needs the seam welded, the extra character lines deleted, the bolt holes relocated, and the rust repaired before body work.

[racecougar]

Finished welding up the seam on the driverside tub today, then took the afternoon off to go morel hunting with the wife.

[racecougar]

Spent the better part of the day repairing rust in areas no one will ever see. At least I'll know it's taken care of.

[racecougar]

Deleted the extra character lines and the incorrect holes in the driverside tub today. All that's left is to locate, drill, and file the mounting holes on both tubs, then everything is ready for bodywork and paint.

[racecougar]

The tubs are in and fit to the bed. We had them in and out more times than I care to count today. Just need to drill the five holes in the bed wood and three more holes in the bed side for the passenger side tub, then it's all wrapped up.

[racecougar]

Been busy lately, but I was able to get back to the bed for a little while this morning.

[RANDY COX]

Hey, Just read through your build and man that's a lot of work but I see you had some good help your DAD...I thought my truck had some rust. But it all had to be replaced to. So I know the amount of work it takes...a lot. I'm still in stages of a build myself my son was supposed to help but he has his own project so Daddyo is pretty much on his own...Anywho great job and keep plugging along one day it'll be done..maybe not finished as I don't think they ever get totally finished buy hey.. And Congrats on your marriage...

[racecougar]

Thanks Randy. It sure is a lot of work, but it certainly can be enjoyable.


Ah, the scent of filler in the air. Smells like progress, and sore arms. Bumped the dents out of both tubs last night, then cleaned up the sheetmetal this morning and started working with filler.