Project Old Colorado

[caseyjones]

That’s a really cool combo of 292, TKX and EFI. I’m considering a Camaro tank-do you have any photos showing how much of the tank is exposed under the bed and bumper and where the filler ended up?

[SOON2BLAZE]

I'm running a 67-72 step bumper so it may be exposed differently than a 60-66. The filler neck popped out perfectly right where you would want it near the very top of the license plate bracket for use with a fold-down tag mount. I'll try and grab a few pics to post over the weekend. Honestly, I'd use a tank that hangs down less next time such as the one lakeroadster used in his build. That one was a Tanks, Inc 1949 Chevy passenger car tank. It would require more fab work of course. Ps. I've been following your Palomino Tan Survivor, it kicks ass.

[caseyjones]

Originally Posted by SOON2BLAZE

I'm running a 67-72 step bumper so it may be exposed differently than a 60-66. The filler neck popped out perfectly right where you would want it near the very top of the license plate bracket for use with a fold-down tag mount. I'll try and grab a few pics to post over the weekend. Honestly, I'd use a tank that hangs down less next time such as the one lakeroadster used in his build. That one was a Tanks, Inc 1949 Chevy passenger car tank. It would require more fab work of course. Ps. I've been following your Palomino Tan Survivor, it kicks ass.

Thanks man! I used that old Chevy-style tank on my green 64 C10. The Camaro tank is appealing for the rear fill but you confirmed my concern about how low it sits. Carry on, looking forward to seeing your finished product!

[SOON2BLAZE]

Got home early and grabbed some pics. Please pardon the mocked up bumper, it's waiting to be painted. The stance is with a 1/2 full tank and the fenders and boards in the bed. I have yet to set the final settings for the QA1 rear suspension, it's a guestimate at this time. Bottom of the tank is 6" from the floor. I may increase the rear height for a little bit of stink bug. Main reason I chose this tank was the Holley sniper drop in Efi in tank pump for the Camaro tank with no return line required and I bought the tank in 2007 but never used it till now

[caseyjones]

Super helpful pictures, thank you. How far below the rear bed crossmember does the filler neck sit? With a stock bumper you could conceivably put the filler right up to the crossmember…

[SOON2BLAZE]

The filler neck is 2.5" below the rear bed cross panel and 2" below the top of the license plate bracket. It is possible to gain 1-1.5 " if different tubing was used above the tank. I used 1x3 but 1x2 would work.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Started monkeying with the bed today. Got it squared up and ready to bolt the floor down. The box sides need a lot of holes welded and the fenders need a significant amount of body work. Looked at new fenders and summit racing had them for 350.00 ea but the shipping was 400. four hundred for the pair.... Today's truck lesson was on rear axel changes. I put a 84 C10 axel that I traded some 2A goodies for because it had new Richmond gears, Eaton LSD and new disc brakes on it. With the 4" bs of the wheels it measures 74.5" outside tire to outside tire. There is approximately 1" between the inner tire and the bed box on each side. Here you can see fender lip touching the tire. No chance of running a fleetside bed with this setup. Luckily the Qa1 rear suspension will let me raise the height up quite a bit. As pictured the rear fender lip is 26" from the floor. The more you know. I will most likely raise it 2" and consider trimming or reshaping the inner fender lip.

[joesscamaro]

Are you going to try and match paint the bed with the rest of the truck?

[SOON2BLAZE]

Undecided on the bed finish. 3 options: paint it myself and it will look like crap, have it painted and leave it alone or have it painted and patina it. A lot of fake patina jobs go too far so I'm not sure that's the route I want to go. I will try to match the rear bumper paint to the front. Right now I just want to get it legal and driving. In the middle of a 93 corvette refresh with my 17 y.o. right now.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Back at it, delayed but not dead. Got the bed finished up and raise the Camaro gas tank so it uses thick wall 1"tubing so it's nearly right up against the frame. Always like the look of the back of Jim Aust's Circus Wagon wagon so I used the same late 50s truck tail lights. 67-72 bumpers look good on a 60-66 fleet side and had my suspicions that they would look good on a stepside as well. Rockin rod beat me to it, but confirmed my suspicions that would work well. Still need to do a little tweaking aligning on the bed and bumper. But then I will get a Vin check done by the local police department and an alignment and I think I can have this on the road pretty quick. I bought a tentable bedliner kit that I hope to get done next weekend. This winter I will replace all of the glass / seals, add ac and may paint the top of the cab white.

[SCOTI]

Bed turned out well for the match.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Thanks Scoti! VIN Check done, Insurance is figuring out how to insure base on the motorhome to truck change. Got the bed and bumper straightened up and now staring the spray in bed liner. Today is a good day!

[lolife99]

Beautiful truck!

[old51sedan]

Just happened to run across your article with the story of your build, very interesting plus a lot of planning and work for you but looks like it's playing off. Your truck reminds me of mine and the issues I've been through. Mine came out of CA with a 250/350 combo, I've installed a 292 and a 200-4R in mine, just now getting it all together. Kinda wish I had installed a slight cam in mine, not sure how well the holly 4-barrel is going to work out. Nice truck, the white top will look nice.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Old51,that is a beautiful ride! That combo of engine and trans should serve you well! Alignment done on the 66 today, drives like a champ

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by SOON2BLAZE

Old51,that is a beautiful ride! That combo of engine and trans should serve you well! Alignment done on the 66 today, drives like a champ

Your truck looks great, I was noticing the tailgate and seen the chains were missing, did you install a kit in yours so that you could open it with the same hinges that are on a fleet side? I installed that on mine and love it. I'll see if I have a picture. I don't have a picture of it open, it is off the truck right now so I can't get you one. Picture as to where I installed my gas filler.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Old51 sorry for the late update: no tail chains and no hinges. I just threw a plated bolt in each side as gate was a tight fit.

Took it on a shake down run 2 hours each way to the Mt Carmel UT Thunderbird car show 3 weeks ago and it ran like a top, Wound it up to 80 mph on the freeway @ low RPM's. Still need to fine tune the timing, the 5 speed makes it amazing to drive! Been driving it every chance I get.

Got the turn signals a flashers and horn working, new lug nuts all the way around, added a new Camaro seat slider/ mount to the drivers seat.

In the next week: Have new seat foam for the Camaro seats. The black covers are perfect, but may change to Gold 67 Deluxe seat covers and add some extra memory foam. Plan on rewiring the dome/ courtesy lights and changing the oil.

Had such a good time at the car show I forgot to take pictures. My friend grabbed this one at my office.

[SOON2BLAZE]

Just realized I hadn't posted engine pics.

[old51sedan]

Originally Posted by SOON2BLAZE

Just realized I hadn't posted engine pics.

Your truck is looking better all the time, wish I had a tapper pan cover like yours , it would go good with mine air cleaner. You're going to get a lot of looks with that truck, and a good story goes with it.

[Braunschweiger]

The truck is beautiful.