My 1966 stepside build..............slowly coming together.

[blackdawg]

Today made good progress headers installed,new ignition wires,I had all the rubber separators for the plug wires.Do you think you can find the brackets to buy for the wire kits.No not in Canada you can only buy the full loom kit.Also hooked up the headers to the side pipes all new gaskets and hardware.They are not only going to look good they should sound excellent !!!!!!!!

[blackdawg]

Haven"t been keeping my updates up.still been stealing away a few hours a week and cuople hours on the weekend.most eveything is bolted on alternator,fan,radiator is in.i will have to take a picture but i got a cool chrome carb lingage.its a plate the bolts under the carb.the bracket for the gas pedal.with return springs.still a little work up top but getting close to running her for the first time.

[blackdawg]

I have been taking my time taking care of the little things.took the buckets out and tore out the old carpet.what a mess but i"m had a good look at the floor and it is solid.have to mig weld a small piece of metal that last r/o cut out.

[blackdawg]

here is a few more pics of the progress,figuring out the position of the shifter.this a a b&m shifter specifically for a truck.this week working on mounting the shifter and installing the drive shaft .I want to make sure i have enough room for a console.also trying to get a feel for the position of the shifter when sitting in the seat.anybody care to weigh in.

[blackdawg]

[blackdawg]

[blackdawg]

IN the last two pick check out the sign i have in my shop.
My wife made the sign.......... and heh i work for finning
canada a caterpillar dealer.and no i won"t be painting the truck cat yellow.

[blackdawg]

good score today went to pick up a used sink and met a guy with a awesome 1966 fleet side 568 cu in 10 second quarter mile truck.anyways he gave me the bumper for free and he has some of the other parts i need for my build.door panels stuff like that.what are the chances.

[McMurphy]

Good looking rig!
Cannot wait to see you finish it.

[blackdawg]

I have been stealing a few hours during the week and some time on sundays.I have been tying up loose ends.new fuel lines,tranny lines,installed transmission cooler,radiator.

[blackdawg]

As i going along i have been adding some chrome it has to look cool as well run excellent.added a chrome plate to intake under the carb.has a nice look to it as well as cleans up the carb linkage.also bought morosco loom kit the wires are all drawn back and not sitting near the headers.its the little things that make the differance.

[blackdawg]

Pulled the interior out a week ago floor is in excellent shape no rus tat all There was a hole cut in the floor i guess for the shifter.doesn"t make sense,you can see on the previous pictures.Anyways i bought a nice little mig welder from harbour freight just for any bodywork i come across on the build .For 89.95 you just can"t go wrong.so i have been practicing my welds and i will be patching that piece in the tranny hump.I installed the b&m truck shifter and linkage is all hooked up.IT was a good deal on the shifter i bought from a guy that finished his build in cloverdale ,bc it was a 65 0r 66 fleetside.I paid 50 bucks for the shifter with two extra cables and lots of extra parts.plus instructions and the box.I will wait till i patch the floor to get the proper placement of the shifter.I have bucket seats that will go back in and i will either make a custom console or see if i can find a cool used after market console.I have been putting in alot of overtime lately.My wife has been very supportive on my build gave me the green light to pull out 350.oo toward the seat recovering and new carpet.tight budget but i can pull it off,still debating on useing the bucket seats i got with the truck.check the previous pictures guys and please weigh in.

[blackdawg]

Went to install the drive shaft last weekend.I already new the yoke wouldn"t work i think the there was a turbo 350 in the truck before.The lenghth looks okay and i went to a driveshaft shop yesterday to change the yoke.he gave me a 400 yoke to try for a fit make sure it slides in the shaft far enough.Then i will measure again mid point of the knucle to the mid point of the ujoint.IF i"m lucky i will only have to replace the used yoke at 40.00 bucks and at the same time the rear ujoint as it looks worn for another 30.00.IF the driveshaft has to be lengthened or shortened that is much extra.I"M crossing my fingers and should know this week.Goal is to start { Bella } when i"m off the third week in december. that will give me time to go through the wiring with a buddy and check the brakes.

[blackdawg]

Got my driveshaft back today,fits like a glove.IT was well worth getting everything done at once.started out by having the yoke changed old one was a fit for a th350.I had the rear ujoint changed,the driveshaft was shortened 1-5/8 and balanced.The previous po had shorted and welded both ends.He had done such a crappy job he cut to close to the outer ends.That in turn would compromise the yoke end and the ujoint.if a weld was to break look out.So it was worth the 230 investment.

[blackdawg]

Finished up with the carb linkage it is a nice little set up with the return springs.Also accessed the wiring that needs to be done.I will be posting a few threads for some help.The truck is coming together.check these pics

[McMurphy]

Looking good there !

[b2948kevin]

Yep, looking good. I like your return spring system.

[blackdawg]

Got a couple of days off......Going to get a few things done.This morning pulled out the tank,came out easily.Hate that smell of old gas.Called a couple of rad shops to get this tank cleaned out 100 bucks to get the tanked cleaned out.I didn"t think it would be that much ,but it something that has to be done.I also pulled the rear drum lots of brake shoe left.I'm going to replace the brakes and hardware.Had to w/d 40 the front wheel .i will let it soak overnight and then pulled the caliper off.the front was changed to front disc at one time.While i have everything off its time to replace with new.

[blackdawg]

Still having wiring issues,when i bought the truck it had not motor or tranny.wiring is there hard to sort out.i have my mechanic buddy coming over this afternoon.I have the alternator wired and the the ground off the battery.I found out where the other wires are going from the ignition to the fire wall then stop.My buddy is a much better at wiring than i"am.he will get it sorted out.I can"t wait to hear this thing run.

[blackdawg]

Little while since i added to my post.Today the entire rear brakes had to be rebuilt.previous order had the spreader bar missing as well as the brake drum lever that attaches to emergency brake cable was missing.I have changed the wheel cylinders,new brake shoes,new spring kits and turned the drums.when you lots on horse power its nice to have excellent stopping power.the speader bar was easy enough to find as a replacement.11.00 bucks each.What turned out to be a big pain was the park brake drum lever.I found a replacement a inline tube in the usa.Nothing exist here in canada unless you want a used one and even that was a hard find.As its turns out on the rear end is it out of a 1971 chevy van.The good thing is it is a posi rear end.Very good score definatly worth the headache.So check out the pictures of the progress.I still have to order new emergency brake cable as the old one is frozen.And i need a emergency brake lever inside the cab.

[blackdawg]

here are a few more pics.

[b2948kevin]

Nice work! Are you keeping all 4 drums, or upgrading to disc eventually? What are your plans for booster/master cylinder?

[blackdawg]

fronts are discs that will be much better braking.

[SkinnyG]

Nice build so far.

I do want to point out - your brake shoes are on backwards. The large shoe should be on the back, the small shoe on the front. These are self-energizing brakes. As it sits, it will stop really well in reverse, not so well in forward.

Keep up the good work!

[blackdawg]

crap,your right meat to the back.ITS okay i still have to buy and install the emergency brake cable before its run.
thanks for pointing it out.: