1966 C10 Father Son Build

[matt_l]

In parallel to playing in the shop on my battery box, I continued to work on the patch panels. Like I mentioned before, not the best fit. The rear cab support was so bad, I basically had to cut it apart and piece it back together with some metal I fabbed up myself. The bottom piece I will keep and put new side pieces and flanges.



It looks easy, but this took two hours of trimming and making cardboard templates to get it all to line up. I also have the outer rocker panel fit up.

[IMG]http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq27/mattolewis/C10%20Build/53F1B851-5599-4394-B3B0-E394F6800074-4274-000002D1F2F2EFB9.jpg[/IMG

Notice the gaps to the a and b pillar. I am not to worried about these, I am pretty sure i will be able to get the metal to form into place.





Before I weld any more, y plan is to fit the doors back up and make sure my gaps look good.

I also picked up a brake booster and master cylinder off craigslist and ordered Captain Fabs bracket. I can not say enough about how helpful he has been in pointing me in the right direction on the booster and master cylinder. It is guys like him that make these forums so helpful and fun to be a part of!

[CRGRS 66]

Looking good!

I guess one thing we need to keep in mind with these patch panels is the differences in these trucks from plant to plant, and year to year when they were built. Note in Bomp's build the finesse needed for to match up the front donor cab to the rear donor cab. Not to say that the patch panels could not be better, but with the variances in the trucks as noted, I don't think we can expect the patch panels to be perfect.

Keep up the great work, I envy you guys with the welding, and fabricating skills. If I ever win the big bucks, and don't have to ever actually work again, I would want to learn these skills.

[timmytimm3]

Originally Posted by matt_l

That is awesome. has it been in the family the whole time, or did you find it and buy it back?

My Father sold it a long time ago. A while after that, the new owner's son slid it sideways into a tree taking out the bed and bending the frame. My uncle found it for sale after that and bought it, along with another 66 for parts. Both trucks sat in his garage for about 15 years. I bought both trucks from him.

[matt_l]

Here is my other toy.


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[matt_l]

I got a little time in the garage tonight, and I worked a little more on the gauge cluster. I started cleaning up the front lens that was pretty scratched up and had a bunch of over spray on it. Luckily for me, I have one spare lens just in case. I have never tried this before, but thanks to Bomp's,aka Captain Peg Leg, post on how he did his, I am giving it a try. here are some pics. I am doing half of it first, so I can see the improvement, and have a second half if I need to practice more. Three pics. The first is with 600 grit, then 1000 grit, and finally with 2000 grit wet sanding. I made sure I kept it wet and sanded with a foam block. I will use rubbing and polishing compound next.


2000 Grit:



I also made up a drawing and hand new ubolts made to put the rear drop blocks on. Planning to lower the rear 2 inches with blocks similar to the ones lowdogg made for his build. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=563791

And I also received the brake booster adapter bracket from captain fab. He does do good work. Hope to get that powder coated this week and bolted on this weekend. pics will follow.

[matt_l]

The FAQ's on here are great. Confirmed the VIN number matches the truck type. C1546S168800. So it was built in St Louis and it was series two. I also confirmed absed on the casting number I have the 250 CU I6 motor.

[Bomp]

Nice start on the gauge face. I spent many an hour sanding, rubbing/polishing compound.
lookin' good keep it up.

[matt_l]

I tore into my rear drums last night looking to freshen them up, and I found there are a few parts missing. Specifically the parking brake actuator lever. Does anyone have any parts they are willing to part with at a reasonable price? See attached picture. I think I need the actuator, pivot pin, and the retaining clip.

[matt_l]

Made some more progress this weekend. I added 2 inch lowering blocks to to the back. I fabbed these up and powder coated them black. I had a local shop bend up the u bolts to the specs in the faq section. All the materials and parts came to $25 bucks. Also notice the nice break work by the previous owner. THis led to my second project for the weekend... New brake lines.





I replaced all the hard lines, installed a new brake booster and new master cylinder. I used the brake booster out of a 91 Chevy truck, the booster out of a 70 buick estate wagon and the mounting bracket from CaptainFab. CatainFab was a lot of help finding the right combination to work with my drum drum set up. I am trying to do a low buck build to get it back on the road, but the extra cost of the adapter bracket was money well spent!



Notice the new black paint on the firewall. This is the hardest part of the build for me. I want to tear it down and make it all clean and nice, but like I said, I am trying to keep it on the road. I did a frame off restoration before, and the truck sat in the garage for 10 years before I got to drive it.



The other modification I had to make was a adapter from the brake pedal to the booster. I made up a drawing and had a friend turn it for me.




The third project of the weekend was to pick up some new shoes... Shooter64 hooked me up with a great deal.



Almost forgot, I got the lens all buffed out for the gage cluster. Thanks to Bomp for the advice, it came out much better than expected.

Now that it can stop and has some good shoes, next projects as follow:

1. Rewire, I considered just patching up a few things, but it is so bad it has to be redone. I will upgrade the headlights to include a relay while at it.

2. New springs in the rear to get additional drop.

3. New springs or cut springs in front to lower.

4. Finish passenger side floor

5. Install new windshield

7. Drive for rest of summer and enjoy.

[Jmorales3181]

Nice updates ! I can relate having a low budget build and only spending the little extra when needed....keep those updates coming. I'm sure when your son is old enough he will appreciate all your hard work!
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[matt_l]

It has been a while since the update, but we have had a little time out in the garage. The front suspension is completely rebuilt with all new ball joints, 3" lowering springs installed, new shocks, and disc brake and lowered spindles from Mcgaughys. It is sitting about 5 1/2 inches lower in the front and should stop a fair bit better.

Here is the new stance....

[matt_l]

Here are some pics of the suspension rebuild in progress. Thanks a lot to Sharps40 for his help and suggestions on the rebuild. Updating the U-bolts on the lower control arm to the newer larger diameter was a great tip and an easy upgrade.

[TJ's Chevy]

Cool truck! Nice work. Glad you and your son are having a fun time!

[matt_l]

The little helper wanting to drive....

Wiring all done. I used the universal kit from Speedway. It was a great kit. Good directions and well laid out. I have done a car with painless before as well. I see no reason to spend the extra money on a painless system.

The hardest part of the wiring was troubleshooting the switches that turned out needing to be replaced.

Making progress... slowly.

[matt_l]

Installed the porter built rear track bar this weekend. What a quality product! I have never installed an aftermarket product that fit so perfectly. It makes me even more anxious to get a complete drop member setup.

[matt_l]

Slowly but surely progress is being made. I am by no stretch a body guy, but I am enjoying learning as I go. I have to thank all the great information on the board here. I have learned so much, now I am trying to apply what I have learned. You all make it look so much easier that reality.....

Here are a series of pictures showing the rust repair on the passenger fender.

[matt_l]

More pictures.

[matt_l]

Used the truck as a truck today and hauled some stuff from my garage to the back of my lot... who needs doors???

[jcramsey]

nice work on that fender!

[TJ's Chevy]

Nice work! Could I have some engine pictures? Looks like a 250 or 292 with the integrated head.

[matt_l]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

nice work on that fender!

Thanks, that was my first real attempt at doing external body panels. I learned a lot, now I am going to do the driver side.

I read through your build, that is a great looking inline 6!

[1963c-10]

Nice work....who'd you get your repair panels from?

[matt_l]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Nice work....who'd you get your repair panels from?

Thank you very much. It came out much better than expected. The patch panels came from LMC. I am pretty sure all the different shops sell parts from the same stampers. I shop based on price and where I have coupons. They all take a bit of coercing to fit.

Here are a couple pics post paint.

[matt_l]

Can only upload one at a time from iPad.

[matt_l]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

Nice work! Could I have some engine pictures? Looks like a 250 or 292 with the integrated head.

Thanks TJ, here is the dog under the hood.