Lost My 65

[LostMy65]

In mocking up for the ps pump, I saw the old GMC V6 Motor mount perch needed to go.
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Also, here is a pic of the micky-rig fix bracket for the clutch linkage my uncle welded to the frame back in 1984. :-) Nostalgia
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[rickywideglide]

been reading your story, really cool you got it back,i sold mine 20 years ago a 66 stepside, with fleet tail lights and diamond plate in bed,thought it was mine for a second. was curious what paint your using

[LostMy65]

The paint on it when I bought it back was in pretty bad shape. I also have patch panels I need to do.
So, for now I'm doing redneck body repairs and painting over the existing paint using inexpensive oil-based enamel.
Eventually I'll go back panel by panel doing it right with SPI Black Epoxy Primer.
I'm still undecided what direction I'll go after that. I do know I don't want something pretty and expensive where I have to worry about every ding and/or scratch.

[rickywideglide]

yea im still undecided whether to just do rustoleum or get epoxy primer, my truck wont be a show truck just a driver

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

Why not just tap the hole?

also, not in a rush, but when/ if you get some time could you post a straight on pic from the rear showing the taillights, and then get me a couple measurements of where they sit? bed to the edge of the lens center, and upper body line to the top of the lens center would be perfect!
I am going to do a version of the fleet lens on my step fenders as well. ( I wish gm had done this on 60-66 in the first place)

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I should have something for you no later than this weekend.

[LostMy65]

Digging in.
Getting that ol sm420 out so I can get the th350 in.
So excited to finally be doing this swap.

[LostMy65]

The th350 I have came from summit.
Here is a way I've been considering to mount the tail.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...31#post4216931

[LostMy65]

I did check if I have the factory holes for the auto crossmember. Buried under 50+ years of grime.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

...clip....

also, not in a rush, but when/ if you get some time could you post a straight on pic from the rear showing the taillights, and then get me a couple measurements of where they sit? bed to the edge of the lens center, and upper body line to the top of the lens center would be perfect!
I am going to do a version of the fleet lens on my step fenders as well. ( I wish gm had done this on 60-66 in the first place)

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I was 19 when I did the fleetside lights. I just hacked them in there.
I do have some fleetside light buckets that I eventually will weld in there.
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[jonzcustomshop]

thanks, that is perfect!
they look like you got them in the right spot.

this will help when I do mine, same as you are planning I am also going to use the fleetside taillight buckets.

[LostMy65]

[Palf70Step]

I like that look

[LostMy65]

Getting ready for the auto swap.
Pressure washed the frame.
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Used my leaf blower to dry it off, then pulled it back into the barn.
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[66-PMD-GMC]

�� cool update

[LostMy65]

It would be kinda neat if it is the 283 I rebuilt myself with a jcwhitney kit back in 85/86. That means my rebuild lasted until that ol guy that I bought it back from blew it up.

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My earlier post on this:

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Kind of a discouraging discovery today.
Not too big a deal, just would of been nice if the ol fella who paid for a 327 would of got a 327,
instead of his mechanic selling him a rebuilt 283 and passing it off as a 327.


But there might be a chance his mechanic just rebuilt my 283 I put back in the truck when I sold it in 86/87
3896944 = 1965 - 67

You see, when my dad and first bought it, it had a 283 in it.
When I wrecked it, I put in a 327 out of a SS Impala, but also kept the 283 stored.
Just before I sold the truck in 86/87, I sold the 327 to a guy in Canby who said he wanted it for his Nova.
I rebuilt the 283 with a JCWhitney kit, and put it back in.
So, it just may be that same 283 I sold it with.

[66-PMD-GMC]

What is the casting date on the block?

[LostMy65]

Where would I find that?

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Where would I find that?

The other side of the block opposite the casting number. . A letter and 3 numbers

[LostMy65]

Ok,
I'll check tomorrow.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Letter is month.. then a 2 digit day.. then the year digit..
Example E216 would be May 21 66.. since the block is a 60s we know 6 is 66.. :-D

[LostMy65]

I had to go look.
G76 perhaps?

[66-PMD-GMC]

I confuse Pontiac info with chevy sometimes.
This is from a chevy site.
Casting Date*
Small block casting date is located on driver side rear of block on flange forward of bellhousing. Big block on the right side of engine above the oil pan rails.

Casting Date Example: E038*- (E = Month, 03 = Day, 8 = Last digit of model year (1978)).

Month: A = Jan, B = Feb, C = Mar, D = Apr, E = May, F = Jun, G = July, H = Aug, I = Sep, J = Oct, K = Nov, L = Dec

[LostMy65]

Ready to cut out the bellhousing cross member.
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[LostMy65]

Also got my Power Steering Box mounted.
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[LostMy65]

I've been spending a lot of time in the 'Engine & Drivetrain" section of the forums. I don't know much about automatic transmissions. I bought a summit th350 from a local guy. Included was the flexplate and torque converter. As I started mocking things up, I noticed the flexplate he included wasn't going to work. Fortunately I still had the larger flexplate left over from the 79 donor I had from my 66 service truck build.

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From my research in these forums I learned depending on which flexplate you needed, determined what starter you needed. Fortunately I had the correct starter also.
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Next I started reading up on torque converters. I first checked to see if the torque converter he including would bolt up to my larger (14") flexplate. It did.
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So now my only concern/question is what stall torque converter do I have.
I'm going to take my chances and see how it goes.
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I've also been reading... related to the stall of the torque converter is my engine/cam. My engine has quite a lope to it, and it requires premium octane.