Project '64 Cheapskate

[1963c-10]

Im sure glad we don't have to deal with those laws here in NC.

[rusty76]

But it sometimes seem NC isn't far behind though......

[65Gregg]

Alex, I got my care package today, thanks again for everything.

[chevyrestoguy]

You're very welcome, Gregg. If you need anything else, let me know.

[KJSR]

What's this "smog check" you speak of?? hahaha

I'm sure someday we will get it too but our county has yet to adopt.

[LT1 Burb]

Just went through 24 pages and love the truck, love the build, it looks great ,nice work.

[chevyrestoguy]

Thanks, LT1!
I have been doing a lot of stuff on it lately, and I'll be posting a bunch of new updates very soon.

I have been checking on your stuff as well, and I have always liked your work. You have an uncanny ability to find really cool parts and parts trucks. As a matter of fact, I'm almost certain that one of your old parts is on my truck. I bought a driver's side lower bed section (aft of the rear wheel opening) from you a few years ago. At least, I think it was you. The part came from Oregon, the color was dark blue, and it was from a '66 because it had the reverse light hole in the end cap.

[TJ's Chevy]

Look forward to the updates!

[rusty76]

I know you got some more updates for us....

[LT1 Burb]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Thanks, LT1!
I have been doing a lot of stuff on it lately, and I'll be posting a bunch of new updates very soon.

I have been checking on your stuff as well, and I have always liked your work. You have an uncanny ability to find really cool parts and parts trucks. As a matter of fact, I'm almost certain that one of your old parts is on my truck. I bought a driver's side lower bed section (aft of the rear wheel opening) from you a few years ago. At least, I think it was you. The part came from Oregon, the color was dark blue, and it was from a '66 because it had the reverse light hole in the end cap.

Oh yeah, that was from me. I still have parts of that truck, the doors are going to this weekends swap meet.

[Low Elco]

Updates, you say.... Hmmmm..... We shall be ready.

In unrelated news, Pete and Jakes open house is May 10, hoping to get to meet Pete and Jake in person and get them to sign my P&J book. They're both flying in. You oughta see some of the stuff they've got going in the shop. OOOOOO Bitc#in'!

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Updates, you say.... Hmmmm..... We shall be ready.

In unrelated news, Pete and Jakes open house is May 10, hoping to get to meet Pete and Jake in person and get them to sign my P&J book. They're both flying in. You oughta see some of the stuff they've got going in the shop. OOOOOO Bitc#in'!

I've met both of those guys, and they're both really cool. Pete is more of the business guy, and Jake is more of the fabricator/builder type. Jake actually lives just a few miles away from me. I see him around town from time to time, driving his old white Chevy van with the Torq-Thrust mags on it. I've been to his place and have seen his collection of cars and parts and it's pretty incredible. He's a real penny-pincher, and he spends his money wisely. The last time I was there, he was cutting up an old fiberglass boat that he got on Craigslist for practically nothing so he could get the Mercruiser 4 banger out of it. The Mercruiser 4 cylinders are essentially a clone of the old Chevy II motor, and they are popular with the Model T guys. Jake has a collection of '33/'34 Ford coupes, sedans, and trucks that is amazing.

Brad is good friends with Pete, and has done work for him in the past. Pete's shop in Pomona is a really cool place to visit, and on the Friday night before the LA Roadster Show, he has a really cool open house. Tons of cars, great food, old Top Fuelers cackling.....

I've always wanted to check out the P&J shop in Peculiar to see the California Kid and Jake's yellow '33 coupe.

[rusty76]

California Kid has to be one of the more iconic cars. Such a killer looking car.

[chevyrestoguy]

Worked around the house for most of the weekend, watched my Kentucky Wildcats win their Final Four game, and I got a couple on things done of the '64.

In my last set of pictures, I still hadn't finished the support for the end of the spare tire cable reel jackshaft. I wanted something that was strong and secure, was adjustable, and allowed the jackshaft to spin freely. So, here's what I came up with:

I got a cheapo 3/4"-16 rod end from ebay ($7), got a 3/4"-16 coupling from Osh Hardware ($6), used an old 3/4" flat washer I had, and made a bolt. When you get up to 3/4" diameter on a bolt, it's nearly impossible to find one in a 3/4 inch length. I had a long bolt and a castellated nut, which I ran down all the way to the shank and then chopped it off flush with my band saw. I fired up the Mig and welded the nut at two of the castellations. Now I had a 3/4" diameter bolt in a 3/4" length.


I drilled a 3/4" hole in the passenger frame rail and bolted it all together. Works great!

This is the view looking up from just behind the rear tire. Lots of room, and I'll have easy access to the shaft if I ever need to drop the spare.


I'm also doing a lot of advance planning for the next upcoming task, the fuel tanks. I ordered the sending units, and I should get them this week.

[TJ's Chevy]

Cool!

[rusty76]

Looking good

[Low Elco]

Slick! I'll try to remember to shoot pics at P&J's. Hopefully I'll have something cool to roll out there in.

[familyfast64]

Incredible! I only hope I'm still going like you at ehmmm, 50! Lol congrats, nice build threads.

[Low Elco]

Hey, Alex, you might be interested in this- right up your alley.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=6539761

Hope things are going well.

[chevyrestoguy]

I'm really anxious to try this mod. Right now, I'm all about bed wood and gas tanks, and I'm trying to stay focused on the tasks at hand.

My daily commuter is a 2011 Civic coupe, and I thought about pulling the seal and testing it on the '64, but I got skeered. Knowing my, luck, I would damage it while getting it off the car, and I would have to endure 125 miles a day of the door whistling in my ear.

[65Gregg]

I'm really needing an update.......

[Low Elco]

We know you're out there, Alex! Whass goin' on?

[chevyrestoguy]

Work has tapered down to a nice level, but the home stuff is really keeping me busy. We're re-fi'ing the house down to a 10yr loan because I was halfway through a 20yr loan at 6.4%, and it was silly to stay at that %. So, I'm knocking that down to a 3.25 APR. I cannot belive how much paperwork you have to provide nowadays for a home loan. It's crazy. We should close in a few weeks.

My house is now giving me fits with slab leaks. We just had one fixed a few weeks ago, and now it's leaking again. A few weeks ago, I had a leak detection company come out to pinpoint the leak. The worst $275 I have ever spent. They wound up being 18" off in location and the leak was found in the other bathroom, so the plumbers jackhammered two bathrooms to ultimately fix it. And they were tile floors, of course. Yesterday, I was shaving and I heard the hissing sound again. This time, I think we're going to fix it ourselves and not pay $1100. The house was built in '79, and that's what you have to contend with.

I have been working on the fuel tanks, and they're turning out nice. I should start posting up pictures. I'm really close to getting them painted for the last time. Yesterday, I did a bunch of welding on them and I still need to do a fit check before I get much farther.

The worst part of all of this is that I set a timeline to have the truck done so I could attend some events with it, but all of the house stuff has taken a toll on the truck budget. You gotta keep your head up and keep plugging along. We'll get there one day!

[Jason's '72]

Hey Alex,
Any chance you'll have it running for the Brothers show?

[Low Elco]

Stupid question: Don't you live in a desert? I've literally never heard of a slab leak. Or is it the piping in the slab? Thaaaat would suuuuck. Sorry, basements here. (If it makes you feel better, had to dig my last place up clear to the footer to fix hydro pressure damage. Oy!) Hope it gets better for you.