1965 LWB Stepside Build

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Haven't been doing a whole lot on the truck other than driving it and trying to fine tune the Fitech. I want to paint the rally wheels soon also. However, today I finally swapped out my valve covers. I love the new ones...dresses up the engine bay so well. Here are a few pictures...a before and after.

Love the look, great job!!
How is the FiTech working out for you?

[72cs20]

Those valve covers really tie in the whole engine compartment. Nice job!

I like your battery cables. Did you make those? I still need to do this.

[cwcarpenter98]

Looks great, Andy! Once I bring my truck back to Milly, I might have to make a day trip to Savannah!

[Johns 66]

Those look AWESOME Andy!!!!!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Duncan K

Those covers look really good in there. Gorgeous engine bay!

Thanks! I do love the engine bay...

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

Beautiful engine bay!

Thank you sir! the covers look better than I ever imagined.

Originally Posted by 88Stanger

Love the look, great job!!
How is the FiTech working out for you?

Thanks...The Fitech is a weird thing. I plan on doing a write up soon about it. I am still fine tuning mine. I still haven't been able to figure out cold start where I don't have to give it throttle to start it..and let it warm up like a carburator yet, but I think I am getting closer. Some peoples fitech runs great out of the box with little fiddling and some don't, but I have heard all aftermarket EFI are the same. The truck runs good though once warmed up...just little things at this point.

Originally Posted by 72cs20

Those valve covers really tie in the whole engine compartment. Nice job!

I like your battery cables. Did you make those? I still need to do this.

Thanks...I agree on the covers tying in the entire compartment. I bought the battery cables from www.batterycablesusa.com. with Military Ordnance Style Battery Terminal Adapters. I also bought my grounds for the engine to frame from them also...4 gauge.
My battery cables are 2 gauge. They are USA made with fast shipping..I highly recommend them.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Looks great, Andy! Once I bring my truck back to Milly, I might have to make a day trip to Savannah!

Absolutely...or if there are any car shows this year in Milledgeville, let me know and we will come up!

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Those look AWESOME Andy!!!!!

Thanks John! Much appreciated.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by 72cs20

Those valve covers really tie in the whole engine compartment. Nice job!

I like your battery cables. Did you make those? I still need to do this.

I took some better pictures for you of the cables and post...I also got my alternator cable from www.batterycablesusa.com and ran it to the battery instead of the starter. I like the military style posts a lot.

[72cs20]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

I took some better pictures for you of the cables and post...I also got my alternator cable from www.batterycablesusa.com and ran it to the battery instead of the starter. I like the military style posts a lot.

Thanks for the pics and info!

[pdxhall]

I know you are off on another project but I have a question. We have a very close setup with engine position, etc. If you care to share I would like to know what upper radiator hose you used. It looks like it would fit my setup.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

I know you are off on another project but I have a question. We have a very close setup with engine position, etc. If you care to share I would like to know what upper radiator hose you used. It looks like it would fit my setup.

No problem, happy to help. And we have VERY similar build. Info is below.

I will still be adding things/tweaking this one...this is my DD, so I have to keep everything running smooth and in good shape.

Just happen to have the hose information in my phone (in case I ever needed one for an emergency)

Upper hose is Gates 23464
Lower Hose is Gates 20475

Disclaimer***For anyone else...these hoses work for pdxhall's truck and my truck because we moved the engine to the forward mounting position...so these hoses would not work in the stock OEM position***

[The Rocknrod]

That's a great idea on how you ran the Alt cable.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

That's a great idea on how you ran the Alt cable.

Thanks....just made sense to me...so the cable wasn't running near any exhaust or heat...and I think it is cleaner....60" cable.

I think I am going to upgrade it to a thicker gauge wire though... 1/0. This one is only 4 gauge. I am not getting the charging I want when my electric fan comes on...coupled with my 170 amp alternator. I never get more than 12.8 volts when the engine is running.

[roll_the_dice]

Finally decided on a color for my wheels....graphite gray from Duplicolor. I painted my spare tire wheel today...I think my rally wheels will look good with my new beauty rings and I cleaned up my center caps. Will get pictures of those once I paint them.

[pdxhall]

Thanks for the info on the hoses. That color on your wheels is nice.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by pdxhall

Thanks for the info on the hoses. That color on your wheels is nice.

You are most welcome! I hope to get all 4 wheels painted next week.

[roll_the_dice]

Gave the truck a bath today...first time in a long time! She cleans up pretty good for being 56 years old!

[roll_the_dice]

Started painting my rims...one at a time and rotating them at the same time. First one up...front drivers side now on back drivers side..The spare will rotate as needed also...it is on the front DS now. I think they are going to look so much better. Tried cleaning up the OEM beauty rings, but may opt out to shorter ones from LMC...to show off more wheel. Haven't decided though. They cleaned up nice with an SOS pad and never-dull.

[roll_the_dice]

Of course as soon as I have this wheel on and torqued my new McGard lug nuts arrived in the mail... BIG difference...Love the new look with the new chrome lugs also. Amazing what new clean lugs can do.

I also have new bowtie decals coming for the center caps.

[66C10LB]

Totally agree that the thin beauty rings would show off the rims better.

[Johns 66]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Of course as soon as I have this wheel on and torqued my new McGard lug nuts arrived in the mail... BIG difference...Love the new look with the new chrome lugs also. Amazing what new clean lugs can do.

I also have new bowtie decals coming for the center caps.

Killler!!!! Love it Andy!!!!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

Totally agree that the thin beauty rings would show off the rims better.

Yep...I think smaller rings for the win. I will order the ones from LMC tomorrow...I think they are 2".

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Killler!!!! Love it Andy!!!!

Thanks John!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

Totally agree that the thin beauty rings would show off the rims better.

OK I mounted another rim today...do we like it better with no beauty ring or still with a smaller one, probably 2" or less? I definitely think if I use a ring, it should be skinnier than what I have now.

[Johns 66]

My Vote...Skinny Ring

[66C10LB]

I'd say the thin beauty ring would look good.

[cwcarpenter98]

My vote is for the thinner ones as well

[SCOTI]

Narrower Van ralley's look best w/the 'skinny' trim rings.

I use the skinny (OE 88-98 trim ring depth) trim rings on all steel wheels regardless of width. This allows showing the depth variance on the 'bigs & littles' w/o hiding the look of the wheel. YOMV....