My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[McMurphy]

Ohhhh very nice !!
Your headlights are going in my idea theft folder, Thanks !!

[Ta2Don]

X2 on McMurphy's reply...
… and the shot of the LT1 with the Corvette covers just made my decision concerning an LT1 that much harder...

[RestoringClassics]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

Also, Can you say HID headlights? Or maybe LED DRL's?
I received those this week, and fitted them to the grill assembly complete with a weatherpack plug so that I can remove the grill as a unit...I know that I will need to remove it at some point soon to mount an A/C condensor.
A few pics from the back of the grill, showing the ballasts & wiring!

Wow those lights look fantastic Modge! The wiring is top notch as well!
Where did you pick up those guys?? Do you have the model number on those lights?
I would love to steal this idea for my build if you wouldn't mind!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Matty Wagz

Modge, what a beautiful truck. Your skill and attention to detail is second to none. I can only wish that i had 1/2 the skill you do... Have been reading all along, but this is the first post.

Awesome truck!! Awesome pictures!! Awesome descriptions!!

thanks for all the ideas, etc

Keep it up, can't wait to see it completed.

WAGZ

Thanks Matty, for the many compliments!
I try to post all of this with crap the hopes that people are taking the info & running with it!
All that I can hope is that others see my mistakes & correct them on their build... Or try to 1-up me!!!!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice work! Clean wiring and SUPER bright lights!

Thanks for lookin in!
I really appreciate the comments!

Originally Posted by markeb01

Every aspect of your truck is turning out beautifully. Love the washer idea. But what really knocks it out of the park for me is the wiring/electronics all neatly packed in the headlight housing. That looks incredible. The color is fantastic, and that HID illuminated photo is killer!

Thanks Man!!!
It took a lot more time to figure out how I was gonna hide all of the wiring for the lights, than to actually do it!
BTW, the paint is so much cooler in-person than the photos make it appear!
Nothing has been sanded, or wheeled except for the dash!...and I am not sure that all of it needs to be.
I cannot wait until it is assembled, and I can wheel it, wash it, then snap some photos of it outside!

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

great job....truck is turning out really nice!!!!

Thanks a bunch!
I am trying really hard!

Originally Posted by Bomp

Top Notch Dude!!!
You is burnin out my retinas.

Dude, it's all about the bling!!!
Because this thing will never look as good as it does 1-minute before I drive it! After that, it will have stone chips & rubber lining the wheel-wells!!!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

very very...top notch. .

Thanks Clem!
Just trying to keep-up with guys like you!

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Ohhhh very nice !!
Your headlights are going in my idea theft folder, Thanks !!

Sweet Murph!
Nice to know that you have a stolen idea folder too!!! AND that my crap is in it!!!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

X2 on McMurphy's reply...
… and the shot of the LT1 with the Corvette covers just made my decision concerning an LT1 that much harder...

What IS the big hold-up with the LT-1 Don?
LOL!

Originally Posted by RestoringClassics

Wow those lights look fantastic Modge! The wiring is top notch as well!
Where did you pick up those guys?? Do you have the model number on those lights?
I would love to steal this idea for my build if you wouldn't mind!

DUDE!
I researched this for weeks before I bought.
I wanted the Bi-Xenon lamps, but only the 55 watt version....If you do a search you will notice that you cannot find them in this flavor by a U.S. seller...They all have a 4 week-plus delivery timing.
I didn't want to wait, only to find that they weren't what I wanted.
It gets a bit technical, but the Low & high beams are not determined by the brightness of the filament, but their positions in regard to the reflector globe.
Thus said, the low beam turns off when the high beam turns on....
So you see, there are different versions of of the Lo-Hi Xenon lamps.
There is a H4-2 which is a mixed lamp that includes a Xenon bulb for the low-beam, and a halogen for the high-beam, and also a H4-3 that has a single Xenon bulb that shuttles via a solenoid to the different positions for low & high beam, which is better in my opinion.
you can determine your own decision, but based on having HID's in my BMW for many years now, this is what I prefer!

Here is a link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271400110533...witem=&vxp=mtr

Save this in your stolen ideas folder Murph!

[chad64chevy]

headlights look really bright and very cool, good job!

[donthekawguy]

Not to sound like a d-bag but the screws holding the door panels dont look right. The stock screws would look better IMHO. Awesome truck though! You do excellent work!

[Blue666]

You are creating a show winner. I would be afraid to drive this truck on public roads. Your attention to detail & creative solutions are helping to inspire me on my overhaul. When can I send you my truck for a fix up?

I saw that you cut the cross member to allow the exhaust pipes to pass. What is the diameter of your hole? Did you use a torch/plasma or a hole saw. Also I could not tell if you welded back a lip or edge, if not why not? Do you think the cross member is strong enough to skip the lip reinforcement?

Keep up the great work.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

headlights look really bright and very cool, good job!

Thanks Chad!
These headlights are brighter than F!
I can't wait to drive it in the dark!...Or maybe just drive it period!

Originally Posted by donthekawguy

Not to sound like a d-bag but the screws holding the door panels dont look right. The stock screws would look better IMHO. Awesome truck though! You do excellent work!

Thanks for the comment!...I think.
I didn't use the stock screws because I am using ALL stainless fasteners.
I also didn't want to use the stock door panel screws because they have that star washer that marks-up the paint.

Originally Posted by Blue666

You are creating a show winner. I would be afraid to drive this truck on public roads. Your attention to detail & creative solutions are helping to inspire me on my overhaul. When can I send you my truck for a fix up?

I saw that you cut the cross member to allow the exhaust pipes to pass. What is the diameter of your hole? Did you use a torch/plasma or a hole saw. Also I could not tell if you welded back a lip or edge, if not why not? Do you think the cross member is strong enough to skip the lip reinforcement?

Keep up the great work.

Thanks for the awesome compliments!
I cut the crossmember out using a plasma-cutter.
I just clamped a disc to the crossmember, and traced it!
I think that the diameter of the openings are 3-1/2"
I did not weld anything back in to the opening, and I think that it will be plenty strong, as the flanges on the crossmember itself are huge.
If it is not strong enough, it will give me a good reason to purchase a Porterbuilt unit!

Thanks for lookin' guys!

[Modges'66]

So, for the past week or so, it seems that I have been working on things that will make this thing stop or go.
I have built a pretty nice master cylinder mounting bracket based on the "Captainfab" variety...but mine is polished aluminum....More blingy!!!
I used a section of 2" x 5" aluminum extrusion with a 1/4" thick plate added to the mounting faces for reinforcement. I swear that you could lift the entire truck by the master cylinder if you wanted!
Also, I have spent countless hours bending & flaring the stainless steel brake-lines, and pending no complications when I fill the system with fluid, I will be done with this exercise! what a PITA!
I also started working on the throttle pedal mounting & cable routing....
Can you say Cruise Control?
I mounted the speed control box to the frame under the drivers floor, and started running the wires. I am still waiting for the control cable from Lokar, and since there is NO direct fit, I am sure that I will be posting my solution for a fix!!!
Hare are a bunch of pics to tame you guys!
P.S. this is only a mock-up for the master cylinder, I need to paint it before filling it with fluid, & bleeding the brakes! LOL!...Gotta be perty!







This is the new throttle pedal mounted to the floor!





And finally, the speed control unit mounted to the frame...I am sure that there will be some adaptation issues before it is all finished, so stay tuned!

[joesscamaro]

Very nice...I like seeing the updates of your truck. Keeps me going on mine

[Bomp]

Clean work on the brake lines.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by joesscamaro

Very nice...I like seeing the updates of your truck. Keeps me going on mine

I am happy to keep your motivation in key!
Thanks for lookijn in, I appreciate the comments!

Originally Posted by Bomp

Clean work on the brake lines.

Dude, you haven't seen anything yet!
I haven't shown any pics of the brakelines along the frame!
Check out the brake Booster hose that I conjured up last night!
What you can't see is that it goes halfway forward on the engine under the intake cover!

[McMurphy]

Modges.....
Wow man, your line bending is artful !!
But you know what?
My faith and patience have been restored by these pictures, because you know what is not clean? The top of your firewall, thats what !!

My garage is sooooooo frikkin filthy that it absolutely drives me crazy, so every time I see someone post a photo of a beautifully clean build my envy quotent goes thru the roof !!
So for my own sanity, thank you from the bottom of my heart for not washing and waxing that. one. little. strip.....

LoL

[Bomp]

That is some trick bending on the vacuum brake line.
Trashed out Sexy (if you wanna get technical like with the light film of garage dust)

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by Bomp

That is some trick bending on the vacuum brake line.
Trashed out Sexy (if you wanna get technical like with the light film of garage dust)

[flips72]

absolutely beautiful, man your getting so close I bet your about to go out your mind. attention to detail is crazy, awesome work.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Modges.....
Wow man, your line bending is artful !!
But you know what?
My faith and patience have been restored by these pictures, because you know what is not clean? The top of your firewall, thats what !!

My garage is sooooooo frikkin filthy that it absolutely drives me crazy, so every time I see someone post a photo of a beautifully clean build my envy quotent goes thru the roof !!
So for my own sanity, thank you from the bottom of my heart for not washing and waxing that. one. little. strip.....

LoL

Ha-Ha!
Man, ya got me!
I hope to get the rest of the glass in this thing, and get it outside to wash it off!
Other things are happening in this garage besides my build...Can't stop the dust, and I'm not gonna grind it in by trying to wipe it off! LOL!
I had hoped to get the hood on, but I am searching for a local plater to black-phosphate coat my hood hinges.
Now I an debating on doing black-oxide coating & putting a satin clear on them to protect them (it will look like they are anodized black).

Originally Posted by Bomp

That is some trick bending on the vacuum brake line.
Trashed out Sexy (if you wanna get technical like with the light film of garage dust)

Thanks man!
Bending tubing nice is highly under-rated!
It seems all easy in your head, but when you are waving around several feet of extra tubing, while you are tryin to decipher where your next bend will be is rough!
I figure that once it is completed, I will have all kinds of free-time to dust & polish this baby!

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

As always,
Thanks Don!

Originally Posted by flips72

absolutely beautiful, man your getting so close I bet your about to go out your mind. attention to detail is crazy, awesome work.

Thanks Flip!
Dude, you are sooo right!
I have been busting my a$$ to get my GM cruise control unit mounted & wired into the ECM....I talked Lokar into making me a somewhat custom cruise-control cable to match my throttle cable. They put the bulkhead connector where I wanted it, and made it a foot longer than what they offer for me! (I still need to modify it for the GM speed control).
I also worked like crazy to finish my stainless brake-lines, and pressure bleed the system.
Funny/strange how you can hardly see the difference when the truck has brake fluid in it!!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

WOW!!!! You have done some awesome work!!!!! Motor= And cruise control means more ....slap it in cruise an hit the nitrous and laugh! LOL! And the throttle pedal rocks!!!! Only cause I have the same spanking one in my truck!!!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

WOW!!!! You have done some awesome work!!!!! Motor= And cruise control means more ....slap it in cruise an hit the nitrous and laugh! LOL! And the throttle pedal rocks!!!! Only cause I have the same spanking one in my truck!!!

Very cool T.J.
Ya know, the Lokar rep tried to talk me out of buying this model because he said it wouldn't work for my application....Shows what they know, Eh?

[azdude1964]

looking sweeet what flare tool did you use ? i love my Ridged 37 flare the 3/8 stainlesss nice ..

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by azdude1964

looking sweeet what flare tool did you use ? i love my Ridged 37 flare the 3/8 stainlesss nice ..

Thanks for the comment!
I have the Eastwood #25304 flaring tool, it works amazingly well compared compared to some of the junk out there that will easily double-flare mild steel tubing. I haven't bought the dies for it to make 37 degree flares yet though.
I don't think that most people realize how just how hard it is to double-flare stainless tubing!

[Modges'66]

A few posts back when installing my cruise-control, I made the comment that I would need to fabricate a custom cruise control cable to match the Lokar throttle cable that I have.
It seems that Lokar does NOT make a cruise cable to fit the stock GM cruise controller, only the aftermarket Rosta unit, and IT wasn't long enough for my application! Since I already had the GM column switch, and the GM controller, along with the wiring schematic, I decided that it couldn't be that hard to fabricate what I needed.
I got in touch with a tech at Lokar, and he said that they could make a custom cable for me, but it would still come with the Rosta controller end on it. This didn't matter to me, as I would simply adapt it somehow & make it work!
Well I was gonna try to make this more complicated, but it all turned out to be not that difficult.

I simply cut the end off from GM cable, and pulled the wire cable reinforcement strands out of it with needle-nose pliers, and bored out the end with a re-sharpened 1/4" end mill approximately 3/8" deep.
I then cut the Rosta end off from the new cable, and applied some epoxy to the O.D. and pressed it into the GM cable end...
This worked perfectly!...Too simple!
Here are some pics!

A shot of the two cables.




The cable installed onto the controller unit.


And finally, the cables installed onto the throttle body!


I got it all wired in with the computer & ready to go!
I haven't had the balls to fire it up on the lift and see if it works yet...Gonna wait until I know that the brakes are working good first!

[jlsanborn]

Nice job on the tube bending and the CC!

[Bomp]

To the unsuspecting eye I would of looked right over this mod. Very clean and clever.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice job on the tube bending and the CC!

Thanks as always for lookin-in & making comments!

Originally Posted by Bomp

To the unsuspecting eye I would of looked right over this mod. Very clean and clever.

Thanks Bomp!
Just like you buddy, I don't always want my mods to look obvious!
I plan to drive the wheels off this thing when I am finished, so I want all of the modern day conveniences on it that I can engineer into it!