1963 C-10 in NC

[bj383ss]

Control arms look good.

Bret

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Control arms look good.

Bret

Thanks. Got the bolts reversed last night in between working on the springs. The rust prevention was good and dry, so wiped them down and got some self etching primer down and then a light coat of paint. Let them hang overnight and I'll get another coat on tonight.

[1963c-10]

I will be glad when the big shop is up and running, but the 12x12 shed is working for now. Looks much smaller in the pics, but I hung the springs from the rafters in the middle of the shed. Not ideal, but it's getting the job done with the elements I'm working with.

1st pic is with the rust prevention, 2nd in primer and last 2 with a light coat of paint.

Used some 40lb mono from one of my offshore fishing poles that needs respooled for the upcoming season to hang them. Works pretty good. The paint has been the easy part...if you 've never stripped coil springs....you've missed all the fun.

[1963c-10]

Got another coat on the springs last night...no pics due to spray and run for my Dad's birthday. More updates this weekend. If weather holds, looks like engine/trans/front end may come off next weekend.

[61K10]

making progress is what it's about, little here a little there.

[1963c-10]

Thanks 61K10....with two full time jobs and playing paramedic when I have time, its about what I'm left with. But even the 20 minutes here and there and an hour or so here and there....it does add up in the long run. Now that the weather and time have changed up its opening up more time. Progress will come a little quicker when I get the front end off and the drivetrain out. I have all the parts, and that's been a huge part of the battle to just afford the parts that I needed (wanted). The engine build and trans were a lot of it. Of coarse I have to pick a trans that was short production....and even harder to find a factory hurst linkage kit and make it work with the Hurst truck style shifter. But I know I'll get what I want in the long run...and be satisfied with the quality.

[1963c-10]

Been a slow day at the office, so working on the disk conversion. Does anyone have any preference to disk brake pads? Cost is from $12-60 and I know the CPP kit uses the 73-87 1.25" rotor pads. Also found a little diagram that may help some other doing the conversion since its not something to be found in the assembly manual.

[bj383ss]

Wow 2 full time jobs and you are still churning out progress. You must be made of Energy. I work 50 hours a week and after 2-3 days working on the truck after work and my days off I am exhausted.

Bret

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Wow 2 full time jobs and you are still churning out progress. You must be made of Energy. I work 50 hours a week and after 2-3 days working on the truck after work and my days off I am exhausted.

Bret

Don't know how much progress, but definitely tons of work in small doses. Didn't have time to work on anything with the truck this weekend. Got the lower ball joints in Friday night and then realized I haven't painted the spindles and calipers yet...so that's my goal this week. Have to wait until at least mid week for the temps to get up some. Calling for 30's - 40's again. Hoping this is the last artic blast for the 2013 season at least. But....once spindles/calipers painted....it'll be time to pull the engine/trans and front end. Got a stainless steel brake line kit for the disk conversion from Brothers, so that help some with running the lines.

So starting with:
stock 230 / 3 speed mc318 unsychronized trans on the column, manual clutch, drum brakes on a single master, and will end up with disk brakes on a dual master, hydraulic clutch, big block and synchronized HD 3 speed trans (floor mount) and completely new front end suspension. Will be a lot of work and changes...will feel like a new truck.

[1963c-10]

The rear end conversion to the posi will be pushed off a few weeks...but hopefully not too long as it'll make a big difference under the frame.

[1963c-10]

One of my upcoming weekend projects

[1963c-10]

Last day of the freezing temps and rain is here. Too cold to paint, but did get the calipers prepped for paint & hanging.

Also got a factory steel shroud in that I bought online for $50 from a parts yard. Covered in surface rust, but its actually a nice piece up close. No rot or pinholes and it'll clean up nice. Took a wire brush too it and some liquid rust converter to stop any future rusting until I can get cleaned up. Will try and work it into the engine conversion...as much as I hate too, I may have to trim it to make it work with the big block. I have a set of the later model v8 3 piece shrouds too, so if its too much modification on the barrel shroud, i'll use those and put the barrel shroud in the other 63.

[bj383ss]

Nice find! Question on the crossmember bolts. Do you know if they are 7/16 14 or 20 pitch? Trying to round up some hardware for mine.

Bret

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Nice find! Question on the crossmember bolts. Do you know if they are 7/16 14 or 20 pitch? Trying to round up some hardware for mine.

Bret

They are all coarse thread, except for the 1/2" nuts for the bolts that hold the cross shafts to the crossmember. I used all grade 8 and the cost wasn't that bad. Maybe $16-18 all together. The oem hardware looked good still, but I just didn't see the point of tearing it down to not replace them and upgrade to a stronger bolt. We'll help with any disassembly/maintenance/upgrades that may happen in the future.

[bj383ss]

Ok thanks. And I'm being dumb here but I assume that is the 14.

Bret

[1963c-10]

Heres a great chart on grade 8 bolts. I have a laminated copy in my tool box. Has the torque loads also for plain and plated bolts. I use a gm specific torque chart for the front end work...i use the chart below as reference for frame parts and such.

[bj383ss]

Awesome thanks a lot!

Bret

[1963c-10]

Heres a good chart for grade 2 and 5 bolts.

[pdxhall]

Thanks for the info.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Awesome thanks a lot!

Bret

No problem at all. I have some fuel line charts that cover NPT, AN fittings and standard converions also that good if you ever run an stainless lines/fittings....somewhere around 1/2 way through this thread.

[clemdaddy]

nice find on the shroud. i do like those steel ones, they just look right to me. and i also appreciate the torque charts. going to print them out and paste on my tool box too.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

nice find on the shroud. i do like those steel ones, they just look right to me. and i also appreciate the torque charts. going to print them out and paste on my tool box too.

Thanks...I like the steel ones better than the plastic too, although this is the 1st barrel shroud I've personally found. They are normally removed when I find parts trucks. And no problem on the charts.

[1963c-10]

Got some primer laid down last night while it was in the 60's....down in the 20's this a.m. and supposed to get back into the 60's by this afternoon....so hopefully some paint today.

These are the CPP stock conversion spindles. Looks like I got a good set, I know that others have had issues with CPP, but the machining all looks good on these. Went with an engine primer as I couldn't find a caliper primer locally. I have aluminum caliper/ spindle paint for the spindles and will do the calipers in black. to match the rest of the crossmember.

[1963c-10]

I'll sure be glad to get my barn done and have a proper area to paint. And a decent workbench.......

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

I'll sure be glad to get my barn done and have a proper area to paint. And a decent workbench.......

I have floor plans for a 50x30 three stall with a small loft office upstairs. I mention this because I can totally empathize with your longing for a nice place to do good work !!
We hope to break ground on it this summer while we are home in August. By then I will be done with this current build, but the shop will get its fair use none the less !!

Hang in there buddy, better days are on the way