My '67 Fleetside C10 renew

[jlsanborn]

Nothing to report... My oldest is getting married this weekend, so we've been pretty busy on that front lately.

[Low Elco]

Congrats! Have fun.

[jlsanborn]

Been plugging away a bit here lately. Blew the cab and bed back off, pulled the exhaust and welded that all up for good (Boy did that is). Block and crank will be headed to the machine shop here soon for clean/inspect/bore.
I trucked over to Coeur d'Alene and picked up those clutch master cylinder bits from CaptianFab. All I can say is that it's super, super well done. It came out slick, works perfect and looks great. Thanks John!! I put his laser cut plate onto the firewall, then took the closest size hole-saw and ran it through. I then took a burr and used it much like a flush trim router bit, letting the smooth part of the shank ride around the plate while the cutters flushed the firewall to the plate. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the clutch pedal lever to line up with the master cylinder linkage. It's perfect! The pedal strokes almost to the floor and the linkage action and actuation of the master is spot-on. I still have to order up that Novak slave kit. Next up is welding out the engine stands I fabbed as well as all the No Limit suspension parts out back to get rid of some of them "bolt-on" bolts.

[Low Elco]

This is looking like work on your truck... you're frightening me, John!

[jlsanborn]

Car show last weekend started a little fire under me I guess

[Bomp]

Nice to see ya back at it. Always like poppin in here to see the progress.

[mcbassin]

Looking good! Keep up the hard work, it will pay off in the end....

[jlsanborn]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

This is looking like work on your truck... you're frightening me, John!

Just passed the four year mark on this thread and it's still right smack in the middle of my shop. I will finish this thing Chip! How's Yeller treating your Pa? Anything left on the list? It's my Top Truck on the forum man. You guys put some heart into it.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Nice to see ya back at it. Always like poppin in here to see the progress.

Always glad to see you checking in here Greg! I'm last in line on your build thread. I think I'll hit the hornet's nest and bring it to the top. I know you're in business over there, what's cooking? Still gotta catch up with Murph!

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Looking good! Keep up the hard work, it will pay off in the end....

Thanks Mike! You are a great inspiration for me. You did it just right!

I bought some VHT and painted the exhaust. Still gotta get Boy to sandblast my headers so I can put the black VHT on those. I'm a little worried that it isn't bonding that well. I scrubbed it all down and then wiped it with a clean rag and thinner but it sure comes off easy! Hopefully I can touch it up after install and a few heat cycles will cure it to a tougher state. The hard-wire MIG did the job on the aluminized and stainless but I had to knock the welds down some with a soft disc. Overall I'm super happy with the results. I'll get it all on the wall this weekend and work towards finishing the chassis.

Boy is in the middle of another badass motor. Still having drama with his aluminum heads so he's whipping up a roller (Vortec) 350. He's getting the sweet deal / employee discount. They just bought a new balancing machine at his shop and he's learning how to run that gear on his own rotating assembly! He's going to do up some Vortec heads with the lightweight LS valves and the boss hauled out some custom regrind cam for him. Should be about 10.0:1 and pretty cool. I'll put up video!

My block, crank and heads ready for inspect!

[Bomp]

The boy has my dream job. Well, one of them any ways.
Those motor parts are tight! Can already smell the tires getting warmed up.
Been stompin out fires right and left around here but getting no where.
Trying to figure out this wiring night mare on the taillights on CC. 292 runs strong around the yard but I wanna get on some black top.

[Low Elco]

Yeller is haulin' the boat and the dog. Boppa hurt his shoulder, and he's had another heart procedure, but he's doin'ok. Yeller's comin' back in a week or so for stereo work and hopefully to have the AC hooked up and some other small stuff done.

Glad to hear the Boy's doing well at his new gig!

[Captainfab]

I would have thought you would have used some good ol' stove paint. That's what I have always used with good results. Of course I always have my exhaust parts blasted for best adhesion.

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

I bought some VHT and painted the exhaust. Still gotta get Boy to sandblast my headers so I can put the black VHT on those. I'm a little worried that it isn't bonding that well. I scrubbed it all down and then wiped it with a clean rag and thinner but it sure comes off easy! Hopefully I can touch it up after install and a few heat cycles will cure it to a tougher state. The hard-wire MIG did the job on the aluminized and stainless but I had to knock the welds down some with a soft disc. Overall I'm super happy with the results. I'll get it all on the wall this weekend and work towards finishing the chassis.

Thanks for the compliments on the hydraulic clutch kit

[jlsanborn]

Dad had cases of that stove paint after he and Ma closed the store. The tubing is all aluminized, so I didn't get it blasted. At first I was just going to paint the welds but that started to look crappy, so I shot the whole dealio. Hope it holds up well.

Did a little work on the frame last night. Welded those pipe rings in the trailing arm cross member where the exhaust passes through.

[Vic1947]

Looks good and stout, John!

[Low Elco]

They ain' goin' no where!

[Bomp]

That'll look clean all nice and tucked up under the truck.

[jlsanborn]

Thanks dudes! The pipe rings are hella stout but it was really diameter that I was after. Most scrap yard $hit in that size is pretty heavy wall. I've commented on a number of air-ride builds about getting the exhaust out over the axle and blowed out from under the truck. To me, exhaust tips are an important feature and when I see one done right I'll always give a thumbs up. I don't like the hockey sticks or pea shooters but appreciate when it goes all the way back like it oughtta . I screwed up when I painted mine. I used stainless bends for the tips and meant to mask them off for six inches or so. It'll be easy to clean off though. Soon as it cools off a bit tonight Ima go back out there and do some more welding. I wanna get that all done so I can detail the frame out with the wire whipper and shoot it all again.

[71Sleeper]

Dude I just read through your build and I take my hat off to you. I just don't have the knowledge, space and resources to do a frame off. Plus there is no way I would attempt to do any type of body work. I hope everything checks out with the 327. There is just something about keeping the old school feel and to have a standard behind it will only add to the fun. I am trying to decide if I want to change over to a 700r4 or try my best to find a solid 4 speed to tuck behind my 327. I will be following your build.

[jlsanborn]

Still pluggin away here... Waited for Jr's shop to put new juice in the hot tank, then sent my block, crank and heads in for inspection. Heads went through sand blast and magged out good. Turns out they're the earlier, 62cc camel humps and are good to go. I'm not ready to pull the trigger yet but they'll get 2.02" x 1.60" valves with a little unshrouding done in the chambers. I'll also do 7/16" screw in studs and girdles. Clearance the push-rod holes for guide plates too. There's a local guy that will do a basic porting job for $200 that I'm going to have done too. Block will have to go 0.060" over but no other issues. Crank was ground from 10/10 to 20/20 and is good. All I need now is about $1500 spare for Icon 2VR pistons and some H-beam rods. I can then get it bored to fit and mock it up for a real zero deck job. Knuckles will then balance it all on their new machine Looking at greater than 10.0:1 and a solid roller. Something that'll rock past 7,000rpm

Finished welding out my frame. Exhaust hangers, engine stands and all the "bolt-on" stuff got un-bolted and welded out. Blew it apart somewhat, pressure washed and wire-wheeled, etching primer and then semi-gloss paint. Put that back together all tight, like it's the last time I'll be messing with that stuff Also installed new trailing arm bushings (Energy Suspension Poly's). It's looking like a real roller now, anxious to buy shocks.

Next up, while I wait on engine $$$, is some more cab work.

[jlsanborn]

Few more...

[sduckworth13]

Awesome work John. Looks great.

[Bomp]

Now aren't you glad you pulled the cab off and went Full Blown Frame Off RESTORATION?!!!???!!!

Looks great

[jlsanborn]

Originally Posted by sduckworth13

Awesome work John. Looks great.

Thanks Scott! Small steps here.

Originally Posted by Bomp

Now aren't you glad you pulled the cab off and went Full Blown Frame Off RESTORATION?!!!???!!!

Looks great

Except now I've gotta roll the cab on it's back and clean up the bottom I never did un-bolt the front X-member, so there are still a few screws un-turned. Thanks for following man!

[Captainfab]

Looking great

Sometime when you get a chance, I'd like to get contact info for the guy you found that does head porting.

[mcbassin]

Your chassis looks great!

[swamp rat]

This is what i like, fat tires and no droped frame. Nice work!