My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Relieved to see you were able to get things back into shape quickly and go out driving.
One day we'll all be parked side by side.

Thanks Greg!
It really bothered me to not dig into it & fix it!
I would have went stir-crazy to sit & wait until spring to figure it out & fix it!!!

Originally Posted by realvc

Great looking truck, and a very interesting thread to follow.
Congrats. on the build and also on the engine repair.

Thanks a lot!!! makes me rest easier knowing that all is good for spring cruizin!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Nice work man!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by BUILT2LAYFRAME

beautiful truck! awesome build!

Thanks a lot. this build has taken a toll on my personal life!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

way to knock it out bro... she looks great and now runs great.

the only downer is old man winter is quickly approaching. chilled down in the 30's this morning but its OK I'm wearing flipflops, living in defiance.

hope you get some more miles in before hibernation time...

Thanks Clem!
Now that I have had the motor apart, I know exactly what I've got!
It should be pretty bullet-proof from this point forward!
It runs great, and I have leaned on it pretty hard since the mishap without disappointment!!!

[Modges'66]

No real updates really.
Went up to check on my baby in storage today, and add a battery tender.
I started her & let her run for a bit...The cam sounds so lumpy in the cool air!
I wanted to take her for a drive, but didn't dare because of all of the deer movement in this area.
I peeled back the cover & took a pic for good measure!!!



I also bought a new-to-me beater, to replace my '95 Astro with 320k plus miles!...This should get me through a few years, and be fun to drive!
Now that I am not haulin' around grundgy parts, it should work out pretty good!
Here are a few pics of her!
She has got some miles on her, but very clean & runs stellar!
I was just lookin for a good solid ride that excited me a bit!

[65Gregg]

Hmmm, I know where the twin to that one is...

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

Hmmm, I know where the twin to that one is...

Niiiiiiiice Gregg!
It looks like yours is lowered. That was the 1st thing that I was gonna do to mine, but I put it on the hoist only to find that someone has replaced the rear bags & springs.
If I could find some stock springs cheap, I would buy new bags & readjust ride height in the rear, and buy drop kit for the front...The compressor still works.
Your thoughts?

[Modges'66]

Hello everyone!
Just wanted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas!
Have a safe & happy holiday season!

[65Gregg]

I just noticed your reply,oops, I bought new Arnott brand bags and Belltech shocks. The front is Belltech as well. Are you a member on TBSSOWNERS.COM? There are a lot of stock suspension parts for sale on a regular basis. You can buy front shocks with lowering collars through the site store. Merry Christmas.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

I just noticed your reply,oops, I bought new Arnott brand bags and Belltech shocks. The front is Belltech as well. Are you a member on TBSSOWNERS.COM? There are a lot of stock suspension parts for sale on a regular basis. You can buy front shocks with lowering collars through the site store. Merry Christmas.

Gregg,
I just put a new set of the Arnott bags on the rear yesterday! The compressor & ride-height sensors all seem to work perfectly. The TBSS had a set of Belltech coils with internal overload bags plumbed to a schrader-valve. the coils were jury-rigged with basically nothing to hold them into place...Once that you lifted the car on a hoist, they would hang by the air-lines.
I have no idea why someone eliminated the original set-up for that!
The ride with the Arnott bags is way-better now!
Yeah, I have been hanging out on TBSSOWNERS.COM for a while, but finally became a member. Gonna probably buy NORCAL SS's modified upper control arms & Belltech drop struts for the front & drop shocks for the rear.

[65Gregg]

And the sickness continues....

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

And the sickness continues....

Are you kidding?
I can't just drive something that is normal...Gotta be something custom/personal about it!!!

[65Gregg]

Did yours come with the hose that fits the compressor to fill tires?

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

Did yours come with the hose that fits the compressor to fill tires?

Yes!!
Still in the original packaging!
Hose, gauge, & needles to fill basket/volley balls!
Why? LOL!

[65Gregg]

Mine came with 2, so I was going to hook you up if yours wasn't there.

[Modges'66]

Sweet!
Thanks anyways!!!!

[Modges'66]

Not much happening around here lately, but yesterday the weather broke for a bit, so I want to check on the '66.
I pulled her outside to let the engine run for a while, & charge the battery.
I can hardly wait for spring to get here!
Here is a small segment of video, if I can figure out how to post it!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nza1tpxAiaY

[Palf70Step]

Nice, very nice!!

[clemdaddy]

Too cool Mike... I bet she's just as anxious as you are.
Be thinkin' road trip next October bro.

[jlsanborn]

Love the truck man. Especially all those details you can't see in the videos. Sounds awesome! Would love to hear it singin' or layin' just a little rubber maybe?

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice, very nice!!

Thank you so much!

Originally Posted by clemdaddy

Too cool Mike... I bet she's just as anxious as you are.
Be thinkin' road trip next October bro.

Hey Clem! I thought she'd be anxious too, but learned differently! LOL!

Originally Posted by jlsanborn

Love the truck man. Especially all those details you can't see in the videos. Sounds awesome! Would love to hear it singin' or layin' just a little rubber maybe?

Thanks!!!
I would really love to do some burnouts, or spin a donut or two, and put in on film for you!
But the sad reality is, I stopped up to where the truck was stored for the winter early last week in order to take it for a spin and blow the cobwebs off from her. I took it for a nice easy drive, and after about 10 miles of driving, the transmission went to shift from 3rd into 4th, and suddenly started slipping severely in 4th. If I pulled it back into 3rd everything was good, but let it shift into overdrive and it would start slipping.
I trailered it to my dad's yesterday, and pulled the transmission out today.


This is a pic of my winter-beater that I recently purchased to replace my '95 Astro that had 320,000 miles on it.
I'll tell you what, the 400hp LS2 in this Trailblazer SS makes child's play of hauling the trailer with the '66 on it around town!!!

I will post more pics once that I know for sure what I am doing!
But a bulletproof transmission is in my current goals!!!

[Bomp]

Man that would be a hard pill to swallow,
In line to see that video when the right time comes.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Man that would be a hard pill to swallow,
In line to see that video when the right time comes.

Hey Greg,
Do you want to see a video of me doing a burnout & donuts? Or a video of me rebuilding the transmission?
I want the transmission to be bulletproof, therefore I won't be working on it myself!!!! LOL! I am many things, but not a Automatic tranny guy!!!
Once that the tranny is reworked, I don't think that it will be a problem to get some video proof!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Man that would be a hard pill to swallow,
In line to see that video when the right time comes.

Hey Greg,
Do you want to see a video of me doing a burnout & donuts? Or a video of me rebuilding the transmission?
I want the transmission to be bulletproof, therefore I won't be working on it myself!!!! LOL! I am many things, but not a Automatic tranny guy!!!
Once that the tranny is reworked, I don't think that it will be a problem to get some video proof!

[65Gregg]

Well you could just substitute the TBSS to do the video of... We both know that could happen.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by 65Gregg

Well you could just substitute the TBSS to do the video of... We both know that could happen.

Ha-Ha-Ha! I am gonna keep focused on the '66 for right now!
As soon as I have these bugs worked out I will start messing with the TBSS!
Many plans in mind!...Always wanted a TBSS, and now I am sorry that I didn't buy one a long time ago!!! I had a chance to buy one a couple years ago that had 30k on it, was lowered, and had Baer 6 piston brakes, but I didn't want a car payment...Kick myself now, Because it would have lasted me a long time with my current drive to work, (<15 miles) but who can forecast the future!
I have already made subtle changes to the exterior of the TBSS if you haven't noticed.
All of the window pillars are blacked-out, and all of the exterior lighting is LED, or HID...not that you could notice that! LOL!

[65Gregg]

I like the blacked out pillars, looks good. I'm glad I have my TBSS because my 65 is broken at the moment like yours but worse 😳

[Modges'66]

Hey Guys!
There hasn't been a lot to do lately while waiting for the transmission to get rebuilt...I thought that I would take this time to clean-up some things. So I started by cleaning up all of the billet starting with the wheels....I didn't get much farther than the wheels, because they are polished on both the inner & outer surfaces...This process took the better part of 5 hours for the set of four wheels!...But, boy do they look sweet!!!








I should be getting the transmission back tomorrow....All trick parts, & it should be bulletproof for a lot more horsepower than I have...but I feel like it has cost way too much money though. The tranny was fresh With almost all HD parts 1400 miles ago & ALL hard parts were good. I replaced the sun-shell with a HD Sonnax unit this time, along with all of the cluthches, & shift solenoids...But I have looked a prices, and don't feel that it is worth $1300

There is not much that you can do when you are looking at a pile of parts laying on a Stainless steel bench! It isn't like you are gonna say "I wanna get a second opinion"...I feel like I got bent-over, but I will move on.
All that I can say is: that thing better not screw-up now!!!! I will go postal!!!!