Fryer1979 '66 C-10 Build

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by ChiefRocka

Looking good man ... Glad to see the progress !!

Thanks man.

Not much in progress on the trucks this weekend. I've been long suffering a dark spot in the end of my shop where the front end of the vehicles usually end up. When lifting a hood to get at the engine, vision became next to nothing always requiring either a flashlight, drop light, or sometimes both. So I spent my big shop day running some new wires to my fuse box, wiring up an electrical outlet, and installing some new lights over that end of the shop. It took pretty much all of my time to get done, but I feel the results were well worth it. This weekend I should be able to get back on the trucks.

[Alan's Classic]

Nice progress. Get some heat in that shop. Things (myself included) move a lot easier with some heat. We will have our first freeze this weekend.

[fryer1979]

That's actually my goal for this week, pick up a heater and some fuel. Our first freeze is right around the corner as well.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Hey, A wire brushed clean frame painted rattle can black with some new cab mounts set me back $60 with shipping etc.
I picked up a 79 donor rolling frame with the power steering box on it still for $150. I got the complete wiring harness and steering column out of an 81 Chevy box van for $25 and IT has the key on the dash and the column made it possible to do a bolt in PS upgrade.
I am doing photos for my build thread that I will post as soon as it is done.
I have done Pontiac restorations since 1974 and the 400 I am using was in my 67 firebird before I did the restoration on that. The re-ring/bearing job was less than $500 and I have too many extra Poncho parts laying around so I lucked out there too. Not to mention the 79 frame had frame brackets that made the Pontiac swap a bolt in...
Less than 1K and my truck is going together... Patience my friend... thats when you find the deals that leads to a less expensive build.

[fryer1979]

Yep, junkyarding has long been a favorite past time of mine, and a lot of the cars I have built in the past have used junkyard (and donor vehicle) parts. Kind of gives the car more character I think. This '65 was practically free, as was the donor '80 that my engine, trans, and front end are coming out of. I'm all about finding good deals (but at the same time not afraid of buying new parts if the situation calls for it), and by far prefer the barter system over purchasing with cash. I'm just looking forward to driving a Kool, classic pickup.

[irish1966]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Yep, junkyarding has long been a favorite past time of mine, and a lot of the cars I have built in the past have used junkyard (and donor vehicle) parts. Kind of gives the car more character I think. This '65 was practically free, as was the donor '80 that my engine, trans, and front end are coming out of. I'm all about finding good deals (but at the same time not afraid of buying new parts if the situation calls for it), and by far prefer the barter system over purchasing with cash. I'm just looking forward to driving a Kool, classic pickup.

It's such a cool feeling, that you get when u get her driving and running nice. I would be driving the 64 everyday if it wasn't for the throw-out bearing causing the clutch pedal to grab. Kinda hard to look cool when ur kangaroo-ing off the line at the lights. LOL

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by irish1966

It's such a cool feeling, that you get when u get her driving and running nice. I would be driving the 64 everyday if it wasn't for the throw-out bearing causing the clutch pedal to grab. Kinda hard to look cool when ur kangaroo-ing off the line at the lights. LOL

I know well what you mean. I get to enjoy that with my Camaro every time I fire it up. She runs so good and strong, it instills a certain sense of pride knowing that I am the only one who has ever worked on the car for the almost 11 years I've owned it. I would drive it daily, but there are a lot of security issues with the car and I have too much of a general distrust for the public (comes from my cars being broken into many times before). I can't wait to be behind the wheel of this pickup though.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Just poking my head in on your build today to see if you have any progress posts.
I am at a stand still on my project.
Some problems reared their ugly head on my truck that I wasn't aware of.
Now I am doing some thinking.
As for your lights and heater.... I don't even have a carport yet.. doing this all under the Arizona sun.
Rarely a freeze here.

[cable666guy]

Keep plugging away dude, you'll get there...I had several of those Camaros way back when, not as cool as my old 70 Camaro, but definitely right up there. The Olds motor gives the truck a cool flavor, too. Hope you get it done by your deadline, good luck!!

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Just poking my head in on your build today to see if you have any progress posts.
I am at a stand still on my project.
Some problems reared their ugly head on my truck that I wasn't aware of.
Now I am doing some thinking.
As for your lights and heater.... I don't even have a carport yet.. doing this all under the Arizona sun.
Rarely a freeze here.

Thanks man. I have been exactly there before. The first several years of my car building was done in the gravel on the side of my parents driveway under a bunch of pine trees. There have been many nights of wrenching in the rain and snow. It took me a long time to get where I am today, and am extremely grateful for what I have. For some reason my shop feels much colder in the winter than I ever remember being outside. At least I am not in the wind and sideways rain and snow anymore. Heater is coming soon.

Originally Posted by cable666guy

Keep plugging away dude, you'll get there...I had several of those Camaros way back when, not as cool as my old 70 Camaro, but definitely right up there. The Olds motor gives the truck a cool flavor, too. Hope you get it done by your deadline, good luck!!

Thanks. Yeah, rub it in why don't ya Actually a 70-73 Camaro is the next car I am going to be looking for to add to my collection. As cool as they are though, they still aren't something I would get rid of my '79 for.

[fryer1979]

Not much in the way of progress with the '65 to report, but I think I have finally got the front end of the donor truck degreased enough that I am willing to get my hands in there and take it all apart. Been soaking and spraying for a few weeks now, and I think it is ready to go. Gotta get rid of the cab of the donor truck, then finish stripping down the frame. The landlords at my shop are getting edgy about it sitting around. I did; however, manage to pull the rear brakes all apart on the '65, and since the drums were rusted on it did take a couple hours to do. No pictures right now, I'll post some more up when I get some good progress pics to share. We tend to get pretty busy around my house for the Holiday season, so progress my slow more than usual for the next month or so.

[fryer1979]

Oh, I did find one picture. Right after I finished my light instal I snapped a shot of my work. Wasn't able to show all of the work I put into the wiring, but you can see the two lights towards the back of the shop. Also while I was doing the wiring, I hooked up a new drop light I've had sitting for a couple years, also visible in the middle of the picture. Sorry the shop is a bit of a mess, the picture was taken right after getting the lights turned on, it is all cleaned up now.

[fryer1979]

Well the build has been put into a holding pattern for now. Just the other night my wife was involved in a roll-over accident on one of our local highways. Amazingly she is ok, as is her small puppy she had riding with her. I drove her to the ER that night, and we got her all checked out just to be on the safe side. Now she is just dealing with the sore muscles and the bumps and bruises she received during the crash. The only downside here is that my Ranger (along with the inexpensive furnature she had driven to Reno to purchase), is definitely a total loss. She was a great pickup and didn't deserve to go that way, but she did her job and kept my wife safe from serious injury (which is the most important issue by far). So for now it's dealing with insurance companies, and hunting for a new truck. Drive safe out there everyone.

[irish1966]

Holy crap!! Sorry to hear that man. Give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Thank God she wasn't hurt worse. And the puppy too. I say it everyday....Life is too short.

[fryer1979]

Thanks a lot Irish, from me and my wife (I showed her the post). I agree, life is WAY too short.

[irish1966]

you should rename the puppy "lucky" lol

[Captainfab]

Glad to hear that your wife and her puppy will be fine. The pickup and furniture can be replaced unlike the wife and puppy.

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving

[fryer1979]

Thanks Capt. In spite of all that has happened we still had a very good time with family and friends.

[Captainfab]

That's good!

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Thanks Capt. In spite of all that has happened we still had a very good time with family and friends.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Looking in on you..
Hope wife and all are good and that Santa brings you lots of goodies...

[fryer1979]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Looking in on you..
Hope wife and all are good and that Santa brings you lots of goodies...

Thanks a lot man. She is doing much better. Still has a little stiffness in her neck when she moves it just right, doctor says that is normal for her type of injuries. We will be leaving a BIG plate of cookies and a large glass of milk for Santa this year.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Hey, I ran across an old buddy that has Olds parts so if'n yer lookin fer some thing ... let me know.
I am just east of Phoenix...

[fryer1979]

Kool bud, thanks. The only things I can think of right now that I'm gonna need Olds specific are: A set of long-tube headers. Something to fit a 68+ A-body with the olds 350 should work fine (my block is a 1970). And an aftermarket intake manifold. I thought I had an Edelbrock Performer manifold, but I must have sold that one to my brother for his '68 Cutlass. That's all I've got off the top of my head.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by fryer1979

Kool bud, thanks. The only things I can think of right now that I'm gonna need Olds specific are: A set of long-tube headers. Something to fit a 68+ A-body with the olds 350 should work fine (my block is a 1970). And an aftermarket intake manifold. I thought I had an Edelbrock Performer manifold, but I must have sold that one to my brother for his '68 Cutlass. That's all I've got off the top of my head.

He has an aluminum intake, set of heads with roller rockers etc.. etc.. if you have any interest PM me..

[fryer1979]

At last I have a new (to me) 4 wheel drive! While driving my old Camaro is always fun, it does not take well to "grocery getter" driving, and my wife's Firebird is just in need of some maintenance work so it was a bit dicey to drive as well. Glad that is now over with, but at least I have a good idea of what needs to be done for the cars. Anyhow, I wound up not going with a full-size truck. After a lot of discussion, and test driving, my wife and I decided that a full-size just didn't suit our needs or purpose at this time. That lead us to looking at a whole bunch of small SUVs and pickups. While we were on our way out the door to go look through another list of trucks, we took one last look at craigslist.......and found this beauty just posted. 2002 Chevy Blazer 2-Door. 4.3L V-6, auto trans, and only 60K miles! Since everything else on our list had at least 85K on the clock this was the first one we looked at. We both fell in love, a GREAT deal was struck, and now I am the very proud owner of a 4x4 I've had a closet passion for ever since I was a young teenager (always loved the 2-door S-10 Blazers, almost bought a few along the way but never did). Without dragging this on any longer, here is the pic I took right after the previous owner drove out of the parking lot. I'll get some more pics taken once the weather clears up and I can get her all cleaned up.