Markeb01 Build Thread

[Ta2Don]

STill one of my Top 5 Favorite Trucks out here...

[markeb01]

Thanks guys! I'm glad the emblem worked out Phillip. Looking forward to whatever you ultimately decide with this concept.

Two projects today. The legend plate for the Fuel Pump switch arrived today and was quickly installed:



The height matches the mounting plates for the safety covers, and the width is exactly the same as the switch guard.

I’m also working on a request from my grandson (JW) to create a photo slide show following the history of the truck from OEM yellow to how it looks today. The only real difficulty is deciding what to include, since there is 20+ years of photos to pick from. Hopefully I’ll be able to post something on YouTube in a couple of days.

[Ta2Don]

The attention to detail amazes me consistently...

Will be watching for the video...

[markeb01]

Here's a 6 minute slide show requested by JW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03SL...ature=youtu.be

It starts with the 1/25th model that was created way back when to show what the finished truck would look like. Photos of the truck and additions follow, as they were added in real life. Being my first slideshow I don't know how to add text or explanatory comments, and the music runs out half way through. I'll try and do something better next time.

[1963c-10]

Very cool video Mark. It's interesting to see so many different rim, hood, paint and trim combinations. Each one changes the truck in their own way, but the truck always has the same personality. Great idea by your grandson!!

[Ta2Don]

Very Cool slideshow to watch with my morning coffee...

I especially liked seeing pics I hadn't seen before, as well as recollecting the phases of your build I have watched as they happened...

The different wheel shots are a great comparison tool...

[Vernski]

Hey Mark heads up at Rathdrum Days, Friday night classic car cruise 5-10pm on the 18th stage up at the Junior high parking lot. Saturday July 19th Lions Classic Car Show at the Junior High Football Field 10am-3pm. Lots of other stuff happening in town on both days...Vernski

[markeb01]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing, I wouldn't have known otherwise. We'll try and make both events if a family funeral doesn't interfere.

[doobiebro]

Originally Posted by markeb01

This afternoon I ran the truck out in the backyard and tried to capture at least one decent overall photo. So here’s the latest showing the bumper bullets, portholes and hood ornament:



And here’s somewhat of a close up:

Always looking good my friend!

[markeb01]

I spent all day in the garage revisiting the hood ornament. The more I studied it, the more I was disappointed it didn’t look “important” enough without a significant base underneath it. My initial research pertained to late 40’s – early 50’s genuine Buick gunsight ornaments. Each has a stylish and substantial mounting support, and is set at a specific angle for each series of hood. I was concerned that none would fit the exact curve of my hood.

So I started looking for alternatives, and found an aftermarket version, designed to fit on top of a 46 Ford OEM hood ornament:



This was manufactured by Dart Engineering, and was also offered with different bases and with plastic torpedoes that glowed in the dark for universal applications.

I removed the base adapter and installed the gunsight ornament by itself:



After sufficient study, I started thinking of what type base would look attractive and appropriate, and landed on the 56 Buick hood ornament base design. Then I got to wondering if I could slice down the big bulky adapter that came with the ornament. Here’s the result. It still needs a bit of final fitting, and will require replating after the Goodguys show next month.






If I get tired of it I’ll design a new version, but so far I think it’s a big improvement.

[1963c-10]

ornament looks great on there. i like the 2nd base better, i think it looks better raised up

[likaroc13]

I like the looks of the new base as well.

[markeb01]

Another 4-5 hours of grinding, sanding, and scraping today finally arrived at the shape that perfectly mated the profile of the hood with the ornament base. It sits completely solid with no rocking. So I broke all the edges with a 400 grit stone, and hopped in the truck for a quick run down to the chrome shop.

They are going to try and have it done on 8/13 (in time for the Goodguys show). It would have been the minimum charge of $40, but it turned out to be made of aluminum instead of pot metal, which adds another process (and another $10 to the bill). No complaints out of me, I’m just glad my part of the work is completed.

[Ta2Don]

I must say… Sir, your attention to detail is just...

[markeb01]

It's a character flaw of mine. I just can't leave things alone until they are done. Like putting the baseboards back on after repainting or remodeling a room. If they are left off, life will get in the way and they'll never get put back. I have to make sure those last minute details are attended to before I move on to something else or they will annoy me every time I notice they're still incomplete!

[Bomp]

I hear that. Over focus is one thing I do best at times.
Then other times things get flung here and there all willy nilly and the wifey stares, looks at me, shakes her head and don't understand.
Wish I could see the ornament live at the show. Not going to be able to make it this year. Having a little shin dig here of my own on the 9th. Won't be the same though.

Great attention to detail. Polish the day lights outta that thing and show it off for all its worth.

[markeb01]

I’d prefer to attend the Bomp festival rather than another Goodguys show, but unfortunately my legs and back are still not healthy enough to travel that far. Perhaps next year I’ll show enough improvement to make the journey!

I was out in the garage last night relocating gauges and switches to make room for one of these:



The under dash gauge panel went away. The fuel and volt gauges were mounted in the primary cluster replacing the bullets, and the vacuum gauge for the brake booster will likely be remounted as a single later on.

Also the toggle switch for the exhaust cutouts replaced the heater fan switch, and the heater fan switch moved over to a new hole at the right end of the “radio block off”:

The defroster diverter had to come off for clearance and will require modification.



Fortunately I retained the Alan Grove compressor bracket all these years. I found all the bolts and spacers, cleaned everything up and reinstalled it on the passenger side head. I may have to reroute the heater hoses a small amount and I may have to relocate the fuel pressure gauge and regulator. It’s too early to tell until I have more parts available.





I never thought I’d be doing this again after the miserable experience I had back around 1998. Back then I installed one of the custom fit A/C systems. It never worked right, but certainly did shriek loud enough to be aggravating. After a year of investing over $1500 and multiple trips to different shops, it was ripped out and discarded. Rather than wasting any more money I decided I’d be happier being uncomfortable in the summer.

But this year has been unusually miserable with extended temperatures in the 90’s to 100+ during the spring/summer period that is normally closer to 85 in our area. I’m looking forward to driving the truck all year, as it is much more comfortable on my knees and back than my wife’s CRV.

[awbrown]

Keep us informed on what the process is , I have the compressor on my engine already ,and I have the under dash unit ,just lack all the stuff in between....

[markeb01]

I'll take plenty of pictures. There isn't really much more to an aftermarket system, just the condenser, drier, safety switch and hoses. What makes most installations so tedious is routing them for neatness or using fancy fittings etc. Mine is going to be a plain Jane. The only upgrade will be having the hoses professionally crimped at a local hose supplier.

[likaroc13]

Cool! (no pun intended, ) When I was back home last time, I went through some '60-66 parts at my dad's place. When I went into the garage attic to store the boxes I had sorted, I noticed some A/C parts. So I asked dad about them, & he proceeds to tell me it's the under-dash unit from his old '66. I never realized it had one, but the truck had been apart since I was a toddler. Needless to say, I was happy to come across it. And it will be going into "Black Betty" in the future. I had been planning for a Vintage Air under-dash unit, but this should save me a lot of money. I still need to check it out in more detail when we go home again.

Looking forward to your install.

[markeb01]

Hopefully there will be some useful information on my install, because the new Mark IV evaporator is an exact duplicate of the original from back in the day. A quick search on Ebay shows quite a few old units listed, some are slightly different while others are identical to the new production items. They claim the unit is made off the original tools, and I'd have to agree considering they look exactly the same.

[markeb01]

Minor accomplishment this morning. The passenger side courtesy lamp was relocated from the left side of the glove box door to the right side. In the previous position it would have been directly on top of the evaporator. It actually makes a nicer light pattern on the floor as well.

[markeb01]

With the Goodguys show two weeks away, I figured it was time to make an updated “Business Card” to have available for sharing information. I listened to member suggestions from last time and this year I’m putting everything on one side so the back is blank for writing stuff. I also picked a conversation starter for a photo instead of a picture of my truck. My wife worked her magic and here’s the result:

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by markeb01

With the Goodguys show two weeks away, I figured it was time to make an updated “Business Card” to have available for sharing information. I listened to member suggestions from last time and this year I’m putting everything on one side so the back is blank for writing stuff. I also picked a conversation starter for a photo instead of a picture of my truck. My wife worked her magic and here’s the result:

Great idea, & nicely executed.

[Bomp]

Cool card!