My Unexpected '66 SWB-Fleet-Restomod Project!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Great heads up. I have been kickin around the idea of power windows too. You always pull it off so nicely when an obstacle gets in the way.

Hey now!
I did a bunch of R&D work,(none) and I am sure that it will all work out!
BTW...I do look slick, but my door switches look slicker!...Just noticed the typo.
P.S. Obstacles are just an opportunity to polish one's skill level!

[Modges'66]

I started to work on widening my rear wheel-tubs.
I want to confirm the fact that I can get at least a 20 x 10 wheel under this thing without buying some custom offset wheel...If I'm buying custom offset wheels, I want for it to be because I WANT to, and not because I NEED to.
So here is the quick story on that:
1.) Cut the tubs in half.
2.) Bend up a piece to extend them.
3.) Weld them back together.
Sounds pretty easy, right?...What a pain in the a$$!
I learned a lot. I learned that I wish that I had about 3 sets to widen, as I could throw the first 2 sets away! And that I will get good at this at about the same time that I am finished!
I suppose that it is like anything, practice makes perfect!

[Modges'66]

Here's a few more pics.
Just 1 small draw-back....I still have 1 more to do this to. (I didn't want to ruin both of them at once)

[clemdaddy]

nice work... wheel-wells matched up real well

[Bomp]

Guess going with skinny rear wheels is out? lol Great job.

[flips72]

nice, when do you want me to send you mine?

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by flips72

nice, when do you want me to send you mine?

Be Careful, I may take you up on that!
If yours turn out better due to my experience, and most likely they will, I will then send mine to you, and keep yours!

[1963c-10]

Nice job...very cool thread

[Budman56]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

I received my "Direct bolt-in" power window kit this week...Yeah, right. It is only direct bolt-in after you drill several holes in your door that will be exposed when the job is completed. I am NOT good with that.
After a great deal of pondering on the issue. I decided to make an adapter plate to mount the power-window mechanism to, and in-turn, mount that plate to the door in areas that would be concealed by the door-panel.
I used two of the door-panel holes as a reference in my adapter plate, to get everything into the proper location, as they did in the installation instructions.
Here are some pics of what I came-up with.
As you can see by the instruction sheet, a good deal of measuring was done to accomplish this!

hello i really like your mods to the electric windows, did you make the brackets your self, did they work? if so i would be interested in a set of your brackets.

[Modges'66]

Yeah, I made the brackets myself with the plasma cutter & A bunch of measuring...I can't say that the brackets will work perfectly for sure, as I won't put the entire door back together until after paint, i.e. hang the glass, install the weatherstrips, etc. But everything seems to line up perfectly as far as I as my measurements calculate. Probably won't know for sure until spring.
But even if I need to make some adjustments, there are a few spacers between the door & the bracket, that I can change the thickness of to get the proper alignment if needed.
The only thing that I am not sure of, is if they will vibrate & cause a rattle in the door.
I may add a rubber bumper to one area to rule this possibility out.
I'm Pretty positive that it will work just fine though!...Again, I won't know positively until painted & assembled.

[chad64chevy]

how much did you widen your tubs?? i got another set of tubs, so when i get ready to widen mine they will be 3.75"-4" wider! yours look really good

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

how much did you widen your tubs?? i got another set of tubs, so when i get ready to widen mine they will be 3.75"-4" wider! yours look really good

Hey Chad!
Thanks for the comment.
I made my tubs 2-1/2" wider.
I looked a a guys C-10 a few weeks back that had 20 x 10 wheels on it, and all he did was cut the fender lip.
I don't want to do that, but I can't see any reason to go any wider, unless you are gonna Pro-street it...My opinion.
If you think those pics looked good, look at the ones that I will soon post-up of the tubs in primer!

[Modges'66]

Since I hurdled through the learning-curve in the first wheel tub, the second turned-out significantly better!
They both are to my liking, but I had a better fitting/welding sequence figured out for the second one, so virtually no warpage.
On the first, I hammered & dollied it to make it look nice, but the second was good-to-go!
I was so geeked with the results! It was so much easier to finish the second, as compared to the first one.
Here are some pics...Really happy with the end results of both!

[chad64chevy]

just a heads up, incase you dont know the 67-72 wheel wells dont fit are trucks bed sides without some trimming to the inside of the bed were they bolt up at!! i had to trim mine and it comes reall close to cutting the support brace thats in there! because of the lip on the wheel well, so i just notched that lip around the area were the brace was!! the 70' steel floor on mine has the ridges in it and i just went to the next ridge to make it look kind of factory looking

the tubs look alot better in primer and yes you did do a better job on the second one!! the one thing i hate when i get to work on my truck i want it to look good, but i only work on it on the weekends so i rush myself at what i'm doing! i really dont want to do that to the body work, that and two days i have off i'm there from sun up til the sun goes down, the wife really loves it when i'm gone that long, lol!!

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by chad64chevy

just a heads up, incase you dont know the 67-72 wheel wells dont fit are trucks bed sides without some trimming to the inside of the bed were they bolt up at!! i had to trim mine and it comes reall close to cutting the support brace thats in there! because of the lip on the wheel well, so i just notched that lip around the area were the brace was!! the 70' steel floor on mine has the ridges in it and i just went to the next ridge to make it look kind of factory looking.

Thanks for the heads-up Chad.
I have already trimmed the box-sides and welded & moved a few of the mounting holes in the wheel wells to better accommodate my application.
I liked these because they are a little taller than the correct ones, thus I can get a little lower with these.
I also only get to work on the truck on mainly weekends, as it it located about 35 miles from home. I usually work on it friday night till 10:00 p.m. Saturday all day till about 10:00 p.m. & Sunday all-day till about 7-8:00 p.m. because I need to get up at 4:00 a.m. for work.
Once in awhile I can sneak a weeknight in on it too.
I have no personal life outside of this right now...Not married & college aged kids...

[flips72]

tubs look great, mine are in the mail,

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by flips72

tubs look great, mine are in the mail,

Ha-Ha-Ha!
Good one Flips!
seeing your post really made me laugh!!!...Seriously!

[Jeff La]

How about I send you a pair and you keep the best two and send me the other two back.Pretty good deal........ LOL

[Trsmotrhed]

Nice build and looks like you're doing an awesome job. You got your build thread on your signature just fine.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Jeff La

How about I send you a pair and you keep the best two and send me the other two back.Pretty good deal........ LOL

I learned a few more things this weekend!
I learned that almost everyone wants wider rear wheel tubs, and that pretty much nobody wants to make them themselves!
LOL!

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

I learned a few more things this weekend!
I learned that almost everyone wants wider rear wheel tubs, and that pretty much nobody wants to make them themselves!
LOL!

Sounds like a business opportunity to me...

[chad64chevy]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

I learned a few more things this weekend!
I learned that almost everyone wants wider rear wheel tubs, and that pretty much nobody wants to make them themselves!
LOL!

i plan on doing mine in a couple weeks, if the weather will let me, lol!! its been raining for the last two weekends when i have been off work

[chad64chevy]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

I have no personal life outside of this right now...Not married & college aged kids...

my kids are going to be 3 and 4 this yr. i also have a 9yr. old girl in cali. that i hope will be coming to live with me in the next week or two finely!! thats one of my biggest reasons i havent got any real updates on my truck lately, i've been trying to get her out here for awhile now!!

[Jeff La]

Originally Posted by Modges'66

I learned a few more things this weekend!
I learned that almost everyone wants wider rear wheel tubs, and that pretty much nobody wants to make them themselves!
LOL!

when I do mine I'm gonna measure tubs and tires really close, hopefully I'll get the width I want without having to do what you did.

[Modges'66]

Originally Posted by Jeff La

when I do mine I'm gonna measure tubs and tires really close, hopefully I'll get the width I want without having to do what you did.

And what if the wheel-maker doesn't offer the style wheel that you want with the backspacing/offset that you need?...Custom? $$$
All that I'm saying, is that you have a lot more choices of wheels if you have a little extra room...
My opinion.
Secondly, I didn't want to have to do this after it was painted & assembled.
These were the last pieces that I need to prep for paint, and my painter isn't ready to spray it quite yet.
I want 20 x 10's on the back of this thing, and I think I have my bases covered!