66 SB Step Side- Ex Air Force Base Truck

[LoRollinLS]

Lookin' great man!

[1963c-10]

Nice progress. And a few pics from Vietnam in 65 with some air force police trucks. Last pic is your truck....noticed they are both 66B on the doors

[Grizz1963]

I think it is appropriate to mention HAPPY BIRTHDAY Buddy !!!!!

Hope its a great one and that you show us what the boss gave you for your birthday, later.

[Ta2Don]

Just for info sake...

the breakdown of the Numbers is as follows

66 = Year Model
B = Air Force Series Designation; B is General Purpose Vehicles
6394 = Vehicle's serial number

Happy BDay & God Bless!!!

[1963c-10]

Very cool in Don, never knew that. Is that Air Force only or was that standard for all military vehicles?

[Neatbeard]

Oh WOW!! Seriously thats awesome info thanks guys. Ihave tried doing a bit of research on the military/Airforce vehicles and kind got no where, that is seriously cool! Thank you guys.

Cheers for the happy birthday Grizz. I spent the best part of 5 odd hours in some pain for my birthday...



It was worth it though as my better half has made a start on my new tattoo sleeve - good times.

[1963c-10]

I think I put some more pics up in the nostalgic pic thread of 60-66 era trucks in Vietnam....might be worth a check.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Very cool in Don, never knew that. Is that Air Force only or was that standard for all military vehicles?

Only the Air Force numbered vehicles this way, not sure how the other services do their vehicles.

[Neatbeard]

Thanks for the info Ta2Don, very useful to know.

I've found that the positive battery terminal clamp has split on my truck so that will of contributed to me electrical/starter issues. Better get down to the local motor factors and get myself a replacement clip to bolt or solder on. Luckily my better half also bought me a soldering kit as well as tattooing me for my birthday!

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

Only the Air Force numbered vehicles this way, not sure how the other services do their vehicles.

The Army only numbered vehicles on the side like that for a short period, though I cannot say for certain when they did it or stopped. However, the Army did, and still does a bumper numbering system which will allow an observant person to identify the unit, platoon, and squad of the vehicle. For example my weapon systems were always labled:
driverside = B22 ___________________ pass side= B2-62ADA

Which would mean the gun was in Bravo Battery 2nd Platoon, 2nd Squad and
Bravo Battery 2nd brigade of the 62nd Regiment Air Defense Artillery

We also tend to stencil the driver and Squad Leader names and rank in the windshields.
I will have to pay attention now that we talked about it as I cannot say I have consciously read any of those in the past few years.
Kind of like grass as you drive by, you see it, but you dont really look at it....

Just a little Military lore for you.

[1963c-10]

I see the Army trucks here all the time living 5min off Ft. Bragg. So familiar with those. Pope AFB was closed out a while back and is now an Army Airfield, so mostly Army & Marine vehicles we see here. Alot of Marine training from Camp Lejune. They just got done with the 155mm training for a few weeks so I can hang all my stuff back on the walls.

Thanks to all for the military deciphering and hope Neatbeard didn't mind us turning this into a topic on his build.

[Neatbeard]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Thanks to all for the military deciphering and hope Neatbeard didn't mind us turning this into a topic on his build.

No not all guys, I find information like this great and it's still relevant to my truck with it being ex USAF.

Thanks again guys.

[Chris Redford]

I'm loving your truck mate. It was a fair whack of the inspiration for me to get mine!

[1963c-10]

Any updates?

[Neatbeard]

Originally Posted by Chris Redford

I'm loving your truck mate. It was a fair whack of the inspiration for me to get mine!

Thanks dude. Aw shucks you'll have me blushing behind my beard at his rate!

See you at the Trip Out dude.

[Neatbeard]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Any updates?

Not really fella, just been driving it and trying to sort the phantom no-start issue. I thought I had it sussed after fitting a brand new starter and then finding that my positive battery terminal clamp had split in two, so I replaced that as well. Truck was starting and running fine every time I tried it.

Took it 150 miles to a 3 day car show, stopped half way for fuel top up and it wouldn't start, my mates pushed it so I could bump it and it started fine with a push. Parked it on a slight hill at the event incase it needed bumping again but it then started up twice fine..... the only common theme seems to an issue starting when hot. I thought it was only a common issue with the V8s though and mine is an inline6.....?

[Neatbeard]

It looks like I may of sold the truck...... i've been thinking long and hard about whether to or not as I love it but with our new addition to the family I need something that can seat all of 5 of us when going to cars shows etc.

That said I do have my eye on a 51 GMC suburban that would certainly fulfill those requirements.......

[Hansome]

Thought I'd just update this thread about the life and times of chevy C10 1966 ex USAF truck.
A massive thank you to Neatbeard who sold me this truck and has been a excellent custodian of her since she came to the UK.
It's true if your wondering,? Neat beard does have a very neat and very big beard!,

I've had the truck less than a week and I'm so excited, I keep looking out of the window of my house ( not only to see if it's still there :h ) but I can't believe its mine. This old Chevy puts a smile on my face everytime!

Like the previous owner I have been into classic VW's from a young age, I had beetles, type 3, campers etc and have learnt my spannering skills on those. Always wanted American iron and since touring California a few months back and seeing all the classics there I just had to go for it..... Life's to short and last time I heard you only get one?

So now I'm a newbie chevy truck owner and in at the deep end it feels like I don't know my arse from my elbow, but I love learning new skills so am enjoying staying up late reading, looking and doing everything C10!!
My plans for the truck are not much, I want to add power steering as driving her around London Town is a bit whaayyy, whaoooo, arrrghhhh! and a complete work out!, and don't get me started about parking!
Other plans for later on (when I've saved enough cash) is dropped spindles and disk conversion.
Other than that she's staying as she is.
I was out putting on some wax to protect from all the rain we are currently having and I could see people faces when they walked past thinking " WTF are you doing polishing that knarly kncackered truck" then you explain the history of the truck and there like ok cool, I get ya!

Any how off to work!, later D

[Grizz1963]

Welcome Hansom !!!

You will find yourself grinning like a mad man every time you look at your truck even a year from now.

My truck gives me and others so much pleasure and it is deffo a work truck.

Drop me a PM if you want to make closer contact. There are a few of us in the UK.

[Hansome]

Grizz,

Thanks for the welcome!,

Yeah mine will be a deffo works truck too! I'm in the construction industry so wanted one for 3 reasons really

1. Because I just really really wanted one ( new challenge and all that)
2. It's a c10 truck and stands out from anything else, great for advertising my company
3 . It's a c10 truck so good for moving stuff about
4 . It's a C10 truck
5. It's a c10 truck and Ive just hot this thing about talking to complete strangers anywhere you park it. ( this happened often with my VW type 3 fastback) but with this truck so far it's been every time.
6. Did I mention it's a C10 truck......

But in reality reasons 2 -6 are I'm only trying to justify reason number 1

Whooo hooooo

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Hansome

Grizz,

Thanks for the welcome!,

Yeah mine will be a deffo works truck too! I'm in the construction industry so wanted one for 3 reasons really

1. Because I just really really wanted one ( new challenge and all that)
2. It's a c10 truck and stands out from anything else, great for advertising my company
3 . It's a c10 truck so good for moving stuff about
4 . It's a C10 truck
5. It's a c10 truck and Ive just hot this thing about talking to complete strangers anywhere you park it. ( this happened often with my VW type 3 fastback) but with this truck so far it's been every time.
6. Did I mention it's a C10 truck......

But in reality reasons 2 -6 are I'm only trying to justify reason number 1

Whooo hooooo

Your reasons were all the same as mine. Except I never did anything about it till my wife told me to stop talking about it and to get the truck.

I had a '63, '59 Beetle and a 69 Bay panel years ago. Loved them then and still on VZi.

My alltime dream was a Notch back though. So we do seem to have similar tastes.

[UK62LW]

Nice one - glad to see it's gone to a good home

[Grizz1963]

PS. You can also show off your truck on Retro Rides where older is best.

And of course Neatbeard had a thread on Rods n Sods but you could start your own new chapter and just post a link to his old thread for people who want more history.

Here is my trucks thread on RR's

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thre...edneck-express

The forum is a church of all things automotive.

[Neatbeard]

DUDE!!!!

I'm so glad that you bought my truck fella I really am.

It was a tough call for me to make as I bloody love(d) the truck (and so did the family) and i'm glad that it's gone to a good home where it's going to be used as intended and loved/cherished at the same time.

The guys on this forum are a good bunch and a great source of knowledge/advice and information.

I'm having the same 'looking out of my window' moments as you dude, but for the opposite reasons...... it's weird not seeing 'my' truck blocking the light into our lounge.

Hopefully I will find an equally cool ride to spend (your) hard-earned on..... time will tell whether I made the right choice or not....

Keep this tread alive dude as i'll still be lurking.

Take it easy man and love to you n the family.

[Hansome]

Originally Posted by Neatbeard

DUDE!!!!

I'm so glad that you bought my truck fella I really am.

It was a tough call for me to make as I bloody love(d) the truck (and so did the family) and i'm glad that it's gone to a good home where it's going to be used as intended and loved/cherished at the same time.

The guys on this forum are a good bunch and a great source of knowledge/advice and information.

I'm having the same 'looking out of my window' moments as you dude, but for the opposite reasons...... it's weird not seeing 'my' truck blocking the light into our lounge.

Hopefully I will find an equally cool ride to spend (your) hard-earned on..... time will tell whether I made the right choice or not....

Keep this tread alive dude as i'll still be lurking.

Take it easy man and love to you n the family.

Hello DUDE!!

still smiling!!!!!!!!................!!!!!

I find myself just going outside to the truck and just sitting in the cab

Im so glad you sold it to me!!!

Now, let me see......i got a sheet of ply somewhere we can board your front window up with so you think its still there.. well as long as you never leave the house again.

going to update when i do something to the truck but other than that is back to working (saving) money for some new bits and bobs.

i did see a bel air estate (on the bay) and thought thats a lot of extra space

The Family love it!!

take care of you and yours

Dan

D x