My 66 Service Truck Build Thread

[LostMy65]

Spent hours just getting the hardware cleaned up to mount the rear bumper.
That was why I got the box so cheap - it was welded to the frame.
I had to cut the rear part of the frame off the truck the box was on, and I spent this weekend getting all the welded junk off the mounting hardware and bumper.

Here's the bumper mounting brackets cleaned up and bolted to my frame:

[LostMy65]

Finally! Bumper is mounted.
I still need to do a little more welding, but good enough for now.





Now back to mounting the master cylinder.
Shaft extended with bolt and nut to lock pedal adjustment



Master Cylinder is bench bled.

[66-PMD-GMC]

Very nice... each step forward is a step closer to completion

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Very nice... each step forward is a step closer to completion

Thanks for the reminder to look at it as progress.
Between spending 3 days just getting that box mounted up, and now battling with a faulty O'rielly Master Cylinder, I feel like I'm making very little headway. I know I'm just more anxious because I want this 66 back together and mechanically sound so I can get started on my 65.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LostMy65]

When I was working on getting the bumper mounted, there was this nut welded to one of the brackets that I needed to remove.
I cut it off and it feel to the ground, but I couldn't find it anywhere. When I got in the house I noticed one of my shoes was making a clicking noise when I walked.
Found the nut:

Posted via Mobile Device

[C@rnut001]

LOL...it did not want to be discarded....LOL. Keep at it, you will get this one done and be able to do a great job on your '65. Your story on your trucks is so cool, since you bought the one to replace the '65 and then you found and bought back your original '65!

[LostMy65]

Brakes all bled. Clutch linkage hooked up.
Just need to put the steering back together - and then, Yippie! I can start putting the front body panels back on so it can look like a truck again.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by C@rnut001

LOL...it did not want to be discarded....LOL. Keep at it, you will get this one done and be able to do a great job on your '65. Your story on your trucks is so cool, since you bought the one to replace the '65 and then you found and bought back your original '65!

Yeah, I keep walking out to look at my 65 to remind myself I really do have it back.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LostMy65]

I found it interesting that the 66 had longer tie-rods than the 79.
Here is the 66 cross-link laid across the 79 for comparison:

[66-PMD-GMC]

Doesn't suprise me. The location where the idler and steering box are mounted are both "raised" making the width wider.

[LostMy65]

Pretty good week.
I finally got all my under hood stuff done.
And Brakes are nice and firm.
So I started bolting the front clip panels on.
All but the hood and the bumper are mounted.
I'm hoping to start putting the interior in this weekend, and if all goes good, I might even have it drivable minus the windshield.
I hope.
Posted via Mobile Device

[57truckguy]

Found the nut

I was skip reading your thread and I just about fell out of my chair... LOL I thought I was the only one who did stunts like that.... LOLLL

[57truckguy]

I hope you haven't answered this question a bunch of times before but are you going to keep it a service vehicle or ?"???? One of the guys locally has an 65 chevy auto wrecker that he refurbished to orginal. Looks pretty cool..

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 57truckguy

I hope you haven't answered this question a bunch of times before but are you going to keep it a service vehicle or ?"???? One of the guys locally has an 65 chevy auto wrecker that he refurbished to orginal. Looks pretty cool..

Yes, I will keep the service box on it because I really like the usefulness of the box. I also plan on using this 66 for scavenging wrecking yards for parts.
Also, it was originally a service truck and still has the county decal on the doors.
They're painted over, so I'm not sure what the circle decal says:

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I've told you guys that under the almond color paintjob the truck is county orange.
The box and all came from the factory county orange.
Under every nook and cranny it's county orange.

Well today I just discovered another neat possibility;
you can see a slight outline of a circle on the door.
The circle's diameter is around 16"
I'm hoping that I'll be able to safely remove the paint to expose who really owned this truck.

[McMurphy]

Your local DMV should have a form for you to fill out, and after a week or two, they send you a complete history of ownership for that VIN#. You should only have to be the legal and currently registered owner to request that info.

I found out by accident while at the Alaska DMV last fall.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by McMurphy

Your local DMV should have a form for you to fill out, and after a week or two, they send you a complete history of ownership for that VIN#. You should only have to be the legal and currently registered owner to request that info.

I found out by accident while at the Alaska DMV last fall.

That's a great suggestion.
Thanks.

I will also try that with my 65 now that I have it back.
I need to find out who sold my 'buddy buckets' so I can kick their butt!

[LostMy65]

This is one of Mark's pics of doing his inner fender fix.
I'm saving it here for future reference:

[LostMy65]

My 66 wiring was pretty hacked up.
As with many of our trucks, someone cut the ignition plug off to wire some stupid aftermarket ignition switch.
Also, the turn-signal wiring was all hacked up and routed to some toggle switch for the blinkers.
I found a couple old wiring harnesses that had what I needed, so I did a rebuild on my wiring - soldering the connections.
I'm really happy with the results, and I saved myself quite a bit of money.
Those new wiring kits are rather expensive.

Here's the left-overs:


Here's the toggle switch that was used for the blinkers:

[LostMy65]

Another post by Mark saved for future reference:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=387693

[McMurphy]

In that mess of left over wiring, did you end up with an ignition plug?
Someone hacked mine out.
I got the new ignition, along with the lock set (ignition, doors, glovebox) but dont have the plug.

Drop me a PM or a post on my build (or here) if you have this and dont mind parting with it.

Thanks!

[LostMy65]

No ignition plug left over.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LostMy65]

I didn't get anywhere near what I wanted done this last weekend.
Punch list for completion:
(In no particular order)

Updated: 3/07/12

Install Windshield
Install Gas Tank - DONE
Get new Lock Ring for tank. - DONE
Cotter Pin for Pitman Arm - DONE
Bolt steering shaft to box. - DONE
Find nuts for front shocks - PARTIALLY DONE
Replace Water Pump.
Fix leak at radiator hose.
reinstall power steering pulley belt.
Install steering wheel - DONE
Install new turn signal harness. - DONE
reconnect headlight and taillight wiring. - PARTIALLY DONE
Attach muffler. - DONE
Install throttle linkage. - DONE
Finish Bolting bellhousing to motor - DONE
Reconnect Emergency Brake Cable. - PARTIALLY DONE
Finish welding bumper and hitch receiver.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I didn't get anywhere near what I wanted done this last weekend.

Me either!

[niterider65]

looks like what i had under my dash had all of it working but turn signals also but i bought a couple of old harness and made an new one from other harness too. lots of fun and
keep up the good work ..

[LostMy65]

I took it up the road and back.

Pretty neat. Power Steering.
Power Brakes - 8 lug front discs with 1 ton calipers.
14 bolt ff with 13" drums in the back.
Basically, the whole drivetrain and suspension is
a 79 chevy. except the transmission is still the 66. sm420

I've held off mounting the doors until I was sure I had all the interior together.
The only thing left is installing the windshield, and then I'll mount the doors.





Posted via Mobile Device