1965 LWB Stepside Build

[roll_the_dice]

These are the most expensive bolts I have has to buy for the truck. They are for the hydraulic throwout bearing for the transmission... $13 after I talked them down from $15 to $5 for shipping.

[cwcarpenter98]

Dadgum, that's some expensive bolts!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Dadgum, that's some expensive bolts!

Got to do what you got to do though! SPending $13 brought great anguish, but I didn't hesitate buying the engine or transmission! lol...

Speaking of...I purchased the shifter relocation kit for the transmission today from Speedway motors...now I can move it to the forward most position on the transmission so there won't be any issues with the bench seat. Won't be long now before I get the engine and trans installed!

[Johns 66]

That is so funny and you are so right...We spend thousands of dollars on stuff but the little things like bolts tend to irritate us...….especially when they should have come with it originally.
I find myself in amazement at what these little things cost.

[roll_the_dice]

I reinstalled the steering column today....so I had to see what the SW was going to look like. I love it!

[Johns 66]

Looks Awesome Andy...starting to come together!!!!!

[cwcarpenter98]

The wheel looks great, Andy!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Looks Awesome Andy...starting to come together!!!!!

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

The wheel looks great, Andy!

Thanks John and Christian...It's starting to resemble a truck again!

[roll_the_dice]

Starting the wiring harness today. I mounted to the fuse block to the firewall and plugged in the dimmer switch...Hope to get most of the under dash wiring done this week. Should have the rubber mounts for the firewall pad tomorrow...so I will take the fuse block off and remount it.

[Johns 66]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Starting the wiring harness today. I mounted to the fuse block to the firewall and plugged in the dimmer switch...Hope to get most of the under dash wiring done this week. Should have the rubber mounts for the firewall pad tomorrow...so I will take the fuse block off and remount it.

Im excited to see you get it wired...Im SURE I will have to make some calls to you when I start doing mine.

When you get the firewall pad installed post a pic for me..I wanna see how it looks with the Fatmat and Firewall pad.....Itll give me some idea of how the carpet is gonna look......

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Im excited to see you get it wired...Im SURE I will have to make some calls to you when I start doing mine.

When you get the firewall pad installed post a pic for me..I wanna see how it looks with the Fatmat and Firewall pad.....Itll give me some idea of how the carpet is gonna look......

I'm excited too! Ask and ye shall receive. I just got finished installing the pad.... I need to adjust it a little, but it looks good.

[Johns 66]

I like the looks of that...Its from Brothers Correct...I have the same one. I looked again at Scotts( Kdad) carpet and I think it will look perfect for what Im trying to accomplish.

So all this goes in before the wiring fuse box...makes it look clean......Im thinking based on Scotts carpet that this will really look good in my truck...even a rubber mat should go right passed the firewall pad....just like it came...only difference is that the pad doesn't go under the seat and back to the tank....

But yours looks really good.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

I like the looks of that...Its from Brothers Correct...I have the same one. I looked again at Scotts( Kdad) carpet and I think it will look perfect for what Im trying to accomplish.

So all this goes in before the wiring fuse box...makes it look clean......Im thinking based on Scotts carpet that this will really look good in my truck...even a rubber mat should go right passed the firewall pad....just like it came...only difference is that the pad doesn't go under the seat and back to the tank....

But yours looks really good.

Thanks...yes it came from Brothers. I like it. It is nice and thick.

Yes, I have seen pics of the rubber mat and it will cover part of the pad...I like the look.

I put the fatmat in first then before I had the insulation rubber fasteners...I put the fuse box. Then today, I just slid the firewall pad under the box. I need to take the box loose when I install the inner fender well since those are the bolts that hold it in place.

[straight6chevyguy]

Looking good!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by straight6chevyguy

Looking good!

Thanks....

Trying to wire the cluster harness this week...once that goes in the rest should be pretty easy (I hope)

[roll_the_dice]

Forgot to mention...when installing the firewall pad, make sure you get the rubber fasteners. I got mine here on ebay.

Don't waste your time/effort or money on the plastic ones. I did...I don't know how long it would have taken me to get them installed. They were just too hard....no give whatsoever.

[roll_the_dice]

Finished wiring the gauge cluster. Not too bad, just a lot of connections and splices for the dash lights. I made the wires a little long, but not too bad for my first try at it. Once it is installed, if everything works as it should, I will be happy.

Not sure if I will wrap tape around the wires like OEM or not. I also can't decide whether to use regular OEM style dash bulbs or go to green LED's. What have you guys done or are going to do?

[Johns 66]

Looks really clean Andy....One step closer my friend!!!

[cwcarpenter98]

Longer wires just means you can switch out the bulbs easier. Looks nice and tidy.

I'm still running stock bulbs, and I probably will keep it that way. The stock bulbs put out enough light for my taste

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Looks really clean Andy....One step closer my friend!!!

Thanks John...Yes one step closer. I feel I am making progress on the wiring. This was a BIG step to get finished.

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Longer wires just means you can switch out the bulbs easier. Looks nice and tidy.

I'm still running stock bulbs, and I probably will keep it that way. The stock bulbs put out enough light for my taste

That's what I was thinking after I made them a little long!

I connected my light for my Bosch retro tach last night and it was LED and green, so I ended up ordering green LEDs for the dash. I will lose the ability to dim them, but that shouldn't be an issue.

[roll_the_dice]

Moving along with the wiring. Almost finished under the dash. I am waiting on bulbs for the cluster, then I can install the cluster. I wired the steering column tonight...

Out with the old column wiring harness in with the new. The old harness was melted in places....yikes.

This is still the OEM turn signal switch wiring...just a new connector and pins that came with the AAW wiring kit.

I need to zip tie and move the the harness better, but getting there...not as daunting as I had imagined...so far. Just pay attention, get good crimps...and it is pretty plug and play.

I also installed the hand brake back today...It is going slowly, but surely.

[Johns 66]

Andy you are doing a great job, going a lot faster than I thought it would take.....you are making it look simple!!!

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by Johns 66

Andy you are doing a great job, going a lot faster than I thought it would take.....you are making it look simple!!!

Thanks...the benefits of doing a full rewire are many...I know there shouldn't be any gremlins in the wiring and I know what every wire does (plus they are labeled). I was showing my wife the progress last night and I could name every wire harness under the dash which is nice to know what everything does. I have never been able to do that before! I used to hate wiring, now I am enjoying it.

[Johns 66]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Thanks...the benefits of doing a full rewire are many...I know there shouldn't be any gremlins in the wiring and I know what every wire does (plus they are labeled). I was showing my wife the progress last night and I could name every wire harness under the dash which is nice to know what everything does. I have never been able to do that before! I used to hate wiring, now I am enjoying it.

I look forward to doing mine...I actually love residential wiring...just fascinated by it...I guess these seemed daunting at first but am glad you are easing those fears.

[straight6chevyguy]

The wiring is looking real good Andy!

I all so don't mind doing wiring. (On these old trucks anyway) (Been installing a new fuse block in my station wagon (1971) and it's got a few more wires so it makes it a little harder to figure out)
I don't know if I would be willing to rewire a modern car....