What did you do to your truck today?

[fink64]

i guess thats why new trucks cost 30,000. you get two sunvisors and blinkers.lol so if i want two sunvisors do i have to drill that big hole in the cieling or do they make reproductions with that in mine?

[markeb01]

Yes you get to drill that big hole in your ceiling. And I don't think anyone offers dimensional instructions. I made a pattern off the driver side, flipped it over and triple checked everything. Then you get to be real careful so you don't dent or drill through the roof skin.

[fink64]

sounds fun how could anything go wrong ha ha

[jbgroby]

In 1960 the following were options:

Pass. Side Miror
Pass. Side Sun Visor
Delux Heat (with defrost), Cab had heat, but no defrost Option
Ciggarette Lighter
Glove Box light
Key Locked Glove Box
Rear Bumper
Day/Night Mirror (flip toggle to tilt mirror upwards)
Clock
Tach
Bumper Gaurds
Radio
Door Arm Rests
Directional Signals
Hazard Flashers
Windshild Washers (manual floor pump)
Oil Filter (1 qt. canister)
Left hand Door Lock
Hood Ornament

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Wow signals as an option..... I did not know that

[markeb01]

What I find incredible is the front and rear signals were separate line items. And these weren't the accessory type that bolted on the sides of the hood and fenders, they were just standard internal steering column blinkers connected to the standard parking and brake lights. The individual part numbers listed here on the original window sticker from my truck:

[fink64]

we need to start cool facts of the day thread i think todays winner goes to markebo1
thanks for the info

[StevieC]

I filled it full of mesquite branches and hauled em over to my dumpster

nice having an 8' bed

[jimmydean]

I somehow fixed the blinkers from not blinking by installing a thermostat into an otherwise empty housing. In the process, my fan decided to no longer work now that I have heat.

The fan worked and the blinkers didn't blink before I pulled the thermostat housing. How those are related, I have no idea.

[markeb01]

Now you clearly understand the joy and logic of working on old trucks! It does sound like you have an intermittent ground somewhere in the front causing these random problems. Sometimes holding your tongue in a different position helps cure some of these issues!

[jimmydean]

I am getting power to the fan, so I think it is a ground. Is there a common ground that the fan uses since it's only a single wire hookup?

I hope to redo ALL the wiring soon since I want to get started on the interior. Just keeping it legal and on the road is the goal at this point.

[markeb01]

I got so tired of chasing electrical gremlins in my last car I went overkill on my truck.

1. The battery is grounded to the engine block with a 1 gauge cable.
2. A 4 gauge battery cable connects the engine block to the frame.
3. From the bolt connecting the battery cable to the frame, another 10 gauge wire runs to a common grounding bolt on the radiator support under the passenger side air deflector. All forward lighting and the electric fan ground to this bolt.
4. A similar wire runs to the rear, and all rear lighting grounds to this wire where it's bolted to the frame rail.
5. Again from the engine block where the battery cable connects, another 10 gauge wire runs into the cab and is bolted to the pedal support. All dash lighting and gauge grounds connect to this bolt.

All of the electrical systems have a wired return path to the battery. It’s worth the couple of extra dollars in wire and the time it takes to string it, in exchange for never again having to deal with random electrical problems.

The problem with the factory setup is that many electrical devices depend on sheet metal connections through the body to close the circuit back to the battery. Additionally, many of the original wired grounds are severely undersized. For example on my 1960 the original headlight grounds were 20 gauge. All the headlight wiring has been replaced with 14 gauge on both the power and ground sides resulting in dependable performance.

[Vernski]

Kudo's Markb01 most of my problems electrical on my truck were bad grounding the connections seem to coroad over time in these old trucks...Vernski

[jimmydean]

Thanks, dude! Sounds like my next weekend is already planned.

The first thing I did on the truck was buy an appropriate sized battery, replaced the clamps, then replaced the ground wire from the battery to the block. I will run some new grounds and clean some stuff up.

While on the topic of random wires, WTF is this?


There seems to be no power going to it, so I assume it's a redneck attempt at a ground. I haven't traced the wire, but it runs down by the trans.

[jarkill]

got the trans cleaned and primed (boring)

[fink64]

The first thing I did on the truck was buy an appropriate sized battery, replaced the clamps, then replaced the ground wire from the battery to the block. I will run some new grounds and clean some stuff up.

While on the topic of random wires, WTF is this?

i would like to know wtf that is too

[Bugeyev8]

Thats a power resistor, usually used for trailer brakes or some alt/ac outputs used to use those, take it off and toss it !!

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Thanks, dude! Sounds like my next weekend is already planned.

The first thing I did on the truck was buy an appropriate sized battery, replaced the clamps, then replaced the ground wire from the battery to the block. I will run some new grounds and clean some stuff up.

While on the topic of random wires, WTF is this?


There seems to be no power going to it, so I assume it's a redneck attempt at a ground. I haven't traced the wire, but it runs down by the trans.

[fink64]

you cuould keep it if any one ask tell them its a flux capacitor for your time travel truck lol

[kalirodding]

Painted my engine today.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Nice 235. Same color I used for my 230, looks great.

[murdoc]

kaliridding,

Wow that is a sweet looking 235. Fantastic job, I love it!!!

[MacbreSkull]

Originally Posted by kalirodding

Painted my engine today.

Truckin good lookin engine! Makes me wanna do mine!

[kalirodding]

Thanx guys. Haven't done the valve cover yet, I think I want a new one.

[kiknrocks]

[QUOTE=kalirodding;4348568]Painted my engine today.

Wow that looks good

[lakeroadster]

New Chrome Dome Light in the freshly painted cab.


Installed New Defroster Hoses: Got these from Classic Parts, excellent quality! These are certified and approved by Sponge Bob :-).
(You can see how close the new paint color is (above photo) compared to the stock paint under the dash near the defroster hoses, photo below New paint is a bit more "gold" in color)



Started body filler on Camaro Dash... doing body work is new territory for me.