The Official John Lee Jr Thread

[Sharps40]

Please welcome John Lee Jr. Resting comfortably in his new home side by side with Ol John Lee in Sanford NC. Its 1964 and 1965 all over again.



John Lee Jr is a 1965 Chevy C10 Truck. 230 L6, SM318 trans, 3 on the tree. Original Easley SC truck. Done over by the past owners Dad in 1994 and under 200 miles on him since the paint, upholstery an engine overhaul. He starts on a kick of the key and purrs like mad bumblebees, only a few weeks left and he's on the road again here in the Sandhills of NC. I'm proud to have John Lee Jr as a replacment for Ol John Lee. I'm sure we'll have as many or more wonderful miles together tourin this great state and carting deer home from the woods.

[Reyals Bemus]

I wanna be the first to say: NICE truck man! Enjoy it!

[Indian113]

Sweeeeeet Looking Steper! You Did Good

[198plus]

Wow.............I really like this truck, it is exactly like mine before I started. Great find !!!!!!

[Sharps40]

Thanks all...started workin on him. Installed Ol John Lees driver side visior and black rearview mirror. Fixed a nail in the lr tire too. Drove it round and round and round the yard...FUN!

[Jeff La]

Congrats, truck looks really good

[Sharps40]

GoodWife Sharps just looked him over...she's like lets go to dinner in the new truck....oh yeah, plates/resistration and tires first....

I think she just wants to go bangin thru the gears!

[Ta2Don]

Good Looking Truck, one of these days I will get to drive my 65 stepper... Enjoy!

[pestwagon]

That is what I call a Happy Ending!

[CRGRS 66]

Congratulations, awesome find! Must feel good to have it home!

[Sharps40]

It feels great. I got up at 530 and looked out the window at it...lovely.

First jobs are done, installed drivers visor and black drivers door rear view mirror. Today or tomorrow, I pull the tires, check the brakes and will swap out the tires/wheels and any of the spanky new brake parts from Ol John Lee as needed....eventually, I'll pull all of Ol John Lees split brake lines and move the dual master (67 C10/Impala drum/drum) over to John Lee Jr. Got a guy considering Ol John Lees cab so if he dosn't buy the whole truck I have all of Ol John Lees brand new suspension to transfer over later this year.

This weekend will also see and oil change with ZDDP additive so we can finish up the motor break in. Typical of the Rochester B carb, it pukes a teaspoon of fuel on hot shutdown....I'll look that over too as needed, it appears to be the hot overflow that weeps out the lower throttle shaft axle holes. Rebuilts are available from Oreilly and Advance auto, with Oreilly having the best price. But I'll play with this one a bit if the fuel weeping is too big or too often.

And finally, John Lee Jr is gonna need an exhaust system this year.....maybe an old school glass pack.

[Clyde65]

Congrats and I am so glad the new John Lee Jr has a good and loving home, ole John Lee sure did and he still does.

[Grizz1963]

Great pics to start the thread with.

Welcome indeed.

[bhc41051]

I wouldn't be so quick to put Old John Lee out to pasture. There's a lot of parts available to put him back together. These trucks are like potato chips You can't have just one!

[Sharps40]

Originally Posted by bhc41051

I wouldn't be so quick to put Old John Lee out to pasture. There's a lot of parts available to put him back together. These trucks are like potato chips You can't have just one!

I hear ya and it was a very difficult decision. I poured my heart into Ol John Lee and he carried me safe and reliable everywhere. But, Ol John Lee is on Salvage title now...no way to avoid that w/o more lawer time than the value of the truck and my limited budget allowed. As such, on a salvage/rebuild title he is uninsurable with my company. At $5200 (14 hrs frame time + labor + parts) rebuild is not a financially responsible decision for a truck that can't be insured nor gaurenteed to be placed in safe working order. The left frame is torn, face deflected 1" in, buckled down 3" and in 2". The right frame is buckled out 1.5" and up 2". Left spindle cracked, left upper control arm and shaft is bent/deflected, not counting all the sheetmetal damage on the front and left.

I think the best resurection of Ol John Lee is passing along opportunity for other safer and more suitable trucks to be repaired and/or upgraded. Currently, he's an organ doner for two trucks...both 1965 SBSSs. Cab may go to a 64 LBSS. Bed may go to a 64 SBFS conversion. Windshield and lights may go out to a 64 SBFS. Its quite possible that many guys and gals can make positive inroads with their best friends...an that in my mind changes the destruction of Ol John Lee from unnecessary tragedy to blessing.

[Sharps40]

Tire size question.

Both Ol John Lee and John Lee Jr have original wheels. They are approximatly 6.7x15 or 7x15.

Ol John Lee 1964 C10 (283 V8 - SM318 trans - 3.73 rear) is shod with new tires, P225-70R15 at about 26" tall with weight on. His speedo runs about 3 mph slow based on the Garman. These appear a bit too short but the right width.

John Lee Jr 1965 C10 (230 I6 - SM318 Trans - Assumed 3.73 rear) is shod with old/flat spot P235-75R15 at about 28" tall with weight on. I have not yet checked the speedo against the Garman. These appear to be a bit too tall and a bit too fat.

I plan to run the smaller Ol John Lee tires on John Lee Jr for now since they are new and have no flat spots. I want to upgrade to 6.7x15 or 7x15 steelies with moons later.

So, what is the most correct metric tire size to purchase for original size wheels. I want the right height for speedo calibration and to have the right narrow tire look as well.

Thanks in advance.

[Sharps40]

I think I got the formula now.....6.7x15 oughta be .....

215mm/25.4= 8.464" wide x 0.75 = 6.348" tall sidewall, theres 2 sides so x 2 = 12.698 + rim size (15) = 27.698" tall

I've been told 27.4" is the right size by several. Any thoughts?

[jayoldschool]

Google the miata tire calculator. It will help with your tire sizes. However, a 225 70 15 should be about the same height as a 215 75 15. I'm in the exact same dilemma. I have a set of 225 70 15s, and a set of 235 75 15s to chose from. I like the taller ones for the truck to lower the highway RPM, but they are a bit fat for OEM wheels.

[Sharps40]

Thats my delema too. I'm leaning toward runnin the 2257015s since they are the right width and I like the look in the fenderwell better. But the revs are a bit higher.

[Indian113]

I may be wrong but if you have a 3:73 you will need to change your carrier as that is as high as you can go with that series. You might look at changing the whole rear end out and go later model with 5 bolt rear and change the front to 5 bolt disc's.

[Sharps40]

Originally Posted by Indian113

I may be wrong but if you have a 3:73 you will need to change your carrier as that is as high as you can go with that series. You might look at changing the whole rear end out and go later model with 5 bolt rear and change the front to 5 bolt disc's.

With a 3 series posi you scrap the 4 series carrier. I'd use an eaton posi.

[1963c-10]

im running a 235/75r15 on mine rich

[1963c-10]

you should salvage the bed and back half of the 64 and make a matching trailor to pull behind the 65

[jonathan-m]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

you should salvage the bed and back half of the 64 and make a matching trailor to pull behind the 65

This is a good idea. I've seen a few re-purposed beds like that, and they look really good.

[Sharps40]

Originally Posted by jonathan-m

This is a good idea. I've seen a few re-purposed beds like that, and they look really good.

I have fella comeing for the cab to put on his 64 Fleet and two inquiries on the rest of the bed. Update, scrap that, bed is sold now too, just got an email. So looks like right now Ol John Lee is fixin up 4 other trucks and a 5th if the windshield and turnsignal buyer comes thru. A sixth if the fella wants the motor. Makein me feel a bit better bout the whole mess

That leaves me the suspension and brakes to pull for John Lee Jr and a frame to take apart. I believe most of the cross members are still fine as frog hairs and stuff like the body mounts, shock mounts, etc. Its gonna be a hell fest grindin out all them rivits though. Still don't know what I'll do with the 64 rear...those are odd balls with 17 spline axles and I spect Ol John Lees axle bearings have worn out the shafts. I think someone wants the 283 but not sure yet.