project 66 beater

[TxRat]

Well I finally bought a truck.

Its a rough 66 with 327 and lots of little issues that I didn't discover until I bought it. I plan on turning this into a true rain or shine daily driver.

It has a 327 with a 700r4 trans behind it. Its a big back window (custom cab?) factory A/C factory automatic.






I replaced the P/S pump and found the steering box flexing on the frame. I took it off today and found the frame cracked.

This may contribute to the wicked dead wobble the front end has..

I will add pics tomorrow as I ran out of light..

I feel like I'm posting all over the place but I will be updating this thread as my build thread.

My to list:

square up the front suspension
correct the down shift problem with the 700R4 (replacing the TV cable and bracket)
Repair cracked frame and add a Captain Fab steering box brace.
CPP Grand Slam Basic kit
fix a draw on the charging system
Replace passenger door
and, and, and....

[Narxoleptic Customs]

Great stance!! It's great that it is a running driving rig. But please do not tear it all apart and take 3 yrs to get it going again...
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[sandiego65]

Looks cool already
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[TxRat]

Originally Posted by Narxoleptic Customs

Great stance!! It's great that it is a running driving rig. But please do not tear it all apart and take 3 yrs to get it going again...
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Its got horrible steering geometry, the front end shakes violently at times so I have to address that. The cracked frame around the steering box and the battery drain sill be the only two real things that will be addressed and it will be back on the road.

[TxRat]

got the crack in the frame stitched up and metal finished, Waiting on my captain fab steering box bracket to come in..



Heres pics of the the spindle off as Im trying to figure out what I have so I can order drop kit..











Any help identifying would be great..

[duallyjams]

Here is a pic of the repro fan shroud and clutch fan
opening in the shroud is 19"
I'm running a 18" 7 blade fan

[TxRat]

Originally Posted by duallyjams

here is a pic of the repro fan shroud and clutch fan
opening in the shroud is 19"
i'm running a 18" 7 blade fan
Attachment 1002996

thanks!!!

[TxRat]

I finally got it back on the ground. 4/5 drop that's now done right. Now I'm going through all the wiring. Its a mess. Dual fans and elec fuel pump without relays. Someone used house wire to wire the truck, lots of cracks in the insulation.



That's not bubble gum welding at the front of the bracket. P/O added some extra hole for the P/S box.







Found a fleet bed for it

[LostMy65]

Coming along nicely.
That looks like a nice short fleet bed.

[TxRat]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Coming along nicely.
That looks like a nice short fleet bed.

Thanks LostMy65.

[Low Elco]

Cool ol' beater truck. I love me some cool ol' beater truck! Ya gonna blast and epoxy that bed?

[TxRat]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Ya gonna blast and epoxy that bed?

Thanks, I plan on Epoxying the whole truck eventually.

I picked these up from a guy south of San Antonio.

[Terry12]

Curious, why you chose to swap the beds and go with a fleet side?
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[TxRat]

Originally Posted by Terry12

Curious, why you chose to swap the beds and go with a fleet side?
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I like fleet beds. Besides this will be a working truck so I wanted a little more bed...

[duallyjams]

Looking good.

[Shooters_7]

Might want to check and fix some of the corrosion, especially since your down by the ocean. Typical issue as my truck has it too.

[TxRat]

Originally Posted by Shooters_7

Might want to check and fix some of the corrosion, especially since your down by the ocean. Typical issue as my truck has it too.

Ha well you're close shooter. That there is some good old gap jumping bubble gum welding at it finest. Somewhere in this truck life someone tried to weld that up and did a poop job of it.

It will be addressed eventually. Its on the LONG list..

[TxRat]

I managed to to rewire my fans and put them on relays, They were wired straight to the fuse box before.

Now I have one that comes on with the key and the other comes on at 185*



here's the hillbilly wiring I pulled out that was running the fans.





Pulled these killer speakers out of the cab



took care of this really bad oil leak, Rear main and pan gasket



and did a little tuning on the engine, sounds better..

VVV click the picture below VVV

[TxRat]

Ok worked a little more on the 66 today.

I started installing the Bowtie overdrive TV cable system.




Very nice setup. Got the bracket and cable installed







But as I was pulling the old spring and about the install the corrector spring this came out with the old spring. It appears to be something to do with the stopping the movement of the plunger. When I first started to replace the cable I noticed the plunger movement was very limited. Now without this piece in the spring there is a lot more plunger travel. I'm at a stand still until I figure out IF I need it or not..

[Low Elco]

Call em! I did 3 times. I'm running the BTO spring and nothing else. Good progress!
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[mark 66]

Nice job on the wiring. definitely the right place to wire in the fan relays.did you use a probe in the radiator or use the sensor on the top of the thermostst.very clean.

[TxRat]

Originally Posted by mark 66

Nice job on the wiring. definitely the right place to wire in the fan relays.did you use a probe in the radiator or use the sensor on the top of the thermostst.very clean.

Thanks Mark. I ran a a 170*-185* sensor in the thermostat housing.

One fan runs with key on and the other comes on @ 185*

[Bomp]

Great soundin'exhaust. I clicked. Will be back to click again.

[TxRat]

small update,

More wiring work. Wired up the lock-up for the convertor

added a late model cruise control/brake light switch as my disengage for the convertor.

While finishing up the Bowtie Overdrive TV cable set up I found that the throttle linkage was hitting the TV bracket.

A little 1/4" cold rolled rod and this is what I got.





In the process of making the linkage I found the lever coming from the throttle was loose and not allowing the throttle to go W/O. A few turns on the pinch bolt has that taken care of. When I drove the truck for the first time it seemed to be a bit of a pig This was the reason..

I have purchased a 71/72 cable and pedal from a forum member here to install at a later date.

Tomorrow is the big day as I will be able to drive it and see if all my hard work is paying off..

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by TxRat

Well I finally bought a truck.

Its a rough 66 with 327 and lots of little issues that I didn't discover until I bought it. ....

I started reading this thread on the first day you opened it, and this clearly has stuck in my head.
It makes me laugh a little as so simple a statement seems for a lot of us to turn into hundreds of man hours in labor, and hundreds to thousands of dollars.
I guess any collection of steel, rubber, glass and wires that have been on the road for 40, almost 50 years (probably 4 or 5 times the expected life span) it is to be expected.
The size of the "issues" and how we approach the resolution is as varied as the people that do these.
That is what makes this web site so awesome.
I wish I could meet each and every builder and their build here, that would be an interesting day indeed !!

Sorry to wax so philosophical on your build, but inspiration strikes us at the most odd of moments, and never in locations of our choosing, eh?

I wish you the best of luck on your truck, if you post it, you know I will read it !!