Jason's 1965 Daily Driver Build

[Jasons65]

Well I figured I'd start a build thread for my truck even though I'm not home yet.

I had my dad pick up this 1965 from Tennessee, was not quite as rust free as pictures led onto and the rockers and cab corners were replaced with non factory pieces that removed the lower body line. I plan on doing a frame off restoration on this when I get home and making it my daily driver.

Plans for this are an ECE 4/6 drop, pb front control arms, ece trailing arms/crossmember, 18" wheels with 285's on all corners if I can make it work, 4 wheel disc brakes (maybe Baer), power steering/windows/locks, ac, swap to a 5.3/4l60, maybe swap to newer steel bed floor since I will use it.

[Jasons65]

I still haven't come up with a name or theme for the build. It will be charcoal with chrome and black accents when finished, I named my Nova The Blue Bomb and have a Super Mario Blue bob-omb as its theme.



Next to my cousins 69

[Jasons65]

Made my first purchase for the truck recently, I got this restored cluster from a member. I might try and retrofit a 8000rpm tach into the cluster.



After having my dad look the truck over closer it needs a lot of metal work, floorboards, rockers, cab corners/mounts, large dent in cowl behind drivers door, hidden rust around the drip rails, under the hood has more rot than was described as well. Luckily my other cousin who will be rebuilding a 72 c10 got a rust free cab out of Arizona, after getting in touch with the guy I will have a rust free original ac 66 big back window cab, doors, and hood coming to the Carlisle, PA truck show. I also have my dads set of fiberglass fenders from when he had his 66 c10 25 years ago I'll use if the fenders that I have are too far gone, I won't be able to find out a lot until I get home in a few months and tear the truck all the way down. I'll post pictures of the Arizona cab once I get them from my dad.

[1963c-10]

Welcome and great project you picked up. Looks like it was nicely optioned with the trim and large back window from the factory!!!

[Ta2Don]

Welcome Aboard!!!
Very Nice...

I'm in and gotta say… Nice Score on the Cluster...

My wife is from just down the road from you… Dover...

[Bomp]

Sounds like you have some solid plans for the truck.
Sub'd
Have a safe trip home.

[C@rnut001]

Sounds like you have a great plan for your truck. Also, that is a nice Nova that you have. Good luck with your truck when you get home.

[jcramsey]

Truck looks good and sounds like you got some nice plans for it!

Originally Posted by Jasons65

I still haven't come up with a name or theme for the build. It will be charcoal with chrome and black accents when finished

That air cleaner on top makes me think....Number Jonnhy Five

[Jeff La]

Welcome aboard. Looks like a pretty good truck to start with.

[Jasons65]

Hahaha that air cleaner is going as soon as I find a new engine.

Just got back to Kuwait from Jordan and have pictures of the Arizona cab. Looks like it needs a passenger cab corner but hopefully nothing else. I'm still waiting on pictures of a set of doors and a hood from the same guy. I plan on having everything soda blasted when I get home so I can get rid of all traces of rust.

[TJ's Chevy]

Well....the isn't the original I6 in that one...Has an Intergal head...funny..I don't see those to often. lol Well..anyway! Welcome aboard! Look forward to watching the build! And I LOL'd out loud when I saw the joke about the air cleaner.

[Jasons65]

I'm trying to figure out what I'll do with the dash. I don't think I'm going to try and locate the stock ac center vent so I'm thinking about putting a double din stereo in the hole but then fill the stock radio holes and use it for the ac control and maybe smooth out the original ac and heater control panels so that it looks like they were never there. I'd probably have to cut out the radio area and lower it and make it a little smaller though.

[Jasons65]

Just a quick update, I had my dad go to the Truck Carslisle show in PA, he managed to get me the Arizona cab, a hood, a set of inner fenders and a radiator support. I'll be sure to post pictures soon when I get them, I'll still have to see how rough my fenders are when I get home to see if they are repairable, if not I still have my dads brand new 20 years ago fiberglass fenders but I'd prefer to keep the truck with as much original sheetmetal as possible. May be ordering suspension soon.

[Jasons65]

Another update

I'm slowly getting all my ducks in a row now as far as planning and ordering. Just placed an order for a CPP Big Brake kit, 13" front and 12" rear, this seemed to be my best option for a daily driver for the pricing and I got a pretty good deal through summit racing as well as free shipping.

I hope to be ordering more of the suspension this week. I decided to go with ECE 2/5 drop springs (brake kit comes with 2" drop spindles), Ride Tech RQ shocks, PB control arms with the lowers one inch forward, PB front sway bar and the PB Stage 2 Deluxe kit.

I think I've also decided on wheels, since what I really want is crazy out of my price range I'm going to go with gloss black Boss 338 wheels in 18x8 and 18x9.5 with nitto 555s in 255/45 and 295/45. I have 555s on my nova and at least in that car they have proven themselves to me through rain, cold weather and road course use (along with some hefty burnouts) and are still going strong.

[Jasons65]

Wheels and tires are ordered, I couldn't pass up on the free shipping on both orders. To be honest I don't even know what size lug nuts they use on these trucks if its 7/16" 20 or what so I held off on ordering those since I can't check that without being home. I'll hopefully order the suspension tomorrow.

[1963c-10]

7/16-20 was the standard for the 1/2 tons at least....and nice stash of parts coming. Looks like an early Christmas!!!

[Jasons65]

Thanks, this is my deployment gift to myself lol, I'm hoping to have it done by Thanksgiving so hopefully an early Christmas present as well!

[Jasons65]

Well the springs and 5 lug rear axles have been ordered as well as all of the PB components, I think I'm going to have plenty of work to get done when I get home!

[Kenfuzed]

Originally Posted by Jasons65

I just stumbled upon this build and realized that the pictured air cleaner looks like a Hypercharger sold for Harley motorcycles

Also that manifold looks like the emissions control device from hell... certainly not from a 65.

[Jasons65]

For a few minutes I thought about throwing a turbo kit together for this and then smacked myself in the head because of how involved that would become, that motor is coming out asap and a 5.3 or maybe an ls2 if the money is right will be going in its place.

[pimpston65]

STOP!!! dude that original AC almost rustfree cab is totally SHOT!!! you will have way too many issues. SO i'll have a transport company come get it and you want have any issues. NO NO you dont have to thank me its my pleasure saving folks from bad builds... Awesome cab. she's a butte alright.

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by Jasons65

I'm trying to figure out what I'll do with the dash. I don't think I'm going to try and locate the stock ac center vent so I'm thinking about putting a double din stereo in the hole but then fill the stock radio holes and use it for the ac control and maybe smooth out the original ac and heater control panels so that it looks like they were never there. I'd probably have to cut out the radio area and lower it and make it a little smaller though.

i say sale to ac dash to a member(like me) and use the $$$ to buy another one then mod it up, cuz those dashes are money!!! it would be a shame to convert it since there are more non ac dashes to be had v ac dashes. just my 2 pennies worth.

[Jasons65]

We'll see what I decide on the dash, I'm still undecided on that matter.

I'm also thinking I'm going to put a 69 rear sport bumper on, I think it fits the body a lot better without having the big gap the factory bumper has and I think I'll put a hidden hitch behind the license plate using a nova license plate bracket so it'll fold out of the way when I need a hitch.

[Jasons65]

Parts are starting to come in, unfortunately a lot of the stuff is backordered. I can't wait to be back home in a couple weeks to get started!

[Bomp]

Your wheels are going to look Saweeeeet!