New truck 1965 Fleetside

[392Hemi]

First post! Just picked up this 65 Fleetside Shortbed last week and started working on it. Original Texas truck with almost 0 rust! Was told it had a 327 and a TH400 both of which I believe are false. It has a TH350 and I believe the motor is a 283, its too dang hard to tell!

Anyway, I bought the truck 5 miles from LMC which cost me $ haha Stopped in and bought $1000 worth of parts 20 minutes after buying it. New front bumper, grille, side trim, glove box (POS to install), and a few little things.

I purchased a set of sun visor arms from another website and got them installed and the arm hangs down at an angle, is this correct?

I will post progress pictures, thanks!

[duallyjams]

[62 Barnfind]

Welcome! Nice looking 65.

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

Great Start welcome

[TJ's Chevy]

Welcome! Great truck! 283 is a great engine!

[dwcardfan]

Nice truck. Welcome to the forum!!

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

The block casting number and/or the suffix code will tell you what engine you have.

[YBNORML]

Nice ride! Welcome, lots of great info on here.

[cooperhw]

Very nice pickup to start with. U r very lucky.

[Palf70Step]

Nice looking truck

[Bomp]

Welcome, Are you going to put your used items up for sale?

[disasterbus]

cool truck, contratulations on what looks like a great buy.

[392Hemi]

Thanks for the welcomes!

Got the drivers side trim on with a little issue. The bottom bed trim piece didn't seat against the bed very well so I tried taking it off and ruined it, $70 down the toilet. This stuff is absolutely terrible to put on, I'm about to just throw it all away.

Got a four barrel carb and intake on it, seems to be running better. Got the new grille and bumper on as well. Will post a new picture of it Monday when I get the bezels on.

[392Hemi]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Welcome, Are you going to put your used items up for sale?

I have the bumper for sale locally on Craigslist. Polished it up today and man it looks nice for a factory bumper! Not a dent on it that I can see

[392Hemi]

Finally got the new chrome finished up. Bezels, grille, bumper and trim. You can also see where I ruined the bottom trim piece and will get to buy a new one. I thought I installed it wrong since the trim didn't line up with the cab trim but I realized the cab mounts probably need replaced.

[392Hemi]

Trim

[pdxhall]

Originally Posted by 392Hemi

I have the bumper for sale locally on Craigslist. Polished it up today and man it looks nice for a factory bumper! Not a dent on it that I can see

If you don't mind me asking, if the bumper is so nice why did you change it? Also, is the old grill you took off an aluminum grill? If it is, is it for sale?
By the way, that's a nice looking truck.

[392Hemi]

Thanks pdx. When I picked up the truck it hadn't been washed in at least two years so I was unsure of how the thing actually looked. I knew it wasn't dented but wasn't sure how the finish would come out. It's amazing what some compound can do to the metal. I also figured since I was buying a new grille I might as well buy a bumper so the finish matches each other.

The grille that I took off is the stock grille, I don't know if that's aluminum or not ?

[pdxhall]

Originally Posted by 392Hemi

Thanks pdx. When I picked up the truck it hadn't been washed in at least two years so I was unsure of how the thing actually looked. I knew it wasn't dented but wasn't sure how the finish would come out. It's amazing what some compound can do to the metal. I also figured since I was buying a new grille I might as well buy a bumper so the finish matches each other.

The grille that I took off is the stock grille, I don't know if that's aluminum or not ?

If it is a stock grill and not an aftermarket from the previous owner, then it is aluminum. A magnet is a quick check. I'm interested in it if you want to sell it. I'm sending you a pm.

[392Hemi]

A couple updates on the truck. I fixed the floor shifter, put in new carpet from LMC, which to no surprise doesn't fit perfect. It does look nice for what it is though, just doesn't have enough material on the sides. Got my HEI and four barrel intake on, the truck runs really smooth now.

Here's some pictures of what to expect with the trim. The way the lower trim is supposed to mount it makes them stick out because of the clips. Looks kinda crappy but better than holes in the bed.

[392Hemi]

Some reason I can only upload 1 picture at a time. Here is the lower trim sticking out.

[TJ's Chevy]

New trim looks good!

[Jeff La]

Welcome and truck looks great

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

Welcome Looks Great

[392Hemi]

Got some new 2-3" front lowering springs so it wouldn't sit on the bump stop, now it has the front end in the air because of the 5" drop rear springs. Gotta decide if I want spindles Or how to go about lowering it again.

I got all new brakes and lines on the truck, I'm trying to figure out this casting number on the block. After looking at the list of potentials I see the casting as 3970014, anyone agree disagree?