Grizzly's Green Giant

[grizzlyoutlaw]

1965 Chevy C10
When I found it last summer it had been sitting outside for some years but had probably been garaged before that.
When I first layed eyes on it:




I bought it on sight and it sat there until I finished moving and setting up a shop this year. The first thing we did was clean up the interior. The drivers window is missing and many critters made home base. I wish I had a picture of before but got a few after the seat came out.


Dead wasps everywhere!

Pretty green doors.






Now, I am a man of many projects which can get me into trouble. I had decided; and told my significant other I would just clean this one up and resell it for some profit. Of course, the more i get in this truck the more I love it. It was ugly at first but I see some serious potential.(no plastic!!) I have always wanted to do a classic but never had the space until now. I feel like I got a great canvas to start with that should not be wasted. Life will always be hectic but wrenching is what keeps me sane! So i have decided to proceed with making this truck my own. I look forward to all the great information on this board and already have so many questions!

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks like a great project to start with. That ol v8 should fire right up. Have fun.

[Ta2Don]

Welcome aboard...
You'll have a blast out here and especially with your truck… Great Start!!!

[dwcardfan]

Nice truck. Welcome to the forum.

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Thank you for the welcome guys! Any tips or where to start and general restoration steps? I hate tearing into something and putting it back together just to redo it later. Engine then suspension, then cab?

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by grizzlyoutlaw

Thank you for the welcome guys! Any tips or where to start and general restoration steps? I hate tearing into something and putting it back together just to redo it later. Engine then suspension, then cab?

Get the engine running first...if its mechanically sound then you have a good start. Do a compression test and if the compression is good. Adjust the valves and give it a basic tune up..oil change...carb clean out....if it will move under its own power your off to a great start. Then you can move onto other mechanical things....making sure the brakes are good...checking all your fluids and flushing or refilling them. I'd start with the engine...get it running...if it runs good and has good compression..give it a full tune up. Also make sure your fuel tank is cleaned before you put ANY fuel in it. Then I'd see if it will move under its own power...if it does.....then it gives a good reason to not have to pull anything out unless your doing a frame off. I'd top the tranny and rear end off with gear oil. So the point...make sure its all mechanically sound first. Once that is done....then move to body work and electrical.

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Get the engine running first...if its mechanically sound then you have a good start. Do a compression test and if the compression is good. Adjust the valves and give it a basic tune up..oil change...carb clean out....if it will move under its own power your off to a great start. Then you can move onto other mechanical things....making sure the brakes are good...checking all your fluids and flushing or refilling them. I'd start with the engine...get it running...if it runs good and has good compression..give it a full tune up. Also make sure your fuel tank is cleaned before you put ANY fuel in it. Then I'd see if it will move under its own power...if it does.....then it gives a good reason to not have to pull anything out unless your doing a frame off. I'd top the tranny and rear end off with gear oil. So the point...make sure its all mechanically sound first. Once that is done....then move to body work and electrical.

That's what I am talking about! Thank you TJ. This will be a fun weekend.

[Ta2Don]

Looking forward to updates, and remember, we like pics, lots of them...

[Palf70Step]

Nice start for a project. Welcome to our fun (madness)

[Grizz1963]

Welcome to one of the greatest forums on the web from another Grizzly (had to use Grizz on some forums as Grizzly was taken, sometimes with the 1963) Grizz.

Love your truck.

Not sure if this is a U.S. Brand?

But my first thoughts when I saw the title.

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Thank you for the welcomes! That is the same Giant I had in mind. I will put some updated pictures up in a bit. Over the weekend I pressure washed the truck to death.
Here is my current list to get the truck rolling on its own power:
Interior:
Came out wonderful. Planning on just spraying the floor with bed-liner. I do need to replace the seat. Will be exploring those options.
Exterior: I have 8 of the steelies with the truck and 2 tires that hold air. I will just spray paint them and find some tires to get this thing rolling.
Engine: Looks great. has some new parts already installed. should be able to throw in a battery, rebuild carb and fire it up.
Suspension/Brakes: There was about 25 years of greasy mud coating everything but the brake lines look more modern. Maybe some new shocks but everything is in order.

It looks true to the previous owners word that this truck was a driver/maintained but just sat unused the last ten years. I see this project taking on many forms over the next few years but to hear the 283 roar and roll will be my first step.

[grizzlyoutlaw]

The Wooden bed passed my inspection for now. Surprised me not to find any holes.




Behind the coils on the seat is the original invoice. Very cool to know! I also found the original Truck Owners Protection Plan with the stamp and everything. Originally from California but came from a dealer 45 minutes away from here!

The seat has got to go. Should I go local upholstery or buy one off the internet?

Engine is now much more friendly to work on. Notice the red grounding cable. Had me scratching my head for a minute.

So fresh and clean!




Someone went in and patched possible holes so I will just roll with it for now and do a factory repair later. I am thinking about bed-lining the entire floor but that might be a pain later to get off if i want to redo the floor.




I also prepared my 1999 Ram for sale. It was my old daily driver that I kept around. The proceeds of this truck will go 100% to the Chevy!


Also wanted to put up a picture of my Frontier's wooden bed. I have been a fan of the look since before I got the 65. This truck has a few more things to go but is mostly wrapped up letting me focus on the 65.

[1963c-10]

Factory auxiliary springs....nice!!!

Great looking truck and even better score on finding the factory papers!!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

I remember when my 66 had that weird stuff wrapped around the steering wheel. lol Hated it!

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

I remember when my 66 had that weird stuff wrapped around the steering wheel. lol Hated it!

haha I will check out your build. Is there a normal steering wheel underneath or do I just replace it? That stuff is pretty gross.

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by grizzlyoutlaw

haha I will check out your build. Is there a normal steering wheel underneath or do I just replace it? That stuff is pretty gross.

Yeah, there's just a bare steering wheel underneath that pile. Though for a short time after you rip that all off things will be very sticky...but let that cab get hot and it'll dry up. haha

[Justin@EntropyRad]

I want that prerunner lightbar off the red ram! The bedcage in the frontier looks dope too!

Know anyone with LT or prerunner stuff for an 04 Tundra?

Sorry to threadjack, the green truck looks killer!

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Originally Posted by TJ's Chevy

Yeah, there's just a bare steering wheel underneath that pile. Though for a short time after you rip that all off things will be very sticky...but let that cab get hot and it'll dry up. haha

Good to know!

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Originally Posted by Justin@EntropyRad

I want that prerunner lightbar off the red ram! The bedcage in the frontier looks dope too!

Know anyone with LT or prerunner stuff for an 04 Tundra?

Sorry to threadjack, the green truck looks killer!

Thank You! I actually bought the ram all smashed up and took that bumper off the frontier and welded it up to the ram. That was my project/dd while I had the Frontier down for major fabrication work. It is a major pain building a prerunner Nissan and almost everything is custom. I would advise getting a more aftermarket friendly truck or you will spend serious $$$ on that Tundra. Camburg does have some stuff for you though.

So I went to a U-Pick today and miraculously came out with a drivers side window!, two tires, and a battery for $100. Just got the tires mounted on the rims and will put them on the truck shortly. Trying to push this truck around the yard with two flat tires has been hell. Hopefully that window will go right in.

[markeb01]

Just a few suggestions - do what you can to retrieve/preserve that build sheet in the back of your seat. It is unique to your truck and details all the specifics. Bear in mind all the rubber parts in your brakes will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced. This includes not only the master and wheel cylinders, but the flexible hoses as well. Those generally deteriorate from the inside out, so even if they look decent replace them as well before flushing/bleeding the system.

And last but most important - take lots of picture now. It's always a bummer years in the future when you look back on how far the project has come, and discover there are very few if any photos of what it looked like when it first arrived.

Good luck, that's a nice looking truck.

[grizzlyoutlaw]

Originally Posted by markeb01

Just a few suggestions - do what you can to retrieve/preserve that build sheet in the back of your seat. It is unique to your truck and details all the specifics. Bear in mind all the rubber parts in your brakes will likely need to be rebuilt or replaced. This includes not only the master and wheel cylinders, but the flexible hoses as well. Those generally deteriorate from the inside out, so even if they look decent replace them as well before flushing/bleeding the system.

And last but most important - take lots of picture now. It's always a bummer years in the future when you look back on how far the project has come, and discover there are very few if any photos of what it looked like when it first arrived.

Good luck, that's a nice looking truck.

Thank you Mark! I documented that sheet and will see how it survives getting the seat redone. A good friend of mine that did a 64 had the same advice. I have documented everything I have done and every bolt that gets taken off! It appears the brakes/bushing were replaced at some point as they appear much newer than the truck.

Tossed in the wheel and floor covers so it doesn't look so plain.
[IMG][/IMG]

Picked up a new drivers window I will install. Not sure what happened to the original.


Replaced the two flat tires, but it still has a serious lean. maybe worn springs?



While changing the tires I documented the suspension. Brake lines look fine



This bushing looks new.