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Bringing the '65 back to life
I've been lurking here for a while now, so I figured it was about time I registered and made the obligatory introductory post. It just so happens that it will be a build thread as well.
After residing in the often forgotten backroom of the shop for nearly twenty-five years, my father and I have finally begun to work on his '65 C10. The truck is one of four that his father ordered new in late-'64 from a St. Louis dealership for his business as a General Contractor. The truck was used as a work truck for a couple of decades and passed around in the family before it went dormant in the back of the shop. Last licensed in '88, it has 64K original miles. I hope you're ready for some pictures. Here is the truck, laying in state, as it has for over two decades. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps50ebad01.jpg The first time the door has been opened in at least five years. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps9228fb62.jpg The first time the truck has seen daylight in a long time. I'm pulling the truck around the shop while the old guy steers. The wheels were a cheap Craigslist find that we picked up to use as rolling stock for now. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps8fa09c11.jpg In the shop, ready to get to work. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps860f6343.jpg You know, I used to be able to say that I had never vacuumed the exterior of a vehicle before. Not anymore. Here's a half/half shot taken while vacuuming the dust off the truck. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps84f77cff.jpg My father remembers helping his Dad install a steel sheet over the original wood bed floor sometime around '67-'68. Here we're cutting the welds attaching it to the bed to get down to the wood. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps5fc14829.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps2bc4e09b.jpg Seat, fuel tank, door sills, and floor mat removed. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps8999f894.jpg Looks like we'll be needing some floor pans. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps842fd2e9.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps460f0e92.jpg The 230c.i. sixer waiting on a new coil and plug wires. I replaced the points and condenser today, only to find a dead coil. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps9ddc2dc8.jpg Pulling the front fenders, bumpers, and bed. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...pse37f56cf.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psdde83f07.jpg And that's where we're at for the moment. Since the last car we built was for me, my Dad gets to call the shots (personal preference-wise) on this one. The plan for now is to get the stock 230 running, sell it, and get to work on the body. The current thinking is that it will end up being painted satin black, and we have a 355 SBC ready to drop in place of the sixer. Eventually, he'd like it to receive a LS-based swap, but that isn't in the budget just yet. The goal is a reliable hot rod truck for my parents to enjoy, without going so far with the build that they're afraid to take it/park it places (which is what our last build, my car, turned into). I plan on ordering new floor pans, rockers, cab supports, cab corners and a few other parts tomorrow. From what I've read on here, it seems like Top Banana is the way to go. Do they offer a member discount? As the body work progresses, I'll likely start looking toward CPP for front drop spindles, disc brakes, and a booster/master cylinder assembly. |
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I thought I'd add a few pics of the last car we built together. This one is my toy, a '90 Mercury Cougar XR7. We swapped in a 5.0L DOHC V8 stroker with a 2.1L Kenne Bell SC, 4R70W transmission, full OBD-II engine management (tuned by me), two seperate methanol injection systems, etc. I spent my college-era weekends driving home to work on this thing. The car was stripped to a bare shell, repainted twilight blue metallic in place of the original white, and completely rewired. Only the body shell, doors, front K-member, trunklid, rear bumper cover, and mirror shells remain of the car we started with. It ran a 12.179 @ 113.58 MPH with 10 psi of boost this year, though I'm hoping to break into the 11's next year after a few mods this winter.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps27df52df.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...r/P1090032.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...e/P1110830.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...erior10-12.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps56cd8d25.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...t/P1110057.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...onthelift2.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...onthelift5.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps1de6b603.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps917172e5.jpg |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
I wasn't aware of the time limit on editing a post. The reserved posts above can be deleted.
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Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
One last tangent...
A close friend of mine picked up this '64 C10 a couple years back, and we've been working on it as time allows. The stock 283 has been swapped out for a '64 300hp 327/700R4 combo, the stock seat has been replaced by one from a late-model Silverado, and it's about to receive similar rust repair work as the '65 above. We had it "together" enough for him to take it on one of our annual Hot Rods & Handlebars cruises, with my Dad as co-pilot. A couple hundred miles in my friend's '64 was all it took to get the old guy motivated to get started on his '65. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps1b10bb6f.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps945fd07c.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...to07202111.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...r/IMG_0844.jpg |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
Welcome to the forum :D
Sounds like you have a good plan for your Dad's '65. Keep us posted on your progress. That is cool that it has been in your family since new. Nice work on the Cougar. I can't say as I remember seeing one of that vintage. I was surprised to see the IRS under it. Is that original or is it a T-Bird unit? |
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Brings back memories of when I started teardown back in June. Good luck and welcome!
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Welcome to the site. Congrats on getting to work on the truck.
BTW I always liked the T-Bird and Cougar. Yours is a stellar example. |
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Well holy cow... and WoW !! on both the Cougar and your dads truck. To have an original owner rig this old is too awesome!!
I always said if I were going to own a Ford, it would be a 68 T-Bird Landau with the suicide doors !! Your Cougar is just too trick !! So without further pomp and circumstance :hi: and :welcoem: to the board!! I for one will certainly be watching this build of yours, and do please keep the photos coming !! You guys certainly look like you know what you are doing ! :metal: |
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Thanks guys. I should be ordering repair panels for the cab floor, cab supports, rockers, and cab corners today, as soon as I hear back from Top Banana. Once those parts arrive, we can really get to work.
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Making a little progress on the truck. We removed the bed. Ironically, it's now sitting back where the truck was stored for the past couple of decades. On Thursday, 48 lbs worth of sheetmetal from Top Banana arrived.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psf6ded86c.jpg Dad got to make the very first cut on the cab: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps17d45395.jpg Starting to fit pieces: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psfd589392.jpg We're currently working on fitting the new pieces, making a few pieces that aren't available, and I just placed another order for some additional panels from Top Banana. |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
Nice truck. And car too.
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We made a little more progress this weekend. We were both on the mend, so it was a little slow going. Cutting out and welding in new front and rear door pillars: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psf2a76363.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps6b149f2d.jpg Fitting the floor pan: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps1196d920.jpg Punching holes for plug welds: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...psdabb758b.jpg Quitting point for today: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...ps9a4e950d.jpg The front floor pan pieces have been shaped, flanged, and bead-rolled. They just need a final trim before they go in. It'll be a few weeks before I'm able to get back over to the shop, but it should start falling into place once I get time to work on it. |
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Way cool! Ill be watching! Dig the car also!
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After working on customer cars and other stuff for the past few weeks, I finally had time to get back to the '65 for a few hours yesterday. The passenger side floor pans still need a little final welding, but they are fit and welded in.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1060166.jpg The front floor pan is bead rolled to match the factory floor. It's a shame it won't be seen when the truck is finished. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150324.jpg We removed the hood to get it out of the way. Inner fenders, grill, and core support will be removed next weekend. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150285.jpg Thus far, the replacement panels have fit better than I had expected. A little tweaking here and trimming there is necessary, but everything seems pretty close. The plan for next weekend is to get the kickpanel fit and welded in, then move on to the rocker panel and rear cab corner. |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
Great build.
Keep posting loads of details and pics for those of us in the back of class. I find forums and build threads the best way to share and learn. Posted via Mobile Device |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
Thanks! I should have more to share after next weekend.
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Welcome to the board, looking forward to following along with your progress:canada:
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Work has continued over the past few weekends, but there hasn't been much worth posting pictures of. Lots of time spent getting the panels to fit correctly. The only piece thus far that has been way off was the rear cab support. I ended up having to narrow it and rework the outer angle to match the original and fit up to the floor and rear pillar correctly.
As of today, the cab supports, floor pans, door pillars, and kickpanel are in. The rocker panel has been fit, but has yet to be installed. As long as I get time next weekend, I should finish up a few plug welds on the long floor support brace, move on to finishing up the kickpanel, then hopefully get the rocker installed. After that, it's time to do the cab corner, finish up my seam welds, and get started on the driverside. Here are a few pictures from today: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150392.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150379.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150391.jpg In other news, I got engaged last Friday (March 1st)! The truck now has a "running/driving" deadline of December 2014, as I'd really like it to be present at my wedding (provided that the weather cooperates on that particular day). |
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Congrats on the engagement and the progress on your truck...
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Could you post a link to Top Banana? I get everything but repop panels when I try to google it.
Good work and great transition in lineage. Dave. |
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Thanks.
Dave. |
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I didn't get as much done as I would have liked this weekend, but I did spend some time on it today.
The kickpanel is welded in and the floor is welded back down to the long cab support rail. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150429.jpg Then it was time to install the rocker panel. I fit the rocker panel while the door was in place, and held it in place with clamps, screws, and a few tacks before pulling the door off to fully weld it. The rocker panel fit quite well. It only required a little finessing to get the corners nice and tight to the door pillars. On the underside, I punched a line of holes in the floor pan to plug weld it to the rocker panel. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150450.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1060208.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1060210.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1060233.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150455.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150460.jpg Next up will be the cab corner. :) Even with all the work that had to be done to the rear cab support to match the original, and all the little tweaking here and there, I'm still very happy with the patch panels overall. Honestly, the most difficult part of this project is finding time to work on it. |
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Looks good. Always feels good when things come together.
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Thanks! And it certainly does.
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I swung by the shop for a few hours yesterday to get a little work done. I made a few little patch panels, took care of a couple odds and ends that needed finishing, then cut out the old passenger side cab corner. The new one is fit and ready to weld in, which is what I had planned to do today, until I looked outside this morning (freak spring snowstorm).
The gray in the pictures is zinc (weld-through) primer. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150477.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150493.jpg |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
I only had a couple hours to work on the truck today, but I managed to get the passenger side cab corner welded in.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150670.jpg Dad's been smoothing things out. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150662.jpg And I'm finally done welding up the passenger side of the cab. Time to move to the driver side and start all over. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150675.jpg |
Re: Bringing the '65 back to life
Many of us have been there!!
Hang in there, you will be glad you did it.... when it is done, :metal: |
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Nice build, subscribed.
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Looking good!
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Thank god I don't have to go through all of that. Nice job u are doing!
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Thanks guys! Dad worked on smoothing down the welds a bit more today, and we stuck the passenger side door back on. It fits/opens/closes sooo much better than it used to.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150701.jpg Then it was on to the driverside. I took some measurements and started getting things out of the way (dimmer switch, dome light wiring, door, etc.). http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150718.jpg The difficult part on this side will be locating everything correctly, as there isn't much left to reference off of. The upper floorpan/lower firewall is going to be a little complex to make, too. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150677.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150690.jpg We've got a swap meet to hit up next weekend, but hopefully I'll find some time to work on the truck as well. As always, I'll update this thread as we make progress. |
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Dad brought home a truckload of parts earlier this week from a guy we found through Craigslist, and we picked up a couple parts at the swap meet today.
I started cutting out the rusty driverside floorpan, while Dad worked on one of the bedsides. I also just ordered a few more parts from Top Banana. Progress continues... http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150845.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150848.jpg http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...0/P1150860.jpg |
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