66 Tandem Stepside
 

I'm sure several of you have seen this build over in teh suspension section. I thought it was about time to transition it into the Build section instead now that it is well past a suspension only topic.

To catch everyone up, I'll run thru a brief summary first of where the build started and where it is today. Way back int he early 90's the mini truck guys were sticking atrailer axle under the back of there trucks. That is no longer the fad but I've never seen that done to a classic truck and I'm always looking for something a bit different than what everyone else does, so I photoshoped a picture of a nice looking 66 Chevy truck and I liked what I saw. Here is the original concept...

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Here's the truck I started with after it was dissassebled. Complete rolling truck (less motor and trans) that a guy gave me just to get it out of his yard.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Okay so this is a budget build. Spend money where I need to, but not unless I really NEED to. So out of the box ideas not only save money, but make it that much more different as well. The truck has to be lowered, on air bags obviously, but spindles and tubular arms and dropmembers especially are way outside of my budget. Z'ing the frame just seems crude although very effective and easy. I chose to drop the frame rails 5" down into the front crossmember. Added Z28 steering rack and bolted in some RE7 bags on some off the shelf brackets I picked up second hand for $40.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

For the backend, I stepped the frame 6" to get it down in the weeds on the cheap, then stretched the frame 32" to add the second axle. I used a pair of 9" Ford axles for simplicity in fabrication. I couldn't really see sticking a dummy trailer axle under the back for the look. Anything worth doing is worth doing right so I want the second axle to work. USA6x6 and probably others do have products that allow a drive to a second axle but this is a budget build remember. I toook a divorce mounted and bulletproof NP205 transfer case, turned it backwards to give me two drive yokes facing rearward, one for each axle. The rear most axle is offset 9" to align with the secondary output on the t-case. Also fab'd a 3 link set-up for each axle and picked up 4 cheap 2500 bags from the cheap air bag guys on the internet, whoes name I shall not mention. I've got the best RE7's in the front, I can go cheap in the rear for now and see how they do. I can always upgrade later if it becomes necessary.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Obviously I've been doing body work all along as well. The usual stuff, rocker panels, half the floor on both sides, cab supports, cab corners, lower coners of the doors, there isn't a panel on this truck I havn't had to make a patch for or buy a panel when necessary. The bed sides are shot and needed to be longer anyway. The rear fenders are actually really good so I went to a local sheet metal shop and had them bend me two new bedsides (9'-4" long) and two extension panels to stretch the rear fenders. I grafted the old stake pockets and end assemblies from the old bed sides into the new sheet metal and the new longer stepside bed and fenders are born.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

For the motor, I have a 4 bolt main 350 already that only has about 10k miles on it that I had in a previous project. I changed the cam in it to an Edelbrock Performer RPM, and stuck a 3 deuce intake on it. A serpentine belt set-up and accessories from a Camaro add's a touch of modern to it and gives me all the accessories including AC for veru near free. I discarded the smog pump and fab'd some brackets and a pulley to install a York compressor instead to supply all the compressed air I will ever need for the suspension set-up. This little $30 york I picked up at a swap meet is rated at 9 scfm. I can run an impact wrech off of this thing if I want. a 7 gallon tank will be installed as well.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

And paint. I used a single stage Acrylic Urethane from Summit Racing. So far the front half is in paint, with the bed coming very soon. It's starting to look like something now. Obviousley there are many more details for this build, up to this point, but that's the basics for now.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Damn I love this build. Keep up the progress.

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I think it will turn out cool!

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

HotRodYJ, Great looking build. I is good to see something totally different. I love the blue and white paint job. Can not wait to see the whole thing in color.

Shannon

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Wow thats cool!!! I love the paint its sic!!!

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

This is an awsome project! cant wait to see it done!

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

You are insane!!

Truck looks sick!! Keep it up , can't wait to see this done!!
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Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

Sweet build!!
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Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

That is nice. Usually when I see a thread with such a wild idea it usually never happens but looks like you mean business.

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It is a slow build but yes it will be completed. Once it's in paint, the rest is downhill.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

just curious, but how do you plan to address the drive shaft issue with the rear diff, seeing as that it (the driveshaft) will run directly into the axel tube on the front diff????

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

From his other thread...

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

ahhh ok must have missed it lol :)

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

New shiney grill installed. Front air bags plumbed and functional. Used the paddle valves from Boris. Works great, simple, and low cost! and the steering is now finalized and hooked up. The steering and front suspension will make it much easier to roll the truck in and out of the garage now that the fenders have paint on them.

Contemplating the hood mechanisim. Lost the hood springs due to tire clearance and these hoods are VERY heavy. Thinking seriously about using air cylinders for assist.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

i lowered my 62 the same way it seemed to work out well

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Nate's air assist hinges for the 67's are sweet, but he said the hood was too heavy on the 60-66. Maybe something like that with more throw?

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

hotrodyj- how did you do you tilt hood? any more pictures and advise? im wanting to do the same to mine, just havent figured out how im going to go about it! anyways nice truck and great progress!!

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

WOW! :jdp: I'm hooked.

Re: 66 Tandem Stepside
 

subscribed.....nice work and ingenuity