Rotten 66 Farm Truck Build

[jdorrough]

Hi all. I’m new to the board. For some reason, my account was stuck for months in a moderation queue leaving me locked down with no way to post. Now that's been worked out, I thought I'd start a build thread. The story on the truck goes back to my great uncle who used the truck for work at the US Park Service. Somehow he was able to buy it from the National Park Service. That’s when it became the truck that my father rode in on hunting trips as a kid and the real sentimental ties lie. When my great uncle passed away it was purchase by my family and used by my brothers and I on the farm. It was parked at some point and left to rot away. When I built my garage, I wanted a project to keep me busy so here we are. I bought it off my father for a couple bucks and started assessing what all I wanted to do with the old truck. At first, I figured I’d get it running and maybe fix a couple body spots and the wood bed that were completely rotten and leave it at that. But after spending too much time staring at it on the lift, I’ve decided to go ls3 powered, frame off restomod and turn it into a dailyish driver. I’ll try to keep this thread updated as I go. I’ve attached a few pictures of what I started with.

[jdorrough]

Here are a few pics of interior work getting done. I started here because frankly I didn’t think I would be doing much more beyond this. I welded in new kick panels, corners, and floor section. I also had the seat reupholstered in black with red stitching (hint to final color pallet). Honestly the time spent in the cab welding and grinding is what helped change my mind on where I wanted to take the truck. Why put all this time and money into a truck and not go all the way?

[jdorrough]

More Pics...

[jdorrough]

Here’s a couple tear down pics. Bed, front clip and cab was pulled. 250ci Engine and Muncie SM420 trans will be headed to the scrap metal which kind of sucks because both are in working order. Frame wasn’t in bad shape considering how old this thing is and that it sat in the weather with weeds consuming it for the last decade. I took a wire wheel and a pressure washer to it to prep for paint.

[jdorrough]

All painted up. I used chassis saver satin black paint and applied it with a gun. I then started on the rear. Both front and rear are getting a coil-over upgrade from QA1.

[jdorrough]

For tires and wheels, I decided to go with US Wheel Rat Rod in matte black wheels and Nitto NT555 G2 tires. Wheels are 17x8 in front and 17x9 in the rear. Tires are 255/40r17 in front and 275/40r17 in rear. The wheels required an axle upgrade, so I went with the 5 lug Yukon kit that kept the drum brakes. I sure hope the new wider rubber fits when it all goes back together.

[jdorrough]

I decided to cheap out on the drums instead of disks as I plan to do a 9 inch swap in the future. I figure money is spent in better places for now. Drum internals needed to be freshened up. I bought what I thought was everything needed but come to find out, I threw away the parking brake lever on the driver side that attaches to the shoe. Oops. That was a $15, 2 week setback.

[jdorrough]

Here she is with her new pair of shoes. I've also installed the front QA1 setup and new rack and pinion steering.

[jdorrough]

The cab was taking up too much space in my garage, so I decided to start cleaning it up for paint. I took everything out of the cab, including the dash. BTW, that thing had close to 40 spot welds! The reason I took the dash out was to clean up some rust that had start on each side where it bolts up. I debated on what to do with the bottom of the cab and ended up using the same paint I used on the frame.

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by jdorrough

Here she is with her new pair of shoes. I've also installed the front QA1 setup and new rack and pinion steering.

The rack an pinion, is that the one by POL? If so, that is the one i got. Fit perfect with just a slight adjustment needed to the oversized front sway bar i installed. Otherwise, direct bolt in.

[Daze57]

Good skills ---truck is looking really good keep us posted ;

[cwcarpenter98]

That's quite a difference! I'm in to see how it turns out!

[The Rocknrod]

Wow, that's some great work. You should be proud of that.

[roll_the_dice]

Nice build. I like the direction you are going and the Tremec trans is awesome...T56 Magnum? I love my Tremec. The wheels look awesome already...

Not that you asked, but keep the stepside...I love stepsides more than fleetsides...more unique.

[jdorrough]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Nice build. I like the direction you are going and the Tremec trans is awesome...T56 Magnum? I love my Tremec. The wheels look awesome already...

Not that you asked, but keep the stepside...I love stepsides more than fleetsides...more unique.

Thanks! Yeah its a T56 Magnum. The folks at American Powertrain did all the work moving the shifter to the maintenance port and installing the white lightning offset. I'm excited to get it installed to see how it's all going to line up inside the cab.

[roll_the_dice]

Originally Posted by jdorrough

Thanks! Yeah its a T56 Magnum. The folks at American Powertrain did all the work moving the shifter to the maintenance port and installing the white lightning offset. I'm excited to get it installed to see how it's all going to line up inside the cab.

I love the Magnum...cruising at 65 mph at 1700 RPMs. I bought the Tremec mid shifter and installed it. I like the American Powertrain...looks like you can rotate the shifter around a little which is nice. This is where mine came out on the hump with a SBC.

[jdorrough]

A couple things have been completed since my last post. The vent windows showed up. I bought new ones as there doesn't seem to be an easy way to repair the old ones. In my opinion they are way overpriced but I didn't really find any other alternatives. I added new felts and seals while I was at it.

I also received my wiring harness from BluePrint Engines. I fabricated a mount for the accelerator pedal out of a piece of old square steel. It was the easiest way I could think of to offset the pedal off the firewall. I'm glad I finished that because my engine showed up a few days later.

[jdorrough]

I was like a kid at Christmas time unboxing the crate engine. BluePrint dyno test each engine. I was expecting around 520s HP so to see 554 I was pretty stoked. It should be a good step up from the factory 250 inline 6. I ordered a set of headers from Speed Engineering. They are extremely well built for the price. I was a bit worried about fitment but all fit like a glove when it was in it's final mounting location. The shifter came up through the floor in a nice spot. I'll just need to cut a patch for the factory hole and weld it up. Seeing the new lower stance with the engine weight has me jonesing to drive it.

[jdorrough]

Progress is continuing slowly but surely. I decided make my own brackets to mount my PCM and fuse block that controls the LS3. The mount I made bolts to the side of the steering/pedal structure and also ties into the accelerator pedal. I bought a painless wiring kit to rewire the entire truck while I was wiring up the engine controller. I was really impressed with how well that kit was put together.

[jdorrough]

I was able to get the inner fenders welded up and painted. I also put the carpet and seat back in to be sure I mounted my steering wheel in the most comfortable position.

Bonus Video of first fire up:

https://youtu.be/2wctKxXSyAE


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[roll_the_dice]

Looks great! Really like the look of the LS engine in our trucks. Wheels look great! I have a few questions?

What gas pedal did you use? Where did you get your vent windows? Mine are beyond repair and I think new ones are overpriced also, but go to do what I got to do! And finally who did the engine come from? Did it come with the serpentine system and wiring harness? I am thinking of an LS engine in an upcoming build.

[jdorrough]

Originally Posted by roll_the_dice

Looks great! Really like the look of the LS engine in our trucks. Wheels look great! I have a few questions?

What gas pedal did you use? Where did you get your vent windows? Mine are beyond repair and I think new ones are overpriced also, but go to do what I got to do! And finally who did the engine come from? Did it come with the serpentine system and wiring harness? I am thinking of an LS engine in an upcoming build.

I'll try to answer your questions in order that you asked...

Gas pedal- It came with the Engine Controller Kit from BluePrint. P/N - BPPLS530. You could also get the same controller made by Chevrolet Performance from Jegs or Summit. I think the BluePrint one has a custom tune setup for the engine I bought.

Vent Windows- Classic Industries

Engine- BluePrint Engines, I bought part number PSLS3760CTFKB which comes with full accessories kit. I literally only added a starter and headers.

[roll_the_dice]

Thank you! That answered my questions...love the setup!

[Racer2172]

Just stumbled accross this build awesome work, amazing how fast things can snowball from original build ideas. Great work

[jdorrough]

Originally Posted by Racer2172

Just stumbled accross this build awesome work, amazing how fast things can snowball from original build ideas. Great work

Thanks! I appreciate it.