“George” the 1964 C10 Fleetside LWB

[Pick121]

Hi folks, here will reside the refurbishing project for our 1964 C10 affectionately named “George” by my son when he was 16 and bought him. The truck is in pretty decent shape considering it is the same age as I am haha.
The good news is it is pretty straight with minimal rust, it runs, stops, and good tires. Came with a 350 V8 GM Crate motor (Hecho en Mexico), 4sp manual trans with the granny low, DUI Street/Strip distributor, new aluminum radiator with electric fan, wide rear wheels. The goal is to keep it mainly stock, make it a reliable work truck and daily driver. Now for the punch list! In no particular order

• Single master cylinder, change to dual
• Wiring throughout is spaghetti, wire nuts, weak crimp connectors, and fuse panel has broken fuse holder. Signal lights and brake lights not working.
• Runs rough/lacks power, and gets really hot, I am hoping it’s just timing & a thermostat
• Battery dies within a couple days being parked, so for now it gets disconnected when not running - see wiring above!
• Gauges that don’t work: Speedo (& Odo) Temp, Fuel, Amm, Dash lights. I do know the odo cable is not connected.
• Lots of holes drilled in the body- mirrors, tie downs, etc.
• No wipers, but the wiper motor works
• Driver door handle/linkage - have to roll the window down and open from outside once the door is shut
• Window tracks, felt, door rubber all in bad shape or completely missing
• Leaky and non functioning power steering system (reservoir is empty, pump might be burned up)
• Horn, cab light don’t work
• Heat/Def cable and knobs all messed up
• Cosmetic, but funky shifter boot and disintegrated rubber floor mat, gaping holes in doors for 6x9 speakers, radio hole massacred for slide in stereo (MIA)
• Wood bed rotting out, PO laid a piece of plywood over and screwed down and now that too is rotting!
• Paint appears to be just primer, with surface rust showing through maybe from under the primer?
• Remove funky push bars from front bumper
• Get some 60’s period black/yellow license plates, there is only one rear plate anyway and it is trashed and the blue/yellow looks awful

Lots more photos to follow, thanks in advance for the help, advice, expertise!

[Pick121]

Here are some more exterior photos, fun to look at. Somebody also added a heavy duty rear bumper with receiver hitch, trailer plug connector, and even a trailer brake in the cab. You can see the worst of the rust here on the fender below the C10 emblem. Also looks like an old repair, door check needs replacing, and some of the many mirror holes to fill

[Pick121]

I have done a bunch of searches for the Trans without much luck. It is for sure a 4 on the floor, with the granny low gear. The rear end however I am pretty sure of it being original to the truck.
I would love to know the year of the engine! Engine has stamped 1M0281 9VP on front passenger side head. The rear bell housing casting number on the drivers side is 10066036 Hecho en Mexico. On the passenger side, it has a 99 (or 66?) cast next to the date dial.
In my research I believe it to be a GM Goodwrench crate 350 V8. Some vague information I found online stated it was “350, 4 bolt, Goodwrench crate engine, 2 piece rear seal, ‘86 and up” But, not sure how reliable that is.
Transmission photos show a casting number E228, 2, GM, 3901127 and, another casting number right by what I guess is a Trans fluid temp sender? GM, 0901191, then below that a K2...I think I need to clean it off better.

[Pick121]

Photos of rear end,
The rear end has a 12 bolt cover and a casting number 3(?)838227, there might even be a “N” there below the 3. then I found a stamp WE 10 31 which is why I think it is a C15 3.73 Ratio based on internet research data.

[The Rocknrod]

WE on the rear end means 3.73:1 (Except Positraction)
Built in Warren plant
C15

[The Rocknrod]

10066036 Small Block V8 350, 4-bolt, Goodwrench crate engine, 2-piece rear seal.

[Pick121]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

WE on the rear end means 3.73:1 (Except Positraction)
Built in Warren plant
C15

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

10066036 Small Block V8 350, 4-bolt, Goodwrench crate engine, 2-piece rear seal.

THANK YOU Master Chief! Good to know what I have to work with. This makes sense as the VIN shows George was built in Janesville WI

I sure wish there was a way to find out the whole history of a vehicle, previous owners, I wonder how it got from there and ended up here (Wisconsin to California) and finally to me!n Just a curious person I guess.

Another strange thing is, the paint code is RPO544AD, I researched it to be White & Red 2 tone but, the truck is Orange under the black! At least, it really looks orange to me but I guess it could be faded red. It looks orange where paint has chipped away, firewall, and door jambs. Anyway I wonder if it worked as a county vehicle, utility company, or something where it was orange. CalTrans (CA Dept. Of Transportation) used to have orange vehicles. Check the photo of the firewall.

[88Stanger]

Nice Truck, very nice start.

[66C10LB]

Nice looking truck! Your trans may be the original SM420 four speed with granny low. This is the same tranny as my 66 C10 LWB

[Pick121]

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

Nice looking truck! Your trans may be the original SM420 four speed with granny low. This is the same tranny as my 66 C10 LWB

Thanks for reply! Doing more research tonight I think it might be a SM465, which has 2 PTO covers (1 each side) which George has. The SM420 has only one PTO cover, is that true for yours? The PO did replace the engine with a crate engine, maybe at the same time he changed the Tranny. The hump cover is a bit cut-up and the shifter hits the seat in R. As if it was not original equipment

[Captainfab]

The SM420 was used in '67 and earlier trucks. If reverse is towards you and back it is a SM420. If reverse is away from you and back it is a SM465.

[Pick121]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

The SM420 was used in '67 and earlier trucks. If reverse is towards you and back it is a SM420. If reverse is away from you and back it is a SM465.

Thanks Capt, it’s definitely away & back so I’m leaning to the SM465. and I may be in touch for a Master Cylinder bracket soon!

[Captainfab]

Yes that is definitely a SM465.