My Truck "TINKER"

[pittdawg]

I have only been on this site for a month and I am totally addicted. You guys have done, and are doing some amazing things with your rigs. Not to mention, the info on this site is great.

So here is how TINKER came about.

I have always worked on my vehicles but never had a real project, but have wanted something to tinker on.

At the beginning of last summer I was driving my 01’ Jeep Wrangler. It was kited it out and I played with it a bit, but it was my daily driver for the past 4 years. Last summer I decided I needed to do something about my gas bill.

I sold the Jeep bought a bike, an 05’ Triumph Rocket III. I still had 2k left over to get a truck for the winter, but figured I would get something with decent gas millage like an old Toyota with a 4 banger. I also needed a truck because I just began some remodeling on the house.

I rode the whole summer at 38 mpg on the Rocket and watched craigslist for a cheap Toyota. That is when I found “TINKER” for 1950 OBO. I showed him to the wife, and she didn’t like the idea. I figured she was right; I needed to look for something more economical. A month went by and it was starting to get cooler. I needed to get a truck soon, but all the Toyotas I found for 2k were POS.

One day I came home, in a bad mood, from looking at yet another POS. My wife sensed my frustration and said, “Do you know if that old primered Chevy is still on craigslist?” It had been at least a month, but sure enough TINKER was still for sale. The wife said, “Let’s go look…” I was so stoked, I felt like Ralphie from A Christmas Story when he got his Red Rider BB Gun. The next day I bought “TINKER” for 1600 bones. He is a 66’ C-10 Long Bed with a 250 inline 6 and a 4 speed manual.

The original owner bought the truck in Missoula, Montana on May 12, 1966. The old guy I bought the truck from was a good friend of the original owner and he had it for the last 20 years. He drove it to work , 10 miles round trip, everyday. The only reason he was getting rid of it was because using the clutch had become hard on his knees.

It has all the original paper work and owners manual. It even came with all the service receipts. The receipts proved to be a map of TINKER’S life. The truck spent time in Montana, Alaska, Virginia, California, and Idaho.

He’s now my daily driver commuting 50 miles a day. I really would like to fix him up a bit and you guys on this site have definitely inspired me. Due to time, money, and life I will probably just do a bit here and there, but some day I would like to park TINKER and give him the full resto he deserves.

By the way, my late Grandpa called me Tinker from the time I could walk. He called me Tinker because I always took my toys apart. I figured it was fitting for my truck. I have only had the truck for 6 months and I'm always tinkerin! I plan to get a personalized plate soon.

[ChiefRocka]

Welcome aboard "TINKER" from San Jose California !!

.....Glad to have you here !!!

You will learn alot...and there are alot of great people on here....

If you need anything...just ask anyone here !!


Later....

[Alan's Classic]

Welcome aboard, looks like you found a great starting point. Nice story and it's also neat to know the history of the truck with supporting documentation. Can't wait to see your progress.

[LILRED66]

Welcome aboard from Kansas City, KS. Great story, also. It makes me want to high-tail it to my shop and get to work.

Please keep us posted on your progress and two thumbs up to your significant other for her support...that seems to be key in this truck thing.

[62 short step]

Welcome!

[TimE]

Welcome! That's a great story. Support from the wife is real important. All of the documemtation and personal history of the truck is cool. All of the stories on mine are the same, "I got it from this guy and he said..." with no real documentation.

"Tinker" must be a pretty good truck for you to be driving her 50 miles round trip to work. And think about how much more style you've got in that thing versus a "Toy".

Keep us posted on your progress and feel free to ask questions at any time!

BTW, that's a sharp Triumph you've got there too!

[63 & 64 Bowties]

welcome. always good to have another 60-66 guy.

[Corts60]

Welcome aboard Tinker! I wish I could drive my '60 everyday. It just rains to damn much around these parts to trust my 49 year old drum brakes and bias tires on stopping me in time....

[19GMC63]

untouched originals with documentation are hard to come by. Congrats, and good luck with him.

[LILRED66]

and even harder to resist the tempation to modify them.

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

and even harder to resist the tempation to modify them.

Are you suggesting he fires up the torch?

[pittdawg]

Thanks for the kind words guys! Here is a list of the tinkerin I have done so far.

1. Replaced the carb. The old one leaked a bit and a buddy of mine had a rebuilt on from his 68' 292. It appears to be the same carb and its working.

2. Did a brake job on the front. Flushed out the old brake fluild. Replaced shoes, drums, springs and what looked to be the original master cylinder.

3. And then the "acoo trama...." Crushed and repaired my oil pan. Here is the link to that story.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...68#post3158968

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the board pittdawg

Glad you were able to get that oil pan straightened out.

[collins10672]

great looking truck.i really like the clean untouched originals too.looks like you have a nice truck to start on.good luck with your project.

[72BlckButy]

Glad to have you aboard pittdawg, and what a great looking truck!

[joe231]

wow!
what a truck! and very cool story with it is such a bonus!