the rebuild begins next week for the 1966 c10

[xratt]

well after some gearing issues, and a lot of money invested trying to get the truck running right, I have to bite the bullet and rebuild the motor. Burned 2 quarts of oil in 2 weeks, and it broke twice during those two weeks, so i did not drive it that much. So i have been stock piling parts and saving up motor money. I found a machine shop to rebuild my sb 350 motor for $1000. Hope this is a decent deal. Rebuild the long block, with a new cam, new flat top pistons, turned crank, rebuilt rods, bored, new oil pump, new valve seals in the heads, and a gasket set. i have already bought everything new for the outside of the motor. Had the carb rebuilt, new water pump, new cap and rotor, new alternator, all new exhaust pipes and new cherry bombs. I just ordered new lower a-arms for the front, new ball joints, new wheel bearings and seals, brakes, brake lines, and new carrier bearing for the drive shaft. also ordered new air bags for the front and a new air valve assembly. 8 valve set up. I posted a question about a fuel tank sending unit. I want to get that while its tore down. Im thinking i will also change the wheels out. it has adapters on it now to make it 5 lug, but they make the wheels stick out too far and rub on the body. So I'm looking for some decent 6 lug wheels too. i have a older set i can use if i have too but they need tires. Was thinking a set of
Escalade wheels would look nice. I will be taking pics and asking advice along the way. I want to have this done in 4 weeks total. So any helpful advice would be nice.

[MacAttack]

Primal Rule #1: Pics before teasing.

Mac.

[alexxwing]

Sweet good luck on your build

[xratt]

I'm such a slacker, I forgot to take pics today. I got the motor pulled, stripped and heading to the machine shop tomarrow. i will start tearing apart the front end first thing in the morning. Now I'm thinking i need to repaint the engine bay. I'm guessing gloss black is the most popular?
What do you guys use?

[xratt]

before pics

[MacAttack]

Sweet looking ride - $1000 for the motor work is spot on.

Mac.

[xratt]

did lots of work today. Tore apart the front end. Took the motor to the machine shop.

[xratt]

i was just playing with the BMW wheel, it fit the adapters thou. Still have lots of work to do.

[jason65]

Awsome truck!

[xratt]

well the machine shop called today, with less then great news. I bought this truck with a 350 motor and trans. Well the seller was mistaken, its a 305 small block. Not a big deal, but makes me think less of the seller, and me not knowing any better does not help. The guys at the machine shop said no big deal same price, and have it back next week. So I'm kinda bummed, but can't wait to get it all back together.

I took all the a-arms out of the front end today. removed all the ball joints and wheel bearings. Removed the old air bags too. the upper bag mounts were welded in with no access to the hose fitting. Super bad install done by the seller too. so I'm fixing all that too.

Tearing out the drive shaft and all the air line plumbing is next. Getting ready to install new air valves and install a new carrier bearing.

[xratt]

Now i have a new question. Since the motor turns out to be a 305 small block instead of a 350. What's a good size carb. for this motor. I have a 600 cfm edelbrock carb right now. Is this too big, or can it be tuned to work?

[protrash64]

I wouldn't be really dissapointed with the 305. It should turn out nicely and with it freshened up it will be nice to drive. Do you have a cam choice with the rebuild? If so, get something for RV/low rpm torque. I would think the 600 carb should work fine also. Use a dual plane low rpm intake also. All of this for good streetable torque.

Looking forward to more update pics.

[hAetWagon]

Things could certainly be worse.

[shortbed70]

how did you do your front suspension? Do you have any pics

[xratt]

The carb is a Edelbrock EDL-1406, 600 CFM. Just rebuilt. The intake is a Edelbrock EPS Performer, dual plane. But it still has the stock exhaust manifolds. This combo worked pretty good with the old worn motor. So I'm hoping for the best. Just not smoke like crazy and fouling plugs.

I'm still waiting on my front suspension parts to come it. I'm hoping Monday. I will get more pics then. I still have to work out the details on the setup. Might be asking advice on that part. It will lay frame, cause it did before i redid all this. But will lift better with bigger bags, 2600's instead of the 2500's and new valves. Four ways this time, the 2 way sucks.

[xratt]

Well got my front end parts in that i ordered. The lower control arms are great. The new bags are huge, way better then the old ones.Should start to reassemble all of that next week. Got the motor back from the shop. Now i need to finish putting it together. Need to paint the engine bay before installing the motor.
A buddy offered me a set of 1982 front spindels and disc brakes for free. They went with a drop spindels on their truck. But i'm not sure these will fit my stock ball joints? i just replaced my ball joints and bearings. So any input will help.
I pulled the wind shield and back windows. I have yet to try to install the new seals. The back window seems simple. But the front wind shield seems like it going to be a pain. The Chrome trim is giving me a fit.
Also for some reason the drive shaft is stuck in the transmission. I cant get it out for anything, even tried a hammer.
I ordered new head light wiring from LMC. I'm taking out the speaker wires that run the head lights now. The new setup uses relays and heavier wires. Also bought a new head light switch. Still have lots of wiring to figure out under the dash and under the hood. Also have to replumb all the air lines too.

[fleetsidelarry]

xratt, the later spindles require later ball joints and some tricks with the tie rod ends, there's a huge discussion on this topic on this board and on Chevy Talk. While you have everything apart I HIGHLY recommend upgrading to power steering (you may already have it, I don't remember) and power brakes (a must if you put the discs on). You will be amazed at the difference

[xratt]

Finally got the wind shield out. What a pain. I have all new seals to install. the back window seems easy. But the front looks to be a pain. Anyone have any advice? Please send it. I have the LMC seals.
Still can't get the drive shaft out of the trans. But I did get the u-joints at the half shaft. Pulled apart the barrier bearing setup. I bought the wrong one to replace it. So another trip to Auto Zone. yeah!
Pulled out all the old air valves for the bag system. Need to figure out a new mounting place for the air manifold setup. I dont have access to a welder at the garage. So might have to get it running first then place it someplace to get the welding done. Like a place to hold the valves, and stuff.
Installed the head light wiring i ordered from LMC. got rid of the speaker wires that used to run the head lights. Mounted the relays and hid all the other wires. I will have to rewire the whole engine bay. Ive cut out most of the make shift wiring the truck came with. Trying to make it look some what stock. Or at least neat and minimal as possible. Inside I installed new interior dome light lence, new head light switch.
Still have to go buy new air lines for the air ride system. Waiting on a engine stand from a buddy so i can start bolting all the stuff back to the long block. Should start putting together the front end this weekend too.
I'm tired of tearing apart, I want to start putting together.

[xratt]

one more

[xratt]

Well its you guys fault. I started setting up my bag mounts and getting ready to start bolting it all together. Then i read a thread on here about chopped cross members. So i pulled mine tonight. I'm taking it to my buddies shop tomarrow. Chopping 1.5 inches out of it. I've read all the info i can find on here. So i think i got it figured out. We will find out.

[c10Mang]

Looking good!!! Keep up the good work!

[xratt]

Still working on the cross member, had it taken out, cut, welded, and did the grinding in three days. Now thats with working a full time job and side jobs, to fund this truck. Put the first coat of paint on today, yes rattle canned it. Im going Saturday to see what i can scalp from the 1986 parts truck my buddy found for me. He brought me the brakes today. Its missing the calipers, they were used as cores on another project. Im picking up the power steering parts tomarrow. Then I'm headed to the junk yard to hopefully collect any additional parts. I know i have to track down a power steering pump bracket, one that mounts on the drivers side of the motor, and brake booster.
I plan on bolting the motor together this weekend too. The long block has been sitting there a week now. But this cross member project has taken over my life. But it should be bolted in Saturday.
Still have so many projects going on this truck. Feeling overwelmed. I was hoping to have this project done by next Friday. Now reality has set in and theres no way. With working a full time job, theres no way to tear apart your truck, and rebuild almost every part of it in 30 days.

[xratt]

i was playing with the truck pic, seeing how it would look in black and blue. Thinking down the road the truck might end up in matt black. Who knows.

[xratt]

Had a minor set back. Trying to get the motor put together, ad the end of the crank where the front pulley mounts, threads were ripped out. A trip back to the machine shop. They retapped the neck of the crank and we are back in business. Since i already bought all the front end parts for the 1966 front end, i have to go exchange all of them for the 1986 front end i have switched too. Still have a whole list of parts i need to get. Headed to napa right now to get air line and air line fittings i want for the front. Hopefully more updates soon.

[xratt]

Quick update. Pulled all the old steering componites. Mounted the new air valve manifold. Started running a few of the air lines. Mapping out the best routes and best way to protect them. Leaving town for the weekend. So no more work till next week. Still looking for a 7" brake booster and master cylinder. Should see lots of updates next week

I know I'm not even done with this project yet. But I have a feeling I'm going to want a 1963 suburban after I get this one on the road. Anyone have one for sale, what are they worth? Hard to find? I've only seen one around here on craigslist. And it was mucho money.

Larry