1964 Chevy Stepside (Old Blue)

[bj383ss]

Hello All,

New here just wanted to introduce myself and my truck. Here is my story. This 64 Chevy belonged to my Father in law. He bought it back in 1981 and somewhat had it fixed up and drove it as a daily driver for about 10 years. He sold it to my brother in law and that is how it ended up in this condition. My brother in law sold it back to him in 2002 and it has been sitting ever since.

My FIL gave it to my wife and I to fix up for our boys. They are 3 and 6 right now. My FIL recently passed away from cancer. One of his last wishes was for me to get the truck back to a daily driver. So that is the mission I am on. He had just finished building a very nice 3 bay garage which is 1800 sqft. My mother in law has given my full range of the garage and is going to help fund stuff for the truck when she can.

First thing I have done is getting some used tires on it and rolled it up into the garage. I also drained the gas tank which was full of water. It is an aftermarket fuel cell that was mounted under the frame in an amateurish way. My brother in law basically destroyed this truck so I will be putting her back to her previous glory.

My plan right now is to get her running and street legal. Haven't decided on the paint yet either will try CLR or just paint it satin black. Hopefully the motor is still good if not I have a 383 stroker in my 79' Caprice I will be pulling and putting in. Enough talking here are the photos. I hope to make alot of friends along the way!






Here she is up in the garage.


Bret

[bj383ss]

Here are some more pics of her in the garage.






Bret

[bj383ss]

I drained the gas tank this evening. It didn't have much gas but was full of water.


Checkout this classy gas filler access. (stupid brother in law)





Bret

[CRGRS 66]

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your FIL passing, and glad to hear that his baby is now in good hands...
Welcome to the forum, this is an incredible resource, and a great community to be a part of.
BTW, don't ever tell the BIL about this forum!

[awbrown]

Originally Posted by CRGRS 66

First of all, I am sorry to hear about your FIL passing, and glad to hear that his baby is now in good hands...
Welcome to the forum, this is an incredible resource, and a great community to be a part of.
BTW, don't ever tell the BIL about this forum!

Ditto!!
Looks like you have a pretty good handle on it already!! That is how my first 63 looked ,I simply got it running and drove it for 3 years,all kinds of fun...
Welcome to the forum..

[61_FL_Apache]

Welcome and sorry to hear about the FIL!! THat is cool he wanted you to get this truck back into shape.. Im sure you are up for that mission!!

I would CLR that at first to see how it looks, maybe shoot some clear on it..

Im looking foward to this build!!

[markeb01]

Welcome to the forum. Not many of us get to own a last gift from someone close. I’m glad to hear it’s staying in the family and your wife’s mom is helping out and providing garage space. And what a garage, that is really beautiful! Good luck with your build, I’m also looking forward to progress updates.

[bj383ss]

Thank you guys for the warm welcome. I have so much to do to this truck I can hardly go to sleep at night. I do have a couple of questions the experts can mostly likely answer. Where do I find a bench seat? The ugly van seats or whatever they are called are going in the dumpster. I want to have an original bench seat. All of the catalogs I have ordered and online websites only have seat covers, and foam.

Second question I have is I read on someones build thread that 73-87' Chevy truck front crossmembers bolt right on pretty easy. I want to do this to have disk brakes and change to the five lug. So if I do this where do I buy new axles for the rear that have 5 lug as well?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Bret

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I want to have an original bench seat. All of the catalogs I have ordered and online websites only have seat covers, and foam.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Bret

Bret
Page 21 of the catalog you can find @ http://truckandcarshop.com/ has some repo seats, and foam, no idea as to quality or fit, a little prixy too. Others will chime in, maybe even have one for you...

I hear you on having trouble getting to sleep some nights

[CRGRS 66]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I have is I read on someones build thread that 73-87' Chevy truck front crossmembers bolt right on pretty easy. I want to do this to have disk brakes and change to the five lug. So if I do this where do I buy new axles for the rear that have 5 lug as well?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Bret

I plan to pull the trigger soon on ordering a disc brake upgrade from Scott's hot rods (a vendor on here), you get the power booster with prop valve, drop spindles, rotors, calipers, pads, hoses, dust sheilds, and hardware, all for around $660. I have considered changing cross members, but you will then have a suspension system and brakes that are decades old, and no doubt will need rotors, calipers... etc.

[bj383ss]

Thanks Craig. I see they have the conversion for the rear axle as well although it is a little pricey. My mother in law found some pics yesterday of what it looked like when my father in law bought it in 81' and what it looked like when he finished. Can't wait to have it looking good again.











Bret

[joedoh]

those background shots have to be in the northeast, right? or texas is better looking than I thought. reminds me of PA. your truck really looked great in 81 though.

and as a side note, I think this is the third project named "old blue" , and thats just 60-66 I bet there are a lot on the other forums.

[bj383ss]

Hello Joe,

Those pics from 81' are Fort Worth, TX. My father in law was stationed at the Texas Guard there. He got transfered to Austin in 91' Thank goodness he did or I would never have met my awesome wife.

Yeah I didn't think about the title "old blue". That's what he called it. Although when I get done it will no longer be blue. Probably Red with a White cab. I will have to think of a cool name for my build.

Last night I finished draining the gas tank. It is mounted to the wood bed with 1/4" bolts and I have no idea how it stayed in place with all the weight. I also pulled a jerry rigged trailer light plug.

You can see in this pic the bottom left board that is saggin that was caused by the gas tank. For now Im going to just sit it in the bed and bolt it down. I will have to cut some more holes in the wood, but the whole bed has to be redone anyway I can hardly walk on it.


I also vacumuned out the bed and cab you wouldn't believe what I found under the seats. I pulled all the spark plug wires. It has an Accel coil on the HEI cap and it is right against the firewall. I have an MSD Pro Comp Distributor that should fit with a little more space.

I cleaned about 20 dirt dabber nests off of the intake and headers. The carb looks real good shouldn't be too bad I hope. It is an Edelbrock not sure what cfm it is will have to look up the part number. Still going to take it apart to make sure it is clean. It also has a Performer RPM intake and Hooker Super Comp Headers. Which I think are pretty expensive. I am going to try and save them if possible.The spark plugs were brand new, so I just wire brushed them.

I charged the battery and it appeared to come back to life will see for sure when I go to fire it up. The Horn worked. There was a rubber push button on the dash and I pushed it and it beeped a little wimpy horn that is mounted on the fender. Im not sure if my brother in law did anything right on this truck.

I also noticed there is about a 4" piece of rubber missing at the bottom of the windshield. I also noticed the lip at the bottom of the door where the door seal fits is rusted and completely gone. Will I have to do a whole bottom cab replacement panel to fix this? Otherwise the door will not seal at the bottom.

Sorry I don't have any pics forgot to take my camera with me. I plan on working on it tommorrow night and all day Thursday so I will take some more updated pics.

My plan is to move the gas tank. Blow out the lines. put fresh fuel and fuel filters. Pull the valve covers and tap all the valves with a nylon hammer to make sure none of the valves are rusted shut. Put new spark plug wires on. Squirt Marvel Mystery oil into all the cylinders, and then see if I can get it to fire. Is there anything else I should do before trying to start it? I checked the oil and it looks clean as well as the transmission fluid. I will have to add some antifreeze the radiator looked dry when I pulled the cap.

My brother in law had parked this truck in a field and let it sit for awhile so I am really hoping the 350 is ok and doesn't have a rod knock or spun bearing. If it does I won't be driving it for quite some time.


Bret

[2manyprojects]

Nice truck. If there was nothing wrong with the engine when it was parked and no water or animals have moved in it should run.

The trick is to soak the cylinders and turn it slowly over a week or two most of the time it will be fine. I did this with one that sat for 20 years it runs great and no smoke at all. I would also go ahead and change all the fluids. check the tank for rust and bad fuel before you start pulling it through the clean lines.

Or you could always just go straight for the 383. I know the ones I had were a lot of fun.

[bj383ss]

Thanks 2 many. I got everything ready to try and fire her up and the ignition switch is dead. So I downloaded a wiring diagram from this forum and I am chasing down all the engine wiring. Hopefully I will find it today. I am going to start with the starter

Bret
Posted via Mobile Device

[Jeff La]

Sorry about your FIL and congrats on the truck. Have a great time with it.

[bj383ss]

Thanks Jeff. I have been throughly enjoying the build so far. Today I got quite a bit done. I pulled the plugs cleaned them and squirted Marvel Mystery oil in all the cylinders. Then I put new valve cover gaskets on and put them on. Ran all the spark plug wires.

The ignition was dead and I traced it back to the voltage regulator. Took it in and it was bad bought a new one put it on and bumped it and the engine turned over. YEA. Pulled the top off of the carb and this is what I found.









Attachment 992222



Yikes! I have some work to do. I ordered a rebuild kit, accelerator pump, and floats from Summit Racing. I have been searching online for what is the best carb cleaner to soak it in. I have seen everything from Pine Sol to boiling it in water.
Anyone have suggestions?

Bret
Bret

[MARTYZ]

Welcome aboard, a little ambition and this forum will get you through the rebuild to carry out your FIL last request. Sure you will do him proud!! NICE,. we will be watching this one so keep us posted .

[aggie91]

Welcome to the board!

the title caght my eye, My 65 came from my grandfather and he called it Old Blue. It was light blue orginally and I am redoing it slowly now for the 4th time.....

Anyway, glad to see another one in Texas!!

[1963c-10]

Cool thread. Nice looking truck

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

Wow that carb looks nasty. I've had good luck with Berrymans carb cleaner.

[bj383ss]

Thanks Captain. Was just looking at your truck roster you have one of everything. I'm glad you mentioned berrymans. I bought a gallon last night and let the carb soak for about an hour and a half. It didn't do much but clean some of the rust. The green stuff is stuck good. I will have to soak it some more. The instructions said not to leave aluminum in for more than 4 hours. Otherwise I would have left it in overnight. My goodies from Summit should be here tomorrow

Bret
Posted via Mobile Device

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Nice truck!
This is turning into a build thread so you know what that means....Subscribed!
Thanks for the updates, keep 'em comin

[bj383ss]

So the last couple of evenings I have been cleaning on the carb. First I soaked everything in the berrymans chem dip for about 2 hours total. I would have left it in overnight but the instructions said no more than 4 hours for aluminum. Most of the rust came off but it didn't phase the white corrosion or green stuff

Next I took my dremel and some sanding sleeves and tapers I had left from porting my cylinder heads and carefully cleaned out most of both bowls. There are a bunch of small passages though that you just cant reach. So I read online last night that pine sol works good so I am giving it a try. I bought four 40 oz bottles for $12. I put everything in a tub poured all 4 bottles in and then three bottles of water to completely submerge everything

I gotta say it seems to be working there is fizz coming off of the rear boosters. It looks like it is taking the finish off of the linkage but that doesn't matter to me I just want it to be clean.




Hopefully in the morning everything will be clean. I got all my parts for the rebuild. Maybe I can get it all back together and get the truck started tomorrow. If this carb doesn't work I have a backup plan. Sorry about the crappy pics had to use my phone

Bret
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

[bj383ss]

Ok so made alot of head way this week. Haven't updated my thread because I have not had internet service since last Sunday. I did the last post from my phone and the pictures didn't load anyway. This might be a little long winded but there is a surprise at the end.

Monday thru Thursday I spent all my extra time after work and all day Thursday getting the carb rebuilt and back on the truck.

Here are the after pics of the carb.











Thrusday evening I got the fuel cell all squared away or so I thought. Got it all cleaned out and mounted back under the truck. After putting 3 gallons of gas in it the AN fitting at the tank started leaking bad. So I had to take it all apart and cut the end off of the braided stainless hose back and inch and reinstall. Fixed that and tried to start it. Couldn't get any fuel to the carb. Pulled the pump to check it and finally realized the fuel was not flowing to the front of the truck and the mechanical pumps don't have enough suction to pull from the back. They have to have a flow going already. The pickup on the tank was at the bottom of fuel cell so it was sitting lower than the fuel pump and part of the line went up the frame above the rearend. So gravity was not letting it happen.



Fast forward to today. I decided to just put the fuel cell in the bed so I would have gravity working for me. I already had the fuel pump off so I bought a new AC Delco one and a new AC delco battery. Mother in law paid for them. It took me three tries to get all the fuel lines from the fuel cell to the fuel pump to not leak and gas flowing.

Turned the engine over and low and behold the glass fuel filter by the carb showed gas. Success! She still wouldn't fire. I pulled a plug and grounded it against the engine and it had no spark. So I ran to autozone got some new Autolite copper plugs stopped by my house got my spare MSD Cap, rotor, and coil. Headed back out to Mother in laws. Put all the igintion stuff on.

AND BAM SHE FIRED ON THE FIRST TURN!!!!!

No rod knock no bad bearings. It sounds really strong. For some reason it is timed really fast. The timing mark on the balancer was pointing toward the middle of the engine. I slowed the timing down as far as I could before it hit the valve cover. I think the distributor might be off a tooth. No big deal I can fix that easy. I am just so happy the engine is good. This build will now have a good momentum to it. I am going to sleep so good tonight!


Here is a quick video I made with my phone. I will make a better one when I get time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wq9mZ_1u8U

Bret