65 short fleet build

[towersddg9]

Bought the truck last November, got alot of help and idea's from folks on this site. Overall I wanted a quality driver, AC,PS,PB with 2.5 drop front and 2 drop rear. Ive used most all the usual suspects as far as venders etc with no issues, plus a few things on EBAY. I sandblasted and powdercoated everything I could, would do that again, media blasted complete body, new floors and rockers, did a patch on the heater intake and ashtray for the AC update.

[towersddg9]

At first I thought I'd just drive it, but had a fiberglass patch in the floors, I just could'nt put up with, had GM crate 350 with T350 tranny 4:11, with floor shifter

[towersddg9]

I removed every nut and bolt, even loaded the cab on my trailer by myself, I would have asked the neighbor but after beating on lower ball joints at 11pm and running an air comp, that realationship sorta went south.

[towersddg9]

Few mor pics

[towersddg9]

Few pics of my battle with the original 12bolt, all original and had build up of metal on pin shaft, went thru multiple punch's and used a cutting wheel to cut sections off till I could get the gear set out

[towersddg9]

few pics of the cab, and some patch work, rockers and floors

[towersddg9]

More Cab pics

[towersddg9]

Well, I meant to post in the build section, sorry bout that, here some more misc pics, paint color is GM torch red

[towersddg9]

few pics on engine, had a 700r4 built, used the bowtie overdrive detent (good stuff) great design, roller block, eagle crank kit, comp cams 4x4 cam vortec heads, air gap intake, spent some bucks at the machine shop to make sure it was tip top (heads and block)

[towersddg9]

few more pics with belt drive and PS, last one has the tranny cooler I installed, I test fit with grill and front support fits in there good, also got the hard lines from bowtie overdrive from tranny to radiator

[towersddg9]

More pics, went with old air, and american autowire both I give thumbs up, also got the dual fan asmbly from old air, relay kit and trinary for the ac. Also old air had the plug and play ac switch button operated easy pezy, and pops right in the dash

[towersddg9]

Debated over 5 lug 6 lug, always been a fan of the rally wheels, so off to powder coat, new rings and centers

[towersddg9]

Thumbs up on the CPP tank

[LSXTravis]

Really nice build and I really like your AC vent set up. Where did you find those vents? That looks more factory than the factory AC set up that GM had for those trucks back then.

Please do tell on the AC vents....awesome build....heck of a good job.

[jocko]

i CAN'T WAIT to see the paint job on this thing... I smell hugger orange or is that original 65 orange? Incredible detailing, looks superb! I alos like the vent setup for the a/c, looks great.

[towersddg9]

Originally Posted by LSXTravis

Really nice build and I really like your AC vent set up. Where did you find those vents? That looks more factory than the factory AC set up that GM had for those trucks back then.

Please do tell on the AC vents....awesome build....heck of a good job.

Thanks LSX, those vents are nostalgicair.com, 14.99, I have 4 new ones on the way as I wore that one out in the fab process

[towersddg9]

Originally Posted by jocko

i CAN'T WAIT to see the paint job on this thing... I smell hugger orange or is that original 65 orange? Incredible detailing, looks superb! I alos like the vent setup for the a/c, looks great.

Thanks Jocko, GM Torch red, I looked for the factory vents but most were in poor shape, my ac kit had the plastic under dash mount, not a good design, so WTH made my own

[towersddg9]

I had a chance to meet Chip Foose a month or so ago, i didnt have the glove box painted so i grabbed the air cleaner, he was at a WD40 booth, cool dude even checked out my build on my Iphone. I had a red sharpie but left it at the Hotel,

Have a driveshaft ordered up from Denny's, will mount the cab TW, then off to have the exhaust done

[likaroc13]

i've seen some pics of your build in previous posts, & i really like the detail you're putting into everything...looks like it will definitely be a quality driver....keep up the nice work!

[65 on 24s]

Ohhhhhh my under wear are wet now. Lol
Posted via Mobile Device

[Shooters_7]

Love the build and am fixing to start mine! Where in Texas?

[towersddg9]

Few other details, In the previous pics you can see the vari rate spring, not a good choice with the 2.5 front drop, plus had a slight bow, I changed those out for some 2 inch drop from american classic, rear springs aint bad if you install top and bottom loose first then torq down. I also went with the conversion brake line kit from inline tube for the booster/disc combo, fit was very good. On the fuel lines went with jegs ran from pump to tank, dual feed on the carb with an edelbrock filter. I picked up the rear axle's from Ron's machine shop off ebay (motive axles, much improvement over stock) did not mention that in the listing but 120 each not bad. Also pulled the clutch pedal out, put in new spring and plastic bushings (classic parts)

[66farmer]

Tower
In your post #7 you show AC vent above the radio. Do you know if those vents can be used as the defroster vents on the dash. I trying find some chrome defroster vents.
Thanks

[franky69c10]

wow the frame came out good, nice work

[williamsboys]

Im in the middle of my tear down now on my 66, i want to redo my frame like yours what did it cost you to blast it and powder coat it?