New Guy w/ first C10. Could use some help.

[Trump]

This is the first C10 I have ever owned. Bought it yesterday after low key searching and dreaming for a few years. It is a 1964 short wheel base. PO(s) installed earlier 283 (with a bad timing cover leak) and powerglide at some point. I suspect that it was originally an I6 truck. I know it was originally manual as well due to the limp clutch pedal still hanging there.

My goal for the truck is a "resto-mod" type truck, retaining most originality but with a modernized drivetrain. I am thinking of swapping the 283 for a stouter 350 and thinking either a Muncie 4spd or 700R4 for transmission. The 700R4 would likely be cheaper and the overdrive would be nice, but the muncie seems to have a higher cool factor. Rearend is totally stock and leaking like a sieve.

Here's what I think I can tell isn't orginal with my nearly no knowledge of these trucks:
-wheels/tire (I plan to find original wheels if I can. Have any?)
-missing side trim?
-wood ashtray door and gauge treatment
-wrong interior color
-window tinting
-Heater control panel (?)
-Seat upholstery
-steering wheel (?)
-Stereo (duh)

I could use some help spotting the other stuff that the POs have changed over the years. The "custom" sail panel trim seems suspect to me. I'm sure that other stuff sticks out like a sore thumb to the experts. Please let me know what you see.

Another concern that I have is the engine install. It looks to me like the engine is sitting too low, the bottom of the fan is below the radiator and the fan doesn't even enter the shroud. Was there different radiators for V8 and I6? If so, would a radiator swap resolve this issue. Are the engine mounts wrong making the engine sit lower in the compartment? I'd like to resolve this issue for proper cooling and fan placement.

Another issue, the heater doesn't work. I think the heater is right for the truck, but I think the control panel is wrong. I saw one non-connected linkage, I'm guessing there are more, but I haven't had time to look. Is there an online resource that can help me with figuring out what is wrong and right?

The truck was an arizona truck, so it is quite solid except for what hacking the POs have done. I think I got quite lucky finding it here in ohio.

Thanks for any help you can provide. Here are some pictures.

[MusicMan70]

Welcome Trump from SoCal! Nice looking truck you have there and yes I agree the engine does sit a bit too low. I'm sure other's will chime in who have done this conversion before.

[Trump]

Thanks. I am guessing that the entire front cross member (under engine) needs to be moved forward a hole to get it closer to radiator. But not sure if other mounts were used to raise it up. I'm guessing the I6 mounts are still being used here?

[jtrichard]

what ever that is on the back of the rad. its is not the correct shroud for that truck ...as for trim i like the look with the sails and the rear strip i don't care for the side trim the truck looks great without it..64? you say it has 66 badges on the fenders could have been changed or you have a 66 ,... go here and you will see the proper shroud and how low and far back the fan rides... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=535171 i cant figure out how to move the pics sorry

[Trump]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

what ever that is on the back of the rad. its is not the correct shroud for that truck ...as for trim i like the look with the sails and the rear strip i don't care for the side trim the truck looks great without it..64? you say it has 66 badges on the fenders could have been changed or you have a 66

Thanks for pointing out those items.

VIN says it's a '64. Guessing either wrong emblems or fenders were replaced at some point.

I will have to look into the shroud. Thanks for the help.

[jtrichard]

as for the engine being to far back you cant put a v8 back any farther than the factory did or it would be in the cab...... the rockers and the dist. just clear the fire wall

[TJ's Chevy]

Nice truck!

[Trump]

Thanks. I may have made my description and question confusing. I don't think the engine needs to go backward any further. I think it needs to come forward toward the radiator.

Right now the engine frame mounts appear to be in the rear position on the cross-member and frame. I assume that would be for I6? I think the mounts need to be moved up to the forward position to get the engine closer to the radiator and further from the firewall. ?????

Are there spacers that are typically used with the forward position for the frame mounts? Looks like if I moved them to the forward hole, it would put the mounts a piece higher than the frame rail. Which would make sense since it seems the engine is sitting low.

Thanks.

[19666Trucker]

Your engine looks like my how my sits in compartment. I have a 66 327 c20. Those custom sails are nice. You may have a Frankenstein on yours hands start learning about the many different options.

[63burban4x4]

hmm....that heater control looks to be 55-56 Chevy car. could be, I suppose, truck from that era, can't remember exactly what they looked like. Never seen that done, but I suppose if the cables are connected, it should work.....Really nice truck!

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

That does look like a nice solid truck. I agree that your heater controls look like '55-'59 truck or maybe '55-'57 passenger car? Definitely not original. You need the heater controls for a '64-'66 with the deluxe heater.

There is nothing wrong with where and how the engine is mounted. The motor mounts and where it is located is exactly how the factory installed the V8's and the 230/250 I6's. In the '60-'66's the I6's and the V8's installed in the same location. That radiator and fan shroud of sorts is not an original '63-'66 truck radiator and shroud. If you get and original style radiator and V8 shroud, the fan will sit partially into the shroud as it should.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I just bought a 65 that is untouched. It has a 283 in it and I have a few pics but not many. I am going to go work on it today and I can take some closer ones so you can see. The engine dose sit in the rear holes.
It is hard on the truck I got becuase of the fan shroud. The shroud is pretty big.

[64shortboxchevy]

Nice truck! Welcome

[johnny's classics]

Great looking truck. Someone started the conversion for you to get it t a better driveline and trans. Looking at the engine placement, it looks like a V8 would look in that large of an engine compartment. at least that's what I see from the pictures. At least all the fuel lines and wiring is done for the V8 and the trans mount might be able to be used with a 700r4, just moved back a little.

As far as the heater control goes, its from a 55 Chevy Belair. I have the same one in my Belair. When I first got my 66 C10, The truck was a base model with a heater. The heater control consisted of a switch that would turn on the blower in a panel where that 55 Chevy control is on your dash. The control or the heater was a lever on the inside box.

Good luck with the truck. It looks like you have a good one!!

[johnny's classics]

Great looking truck. Someone started the conversion for you to get a better drive line and trans. Looking at the engine placement, it looks like a V8 would look in that large of an engine compartment. At least that's what I see from the pictures. At least all the fuel lines and wiring is converted for the V8 and the trans mount might be able to be used with a 700r4, just moved back a little.

As far as the heater control goes, its from a 55 Chevy Belair. I have the same one in my Belair. When I first got my 66 C10, The truck was a base model with a heater. The heater control consisted of a switch that would turn on the blower in a panel where that 55 Chevy control is on your dash. The control for the heater was a lever on the side of the heater box.

Good luck with the truck. It looks like you have a good one!!

[Fastest32]

Looks like an aftermarket overflow bottle. Lol. Really nice truck you got there.

[KJSR]

Some answers on the shroud and yes you need a V8 shroud...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...t=fan+distance

[Trump]

Thanks all. I think I may have found a shroud. After closer inspection the radiator definitely is not correct. I intend to get a correct one to make life easier.

Wiring is pretty terrible. I will be installing a new harness at some point. I actually think that in some places romex was used. New harness is high on the list of things to get done.

The 700R4s are longer than the Powerglide that is in it by a few inches. I am hoping that if I move the engine forward to the front mount position that I can squeeze the 700R4 in without too much modification to the driveshaft save for switching slip yokes.

I am wondering about brakes. I have all the stock drum brakes. I'd like to do the 6-lug conversion, or post'67 cross-member swap, but they aren't in the stars for now. I have noticed that there are power boosters that were offered for some '63-'66 trucks. Has anybody added this to a truck that didn't have one? Does anybody know what is required for doing it? Did it help the braking at all?


Does anybody have a good heater control assembly with cables and such that they'd be willing to let go of?

Thanks for all the help.

[64shortboxchevy]

brotherstrucks .com has a nice heater contol....I just purchased one myself. Far better off going with a new unit and cables then rusltling up a used rusty one IMO. truckandcarshop .com is another good one.

[awbrown]

As far as brakes , a drum / drum booster and master cylinder will work just fine .. Thats what I have even though mine isn't a GM pc. ... I think you have the perfect truck there , my favorite color ,it looks straight ,I would get it running and drive the heck out of it ... Another thing you should do is find out what the gear ratio is the rear , that will help you make your decision on what to do for a trans ...

[RANDY COX]

I believe that radiator shroud(spacer) looks to me like a spacer from a 65-66 Impala, the spacer bolt to rad support then then radiator bolted to it..ask me how I know cuz I used to have a 66 SS Impala...

[MikeN]

A correct V8 radiator is narrower and taller than the I6 radiator, and slides down BETWEEN the frame rails, instead of sitting on top of the frame rails. Having the wrong radiator is therefore creating the illusion that your engine sits too low. It looks just right to me.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Quote: "I am wondering about brakes. I have all the stock drum brakes. I'd like to do the 6-lug conversion, or post'67 cross-member swap, but they aren't in the stars for now. I have noticed that there are power boosters that were offered for some '63-'66 trucks. Has anybody added this to a truck that didn't have one? Does anybody know what is required for doing it? Did it help the braking at all?"

Shoot, Trump....that's a real nice ride ya got there.
As far as the Power Brake Booster goes...they install very easily (One brake line needs to be made and one shortened and a Vac. line installed...and drill and bolt the booster to inner fender) .
They make for great power brakes, the easy way.
Here's a pic or two of the one that was on my '63 before I installed the hydra-boost.

[PGSigns]

Leave the engine where it is. That way the correct radiator and shroud will work. If needed when you do the 700 swap shorten the drive shaft. There is a ton of info on here about the brakes. Good looking truck just take your time and learn about what you have. I had to do the wiring in my 65 before it would run due to the harness being so chopped up. I went with the American Auto wire kit and it was very well engineered and made for a nice install.
Jimmy

[MikeN]

I was exactly backwards in my post above. It's the I6 radiator that's narrower and sits down between the rails, and the V8 radiator that's wider and sits on top of the rails.