Project 61.....It is what it is.

[jason65]

Your a man after my own heart.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Here's where I am with it as of today.

After going back and forth to the hardware store for the better part of the day I finally have the valve setup finished on the tank. Should be wired up next week hopefully.






I cleaned up the 305, added a Holley 570 Street Avenger carb, and painted it to make it look worth something. I also ran the casting numbers off the block and found that its out of an 81-85 Camaro. Should run much better than that 68 307 that was in there.



Finally got the 700r4 back from getting new seals and the mechanical speedometer which allowed me to bolt it onto the engine......and get it in the truck. I'm in love now. It definitely looks way better than the pics on page 1.





Got the new headers on. Hopefully I'm not dragging them when the bags are aired down......





Now I've gotta make a new crossmember for the 700r4 tranny, shorten the driveshaft, run air lines, wire the valves............and maybe then the spindles will be here so I can start on the steering.....so much to do.

[jason65]

Lookin good!

[killthewabbit]

looking real good!

[Daniel 61 Apache]

If it wasn't for the old man in the pic I'd be lost. He helped me figure out that valve setup. The original tank fittings were too close to screw on. I racked my brain forever trying to figure out a better way to do it using fittings only. He grabs some 1/2 threaded pipe and says, "Just cut another hole and weld these in".........damnit. Why didn't I think of that?

[protrash64]

Cool man!!!! ....when I put my air stuff together I told people I was an 'honorary employee' at the local Ace...I know the feeling. You walk in and say 'I know where it is!'

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Exactly! It's a toss up between them and Advance Auto. Every time I walk in I get the, "Back again!?", question. I almost have the Ace people talked into giving me a Ace shirt!!

[protrash64]

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Started wiring in the valves today. Plumbed the lines to the rear bags and tested them out for leaks......lots of leaks too. Spent about 30 minutes tightening fittings before it finally stayed up. Then shock mounts had to be moved lower to utilize full travel. Had to grind off the factory mounts and move them about 4 inches lower. Now I'm getting about 9 inches of travel compared to the 4 1/2 inches before.



Got the u-bolts for the lower control arms in yesaterday and mounted them. LMC wanted $15 a bolt!! Dealership got them for $4. Sometimes I wonder about LMC. The lower arms from prostreet66 look great. Now if the spindles would hurry up we might get somewhere.



Got the front end installed. Hooked up the Accel distributor and realized the difference between points and hei ignition. Fires up so much easier now. Instantly runs. Also have the new heater core from Advanced Auto installed. Finally won't have to keep a towel for when it fogs up from rain.




On the downside. The transmission leaks from the front seal. The transmission place installed it when swapping the speedo over to mechanical. Really pissed about having to take it out again. We'll see what happens when I call them tomorrow.

[killthewabbit]

Sucks about the transmission, but it looks like the rest is coming along great!

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by killthewabbit

Sucks about the transmission, but it looks like the rest is coming along great!

x2

[sailed2japan]

That truck is looking good. It seems like it come about the same way that I went from restoring a 64 panel truck to building 64 crew cab, big window, short fleet bed

Oh, and could you send me that old man when your thru. I could realy use some one who's got a clue hangin' around. My girlfriend tries, but mostly she's just good for the occassional "that's pretty"

[Daniel 61 Apache]

I'll look up UPS shipping to Austin for ya!

Well, I got the tranny leak fixed. Turns out the shop that put it in put in the incorrect seal. The inner ring of the seal measured 1 15/16" and the torque converter shaft measured 1 13/16". So there was NO way it would work.......I'll be getting some of that money back from the tranny shop for sure.

But the tranny is back in, no leaks, and now I've got to wire in the Lock-up controller from B&M. I ran out of 1/4" line for the gauges. Picking some up today and the air lines should be 100% done. Then I'll finish up wiring the valves......hopefully.

More pics to come.

[c10addict]

I dig it... Love the look!

[kizer]

Man that's really starting to look nice.

Yeah I will admit I got bit by LMC on those rear bolts. I didn't even think to call my local dealer thats... hmmmm 2miles from my house.

[neto]

Hey Daniel on the 700r4 did you use the flywheel and torque converter that was with it or did you use the flywheel on the engine? The reason I'm asking is that I got a 700r4 from pick and pull with torque and flywheel just in case.
Thanks
Ernest

[ceruzziracing]

Dan, if you don't mind me asking, how much $ do you have in your air bag setup?

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Using the flywheel with my engine and I'm using the converter from the tranny. I bought this 93 C20 Chevy Van and drove it home......2 hours.....just for the tranny. If the converter and tranny could handle lugging that big van around without any problems it'll scoot my pickup with ease.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

I bought a kit from *****************. I think it was 900 and change for everything a year and a half ago. Lower control arms I got from a board member here for $300.

[neto]

Thanks Daniel and by the way your truck looks great.

[ceruzziracing]

Got it, I thought you might have been doing a homegrown set-up. Truck looks very cool.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

I wish I would have now......probably could have saved some penny in hindsight.

[TimE]

That thing is gonna be sharp when you get it back together. Nice work.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Here's the latest of where I'm currently at with the rebuild.

I finally got my spindles in and got cracking on on the steering. Mr. B (remember, the guy that runs the shop) and I started trying to figure out ideas for the power steering gear box to mount to. He decided that sectioning the dimpled frame off the 1985 C10 front clip and welding it into my 1961 frame would was the route we should go. So out came the cutoff wheel and welder and we had at it. Here's a replay.

Before picture with no way for all 4 bolts to screw into the gear box and the frame.



Cutting out the dimpled section of the 1985 frame.



More cutting



Cutting the frame rail of the 1961.



Brace yourself. Here's the sectioned frame after it was cut out. Mr. B assured me we'd get back to where we needed to be.



Here's the way the section was to be lined up.



Time to shine





Where the bolt holes are 1/2 steel pipe was trimmed to fit inside the frame rail too. This will eliminate the chance of the frame rail being crushed from tightening the bejezzez out of the bolts. Here it is almost finished.



Now it's done and had a splash of paint. Not bad at all. And I didn't have to pay anyone for a fancy power steering kit or bracket.

[Daniel 61 Apache]

Took a break after that. Mr. B's DAD brought out is 54 Chevy to show it off. He's also got a beautiful 55 Chevy truck. If I remember I'll grab a pic of that next time I'm over there. Almost 70 and still kicking good.



After that I through on the rotors and the new tie rod ends and the wheels.....

Yep I finally am going to be able to set this thing on the ground and see how low she'll go!!!


STOP!!!! Damn lower control arms needed to get a haircut so the wheels could clear.



Now, back to the subject at hand.....I aired it all the way up.....



Pushed it outside and aired it all the way down......Enjoy...







As you can imagine I had a grin from ear to ear. I love it. Couldn't be happier.
Here's the front bag aired up.



Crossmember is close.



I did realize that two compressors are a must today. It feels like eternity waiting for one to fill the 5 gallon tank. Still need to finish the brake lines, exhaust, put the bed on, get a tranny tube/dipstick, and get an alignment. Hopefully next week it will be back together in one piece. But for now I can sleep peacefully.....with this image in my head...