1966 C20- Great Grandpa's truck

[plmadding]

My great grandfather bought this truck new in 1966 and used it on the farm (apparently he chased cows with it quite a bit) until he died in 1982. After that my grandfather got the truck and continued using it around the farm for pulling loads of rock to pave the 1/4 mile long driveway and different things like that.

My grandfather decided he wanted to get rid of this truck and I told him I'd buy it from him. He ended up just giving it to me. I'm thrilled to have this truck that I have so many good memories in.

It's got 74,000 miles (definitely NOT highway miles! More like pasture miles) and has a 283. It has the original split rim wheels. The body has some obvious damage from the doors opening too far and rusty front quarter panels but overall is a solid truck.

I'm 6'6" and not thin, so it is pretty cramped in the cabin! I can barely get my foot on the clutch!

Here are some pictures.

[VetteC10]

That's a nice truck, keep us posted on your progress.

[shp4man]

Hard to find those unmolested ones like that. Nice truck! Is the seat completely intact?

[aerotruk63]

Funny how an intact vinyl seat can make guys drool.

[plmadding]

Originally Posted by shp4man

Hard to find those unmolested ones like that. Nice truck! Is the seat completely intact?

Yes it is. The seat is in perfect condition other than being a little dirty. There are no tears or holes.

[oem4me]

Neat truck just as it sits. Seat cover does look nice, but I don't recognize the pattern as factory 1966. Maybe a recover?

[LostMy65]

Congratulations!

[Clyde65]

Love these kinds of builds!!

[plmadding]

I would be shocked if the seat cover wasn’t original. Very little has ever been done to this truck over the years. Mainly rewiring things after pack rats would chew through the wires.

My first objective is to work over the suspension. The front left sags (grandpa said he was bouncing through a field a few years ago and heard a pop and its sagged ever since) and the last time I drove it on the road the front wheels wobbled back and forth like crazy! It was terrifying so I just took it back to the barn. I don’t think it’s been on the road since then (about 7 years ago).

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

That is great that the truck gets to stay in the family. I know you said very little has been done to this truck and it does look to be all original, but one thing puzzles me. The doors and bedsides had the side trim and holes where the trim is missing. But the front fenders show no signs of any trim having been installed. Could have the front fenders have been replaced at some time?

[plmadding]

Not that I know of but this truck was 24 when I was born! I’ll be seeing my grandpa tomorrow so I’ll ask him about the seat cover and the fenders.

I’m enjoying the forum already! Thank you for the warm welcome.

[flashed]

Welcome and thanks for sharing a great old truck .

[bonehead]

I can't find it right now, but there is a thread on this 60-66 section about lowering the pedals in the trucks for us guys with long legs. Check it out.

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by bonehead

I can't find it right now, but there is a thread on this 60-66 section about lowering the pedals in the trucks for us guys with long legs. Check it out.

Here is a link for the thread see if this works- I don't know how to hyperlink it?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=516070

[plmadding]

Originally Posted by bonehead

Here is a link for the thread see if this works- I don't know how to hyperlink it?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=516070

Thank you so much for that link!! I'll be doing that very soon. That will be a great help!

[CousinTone]

Originally Posted by plmadding

Thank you so much for that link!! I'll be doing that very soon. That will be a great help!

Welcome. You're surrounded by friends who know a lot, which is very helpful for those who ask and receive great advice. So, please ask and share as you do anything with that beautiful piece of history. You must be over the moon having your great grandfather's truck...that's a story I'd like to hear more of.

And - thanks for asking about the pedal thing. I'm a little taller than most, 6'4" and it's a bit tight, can't wait to move my pedals for some room, even an inch would be great. I've never come across that thread in all these years.

Best wishes to you and hope you're active on the boards. Have a good weekend.

[TJ's Chevy]

Welcome aboard! Nice truck!

[plmadding]

I spoke with my grandpa tonight about the truck. He said it has never had the fenders replaced or seat cover replaced. He also said the heads have never been off the block and beyond that the valve covers have never been off. All he has done is changed the clutch in the early 90s.

[hevymetl]

Beautiful truck with cool history. I'd leave it just like it is other than the safety/maintenance type stuff.

[shp4man]

I envy the OP. I remember the fun of riding in my Grandpa's old faded red '50 Chevy 3100 when I was little, like maybe 7 or 8. I'd give my left nut to have that truck now.
I remember the way the brake pedal sounded when releasing the brakes and you had to push a button on the floor to start it. I also remember the way the starter and engine sounded, the super thick steering wheel, the split windshield, all the stuff that our family's brand new '65 Plymouth Belvedere II didn't have. And most of all, I remember Grandpa.

[plmadding]

Originally Posted by hevymetl

Beautiful truck with cool history. I'd leave it just like it is other than the safety/maintenance type stuff.

That is my plan!

[Android04]

Need more pics.

[northern 85]

Welcome aboard!! Cool truck with a great story!!

[plmadding]

I went MIA for almost a year! My health went south last May and I'm finally doing decently better.

Hoping to start working on the truck soon.

[Clyde65]

Sorry about the health issues! I’m finding the older I get the more I see my grand parents in the mirror...