Trucks both looking great. I had to do a double take of the tow vehicle but from this angle that doesn't look like a 1964-66 style front bumper. I think that one might be from a bumpside. The contours and straight cut ends are just enough different - most wouldn't notice but the originals had more of an angle to the cuts on the ends and wrapped around closer to the fenders. Once you see them side by side it's a little more noticeable. Now it'll drive you crazy looking at it...

 

Not until the snow is on the ground, too nice to take the truck out of commission..



Good eye, I had noticed the bumper didn't match the filler panel well. I was going to resort to cutting, tucking, and welding. I guess I can look for a 66 bumper now..

 

While this radiator made it across the USA last year, it has seen better days and I'm in the market for a replacement.



It hasn't left a puddle yet, and since the engine is running like a top, I can't see taking it out of commission just yet. I do want to get a bit better cooling for when an AC condenser blocks up some of the air flow, and a good friend had a mid-seventies radiator that was 24-1/4 tall vs. mine at 19-1/4 and had a larger top tank. Where the frame rails leave room for the taller to just drop through, it did risk being below the bumper. So I took the donor radiator apart this weekend, and settled for a 4" sectioning of the side brackets. Our recore will be slightly taller at 20-1/4H x 26-3/8, uses three rows instead of 2, and will maintain the 2" in and out that is presently on the 66. No reproduction radiators, aluminum or otherwise, that I've seen have the correct 2" inlet. This donor will get recored and installed when the 410 goes in, unless we spring a leak before then.

 

 

Very nice!!

 

Looking at the breather we got for the new 410 engine for the shop truck, the snout opening was 2” diameter, or 3.14 square inches.





The 4bbl carburetor I have for the engine has 1.19 diameter Venturi (x4) or 4.44 square inches. So our factory breather has a built in choke, let’s see if we can open it up a bit

















A hammer form was made out of some MDF to match the ends of the opening in the housing, a ball end hammer was used to move the opening outward to match the new snout.









Mocked up….









With the additional width, the snout opening is now 6.14 square inches, should be plenty.

 

As always, Respect... your attention to detail is remarkable, and the quality that comes through in the photos is fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

 

MP&C,
Wonderful thread! I can glean some lessons on how to post info and pictures! You truck and the projects inspire me and others. Your fab and welding skill details are wonderful to see.
Give us an update on the shop truck.

 

Chris, I agree, this is one of my favourite threads, and I always look forward to new posts. In fact, depending on which route I take in my travels, I have thought about reaching out to Robert and trying to make a brief visit. I would think that seeing his fabrication in person would be worth the effort.

 

MP&C, great score on the truck and nice road trip story. Love the wheels and tires.
With the 410 build im assuming it will have more power than the original 352, maybe a lot more.
I am somewhat concerned with your choice of a t5 transmission. Don't get me wrong. It is a solid unit however not the strongest transmission, and it would suck to break it right away after a clean install. I came here to recommend, and sing the praises of the newish Tremec TKX 5-speed. It is a much more robust version of the t5, has a couple of gear ratios to choose from, fully synchronized in all forward gears. I have had mine for close to four years now and love it.
Just my $0.02
TK 65

 

thanks for the feedback! The 410 will be quite an improvement over the 352, and the T5 is far from stock, as shown below. It does have a .59 final drive, so I’m hoping for 18+ mpg’s. With the stock 3.50:1 gears and an RV cam in the 410, the low end torque should be happy with the set up.

 

Sounds like it should hold up just fine.

 

It's been a mile or so since Nebraska when the truck travelled from Oregon, July of 2024..





Friday evening...





.....we were on the way to a local farm for some photos

 

MP&C,
Nice pictures! No great pictures! Can you say farm truck with an attitude? Grandpa might not have had those big meats under the rear! I like it!

 

Should have the chrome plating going on this week...





Saturday the truck participated in a poker run, I had invited a friend to ride along.





He was one of those guys who appears to think that old vehicles doors don't close properly and need to be slammed. Normally I speak up rather quickly about this but thought to keep quiet to not come across as an ***. Well, as we were about to leave the 4th stop, I heard the window drop as he slammed the door once again. Didn't say anything and didn't check it until I got home. Sure enough, the window did not respond to the window crank action. Opening up the door access panel revealed that the window regulator bushing had broken where it's notched for the spring clip. So I guess this would make a good lessons-learned for anyone else out there with someone that uses a bit too much force in closing doors, those plastic parts inside aren't designed for that sudden stop at the end of a door slam.





A quick trip to the local auto parts just before closing on Saturday night was fruitless, normally I would expect this to be in the Dorman help section. The counter assistant's research showed that these were only available at Denis Carpenter type outlets, so that didn't bode well for a quick repair. Since I planned on driving the truck on Sunday, let's see what we can do to make one. Some delrin in clamped up in the lathe, turned to size and bored to fit the lift arm





The reliefs for the spring clip was added using a hacksaw blade. Highly technical stuff right here.








Relief added for the window track....














All back in place, good as new. With some closing restraint, we may get another 60 years out of this one...





I believe this to be the first time this door has been opened, but look how nice and clean a rust-free truck door is inside...





With that complete, the truck was ready for a couple photo ops on Sunday