my '66 stepside upgrade

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 6, 2009, 8:02 pm

Hi everybody. I have been on here for a while reading and admiring everyones trucks. I have gained a lot of knowledge going through the different threads and figured I better sign up. I want to be a part of this great group! I'm about to start on my 66 stepside with some moderate upgrades, so I may have some questions for ya'll if I can't find it in a search. I hope that's ok!

Some of the things I want to do are replacing the 300 with a 302, re-do the interior, replacing windshield, and a re-paint. Gonna try to put up a few photo's taken with a camera phone.
Thanks everybody!

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » October 6, 2009, 8:27 pm

good lookin' truck and welcome to the site man.
oh, and a lot of guys will defend that ol' 300 to the death.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » October 6, 2009, 8:52 pm

Welcome to the club from West Virginia. Nice lookin' ride you have. What is the reason for changing out the straight 6?? I'm the one Ezer warned you about...

... Just curios. Gas mileage should be about the same?
Any ways,
Welcome,
Anthony

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 6, 2009, 9:07 pm

Thanks guys, don't throw anything at me! I have had this truck for nearly 8 years now, with the 300 engine in it. The 300 is a great running engine and I may kick myself for taking it out. The reason I'm taking it out, is that I found a newly rebuilt 302 for not much money, and I wanted a V-8 engine because believe it or not, I have never owned anything with over a 6 cylinder motor in it......and I'm 47 years old. I want to hear that low, v-8 rumble in it I guess.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » October 6, 2009, 9:14 pm

I had one v-8 for the same reason and sold it as soon as I finished it and went back to my sixes. (I'm 42) I like the clatter of the sixes soumding like sewing machines. but then I am nuts...

Anthony

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » October 6, 2009, 9:58 pm

i must say, there is nothing like the sound of a good v8. although, i do have an ear for the "clatter of the sixes" too.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 6, 2009, 11:17 pm

welcome from Alaska

nice looking truck

Total Gearhead · Post by **Total Gearhead** » October 7, 2009, 6:00 am

from Wisconsin. Nice truck!

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » October 7, 2009, 10:50 am

Nice truck you have there. I drove my 66 with first a well worn 240 then replaced it with a 300 liked both 6s. My son is now rebuilding a 302 to go with a C4 and adding power discs brakes and power steering at the same time. He is building it so my wife will drive it, she just doesn't understand the joy of a basic truck so at least I get to ride in a Slick. I hope to put the 300 into my old 64. What are you going to do with the 300 you take out? By the way an old Georgia boy myself just have 10 years on you.

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 7, 2009, 4:23 pm

Thanks everybody for the welcome. I knew I was at the right place, when I found this site!
Obsa-I'm probably going to hang on to the 300. I may look for another truck later on and if it needs a motor, then I'll have one. Yeah I have been a south Ga. boy all my life, guess I'll stay right here!

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » October 7, 2009, 4:35 pm

Welcome from the very far south west chapter!, nice looking ride you have there!

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 13, 2009, 6:57 pm

first time removing front clip on ANY vehicle. it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. I did have to get the sawzall wrench out a couple of times. I haven't been able to work on the truck as much as I'd like. I'll be taking the bed off next. I am gonna have to get myself a camera cause this camera phone does not take good photos.

jammck66 · Post by **jammck66** » October 13, 2009, 11:05 pm

sweet truck!! looks like you have a real nice project to start with. (no rust!) I havent taken the front clip off of anything older than a 2000. (chev truck when i used to do autobody)
should be a treat trying to get bolts off that havent turned since '66!
good luck with your V-8 swap!

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 14, 2009, 8:17 pm

sweet truck!! looks like you have a real nice project to start with. (no rust!)

Thanks jammck66, unfortunately I AM finding some rust as I take things off. Nothing too serious though........I hope. I've never done anything like this, so it's a learning experience for me. I wish I had a nice cooled/heated, concrete floored shop to do this in, but I don't. Gonna get rough being on the outside when the colder months get here. Oh well, it'll be fun!

Post by **Greg D** » October 14, 2009, 8:49 pm

BTW, I like the Purple!

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » October 14, 2009, 9:27 pm

Guys, be careful of FlyingV.
He lives just a little north of the Okefenokee Swamp.
Those guys down there are dangerous.
ROTFLMAO
V.
Welcome to the family, I'm an old Albany boy and I used to have a killer girlfriend from Fitzgerald.
Oh yeah, nice truck.
Uncle Skip

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » October 14, 2009, 11:43 pm

LOL...........so uncle skip, you know where I live huh? Actually about a year ago, me and some more guys kayaked across the swamp. Stayed in there for 3 days and paddled about 34 miles. It was great. I had never been in the heart of the swamp before. Talk about alligators..........there's some monsters in there!!
P.S. Do I need to look up your old girlfriend and tell here anything??

flyingv · Post by **flyingv** » November 28, 2009, 1:08 pm

I've gotten a little more done. Don't have the time I would like, to be able to work on it.

here's the front sheet-metal and tailgate.

front, after everything removed.

the bed had a piece of 1/4" steel diamond plate in it. When I removed it, I found the original metal strips in it. I figure they can be straightened, blasted, and painted.

shot of the inside. I want to try and build the headliner and door panels for it. Gotta patch a hole in the floorboard on the drivers side. I haven't started removing the undercoating spray that I sprayed in a couple of years ago......that oughta be fun.

The 302 engine that I'll attempt to install.

I'll take some more photos as I progress, which is going to be at a slow rate.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 28, 2009, 1:22 pm

flyingv wrote:
sweet truck!! looks like you have a real nice project to start with. (no rust!)
Thanks jammck66, unfortunately I AM finding some rust as I take things off. Nothing too serious though........I hope. I've never done anything like this, so it's a learning experience for me. I wish I had a nice cooled/heated, concrete floored shop to do this in, but I don't. Gonna get rough being on the outside when the colder months get here. Oh well, it'll be fun!

truck is looking good

i would gladly work outside in your so called "colder months". must be like 50* outside there.

jammck66 · Post by **jammck66** » November 28, 2009, 2:52 pm

flying v, how was it to pull the 300? I am planning on maybe doing that today myself here, so just wondering if you ran into any problems..

my '66 stepside upgrade

my '66 stepside upgrade

front clip removed

got some more stuff done