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1966 Chevy C20

mrk5

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I drove this home today:

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It's a 1966 Chevy C20. My first ride was a '64 C10 that I owned when my wife and I started dating. Recently we've been looking to find one of these trucks to own again. After looking at a couple of basket cases, I came across this one.

The guy we bought it from purchased the truck in 1972. He's pretty much kept it all original. Has the original 327 and 4spd standard. The motor was rebuilt 12k miles ago. It still has the original Rochester 4bbl and points distributor. New clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate were recently installed. The rear axle is not original; a couple of years after the previous owner bought the truck the bearings in the axle failed while he was on a trip to CA. The only way he could get it fixed was to swap in a different axle.

All of the gauges work. It has an aftermarket A/C unit that's an old school unit. It works too and was recently recharged. I also found out after the fact that under the seat cover is a recently upholstered bench seat. The rubber floor covering is in great shape as well.

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Don't have a picture of the wood bed floor, but it's in decent shape. The paint is a little odd. When the previous owner started seeing surface rust appearing he would sand it and paint it with primer. The cab support on the rear driver side is pretty rotted and needs replaced.

Immediate plans are to change fluids and get 2 new tires for the front. He put new radial tires on the rear, but the front still has bias ply tires that are very nearly out of tread. This guy has kept the truck so original it still has bias ply tires. LOL

Then I would like to swap in an electronic distributor and replace plugs and wires. Then hopefully later this year I can put a FiTech Go Street system in this truck using the Fuel Command Center.

I would also like to swap in a 14 bolt axle with more favorable gearing. Right now it's running about 3000RPM at 60mph.

Now the pressure is on to get the 454 in the crew cab so I can start messing with this truck.
 
Thanks!

I forgot to mention I plan to keep the 327 and the 4spd in it. I suppose there's a chance I would put a 5spd manual in it at some point. The 64 I first owned had a 3-on-the-tree. I just feel like keeping it standard is the way it should be. I really want to keep the truck as original as I can but I feel like adding the FiTech and electronic distributor go a long way to making it a better cruiser which is what I really want it to be. And those mods are easily reversible.
 
Dats cool.

I really like those. Of course when you are talking 60s trucks there's alot I like
 
Don't lame it up with an automatic.

Why not swap to half ton?

Martin
 
pretty cool, my lil brother had a 64 once upon a time...always loved those big
clamshell hoods!
 
You should just do the body work and make it your shop truck and write it off as advertising expense
 
ignition upgrade yet old school = this

nv3500 or nv4500 swap . . . should be cheeper since 2wd trans less wanted buy the swapper guys than 4wd . then at 60mph you will drop almost 1k rpm .
 
Don't lame it up with an automatic.

Why not swap to half ton?

Martin
I wouldn't mind upgrading to disc brakes in the front so I should see if going to 6 lug would make it easier. Making the rear disc is something I'm more familiar with on a 14bolt tho. The other argument I would have against going 1/2 ton is trying to keep it as original as possible.

pretty cool, my lil brother had a 64 once upon a time...always loved those big
clamshell hoods!
Definitely makes the 60-66 Chevy's distinctive.

ignition upgrade yet old school = this

nv3500 or nv4500 swap . . . should be cheeper since 2wd trans less wanted buy the swapper guys than 4wd . then at 60mph you will drop almost 1k rpm .
I was debating about the Petronix kits. But technically I'm not that wound up about keeping a stock looking distributor. Really I like the idea of swapping in a distributor with the HEI style male connectors on the cap. I do kind think I want to keep it a small cap distributor tho. I haven't checked yet to see if there's a enough firewall clearance for the big HEI cap.

I was thinking that if I did use an NV3500 or 4500, I could feasibly leave the axle geared like it is. I do like the "pep" the lower gears give it.
 
I might be in the vast minority here but those trucks slammed on the ground with air ride and zero body mods ( well zero mods that you can see) are AWESOME.

But I'm older now and respect the modified restoration/ driver status
I like those too. If this truck wasn't so original and in good condition I'd be more likely to do that.
Nice 66. I like the original colour too!
The wife and I dig it too. Even tho my first truck was red, we're thinking we'd keep this the original color.
 
You can see it in the firewall and in the bed some. Kind of a mint green or maybe teal green.
 

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