A lot of the mechanical parts are still available through parts stores. This includes the engines, brake shoes and internal drum parts, hoses, radiators, starters, gaskets & etc.. You may have to order the parts and wait, but the parts are usually in the nearest big warehouse to your location. This usually means at least a business day or so.
If this is your first old vehicle project, buy something that is running and on the road. Even if you don't tinker with it every week, you can still enjoy it and haul stuff with it or go to the store in it. A good friend of mine who was an old car guy told me this before I bought my truck and it was excellent advice.
You need to make sure you can work on your truck at your residence/neighborhood. Lots of places now have silly laws about doing even the most basic maintenance at home.
1960-1966 buyer's guide here at the 'bolt:
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/buyers_guide_60_66.htmThe buyers guide discusses various things to check for when going to look at one of these old rigs.
You can put power drum brakes on or there are front power disc kits available. In most cases you will have to change to a larger wheel to accommodate the caliper for the disc brake.
My truck has power drum brakes, but I don't drive like a crazy man, most of the time and rarely have an issue unless someone pulls out at the last minute on me... whereas I'd have just as much trouble in a disc brake vehicle with ABS.
There is a kit made by REZ engineering to put power steering on these old trucks. If you are driving it pretty often, I recommend it. My '65 c10 long bed had PS when I bought it... I test drove a few trucks that did not have it and it makes a world of difference.
pics of the REZ kit, plus a scan of the install directions, courtesy of a fellow bolter, persh:
http://www.persh.org/pickup/steering.htmCheck out the links in this post above here and review the links I sent you in PM, this should help further your knowledge.
Feel free to ask more specific questions in this thread if you like.
-W
