Thanks for the compliments! I uploaded some more photos, got a couple of the fender gaurds, too, John, if you want some more just ask. BTW, the whole axle with drums/hubs should be around 500 pounds. Rear wheel/tire weighed in @ 90 pounds. Why/how GM said that the cab/chassis was only around 500 pounds heavier than a half ton is beyond me.
Hi Jay!
I plan to fix the major body damage, paint it semi-gloss black with some tractor paint, and fabricate a heavy duty step bumper & towing setup. Then I'm going to put it back to work hauling stuff and pulling trailers and see where it goes from there. Also, I haven't been on here in a while, is your truck driving yet? The m20 in my fathers '66 started whining like it was a straight cut box, ate a bearing or something I guess, so my '65 went from sitting dead for seven years to being driven close to 500 miles a week for several weeks straight now. The 230 & three speed is really pretty nice with 3.73s, IMO. Good fuel mileage, too, I calculated 18MPG. Oil consumption is rather high, though, at a half quart or better every 100 miles! Still runs great though, somehow.
-Back on topic; I also swapped the traction tire back onto the wheel that was on the rear that had a steer tire on it. Pretty easy, really. Just tapped the outer rim down with a mallet, stood on it to compress it down away from the ring, and carefully worked the ring out with a prybar; after that you break the outer bead and that outer rim comes off. Did the same to the inside and then the center/inner rim comes out of the tire. No tricks going back together other than cleaning the ring and groove of rust with a wire brush to make sure it seats easily. I just used two pry bars, a homemade wood mallet, a schraeder valve tool, a wire brush, and a spray bottle of Murphy's Oil Soap and water (besides the can of paint and compressor) to do the job. No magick tools needed. The truck looks much better now, too, IMHO.
-Chaz
