The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 66 C10 Short step side

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum as of yesterday, and truthfully new to forums at all as of yesterday as well. Through reading a few posts, I figured I oughta be posting here.

I got my daughter, who just turned 16 last month, a 66 Short bed a few weeks ago, and she is thrilled. Suprising to me she loves that it has a manual transmission, I think because my 75 F100 is manual. I'm not sure of the original bed style on the truck. The previous owner admitted it didn't have a bed for a long time a slapped a 65 step side on it that he had off in a corner. The VIN plate didn't match the truck. It said it was a 65 long bed. Through measuring and research I deduced it's actually a 66 short bed. So, through a couple weeks of calls and messages I was able to get the proper VIN back on it. Stitch, as my daughter has already named it, has an inline 6 which I have no clue about. I'm a V block guy. So the powertrain will be a learning experience for both of us. The engine rotates and the inside of the trans looks immaculately well maintained. I haven't checked the rear end yet, because I'm not working on the truck unless my daughter is here with me. I'm only here to help her fix it up. So the whole project will involve both of us together, which thrills ME. It use to be a 3 on the tree. Someone converted it with a floor shift kit a long time back, judging by the age its showing. We had to remove, clean, grease and reassemble the kit. Now it shifts like new. I'm guess it still shifts like on the column, up left is reverse and down right is 3rd. It's the original Saginaw 3 speed. If my measurements and research are correct, I need to find a 56" x 3.5" driveshaft for it. I think the original tire size was 205/75R15, but I hope to find out for sure before we put tires on it. We had a few donor pieces come with the truck when I bought it; hood, grill housing, grill insert and right rear fender. We already replaced the hood and grill insert because they NEEDED it. But the rest will wait till she learns to drive it. There's also another part we need to replace that I haven't found yet. It looks like a radiator support, the forward edge of the inner wheel well bolts to it, and it bolts down to the front most body mount. My daughter noticed it was broke at the mount while she was in the wheel well.

Well that's my intro and the beginning of Stitch's story.

Any help and advice from y'all will be greatly welcomed.
Thank you in advance,
Shane

It’s great that the young lady wants to be involved with the build. Father daughter time is something you both will remember forever. Tons of good information here. Be sure to look over ALL the forums and post your questions in the appropriate one. Photos are welcomed and easy to do. Check the instructions in the left margin of every page.

Great to hear you have a daughter who loves these trucks. You do too from what I can tell. A reply to a question on here may not always come as quickly as you hope, but it will come.
I am in Columbia, SC and I have two short bed C10s, a 1963 and 1965. I’ve had the 1965 completely apart and it’s back together and a driver again. The 1963 has been a driver for a year now but has not been apart except for minor repairs.

The best thing you can do is get a 1963 Factory Service Manual. The 1964, 65, & 66 years only have “supplements” for that model year but refer heavily back to the 1963 manual, so you will need both books.

There are many nice upgrades available for the 1963-66 models including power steering and disc brakes. As a father, I’m sure you’ll make safety a priority with seat belts and good brakes.

Your inline 6 might be a 250ci, a 230ci or even a 292ci.
The 292 has the PS engine perch between the fuel pump and the distributor.
The 230 and 250 are externally the same but the top of the piston is different, and a different stroke of course.

Sounds like you’ll have fun. I’d recommend to first make it move under its own power (i.e. yard drive), then get the brakes working properly. Then electrical and suspension.

The part you are looking for is the radiator support. 60-66 fit the same. Holes for grill are different between years but easy to redrill. The atrached part is the inner fender. You referred to wheel well. Inner fenders and radiator supports can be found new or on ebay all day long. Good project for a sunny day. But you may find you break some of the bolts. Have fun.

Thank you Lugnutz and Hambone. Yeah Hambone, I already told my daughter we would be breaking and/or cutting most bolts we touch.

For fun I started a BLOG. I have full control and it keeps me motivated. It’s also a place to store a few photos so I can look back at my progress as I look at the posts.
There are several totally free hosting sites. I use weebly.com. No ads, no viruses, no spam, totally free. I’ve been using mine for 7 years now trouble free.
You can find my BLOG if you CLICK HERE.

Welcome Shane!

Congratulations on the "new" truck

I did a '63 C10 when I was a teenager. My Father and I worked many hours on that old truck. I learned a lot, but the best part was the bonding.
Fast forward many years and my daughter and I have been working on a '62 C10. Best part was driving it over to show my old man not long before he passed away.

Savor the time you have to bond with your daughter. They grow up way too fast. You'll both look back with fond memories.