New user 65 C10, The Old Man

[car10107]

Hello everyone. We bought this 65 long bed last year. I have learned a lot browsing this board and was finally able to join and now post.
The man we bought it from, bought it from the original owner (his brother) in 1968 after returning from Vietnam. They took pretty good care of it and kept it mostly stock. He needs a little help and some paint someday but for now is a blast to drive and gets driven a couple days a week. He has been lovingly nicknamed The Old Man and my kids and wife all love riding with me. I had a 64 back in high school (1992) that I bought from a buddies dad. Sold it a couple years later and have wanted another one for years. Was just browsing CL one day and saw this truck for sale 20 minutes away. My wife and I went to go meet the owner and drive the truck and I fell in love right away. Gave him $100 that I had in my wallet as a deposit and my son and I went back the next day with the cash and brought it home. Still has the original 283 2 bbl, 4 speed with granny low and 3.73 posi. The original heads have been swapped out at sometime for some smoggers with 76cc chambers and according to the compression calculator I used, current compression ratio is around 7/1 so I will be doing something about that but for now, I just drive it.
Im 6'1 and about 230, the PO was 6'5 and about 350 so the drivers side of the seat has a permanent ass dent Going to replace the broken springs in the seat, recover it and install 3 point belts soon.

[bsarts]

Man, nice find! I would leave it just the way it is - except for the ass dent , of course.

[Corts60]

Welcome! Looks like a great clean rig to start with!

[cwcarpenter98]

Welcome! I also would leave the exterior as is and enjoy it. You won't have to worry about rock chips or door dings That's pretty cool how you know some of the history of the truck

[bigmoe]

3 point seat belts are a good modification. Somewhere on this forum there is a good tutorial on adding the nut up in the b pillar. It involves welding a nut to a washer, drilling one big hole and 3 small holes in the B pillar and dropping a string down the hole to pull the nut up from below/behind. Maybe someone else on here can find it for you.

Edit: I found it. This is how I did mine. It requires some welding but I was painting my interior so it didn't matter.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=679368

Here's a kit that comes with a plate you can run up behind and rivet in place. The guy mentioned some concern about the strength but it should be plenty strong.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exIC_l_oNO8

[AcampoDave]

Wow, good score, here's to new beginnings.

[LostMy65]

Another vote to leave as is. That's one of my favorite colors. Nice interior also.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

I would suggest a set of 305 heads on that 283. With their 58cc chambers they will help bump the compression and the power output.

[AcampoDave]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Welcome to the forum

I would suggest a set of 305 heads on that 283. With their 58cc chambers they will help bump the compression and the power output.

And they have hardened seats for unleaded fuel too.