I guess it's my turn. Build thread for "Rocket"

[sixty4bigwindow]

I guess after seeing all of your awesome and detailed build threads, it is time to start my own!

A little backstory on my truck. Dad and I bought it when I was about 14. $600. Not running 6 cyl, 3 on the floor. A lot has happened since we picked it up almost 18 years ago, in life and on the truck. I'll try and document each pic as best I can. But as we set now, Dad (big guy walking by,) has passed away. Almost 3 years now. So, in tribute, I took part of his nickname as a kid that he earned from sports, and after years of trying to find a name, landed on "Rocket." Enjoy the ride guys!

[sixty4bigwindow]

So after we brought the truck home, dad found a friend of a friend with a 327 and a turbo 400 for sale. Supposedly, this was a corvette 327 block, rebuilt and with an RV cam. Me being a youngn' at the time, wasn't sure of anything lol. But the truck for sure has a loppy idle, so pretty sure there was some sort of cam installed.

Unfortunately from the pic above is really the ONLY pic I have of the truck throughout the early years. As you can see too, this is a small window cab. Along the road, Dad picked up a big window longbed 64, and we did the cab swap, and sold the longbed afterwards (a move I am HEAVILY regretting at this point, wish I had that just for a parts and fun truck.) Dad's and my plans had varied on what the "finished product" would look like, but we both agreed, that a street machine would be it. Colors, suspension, and motor choice were always debated between us. Now that he passed, I have decided on a few "final" things with it, but a lot of it is still learning as I build, what I can afford, and enjoying the journey, even though it is TOUGH as s*** without him here to help. Over the years of the "pre-Rocket" project, after the cab-swap, dad had help from a few of his buddies with certain things. And I'll admit, I helped on some of the "decisions" at that time lol. Some were good, most were not.

Sorry this one is mostly words, but I felt like I had to get at least a little back story out of the way.

Now I'll start to pick up where I do have photo evidence lol.

First pic is being towed from my parents driveway, to a mechanic (friend of my moms,) who did the wiring harness install as a tribute gift after Dad passed away. Truck wasn't running at this time after a power draw somewhere (hence the new harness.)

Second was me driving it for the first time since Dad passed, and the first time it moved under its own power in about a year and a half. That was an emotional drive for me. But it was going right to my FIL's house, for me to get started on the full disc brake conversion with dropped spindles from CPP.

3rd was actually before Dad passed away, one of the last things he did was get some holds filled up from the trim, sanded a bit, and a coat of flat black in the driveway to keep it one color. Not the best way to paint and body, but it is holding up pretty well even today.

Last 2 are of the start of the disc brake swap saga (and it was a saga.)

[sixty4bigwindow]

Yes, the webs on the control arms are black widow webs, and there was one the size of Arkansas living in the coil spring!

Speaking of suspension, some of those original bad decisions are here lol... To get the stance we wanted cheaply, we cut the coils in the front, for about a 3 inch drop. And the rear (which I wasn't a part of,) the rear coils were removed, and it sat on the coilover shocks, and the overload leafs attached to the frame. Yes, the ride was HORRIBLE lol. But, I guess the stance was ok.

Back to the disc swap. The drivers side was the worst by far, and thankfully I did that side first. No pics of course, but we ended up having to take a plasma cutter to the original upper ball joint, as it would NOT bust loose. Once I cleared the spiders, and took care of the ball joint, it all went back together swimmingly!

The last 2 are the field it would sit in (broke my heart every time I drove away,) while we was moving into our place at the time, when I didn't have time to finish the swap. I had to buy a driver door with windows, as the shaved set I have, don't have any glass in them at all lol. They are awaiting to either be sold, or used eventually (current situation, probably sold lol.)

[Palf70Step]

Looking forward to your project.

I moved your thread to the projects area for ya.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Looking forward to your project.

I moved your thread to the projects area for ya.

Thanks Palf!

[66WideinOhio]

Nice Start on your Project! Did you get the CPP kit with the ball joints and tie rod ends Included. How Do you Like the CPP up grade kit?
Thanks for your time I'll be checking in.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by 66WideinOhio

Nice Start on your Project! Did you get the CPP kit with the ball joints and tie rod ends Included. How Do you Like the CPP up grade kit?
Thanks for your time I'll be checking in.

66, I did not get the full kit with all of that. The tie rod ends were replaced a couple of years ago. But I did buy all new ball joints (more of that fun story to come..) I'm torn on the CPP kit. Great value for what you get with the kit, but, and maybe it's just with my kit, the flex lines are quite a bit too long. For a vehicle specific kit, I figured they would've been a bit more attentive to the measurements of what's needed. The spindles, rotors, calipers and pads were all pretty good quality though. I'm happy with the setup, except for the flex hoses.

[sixty4bigwindow]

So the drop after the 2 1/2 spindles were on there made the stance of front look AWESOME. I put some work into plumbing up the new 71 impala disc/drum MC, with the aftermarket combo valve (or prop valve, whatever lol,) and the new hard lines. First time ever doing it, and although it seemed like an easy feat, HOLY SANTA CLAUSE BALLS it is a very time consuming project. Luckily, I used a welding stick my FIL had, and that was pretty nice for mocking and bending a rough sketch, and fine-tuning afterwards. And I wanted to comment on how I ended up plugging the actual front drivers port of the valve since it was tilted upwards, and ended up running a "T" off the passenger side out of the valve, to both front wheels..

[sixty4bigwindow]

Here are a few more action shots of the disc swap. SERIOUSLY regretting not getting any shots of the Plasma cutter to the original ball joint. That was hilarious.

One thing I can't recommend enough, especially for a weekend garage body like me, PLEASE have someone who has done mechanical work, or something like this project nearby. FIL is a heavy equipment mechanic going on 25 years, and his knowledge and reminders of things was instrumental in completing this the right way.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Kinda skipped a step in the story, as when I plumbed the lines, and it came to bleeding, I was having a nightmare of a time. Well, come to find out, if you buy a combo/prop valve for the MC, there is a special bleeding tool that you need to have to bleed it correctly.. Seeing as how the truck was still at my FIL's 30 mins away, me with a regular day job and a family, and just finishing a move. There was no time to get out there (and a southern Oregon winter.) So, the gentleman that he is, FIL trailered the rig to my new place with my garage, where I could finish bleeding and get Rocket back on the road!

[66C10LB]

You,re right. It looks nice still with that black paint. Nice to see you get it into your garage to make things easier.

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by 66C10LB

You,re right. It looks nice still with that black paint. Nice to see you get it into your garage to make things easier.

Thanks 66, as of about 6 weeks ago, preparing for a big move south, no more garage lol... Will happen again tho eventually!

[66WideinOhio]

Thank you for the info. I hope to get my 1966 SWB Wideside back in the garage in January. She has been torn down to the frame for five years now. Ray J

[joe dirt]

looking good man!, looks like your line on the bottom has a bad kink in it, also how are you mounting that booster?...

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by joe dirt

looking good man!, looks like your line on the bottom has a bad kink in it, also how are you mounting that booster?...

Joe, where do you see a kink?? On the hard line?? The brakes have worked fantastic since completion, and the mount is the original mount from the donor rig. Nothing fabbed except for a bracket on the pedal to make it work.

[Bomp]

Welcome, nice story, nice truck.
Sub'd

[sixty4bigwindow]

Originally Posted by Bomp

Welcome, nice story, nice truck.
Sub'd

Thanks Bomp!

[sixty4bigwindow]

So, once I got the brakes and everything dialed in, it was time for some small things to be done to get as ready as I could for the Medford cruise. This was something every summer that Dad and I would go check out and talked about how much fun it will be when we can get the truck entered. Well after a ton of support and help from my wife (who I haven't mentioned yet, but is the best and hottest woman in the world, sorry guys lol,) we got Rocket ready for its first big dance. First up was to take off this cancer attached to the passenger side trailing arm right on the axle. It was 2 lead pipes, filled with concrete, and a part of a cinder block.. Only thing I can guess was weighing down the wheel to get both tires to spin, as the first burnout I ever did having both tires spin made me think I hit the lottery with a posi. But alas, just ghetto backyard rigging making for fun burnouts. Next was having a bit of diff fluid leak, so a new gasket and a cleanup was in order. Finally, a little tune up to finish things off!

[sixty4bigwindow]

Here is a bit more of the tune up in the garage, and a little "bare necessities pic" tools, supplies, beer. I will always love how easy it is to do tune-ups on these old chevy v8's! Next one is the official show notice I got in the mail a little bit before the cruise!

[sixty4bigwindow]

I put on the shaved doors for the cruise, in the hopes I'd have some interest in a buyer for them, and of course no luck. But I absolutely LOVED how it looked once I shined up the wheels and tires!

And when the day came, the cruise was an amazing experience. The wife put together a little "build board" with what limited pics I've got, and a pic of Dad with it as a tribute. And I had to include a pic of the actual cruise and the wife (with about 14 other people stuffed into the bed!)