New '66 Owner - In Over My Head?

[Island66]

Hello, everyone!

What a great community here. My name is Brandon and I live on Whidbey Island, Washington. I have wanted an old truck for several years and yesterday my beautiful wife finally relented :champagne: and let me bring home a 1966 GMC C25. It has a V6 305 with a 4 speed. In the interest of full disclosure, I know next to nothing about vehicle maintenance or restoration. I have never owned a carburated vehicle. I have never owned a vehicle without power steering. I have done oil changes, a couple brake jobs (discs only), and changed the serpentine belt on my wife's Toyota. That is the grand extent to my ability. I can follow directions, but this is new territory for me.

So on to the truck. Here are a few pics from her "better angles".

http://i.imgur.com/bapzT3Q.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DCMF4OY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/J8t9OGP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gbKrqqK.jpg

So much like me, she isn't too bad looking, given enough distance. But there are problems.

She has a leak in the radiator. Not a huge one, but once the truck is hot, it spurts a little from... somewhere. Really hard to tell from where.

There are also other leaks... I have put a photo below of where I think they are coming from (based upon the puddles in my garage). The red circles are where the fluid appears to be coming from.

http://i.imgur.com/1bNiTct.jpg

Apart from the leaks, she probably needs a carb tune / rebuild. Unless I set the choke really high, she will die when I press the accelerator from a stop. With enough choke, I can make that go away, but it brings her idle very high.

And finally, the turn signals are not working. Brake lights are good. I know that troubleshooting will probably require pulling apart the steering column, which is a little intimidating, based upon what I have read.

I am not looking for a show truck. I just would like a decent runner. I only have basic tools, but I also have access to the local base Auto Hobby Shop (I am a Chief in the US Navy), which has lifts and every tool under the sun. I really just need some advice and information. I can follow directions and figure out a diagram.

Once I figure out the mechanical issues, I have a lot of body issues to sort through, until then, I BEG FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!

[tommyduncan]

These trucks are fairly simple so it's not a bad place to start mechanicing(is that even a word)?
The hardest part is finding parts... or finding which parts work that are listed for something else entirely.

I would search a little higher up for those leaks. Get it fairly clean and let it run long enough to see where it comes from. The two places you circled still could be leaks but that is likely where it collects on the engine on its way to your driveway.

As far as the carb...they aren't too hard to rebuild. Look for fetchmeapepsi's build. He is in a similar situation as you and is figuring it out with a little hard work and persistence.

The turn signals are hard to find parts for. You might have to go with an aftermarket unit that clamps to the column. Trucks not much older than these came with them so it doesn't really look too out of place.

[WDShaffer]

Good ole primer job--hiding who knows what. I've found Simple Green and pressure washer help. However, you absolutely need to keep the distributor covered, as it takes many cycles to get the decades of gunk off.

[Funky61]

Welcome Brandon! Hope you enjoy your truck and how's about more photos of interior and engine compartment.

[Island66]

I would search a little higher up for those leaks. Get it fairly clean and let it run long enough to see where it comes from. The two places you circled still could be leaks but that is likely where it collects on the engine on its way to your driveway.

Thanks. That dawned on my last night. I am going to give her a once over in the next day or two and hopefully find a more accurate location.

As far as the carb...they aren't too hard to rebuild. Look for fetchmeapepsi's build. He is in a similar situation as you and is figuring it out with a little hard work and persistence.

I've read his build. Great stuff. I need to figure out what carb I have and order a rebuild kit, I guess.

The turn signals are hard to find parts for. You might have to go with an aftermarket unit that clamps to the column. Trucks not much older than these came with them so it doesn't really look too out of place.

Interesting. I will have to look more in to that. Thanks for the help!

[Island66]

Good ole primer job--hiding who knows what.

See pics below. She looks like she came from the rainy Pacific Northwest. I want to get the motor running well, first, but bodywork is definitely coming.

[Island66]

Welcome Brandon! Hope you enjoy your truck and how's about more photos of interior and engine compartment.

Here ya go! She's rough. The floors, rocker panels and cab corners are all really bad, too.

http://i.imgur.com/u9hrH3e.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/5iwbGQP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KzD6ZfY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8ZA0Nmg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/stJJdUl.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/atk802b.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lV3aCXN.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/acj4BhL.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LF6TOXP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rtQiMnP.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/msJaXzb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/va4gAWW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/crxWxwQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/xUDGHep.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8vvsUUw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/46xUhuC.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8d07koE.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/PG0dSYW.jpg

As you can see, I've got quite a project!

[Island66]

And my apologies for the massive photos. I will scale future ones down.

[Cayoterun]

Welcome to the site.
I think you'll find this group as helpful, and "know how", as anywhere you look. I'm sure you and Pepsi will get acquainted, and go thru this learning curve together. He sets a good example of guts, determination, and patience, which is the biggest "tools" you need on these old work horses. They are even fun to work on because of their simplicity. Parts is the challenge.

Best wishes with your new addiction. WARNING, there's no cure!!!

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Welcome to the site.
I think you'll find this group as helpful, and "know how", as anywhere you look. I'm sure you and Pepsi will get acquainted, and go thru this learning curve together. He sets a good example of ignorance, stupidity, and unsafe behavior, which is the biggest "tools" you need on these old work horses. They are even fun to work on because of their simplicity. Parts is the challenge.

Best wishes with your new addiction. WARNING, there's no cure!!!


Haha I fixed that for you Coyote :lolsmack:

Welcome to the forum! That's a good looking 66! I wish mine were a white top!

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat mechanically. Thank goodness these trucks are very easy to work on. :thumbsup:

You get confidence as you go along. And maybe you break something or do it wrong? It's OK! you can just do it again and do it right because everyone on this forum will chime in and help.
Thats a great looking truck you got there. And with the wife supporting you I'm sure you're going to have a blast! Enjoy every minute
:clap::clap::clap:

[Island66]

Thanks, Pepsi. Reading your build thread has given me a bit of confidence, since like you I am not experienced and am tight with my money!

I've got a few questions today, hope someone can take the time...

Long one first...

So yesterday I wanted to start the truck up to see if I could figure out exactly where my leaks are coming from. Nothing. I pull the hood to pretend like I know what I am doing while the wife turns her over. Gas starts shooting out of the accelerator pump (yep, found out the name all by myself!). I've got no clue what to do at this point, so I call the PO (who has been a decent guy about my dumb questions) and he says to give it a few light taps with a wrench. Something about the float not seating.... blah, blah, blah. He also said that the carb was rebuilt in the last 500 miles, but this problem happened often. So I give it a few taps and it fires up. Can I do anything to fix this? I had to do the same thing again this morning to get it to start. I looked over several carb rebuilds, but didn't see anything addressing this. I plan on swapping her over to a Holley 500, but that will probably have to wait until after the first of the year, unless one of my kids wants an old Stromberg carb for Christmas.

Second, can someone provide me a list of shop manuals, etc. that I should try and pick up for a '66? I saw a 65-66 Maintenance Manual on eBay for $35. Is this one I should have?

[WDShaffer]

We will help as much as we can, for sure. Many of your damaged body parts are bolt-on; the cab bits, however, will have you learning to use cutting tools and a welder...down the road. I will check where I got my manual. It was about $80, but an exact reprint of the GM service manual--I will get back to you on that tonight,

[Island66]

Thanks, WDShaffer. I know that the body work will be a big learning curve (and expensive).

On another note, I can get a Holley 4160 cheap. Would this work with a 305?

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Thanks, WDShaffer. I know that the body work will be a big learning curve (and expensive).

On another note, I can get a Holley 4160 cheap. Would this work with a 305?

You can get a $80 hammer and dolly set and do your own bodywork. It's not crazy hard just time consuming. Good thinking time :)
I just hammered a good sized dent in my flywheel cover and it came out really smooth. It's pretty fun, if a little noisy.

About your float prob, theres a little metal stopper at the tail end of the float in the carburetor. sometimes those are too big/short/flimsy in the rebuild kits so they don't seat. If youre lucky he just didnt adjust the float right and you can just tear it apart one weekend and fix it easily with a spoon. You might be able to bend it so it seats better.

wish I could help more with the book. I'd get this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-Chevrolet-Truck-Shop-Manual-Supplement-Illus-GMC-Service-Maintenance-Guide-/290985180427?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item43c0117d0b&vxp=mtr

and this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GMC-Factory-Maintenance-Manual-1965-1966-/350879453953?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item51b20b9301&vxp=mtr

That's the main manual and the supplement. It should cover most of your truck, I'd think :goodluck:

[WDShaffer]

I have purchased many auto manuals from Faxon. They sell the original dealer service manuals, and other literature. Well worth the price.

http://www.faxonautoliterature.com/Search.aspx?k=manual&c=24846

[Andice]

Welcome Brandon. Best of luck to you. This group can help quite a bit since most of us have been in the same boat as you. Just ask and post pictures when possible. Here are some before and after shots of mine. It took four years and is still not completely done. As long as your wife is on board with the project you should be good.

[karls 61]

Looks like the tires are great! Have a cocktail, and work out the driveability before you worry about the body, these trucks are alot of fun, and easy to work on especially with all the great info on this fourm, so welcome and enjoy, and thank you for your service to our country!

Karl