After 61 years my dad just dropped this off to me with the title.. (1964 Chevy truck)

[kurtis500]

He bought it new April 2nd 1964 here in Phoenix at Rudolph Chevrolet where the Civic Center downtown now sits. Just now drove it here and handed me the title and said "take care of my baby" Hes had it for 60+ years but never really drove it and occasionally worked on it just to keep it running. It does have a 1982 Imron white paint job on it that has a little life left but not much. Of course I grew up in this truck going to the lake and etc.

What do I do first? It has a 327 and factory air although its unhooked right now. No seatbelts as it came that way originally.... No power steering or power anything for that matter. Im a little mad a few years ago he swapped out the standard interior panels it came with for the chrome ones but oh well. Its going to stay garage and I may drive it to the gym which is 2 blocks away on a side street and occasionally a mile to AJ's at Central and Camelback.

I dont have a bunch of money to throw at it yet but I do want to start making some small improvements in driveability and etc. without altering its looks too much. Any suggestions?

The sticker still in the rear window...lol

 

[bonesfab]

Power disc brakes on the front and that will get rid of the single master. And power steering is a nice upgrade. cool story with it being in the family its whole life. or just cruise it the way it is.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Thats awesome and a good pops you have there.

 

[coolchange]

Don’t do shit… fix the air. Get rid of the 80s jet boat interior. Period tuck n roll. Glue vinyl on door cards. Leave glove box door, that’s common period piece.
That’s a heavy 1/2. Maybe later Swap out the k member for later disc/ power 5 bolt.

 

[rivermobster]

You mean other than replacing all the belts and hoses?

Throw away the stock distributor and replace it with a one wire Pertronix and matching coil. Replace all the plug wires while you are at it.

Set the timing curve up properly and maybe rebuild the carb.

Then...

Replace Everything in the braking system with disc brakes and a new dual master and vacuum power brake booster.

I'm not sure where you are at, but Ed at ABS in Orange will have everything in stock. They will probably have a complete kit for you.

ABS Power Brake

ABS Power Brake

abspowerbrake.com

After that, attack the front suspension and replace Everything. Motor and trans mounts too.

Replace the driveshaft u-joints, and all the wheel bearings.

Then go after the trans. Do whatever it needs.

Now that the drive train is solid, do the HVAC. Make sure you replace the heater core too.

That should keep you busy for a bit!

Congrats on owning a piece of history.

 

[warpt71]

get the ac working and enjoy

 

[jetboatperformance]

NICE !!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Awesome truck! I had a 65 C10 long bed, it got stolen and by the time I got it back I had already gotten another truck. Should have kept it!

Id just change the fluids, make sure belts and hoses (and fuel system) are good and drive it around for a bit. What it needs will be revealed thru a few months of testing lol.

My truck had 4 wheel drum as well, non-power like yours. If I pushed on the brake pedal just right, I could lock the rears up at will and still control how it stopped with the front brakes staying under control....this was good fun to scare the shit out of cars in front of you in traffic! Ahh to be 20 again.....

 

[Dog]

This is my dad's 65', he had a probably early 80s square body that was stolen, he has had this truck since then, memory is fuzzy I want to say he has had this one since mid 80s. A lot of custom touches.

Custom rear roll pan.

Grill

"Cowl induction Hood"

Custom one piece side windows. (No wing window)

 

[EmpirE231]

I'd replace the fuel lines, and tires and run it as is for a while. Cool truck / story

now if you wanted to drop a bunch of money into it, the options are endless.

 

[rightytighty]

Super cool! Especially the part where your Dad hands you the keys..

I'm sentimental about that sort of stuff. I'd want it to look like it was and drive like it should.

I'd change absolutely nothing about the way the truck looks (it's a perfect memory). but I would make it drive more modern. I would however, change the interior to what you remember from the past. The AC has to work, heaters, power steering, tires new and add power brakes. Slow shifting, granny low 4 speed for the win!!

Enjoy the memories. It'll become even more valuable as time passes.

 

[kurtis500]

Im loving all these posts. Thank you everyone! Of course I couldnt sit around and have been driving all over the neighborhood. I forgot he put a 327 vette engine with a bunch of higher performance parts like cam and etc. He kept it just low enough in compression for pump gas fortunately.

Question.... He told me the hood and tailgate will be the first things stolen. Im thinking about locking the tailgate with a padlock and is there anything for the hood? How about something besides The Club to keep it from being stolen? Just take the coil wire with me?? haha.. not really but any suggestions?

 

[kurtis500]

Don’t do shit… fix the air. Get rid of the 80s jet boat interior. Period tuck n roll. Glue vinyl on door cards. Leave glove box door, that’s common period piece.
That’s a heavy 1/2. Maybe later Swap out the k member for later disc/ power 5 bolt.

lol. I did laugh when I pulled the cover off the seat... Its been a while for sure. After driving I think power brakes may be coming soon. Then the AC before March in AZ

 

[kurtis500]

You mean other than replacing all the belts and hoses?

Throw away the stock distributor and replace it with a one wire Pertronix and matching coil. Replace all the plug wires while you are at it.

Set the timing curve up properly and maybe rebuild the carb.

Then...

Replace Everything in the braking system with disc brakes and a new dual master and vacuum power brake booster.

I'm not sure where you are at, but Ed at ABS in Orange will have everything in stock. They will probably have a complete kit for you.

ABS Power Brake

ABS Power Brake

abspowerbrake.com

After that, attack the front suspension and replace Everything. Motor and trans mounts too.

Replace the driveshaft u-joints, and all the wheel bearings.

Then go after the trans. Do whatever it needs.

Now that the drive train is solid, do the HVAC. Make sure you replace the heater core too.

That should keep you busy for a bit!

Congrats on owning a piece of history.

Thats the stuff Im looking for. Anything to make it more modern in driveability but not alter the look. Good brakes seem obvious and maybe a seatbelt

 

[kurtis500]

This is my dad's 65', he had a probably early 80s square body that was stolen, he has had this truck since then, memory is fuzzy I want to say he has had this one since mid 80s. A lot of custom touches.

Custom rear roll pan.
View attachment 1472166
Grill
View attachment 1472167
"Cowl induction Hood"
View attachment 1472168

View attachment 1472169

Custom one piece side windows. (No wing window)
View attachment 1472170

View attachment 1472171

I havent seen many black ones but that looks sharp! Does it have the wood in the bed still?

 

[kurtis500]

Super cool! Especially the part where your Dad hands you the keys..

I'm sentimental about that sort of stuff. I'd want it to look like it was and drive like it should.

I'd change absolutely nothing about the way the truck looks (it's a perfect memory). but I would make it drive more modern. I would however, change the interior to what you remember from the past. The AC has to work, heaters, power steering, tires new and add power brakes. Slow shifting, granny low 4 speed for the win!!

Enjoy the memories. It'll become even more valuable as time passes.

Yep. My son already has his eyes on it. I bought a 1994 Ram I still have 30 years after my dad bought this. My son wants them both one day

 

[Dog]

I havent seen many black ones but that looks sharp! Does it have the wood in the bed still?

Yes, wood bed floor.

 

[rightytighty]

Yep. My son already has his eyes on it. I bought a 1994 Ram I still have 30 years after my dad bought this. My son wants them both one day

Totally understand. I restored an old flatbottom with a Hemi to as close to what I remember as possible. Even left a couple of the wonky bits because I remembered the wonky bits.

Makes me happy every time I see it and my son will end up with it as well.

We'll all turn to dust one day soon, but this old Junk can live on as priceless memories.

 

[HST4ME]

NICE

 

[FreeBird236]

Im loving all these posts. Thank you everyone! Of course I couldnt sit around and have been driving all over the neighborhood. I forgot he put a 327 vette engine with a bunch of higher performance parts like cam and etc. He kept it just low enough in compression for pump gas fortunately.

Question.... He told me the hood and tailgate will be the first things stolen. Im thinking about locking the tailgate with a padlock and is there anything for the hood? How about something besides The Club to keep it from being stolen? Just take the coil wire with me?? haha.. not really but any suggestions?

I drove a 65 for over 30 years, had it stolen once but got it back with little damage. I rigged up a few links of chain on the hood to the radiator frame and locked the hood down after that. Congratulations, it's a nice start or leave it alone.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

What a great time capsule.

I would put seat belts in it, but drive it as is for a while to find out what the truck is telling you it needs.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

Mid-60s Chevy C10 long bed. My dream truck. Super cool history and your Dad handed you the keys! Cherish it.

 

[whiteworks]

Leave everything pretty much as is, make it mechanically sound where you can walk out and drive it to New York without thinking twice about it. Vintage survivor with family history is priceless, enjoy it for it exactly what it is and how it’s been under your father’s stewardship.

Just my two cents

 

[mobldj]

brakes for sure.classic industries in huntington beach has lots of parts

 

[Bigbore500r]

Im loving all these posts. Thank you everyone! Of course I couldnt sit around and have been driving all over the neighborhood. I forgot he put a 327 vette engine with a bunch of higher performance parts like cam and etc. He kept it just low enough in compression for pump gas fortunately.

Question.... He told me the hood and tailgate will be the first things stolen. Im thinking about locking the tailgate with a padlock and is there anything for the hood? How about something besides The Club to keep it from being stolen? Just take the coil wire with me?? haha.. not really but any suggestions?

These days, nobody is trying to steel the hood and tailgate. But the truck itself is incredibly easy to steal, you can just reach under the dash and pull the wires off the ignition and touch them together....and the theif is going down the road. Definately do a kill switch, car club and either GPS tracker or at a minimum - an airtag hidden somewhere.

 

[yard dog]

Here’s my 64 it’s a work in progress, small block 400 still working on the cab body work the bed is done with all the body work .

 

[zhandfull]

Power steering, disc brakes up front, and replace that factory ac with a vintage air unit.

 

[Orange Juice]

If you just plan to park it in the dirt, id leave the drive train alone. Those Chevy v-8’s up until 1986 had 2 piece rear seals that always leak. They say its time to fix the seal when it starts leaving a spot larger than a baseball sitting overnight, after it has ran for an hour.

Probably want to keep the boat below 18’ with stock drum brakes.

55 mph is very fast for that year.

 

[Dalton]

Don’t do shit… fix the air. Get rid of the 80s jet boat interior. Period tuck n roll. Glue vinyl on door cards. Leave glove box door, that’s common period piece.
That’s a heavy 1/2. Maybe later Swap out the k member for later disc/ power 5 bolt.

i like the interior lol....

 

[kurtis500]

Here’s my 64 it’s a work in progress, small block 400 still working on the cab body work the bed is done with all the body work . View attachment 1472212

Nice! Give me any suggestions you can from lessons learned

 

[lbhsbz]

I had a '64, rust bucket pile that I bought for $300 in high school. 283/powerglide. It would do 75. Great truck...I miss it.

Power steering is up to you...with that big ass wheel, you don't really need it. The drum brakes on mine were serviced into excellent condition and performed great...although a dual circuit master is sort of a requirement.

I'd get rid of the wheels for something more period correct, like it had in your picture with the boat.

 

[Orange Juice]

Im loving all these posts. Thank you everyone! Of course I couldnt sit around and have been driving all over the neighborhood. I forgot he put a 327 vette engine with a bunch of higher performance parts like cam and etc. He kept it just low enough in compression for pump gas fortunately.

Question.... He told me the hood and tailgate will be the first things stolen. Im thinking about locking the tailgate with a padlock and is there anything for the hood? How about something besides The Club to keep it from being stolen? Just take the coil wire with me?? haha.. not really but any suggestions?

Get a car cover at a minimum. No one likes to mess with a cover.

 

[HST4ME]

Here’s my 64 it’s a work in progress, small block 400 still working on the cab body work the bed is done with all the body work . View attachment 1472212

Those wheels are just it for that era truck

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

That is so awesome

 

[callbob]

Leave it stock. When the big one hits and knocks out all electronics, you still have a driver. Now getting gas for it might be a stretch but should be a lot of new iron with full tanks that are useless.

 

[Sherpa]

The brake system is fine if in good condition. Leave it alone.
These turn fine even with wide tires. Leave it alone.
Fix the a/c if you want.

Just drive it.

I have my parents 1962 c10 longbed. Original ca truck bought at Glendale Chevrolet….

So I consideration this a one owner truck.
I’ve built 3 motors for this truck, it’s on its 2nd trans, and have basically learned how to wrench by my dad on this..

Just drive it. It’s not a 1 ton or a race car.