Hi all, I have just bought a 66 stepside C10. It has the 6 cyl and three speed tranny. I posted a picture at [http://home.earthlink.net/~mpwright/truck3.jpg] The engine is recently rebuilt and runs wonderfully. This is a shame because I want to replace it with a V-8 and an automatic. Mostly because I dont like the 3-speed. The Ford six is rather agricultural too. Has anyone ever hot rodded one of these old sixes? I need to do something about the seats too. Does anyone know an easy swap for buckets? If I have to make my own mounting I'll probably go for something pretty nice. Any thoughts appreciated. Mark Wright Atlanta,
[font size=1" color="#FF0000]LAST EDITED ON Jul-18-00 AT 09:33 AM (CST)[/font][p]Beautiful truck Mark ! Did you say Ford six ?? A late model Chyeanne(spelling) bench will go right in, mounts and all. Look in wrecking yards, swap meets etc. I've installed a 60/40 split bench in my 64. Late model seat padding is kind on those body parts that start screaming on extended trips too. If it's a Chevy six, there are loads of places to pick up performance parts, cam, dual carbs, etc. Check the truck magazines, or do an Internet search. Search sites I like are www.mamma.com or www.profusion.com.
Thanks for the reply, The six is a Chevy. Dont know what my fingers were doing when I wrote that sentence. I'll go look for a late model seat. A comfy seat and maybe a lower rear end gear and it should be great on the highway. If I can get some hot rod parts for the six that'll keep me in the garage late for the rest of the summer!
[font size=1" color="#FF0000]LAST EDITED ON Jul-20-00 AT 10:34 PM (CST)[/font][p]Hell Mark, just drive the damn thing this summer. Drive it around collecting parts at swap meets. Then, on those cold winter nights, you'll have a Blue buddy waiting in the garage for you! Take your time looking for parts. The best deals are had when you are not in a hurry.
Mark, may I pat your truck? It's looking greaaat!! My 65 C10 also has 230 straight six that had recently been rebuilt. It too has the three speed tranny. The gear ratio between the 2nd and the 3rd is too wide for stock 6 bangers. I want to switch it to a 4 speed but I will stick to my lovely six for sure. You might already know this, but "Cliffford Performance" has tons of goodies for in-line 6 engines. I'm planning to go for their stage 1 upgrade which is a combo of header with high-flow pipe, Ram intake manifold with Holley 4bbl carb. They also have many dress-up parts for chevy straight sixes. Their web site is www.cliffordperformance.com. Check it out. You'll like it. I like in-line six engines over V8 because of its historic background. I don't drive my truck for its powerfulness. I drive it to re-experience how people used to feel in a plain powered basic pick-up truck. Well, Chevy in-line sixes are much much more historic than V8s. Guys driving V8-powered Chevys, with a window sticker saying "The Heartbeat of America" don't know what they're talking about! Well anyways. Take care oif
