1965 C10 longbed stepside

[davidrw]

After being out of the American car scene in the United Kingdom for the last 15 years i decided it is something i needed to get back into (mid-life crisis and all that!!).

So i am importing a restored 1965 Chevrolet C10 longbed stepside pickup from Nashville, bought off ebay so not seen the truck in the flesh yet. It is currently on a ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

In order for it pass the UK vehicle inspection test I need to change the headlights for UK driving, this is easy as 1960s Austin Mini headlights will fit. However my C10 was not fitted with the optional windscreen washer jets in 1965 and this is a mandatory requirement here in the UK. Does anyone know how i can retro fit these, especially where the jets locate below the windscreen?

I would prefer to use original/new GM parts where possible. Also can the wiper switch on the dash be changed from it's current one speed no washer to a replacement two speed with washer switch when i retro fit the jets without doing anything to the wiper motor? I have seen these switches on the Classic Parts website.

Your help would be appreciated.

I will post some pictures of my C10 when she arrives here. From the pictures sent by the seller so far she looks real sweet in baby blue.

 

[Rich 5150 69]

David welcome to the site, its nice to see distant people here...to your question on the wipers, if you want the original style washer pump/switch you`ll need to change your motor out to a two speed as washers only came on the two speed motors, so you`ll need motor, switch with the push button in the middle for the two speed motor, pump and bottle/hoses. As far as the nozzles nobody reproduces them, the ones that come real close are for the `69 camaro as shown here they just protrude up below the cowl vent in the center of each wiper mount ..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1969-C...Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6873fa7b&vxp=mtr

or if this is an issue you can always go another route...
http://www.newportwipers.com/products.php?year=1960-66&make_id=2

 

[davidrw]

Hi Rich. Thank you for your kind words and for your guidance.

Is the wiper motor below the cowl vent or accessed from inside the cab?

A bit of work for me to do when the truck arrives later this month. I think I need to invest in a truck assembly manual for my C10 as well!!

 

[Rich 5150 69]

#2 The wiper motor is in the cab at the firewall up behind the radio. if you have a radio. ( you may have to remove radio and or speaker } to access three bolts that support it in rubber bushings. #1 To remove the bolt from the linkage out side you`ll need to remove the side quarter panels on each side just behind the hood, to access all the bolts for the cowl vent, then its a clear shot to the linkage and where you will mount the squirt nozzle and tubes, you will also need to order the seal that is on the front of the wiper motor as this area is in direct impact of moisture. The assembly manual is a good idea as far as pic layouts, although it is confusing at best...it was just kind of thrown together.....

 

[davidrw]

Rich this sounds like it's going to get complicated. But i'll tough it out!

I take when you mean the side quarter panels, are they the panels that have the C10 badge attached? I hope this question is not too ridiculous, i ask only as i haven't physically got the truck to look at yet, i don't have to remove the front fenders to get to the quarter panel bolts do i?

I have attached a picture the of truck before it was shipped!

Thank you for your patience with my questions.

 

[Rich 5150 69]

You are correct David, just under the c-10 badges, ( they may or may not have shims under the brackets/bolts don`t lose count of them ) you can open the door to access two of the bolts, the other two are just under the hood when you open it, the cowl vent will have four or six under the hood seal rear edge and two on either end of the vent. You have a really nice start with this ride.....

 

[vwnate1]

Welcome david !

I hope you are well pleased with your new/old truck .

It certainly looks nice .

How is it that the MOT requires retrofitment of washers when they were not required in British Vehicles in 1965 ? .

Myself , I'd skip the trouble prone GM system and fit a washer bottle & pump from a newer vehicle in the Breaker's Yard and use the original nozzles pictured .

Simpler and far more reliable .

 

[davidrw]

Hi Nate

In answer to your question re: 1965 British vehicles. Windscreen washers were a rare case of legislation applying retrospectively. Washers have been part of the MOT since 1977.

The following is quoted from http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-information-sheets/windscreen-wipers-and-washers.pdf

"Every vehicle fitted with a windscreen must have one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers, unless the driver can obtain an adequate view of the road to the front without looking through the windscreen.
Every vehicle required to have a windscreen wiper must also have a windscreen washer, unless it is:
an agricultural vehicle first used before 1 June 1986;
a tracked vehicle; a vehicle which cannot go faster than 20mph;
or a vehicle used to provide a local service (as defined in the Transport Act 1985)".

Don't you just love Government legislation. As if i'm going to take it out in the rain!!!

At least i can keep the red rear turn signals and the amber running lights and don't have to retro fit seatbelts or rear fog lights!!

 

[davidrw]

One quick question guys, where would the original position of the washer bottle be in the engine bay, as i want to keep things as original as possible?

Thanks again for your help

 

[Rich 5150 69]

If it had power brakes it was mounted next to the rad as shown here, if non power brakes was ordered it resided inbetween the master cylinder/left inner fender

 

[vwnate1]

Mot

Thanx David ;

At that time (1979) I was busily importing old VW's from England and Europe , none of the VW's ever had windshield washers .

 

[my2ndgirl]

Have you recieved your truck yet?

 

[davidrw]

Well the truck arrived in the UK on 11th October and she was transported from Southampton to Gloucester the following day. This was the first time i had seen her and was very impressed.

The C10 was as described by the seller and very clean throughout. Fantastic condition. Spotless engine bay, nicely detailed straight 6. The underside again spotless and the body completely straight, i don't think the pickup bed has seen any work, inside panels straight and varnished oak bed. The interior again very good and nicely finished, all original.

She survived the journey relatively unscathed. There appears to be a slight vertical crease in the passenger door no broken paint but it wasn't there prior to shipping. Looks like another car door has hit it. The front seat has managed to aquire a 3inch pen mark on the drivers side, hopefull this go with soap and water.

I haven't driven her yet as she is not road legal. Looking forward to this immensely

I plan to work on her on Wednesday. I need to change the headlights, tidy the wiring as there are alot of wires hanging loose from lights etc, and rewire so the marker lights stay on when the headlights are on. She will be ready for her vehicle inspection then. I'm not going to do anything about the wiper washer jets for the MOT, i'm going to keep my fingers crossed that they accept that as there were never fitted it doesn't apply (winging it abit i know but it's worth a try!!). Other pre65 owners i have blogged with in the UK seem to think it will pass as it is.

I need to fit a door mirror to the passenger door to improve the visibility for overtaking and fit and new sun visor. Parts easily available from Classic Parts, however the shipping costs more than the parts!!!! That won't stop me though. Other than that and the above not much to do.

I am thinking about fitting a Flowmaster 40 to the exhaust system. I've heard it makes the exhaust sound good when idling, etc but i want to avoid a droning sound when driving. Is it worth fitting?

Hope this is not too boring. I will keep updating and will post some pictures once she is on the road.

 

[Rich 5150 69]

David glad it got there pretty much unscathed...looking forward to pics when you get time, go here for park/running light tips http://www.6066gmcguy.org/parklamp6466.htm GMC/Chevy same switch, when you said you have crease in the door, is it about four inches back from the front edge, check your door stop to see if it is broke or even there, flowmaster is fine, if you run the tail pipe out the back or off to one side behind the rear axle less likely to drone...