Cooper197's 1966 Chevrolet C-20 - A New Look Pictures Added

[Cooper197]

There's a new rig in my life now! I graduated from high school earlier this month, and as a graduation gift my dad gave me this.

It's a 1966 Chevrolet C-20 pickup. Nearly stock currently, with just a few little modifications.
It has a 4.1l 250 Inline 6 with a 4 speed transmission and is 2wd.
Was purchased new by a farmer in '66 who owned it and drove it on his farm until 2008.
It then was purchased by a man from his estate and got a new paint job on it and new interior, he then resold it in 2009.
At this point a man bought it, and drove it for a few years and then moved and didn't have the garage space for it. He put it up for sale last July.
I found the Craigslist ad for it and showed it to my dad, telling him how cool it would be to have one. He said something about wanting another (He had a 1964 Chevy 4WD Stepside, and currently has a 1966 GMC Carryall) and went ahead and bought it. I had no idea at the time that his intentions were to give it to me for graduation.
So, then about a month ago he gave me the truck, and man have I been putting some miles on it.
As it sits right now, it has 81,000 original miles on it. It is mostly original except wheels, rear end, and paint.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/4907A262C6484016953D375328D01181_zpsarom-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/4907A262-C648-4016-953D-375328D01181_zpsaromyuze.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/92930CBCB5AC46388DB44D430F2FA0F5_zps6mqz-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/92930CBC-B5AC-4638-8DB4-4D430F2FA0F5_zps6mqzutca.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/5FFC31C0B0FD4BE0A8C8D9065F5AF536_zpsgftj-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/5FFC31C0-B0FD-4BE0-A8C8-D9065F5AF536_zpsgftjf1pv.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/1E741CB877A44EB69D320E5F1E2AB4D7_zpsjy1k-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/1E741CB8-77A4-4EB6-9D32-0E5F1E2AB4D7_zpsjy1ksuva.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/975B0A1825FF44E490544DC63AE5AB2C_zpsokhz-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/975B0A18-25FF-44E4-9054-4DC63AE5AB2C_zpsokhzuxqd.jpg.html)

I'm going to be doing things a little bit different with it, but keeping a fairly stock look to it...fairly.
First off, the rear end was changed to a 1/2 ton rear end instead of the original 3/4 ton so that it could actually achieve a 2 digit speed that started with something greater than a 4 or 5. This means that for a few years it's been 8 lug up front and 5 lug out back. I'll be changing this. I bought a 5 lug front disc brake conversion kit with 2.5 inch drop spindles. I also have 5 inch drop springs for the rear. To go with this new drop is also a set of wheels. Vision Legend 5 142 series wheels. 18" up front and 20" in the back.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/0DCBEB2B65124C31BEA9E6F30D1C83E4_zpslmar-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/0DCBEB2B-6512-4C31-BEA9-E6F30D1C83E4_zpslmaryjrt.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/06/B968884394B448D1B4AE0F29C73D5A4C_zpsc18o-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/B9688843-94B4-48D1-B4AE-0F29C73D5A4C_zpsc18ovjne.jpg.html)

I'll also be doing a little to the interior. It's getting a new stereo in it with amplified Infinity Kappa speakers and a bluetooth head unit. I also have a set of leather buckets out of a 2003 Suburban that had like 80,000 miles on them so they are still in great shape. Eventually a carpet kit and a large amount of sound deadener are on the list.
Other plans include a snap on tonneu cover, and powder coating the front and rear bumpers and grill to match the wheels. Eventually the wood in the bed will get redone, but that's not a top priority at the moment.

Eventually it would be nice to find like a late '80's or early '90's Corvette or Camaro that's a V8 with a manual that's been wrecked to throw in the truck. But this is likely to be way down the road.

[nikolaus.conrad]

I really like this, I'm excited to see how it turns out!

[Cooper197]

Thanks, Nick!
I really like it too! May have already found a particularly interesting engine swap candidate! Wasn't even thinking about that yet, but stumbled across something that could be pretty darn awesome!

[nikolaus.conrad]

Old pickups are the bomb, my dad had a 77 dodge D100 I wanted so bad but the transmission went before I turned 16 lol keep us updated on how that engine swap goes!

[thenines']

Four on the floor is sooo much easier to drive than a three on the tree

[fogls]

Very nice truck. I had a 71 GMC that was the first vehicle I ever bought. I picked it up when I was 15 and then promptly totaled it a little over a year later. I always miss that truck. Why the LT1 tpi junk though. LSX is the way to go and can score one out of the bone yard a lot cheaper.

[Cooper197]

Well the swap isn't actually happening, yet.

The potential donor was a 1988 Corvette Z01 with a 6 speed. The guy wanted $3,000 for it with 48,000 miles. It was hit pretty hard in the rear, but still actually ran and drove, just pretty funky. It shifted through all the gears and everything, but it didn't run nearly as well as I expected. Then upon further investigation the whole Corvette transaxle thing in this truck would be such a pain. So although it would be a pretty fun swap, it just wouldn't work out well for me and my skills. Do to that I had to pass up the Corvette.

[Cooper197]

Well, no updates in a while but that doesn't mean nothing has happened with this old truck!
In fact it's been quite busy, and the appearance of the truck has changed a bit.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1377_zps1f64cd1f-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1377_zps1f64cd1f.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1371_zps4e79eafb-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1371_zps4e79eafb.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1374_zpsa1b3d17d-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1374_zpsa1b3d17d.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1380_zpsc07a4e3a-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1380_zpsc07a4e3a.jpg.html)


First off, it got low. I did a 2.5" drop spindle kit in the front with disc brakes, and 3" drop springs in the back.
When I did that I used 5 lug discs so it now matches front to back. This also meant I needed new wheels, soooo
I ordered these. 18x8.5 (235/50ZR18) in the front and 20x9 (255/45ZR20) in the back. Vision Legend 142's. At first I wasn't sure if the wheel color would work on that truck, but as it turns out I really like it!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1361_zps565bab62-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1361_zps565bab62.jpg.html)

I also purchased a tonneau cover to hide the wood that needs help in the bed, it was really just a price thing there. Plus I like the look of the cover.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1370_zps30d96984-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1370_zps30d96984.jpg.html)

The more I drove it the less my back approved of the old bench seat. Though I am a young guy, I did manage to screw around on a set of skis and break my back, so this problem needed to be solved quickly. I found a set of seats out of a 2002 Z71 Tahoe with just 75,000 miles on them, still in pretty good shape. I ended up buying them without even seeing them when I was told I could have them for $55/ea. After a bit of research these seats are normally selling for something like $150+/ea so that was an awesome deal. I figured I'd add aftermarket heaters in the seats just as I did in my Legacy, but when I picked them up I received an awesome surprise! Turns out before the Tahoe was totaled somebody had installed aftermarket heated seats and the switches were mounted to the seats themselves! Just had to run power to them and they were working beautifully! Searched around a little more and ended up finding a dealer pull out center console from like a 2013 Sierra Denali or something along those lines that was the same color grey. Ran across it right at the end of the no reserve auction, ended up bidding $26.50+ shipping for it...yeah I ended up winning! Was super happy about that! Looks like it belongs with those seats, and also got me a nice center console that has cup holders in it too! That was further modified to run the USB and AUX from the back of my stereo into an aftermarket plug that was mounted in the center section of the seat so it looks as if it was factory for the seat.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1399_zpsbd1e8571-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1399_zpsbd1e8571.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1400_zps969a413e-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1400_zps969a413e.jpg.html)

I got back to just driving it and enjoying it, but there seemed to be something lacking. I quickly discovered there was two issues. One was that the old junky 6x9 speakers in the doors weren't sounding very good anymore and needed some help. The other was that the steering wheel had cracked all the way through, so if you pushed too hard on one side it would just bend and it was not working well.

The week was an easy fix, I ended up getting a wooden Grant wheel that looks decent and feels awesome.
The speakers got more complicated than needed, but was totally worth it in the end. A family friend used to own a shop doing car audio before he retired, however he kept his licenses or whatever that allow him to still get the retailer discounts for audio related items. I jumped at his offer to get new stuff at his cost and bought Infinity Kappa 6x9's, a Pioneer 700w RMS amplifier, and a Pioneer deck with USB, AUX, Bluetooth and all that jazz. A few hours later I turned it all on for the first time, plugged in my phone and was quite surprised. I figured that when I move the tank out of the cab that I would do an Infinity Basslink, but my plans have since changed. These little speakers have a TON of bottom end in them, more than satisfying my want for a subwoofer, and they are still capable of hitting all the high notes. This system really came alive, especially for the speakers just being in the bottom of those HUGE empty doors. :smt020
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1366_zps9f24c24d-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1366_zps9f24c24d.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1501_zpsc5afe5bf-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1501_zpsc5afe5bf.jpg.html)

Once again, like all the other modifications were inspired, I got back to driving the truck a lot and couldn't help but notice how annoying it was to try and find things under the tonneau cover at night. I decided that it would be an easy fix, so I got an under rail LED bed kit and wired it into the dome light switch. Tomorrow I am headed to the junkyard to find some door switches that I can use to set up the dome light to come on when you open the door like a modern car for that much more added convenience.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1467_zpse0528dbd-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1467_zpse0528dbd.jpg.html)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1468_zpsc5716011-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1468_zpsc5716011.jpg.html)

Looks like I forgot to mention toward the top that I changed out all of the lights in the truck. I did LED's for the rear and the turn signals up front. The headlights are 7" KC lights made for a Jeep Wrangler, but they happened to fit my truck very well, and are EXTREMELY bright. The LED's are quite bright as well, was even able to use the brake lights to see trying to back out of a friends driveway at night without working reverse lights. Surprisingly, as long as my foot was on the brake, I could see really well!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1376_zps544e8e53-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1376_zps544e8e53.jpg.html)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2014/08/IMG_1381_zps83f50079-1.jpg (http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/Cooper197/media/IMG_1381_zps83f50079.jpg.html)

On top of all of this, I'm still tracking 4 or 5 packages that are all supposed to be here Friday. These boxes all contain a few things that should really add to this truck and give it a nicer, quieter feel.


Also I'm beginning to nail down more of a concrete idea for an engine swap, which is probably coming next summer or so. Two main options currently, one is far more likely than the other:
1: LS1. 6 Speed Manual. Power. Burnouts. Fun Stuff.
2: 6.0l Vortec Max. 5 Speed Manual. Still Power. Still Burnouts. Still Fun Stuff. Just less of the above, however also can be done for far less money, therefore it is far more likely to be done due to the whole college student budget thing.