Double Dingo's 1965 3/4 Ton "Crusty Biscuit"

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DoubleDingo

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Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
I am taking JaCOB's @Old77 nudge to start a new thread about my newly acquired truck. This is the first pic I took after getting it. I will post more after I start investigating the ins and out of this truck.

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Old77

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Yes :rocking:
 

DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
I only have about an hour of driving time behind the wheel of this rig, and never have I encountered such odd mannerism's from a vehicle. Besides the clutch engaging near the end of the travel, which can be adjusted I believe, when I let off the throttle the engine goes back down to idle and downshifting has no effect on the rpm's. It's almost like there is a mechanism in the transmission, clutch or rear end that acts like a 10 speed bicycle does when you stop peddling. I don't like that so I need to see what may be causing that because I do like to go camping and want to take this truck, and I go up to 7,000-9,000 feet elevation on mountain roads and I want some engine braking coming down the grades. Or if towing or hauling something in the bed, I want engine braking when coming to a stop. When the clutch engages it grabs strong so it doesn't seem to be going out.

And the edelbrock carburetor has a huge lag from when you give it gas to when it starts delivering enough fuel to get the rpm's up. You can hear it sucking air and then it catches and sends you back in the seat. That happens at any rpm range, idle, going down the road, doesn't matter. I have never operated a vehicle with an edelbrock carburetor so I don't know if they are different than rochester carbs or not. My guess is they are. Tonight I will adjust the A/F mixture screws and see if there is a vacuum line disconnected or something. It has no problem delivering power when you get on it, but light throttle it does the air sucking thing and can't catch up to the rpms until you give it more throttle and then it slams you in the seat.

I can't wait to try the overdrive on the freeway. But I want to do some stuff to the truck before I take it out on the open road. I have a flex fan I want to put on it so I don't have to listen to the fan going down the road, and I need to clean the radiator and flush the cooling system. He said he runs pure antifreeze in his cars because water is poison to an engine. So there's that to deal with too. The shroud is cracked, so I need to add one of my good ones on there, and if the radiator won't unclog, I have two radiator's to choose from to take its place. And I eventually plan to swap in my HEI distributor, but right now I will run the points distributor because he replaced everything right before I bought it. I also have a front and rear sway bar to add so it will corner a whole lot better. Some of the stuff mentioned will be done right away, other will be done down the road. And some stuff wasn't mentioned yet for anticipation sake :cheers:

Hope you guys enjoy seeing a solid stock, three owner, 1965 truck being fixed up a little at a time as I daily drive it to figure out what is wrong and what isn't.
 
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mistaake

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I only have about an hour of driving time behind the wheel of this rig, and never have I encountered such odd mannerism's from a vehicle. Besides the clutch engaging near the end of the travel, which can be adjusted I believe, when I let off the throttle the engine goes back down to idle and downshifting has no effect on the rpm's. It's almost like there is a mechanism in the transmission, clutch or rear end that acts like a 10 speed bicycle does when you stop peddling. I don't like that so I need to see what may be causing that because I do like to go camping and want to take this truck, and I go up to 7,000-9,000 feet elevation on mountain roads and I want some engine braking coming down the grades. Or if towing or hauling something in the bed, I want engine braking when coming to a stop. When the clutch engages it grabs strong so it doesn't seem to be going out.

And the edelbrock carburetor has a huge lag from when you give it gas to when it starts delivering enough fuel to get the rpm's up. You can hear it sucking air and then it catches and sends you back in the seat. That happens at any rpm range, idle, going down the road, doesn't matter. I have never operated a vehicle with an edelbrock carburetor so I don't know if they are different than rochester carbs or not. My guess is they are. Tonight I will adjust the A/F mixture screws and see if there is a vacuum line disconnected or something. It has no problem delivering power when you get on it, but light throttle it does the air sucking thing and can't catch up to the rpms until you give it more throttle and then it slams you in the seat.

I can't wait to try the overdrive on the freeway. But I want to do some stuff to the truck before I take it out on the open road. I have a flex fan I want to put on it so I don't have to listen to the fan going down the road, and I need to clean the radiator and flush the cooling system. He said he runs pure antifreeze in his cars because water is poison to an engine. So there's that to deal with too. The shroud is cracked, so I need to add one of my good ones on there, and if the radiator won't unclog, I have two radiator's to choose from to take its place. And I eventually plan to swap in my HEI distributor, but right now I will run the points distributor because he replaced everything right before I bought it. I also have a front and rear sway bar to add so it will corner a whole lot better. Some of the stuff mentioned will be done right away, other will be done down the road. And some stuff wasn't mentioned yet for anticipation sake :cheers:

Hope you guys enjoy seeing a solid stock, three owner, 1965 truck being fixed up a little at a time as I daily drive it to figure out what is wrong and what isn't.

Love it. Stock isn't a bad thing... just today I was talking to the guy at the pizza place, he was looking for a 60s truck and is having a heck of a hard time finding one that isn't badly modified or rusty. He'd probably fall over if he saw that :)
 

DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
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81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Thanks.

Do any of you have any knowledge of aftermarket overdrive units? This is odd, let off the throttle and the engine drops down to idle because the truck is freewheeling. I can drop it into 1st gear while coasting no matter what speed I'm doing and it has no effect. The clutch is good, no slipping. I can mash the throttle and the truck will take off but let off the throttle and there absolutely no engine braking whatsoever. I have never experienced this in any vehicle I've driven. Even an automatic transmission has engine braking if you downshift or let off the throttle. I hate relying solely on the brakes to stop. And going down a steep grade I would have to ride the brakes, which is not wise, but without engine braking there would be no other option. If I can't figure this issue out, I will be forced to yank out the transmission with the overdrive and add one of my other transmissions so I can have engine braking. I am sure there is a way to fix this freewheeling issue without replacing the whole transmission.
 

DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
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81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Last night I decided to try something. I engaged the overdrive on surface streets after getting rolling, and with it engaged there is engine braking, the whole drivetrain is just how it's supposed to be. But disengage the overdrive and it freewheels when I let off the gas, no engine braking. Very interesting.

I was a hurting unit yesterday so I didn't get anything done. Today I need to get with the program and dig through my spare parts for the handles that lock, and my other ignition switch so the key is different. And I have some pictures to take and post them up for you all.
 

DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Curiosity got the better of me so I did a little research. Apparently freewheeling was popular a very long time ago. I found a site about Marmon's, and there was some discussion about overdrives and freewheeling. I find freewheeling in a 3/4 ton truck to be frightening, so from now on when I drive it, as soon as I get rolling the unit is getting engaged. I definitely need to change some things on this truck so I don't need to get rolling, flick a switch, shift into 2nd then 3rd, and when coming to a stop downshift and then flick the switch again to be able to get going from a stop. Glad I was able to find some info on it because it was driving me crazy freewheeling to a stop relying on drum brakes to stop a heavy truck in traffic and try not to rearend someone in the process.
 

DoubleDingo

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81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Now to go find some parts and take some pictures.
 

DoubleDingo

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81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Okay you truck porn fanatics...here we go....

These show the truck chilling under the shade of my trees.

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DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Here's the engine...

I need to replace the heater hoses, and the carburetor turned out to be a Carter AFB Performance Series. I adjusted the A/F mixture and it runs a lot better, but I still might swap in my q-jet.

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DoubleDingo

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1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Here's some shots of the interior...

I am sure it has more than 9,*** miles on it. I am certain it has rolled over at least once. You can see how someone hacked the dash to install speakers where the heater controls are supposed to be, and how about that custom made glove box. I don't like the doors being cut into, but I didn't do it, so I will deal with it. It has a working stereo, so that's a plus.

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DoubleDingo

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Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Here's some shots of the undercarriage...

It looks like they added wheel spacers. I need to take those off. That is probably why he claimed you could make it a dually with the wheels tucked under the bed. I knew it wasn't possible but let him tell the story. If the lug studs are the long ones I need to get some of those long lug nuts. I intend to swap over the wheels and tires from the '81 because those were bought for the '65 I was planning to build. That alone will drop the rpm's. That shot of the frame was supposed to capture the numbers stamped on the side. It looks like they didn't show up. But there is only minor rust under the truck.
 

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DoubleDingo

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Right where I am
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Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Here's some shots of the transmission and the attached overdrive unit...

As I was uploading photos I got a call from Gear Vendor's. I left a message with them Saturday afternoon in hopes they could help diagnose the problem that is causing the freewheeling with the OD unit disengaged. It sure is nice having overdrive, but that freewheeling crap has to go. Luckily with it engaged the truck acts normal, I just have to make sure I disengage it before coming to a stop and for sure before trying to back up because then you cannot get into reverse, and if you do you cannot move the truck period. Before I called GV on Saturday I turned off the truck with it in 1st gear and left the e-brake off, I was able to roll the truck forward no problem but it wouldn't go backwards.
 

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DoubleDingo

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Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
This next series of photos is the parts I have on hand for the truck....

I have seals, fender welting, weatherstripping; extra kickpanel vents and seals; and what is in that little blue bin....

I see extra door handles, front sway bar stuff, exhaust hangers and clamps, but let's dig deeper shall we...
 

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