Azsteve's '66

[azsteve]

Okay, I am finally going to post up some pics of my Patrol.

Brief bit of history about it... Bought from a 3 Patrol owner in CO who said the PO before him had run it with no issues until something went bang in the engine and he retired it to the yard. From what I can tell by the insurance cards in the glove, it sat for about 4 or 5 years between the two PO's. I gave her the nickname "Ruby" on the way back, based on the color, which may or may not change. It kinda grew on me (both the nickname and the color).

Ruby has now sat in my side driveway for about 6 months while I gather parts, tools, save my $ and learn as much as I can. Just about ready to get started, even though I still have a million questions (give or take a few) which will undoubtedly lead to a few million more.

Here's my vin and engine number. I would like to get it registered here at 60patrol, however the engine and frame are so caked with gunk that I am so far unable to locate the other spots for the requisite photos. Gimme some time and I'll get 'em.


Heeeeeeeres Ruby! Note the non-stock windshield rests. I kinda like them more than the sawed off hockey puck originals. Unless they don't work very well I don't plan on obtaining any original style rests.
I like the bull bar also, but I do have a stock bumper (in later pics). Not sure what I'm going to do there either.


Closer shot of bull bar.




Mind the gap! The driver side hinge seems to have sheared a bit from the hood, leading to an uneven and larger than usual gap between hood and body.


Not too pretty, yet. Not sure why a PO decided more snap holes were necessary. Pretty horrible bondo job below that? Can't really tell in this pic but there seems to be a wider than normal gap between the door frame and top. I believe that is because it's a soft top originally. yes?


That rot spot in the lower right is a nasty one, gonna take some work to fix it up.


Some more questions... Why no lock cylinder??? I haven't yet opened up the door frame but I am assuming that a PO removed it and bondo-ed over? Anyone have a spare door handle that matches the other side? pull style...


Roll cage, when I bought it, was a nice bonus. Now I think I will be removing it.


The hole and pole hold (just made that up, rhyming is fun!) confirm that Ruby is an original softy, yes?


I will be lining this eventually.


Seats are in another picture... from another Patrol, but they should still work without any modification, right?


Engine will be rebuilt, I've got chunks of two con-rods in the oil pan... Which leads (a looong way down the road) to the question of how to reset the odometer...?


More dash


Did the detachable trouble light last from beginning to end of the Patrol's production life?


Ring below the windshield retaining clamp confirms again that it's a softy, right?


Ugly wood access covers to be replaced. Need an inside handle, not sure what the bolt hole below the handle is for, haven't yet checked the parts catalog to find out.


Ford windshield washer reservoir in the lower right... When did they add that feature to the Patrols?


Want to get the sticker duplicated at a print shop or whatever.


Going to have to get the driver seat rebuilt, its too far gone with rot. Rear and passenger are in good shape though.


Box o' parts. The yellow guys are the only pieces I have for a soft top frame. Long way to go to get the other necessary pieces.


Spare parts


Tank is in great shape, haven't looked closely enough at the one on Ruby, but it wouldnt work anyway, right? Was the switch made in 64?


Mystery parts! Please help me identify what the heck these are...



More mystery parts! Very weird little trim pieces. what the heck are they??


Wheelbarrow full of tranny and xfer case


I intend to do a full frame off restoration.

Body wise, I want to have both hard and soft tops. It would be nice to get a softy frame as close to stock as possible.

Electrically, I've gotta have a radio and would like to find an unobtrusive way to include sirius receiver. Probably lojack it too. I've lost 3 cars to stinkin thieves and will not let it happen to Ruby. Even though I live in AZ I'm not concerned with adding A.C. but would like to have the capability (wiring, bolt holes) to add a booster heater when necessary. I grew up in NY but my blood has thinned out here in the desert. I'm a wuss, I know, lol. Plus I promised my mom I'd take her on a ride through the snow next winter... can't let mom freeze!

Want to add power steering. Lift it maybe 2 inches. Want to get a PTO and rig the box for it so that it can swivel out and allow access to the hand crank hole.

Gonna try and rebuild all of drivetrain, suspension and brakes. I believe it can be done!

[RiverPatrol]

Great start to a Patrol project. Thanks for posting it!

I agree with you on the color and the name, they grow on you. I think I would have a tough decision about changing the color also.

I can use the VIN plate pic to add Ruby to the Registry, just that it won't be 'confirmed' until the engine and frame pics arrive.

Ruby Is what is referred to as a '65 and a half'. Several changes were made in '66 but they didn't seem to take affect until about mid-model year. I can tell by the door handles - they are the pre-66 style. Also the gas tank - the tank in the pic is a 20 gallon tank. If it won't work for Ruby then Ruby has the earlier 15 gallon tank. Ruby would have also had 16" wheels originally.

And yes, Ruby was a soft top Patrol originally. The extra snap holes are probably from a PO replacing the canvas with vinyl or something. When they do that they use actual snaps instead of the lift-dots that the original canvas used, so they have to add more holes.

The tack weld on the hood hinges was a weak spot on the earlier Patrols. I have a couple like that as well.

You've got the rot in the normal places. Probably some behind the spare tire also, that's a typical spot.

No lock cylinder because it was a soft top. Seriously, why would you lock a soft top?

That roll bar could be part of the reason your hard top doesn't fit so well.

Seats from another Patrol should work, depending on what year Patrol they came from. There were slight differences...

The odometer is not intended to be reset. In fact you would probably break the 'rakes' if you tried. Is that 89k miles? That's right about when they start needing and overhaul anyway.

The dash/trouble light was in the dash until '69, then it went to the glove box lid.

Windshield washers were first available in Patrols in '68.

The yellow mystery parts do not belong to a Patrol.

The red mystery parts are the trim and retainer pieces for the original vinyl boots for the hand brake and the transfer twin stick shifter.

You've got a pretty ambitious plan ahead of you. It will be great to see this Patrol running again. Keep asking questions!

[bosque]

I noticed the dash inicator lights moved and replaced by some switches too. Keep those parts from rusting. The other item that shows you have a softy is that bracket above the rear view mirror (somebody learned me this) for the mid section frame bar. I really like it... and the color.
My 65 is a 65 1/2 also.

[Sierra Patrol]

Great start to a Patrol project. Thanks for posting it!

I agree with you on the color and the name, they grow on you. I think I would have a tough decision about changing the color also.

I can use the VIN plate pic to add Ruby to the Registry, just that it won't be 'confirmed' until the engine and frame pics arrive.

Ruby Is what is referred to as a '65 and a half'. Several changes were made in '66 but they didn't seem to take affect until about mid-model year. I can tell by the door handles - they are the pre-66 style. Also the gas tank - the tank in the pic is a 20 gallon tank. If it won't work for Ruby then Ruby has the earlier 15 gallon tank. Ruby would have also had 16" wheels originally.

And yes, Ruby was a soft top Patrol originally. The extra snap holes are probably from a PO replacing the canvas with vinyl or something. When they do that they use actual snaps instead of the lift-dots that the original canvas used, so they have to add more holes.

The tack weld on the hood hinges was a weak spot on the earlier Patrols. I have a couple like that as well.

You've got the rot in the normal places. Probably some behind the spare tire also, that's a typical spot.

No lock cylinder because it was a soft top. Seriously, why would you lock a soft top?

That roll bar could be part of the reason your hard top doesn't fit so well.

Seats from another Patrol should work, depending on what year Patrol they came from. There were slight differences...

The odometer is not intended to be reset. In fact you would probably break the 'rakes' if you tried. Is that 89k miles? That's right about when they start needing and overhaul anyway.

The dash/trouble light was in the dash until '69, then it went to the glove box lid.

Windshield washers were first available in Patrols in '68.

The yellow mystery parts do not belong to a Patrol.

The red mystery parts are the trim and retainer pieces for the original vinyl boots for the hand brake and the transfer twin stick shifter.

You've got a pretty ambitious plan ahead of you. It will be great to see this Patrol running again. Keep asking questions!

Looks great Azsteve!!!

Great info.... 16" wheel check (did not know that), 20 gallon tank check...

[50car]

May want to check those yellow mystery parts again. On the early year patrols ( before 68), they used these sections that are bolted together to form the seal between the fender and the foot box. If you compare the yellow paint on the soft top sections and these I believe that you will find that they match perfectly. This would be an indication that this was the actual vehicle paint color.( Seems that the soft top vehicles were painted one color rather than having outer body paint color combines with nice gray color for interior and in the engine compartment I just dealt with a set of these on my softie that I replaced the fender on. Basically had to cut them apart to get them separated due to rust and muck that builds up on the top of them from the front tire kicking it up there. The foam strips actually seal to the flange on the foot box flange and the flange that is welded onto the fender for the vent. The later model fenders (68 and later) have a metal molded box that is welded directly to the fender that then seals to the foot box.

Of note on the two style of fenders is that the bolting flange to the firewall is also different. ( thats the voice of experience folks.... ) You can make them work, you just have to end up drilling bolting holes in new positions to line up with the firewall holes....
Hope this helps.

[Sierra Patrol]

May want to check those yellow mystery parts again. On the early year patrols ( before 68), they used these sections that are bolted together to form the seal between the fender and the foot box. If you compare the yellow paint on the soft top sections and these I believe that you will find that they match perfectly. This would be an indication that this was the actual vehicle paint color.( Seems that the soft top vehicles were painted one color rather than having outer body paint color combines with nice gray color for interior and in the engine compartment I just dealt with a set of these on my softie that I replaced the fender on. Basically had to cut them apart to get them separated due to rust and muck that builds up on the top of them from the front tire kicking it up there. The foam strips actually seal to the flange on the foot box flange and the flange that is welded onto the fender for the vent. The later model fenders (68 and later) have a metal molded box that is welded directly to the fender that then seals to the foot box.

Of note on the two style of fenders is that the bolting flange to the firewall is also different. ( thats the voice of experience folks.... ) You can make them work, you just have to end up drilling bolting holes in new positions to line up with the firewall holes....
Hope this helps.

Mine are identical to these, and were same color as my original of my patrol, and yes they were packed with mud and a pain to remove, I bent the crap out of one removing it due to the crappy nut plates were damaged.

[RiverPatrol]

May want to check those yellow mystery parts again. On the early year patrols ( before 68), they used these sections that are bolted together to form the seal between the fender and the foot box. If you compare the yellow paint on the soft top sections and these I believe that you will find that they match perfectly. This would be an indication that this was the actual vehicle paint color.( Seems that the soft top vehicles were painted one color rather than having outer body paint color combines with nice gray color for interior and in the engine compartment I just dealt with a set of these on my softie that I replaced the fender on. Basically had to cut them apart to get them separated due to rust and muck that builds up on the top of them from the front tire kicking it up there. The foam strips actually seal to the flange on the foot box flange and the flange that is welded onto the fender for the vent. The later model fenders (68 and later) have a metal molded box that is welded directly to the fender that then seals to the foot box.

Of note on the two style of fenders is that the bolting flange to the firewall is also different. ( thats the voice of experience folks.... ) You can make them work, you just have to end up drilling bolting holes in new positions to line up with the firewall holes....
Hope this helps.

Excellent observation, 50car. I did indeed miss that due to the flatness of the panels. You are right on with that!

[azsteve]

Thanks guys for the info and encouragement! I promise to keep the questions coming, lol.

[azsteve]

What is the black frame seat from? I know the red guy is from a patrol, pulled it out myself. I lined up the bolt holes on the two different hinges and they are identical, so other than one being rounded and the other squared the only difference is the back rest attaches directly to the hinge on the black frame and connects to the body seperately on the red. Is this a soft/hard top difference? Or a later model revision?


Im going to be sanding them today... I thought the black one was the passenger bench, not so sure now

[RiverPatrol]

The black seat is from a '68 or later Patrol.