The "Work" C10 that became a Shutdown Project

Then it was time to wrap up the truck. Got the bed side trim on, got the bumper on and just wrapped up version 1 of the new truck.

 

Now the truck was pretty much done so did a reshoot in the same spot for before and after the redo. Alot of buddies dont think its same the truck seeing the before and after.

 

Well the first change since the redo came quick. Swapped the white letters out for Redlines with new trim rings & original center caps and then did a little photoshoot with my 68 Camaro. Ive had the Camaro since I was 8 and it was the first car I really wrenched and learned skills on with my grandfather. Pretty much made the truck a nice tow rig to match the Camaro since they were both 68's.

 

Drove the truck for a little bit and figured out the next wave of updates. Mainly swapping the rear end for better highway gears and then adding power disc brakes and to lower it a little more. So in went a dropped spindle and discs (kept it 6 lug) and then put together an original power brake booster and master cylinder setup to keep the original look. I found a fresh rebuilt rear end cheap near me so just swapped those out. During that time I had also had the tailgate letters done in white by a local graphics shop.

 

Finished results of the new brakes and lowering.

 

Drove the truck like this for about a year, but then it was time to do more again. Swapped the metal door panels for the deluxe padded ones for a 68 as I found my truck was supposed to have them originally with its trim level. Also decided to yank out the cluster and add a factory tach to it and a clock to fill all the blank holes in the cluster.

 

Marina blue poly, my favorite color!

 

Drove the truck like that until last summer. I got the idea I wanted factory bucket seats in the truck so spent the swap meet season tracking down all the pieces. Found that original 69-72 buckets and consoles are way overpriced, but found that early truck high back buckets were just low back frames with a simple hoop stuck on. Those seats are cheap so made my own low backs, seat brackets and had to take 2 consoles to make 1 good one. Ordered foam and covers from a shop and then my grandpa and I did out best pulling the covers on ourselves. The swap came out pretty nice.

 

Then after a few months with the buckets I had gotten tired of the low hp 350 by now so it was time to build a new motor. A buddy down the street had a 68 327 he was yanking out of his car for a LS swap and offered it to me at a price I couldnt pass. Motor had a flat cam and a loose rocker, but he failed to notice that the heads were 69 186 Z/28 2.o2's. These heads were off a hot motor at some point as they have been ported and polished like crazy, had stainless valves already installed and then screw in studs and guide plates. Block was 40 over and look like new so I think the cam went flat during break in or right after. I had the block hot tanked then we just did a rebuild at home. Stuck a L79 cam shaft in I had on the shelf then took the intake off the 350 once it was pulled and stuck it on the 327. While pulling the motor, I decided to give the muncie back to my grandpa and I bought a Tremec TKX 5 speed to stick in as this truck has become my long distance rig. Swap was pretty simple, few little things I didnt prepare for, but the shifter only moved like a 1/4" more towards the center line of the truck so just had to trim my hole slightly but the boot still worked fine.

 

That brings us up to date of where the truck currently sits. The new 327 and 5 speed went in this winter and now just getting some miles on the setup and getting it broke in for the summer fun. Here are a few videos that have been made of the truck over the redo.

 

Wow, it's perfect. That's exactly how I would have built it down to the last detail. The colors, redlines, ralleys, the drop, the sound. Perfection!

 

thank you, its been a fun project and a even more fun driver. My grandpa and I have been having a blast driving all over the PNW with it the last couple years.

 

Great job! It turned out fantastic.

I really like the shot in front of Portland Meadows.

I went to see Van Halen there in 1993 driving my '71 454 step-side. Wish I'd never had sold it.

 

yeah I had to get a pic there before they tore it down. Now there is a Amazon warehouse where it used to be. I think I remember that truck, seems like I saw some pictures someone in the family took at show somewhere had that truck in it.

 

Would love to see those pictures if you come across them.

How straight forward was it putting the Tremec in your truck?
Had I kept mine I was really leaning towards Tremec 5-speed in mine to give it a better final drive ratio. With a 454, Turbo 350, and 4:11 gears in the rear it was wound pretty tight at 55mph.

I had my factory lower control arms modified by SoLow in Troutdale. That was before you could buy off the shelf lowering kits for these trucks.

 

Some of the fun from this summer with the truck.



These are pics Ive found that others took while at events.

 

You did a nice job on that truck.
I had a 69 short step as a daily driver for several years, it's low attitude and 4.56 gears didn't do to well in the snow though.
My uncle had a 67 long bed with a power pack 283, powerglide and 4.11 gears, I used to be his chauffeur when he got to pissed up to drive.

 

Thanks for the build posts. Nice truck.

 

Great job!!!

 

Beautiful truck, Awesome Job

 

Great job. I really like your truck. How are the reproduction bed parts. What brand are they?

 

They were all right. The bedsides, floor and wheel tubs and front panel were Counter Part, the tail gate is a Goodmark. The worst panel was the passenger side bed side. They have their jig off when they put the inner and outer skin together so they are not correctly aligned. So took a little rework to get fitted than other areas. All my tail light buckets and tail gate hardware is original stuff and worked with the aftermarket metal. Needed some minor tweeking, but not much.