Project: "Home Grown"
 

Well after 10 plus years of storage post mid restoration the chev is starting to breathe new life.

Back Story : In 1996 I Purchased my 1970 c10 Step Side in Sacramento California as my first ride, I was 15 1/2, I really wanted a 1973-1987 body style, but my Stepfather had a 72 Custom Deluxe LB and convinced me to go look at this 1970, we did, got it for 1600.00 with a cracked head inline 6 with a3 on the tree. Drove the truck for a few years, moved to MI, slapped a built 327/th350 auto in her, got a few tickets, rusted the rockers off it, and in 1997-1998 the truck was laid to rest after some engine issues. It even sat in a commuter lot on the side of the highway for about 6 months, then I had to rescue her from impound, drug it back up north, started to rip her apart.

Mods done prior to restore Hiatus:
Started Frame Off Restore
- Replaced outer rockers & Rt Cab Corner
- Shaved Handles and locks, deleted gas tank filler, and antenna "the usual"
- ECE 2.5 Drop Spindles Sold to a board member!
- Swapped front end to disc
- Rebuilt Ft End Suspension
- Installed P/S box assy, never got pump or lines installed.
- Started gettin her all cut in for paint
- Sold off useless Step Side bed assy
- Gave away Ft Fenders & Inners "STUPID IDEA"

Then just like that, all work stopped and it stayed in barns, garages, storage sheds, and finally my garage for the past 10 plus years. About 2 months ago I was at a crossroads with the ol Chev. I needed room in my garage. I moved it out and to a new barn, then I got the itch, restore the old girl or just get rid of her??? I couldn't give up on her yet, too many good times with this truck. Hollered at the better half, she gave me the green light, so I sold my 02 Grand Prix GT, came into some cash, and that brings us to present day. I hope your not getting bored yet?


Plans for newly started restore:
- Media blast entire body assy Completed 7/25/11 Minus Cab & Doors
- CPP Modular Drop Spindles Installed 9-10-11
- CPP 2 Inch Ft Lowering Springs Installed 9-10-11 / Sold on the forum, decided to run SS7 Bags
- 700R4 trans Acquired 7-2011
- Set her down on some 20's
- Bag the rear on the cheap for the time being Nothings Cheap Right? Porterbuilt Stage 2 Kit Installed 8/26/111
- Bolt in Cnotch from CPP Scratch that, make it a Porter Built Product! Installed 8/26/11
- Porterbuilt Transmember & Trailing Arm Member Installed 8/29/11
- Porterbuilt Tubular Frame Xmembers Installed 8/26/11
- 2 in cowl hood from Goodmark Received 9-16-11 Not to excited about the looks, going to use OEM hood
- Roll pan for the rear Received 8/12/11
- All new glass
- Brothers One Piece Vent Window Delete Received 8/16/11
- Vintage air unit, Maybe find a AC Dash to install into my cab, not sure on this one yet!
- Impala SS 12 Inch Rear Disc Brakes Recieved Brackets from Captainfab 7-2011,
- Drilled & Slotted rotors Received 8/11/11
- Boyd Welding rear bed fill Aluminum fuel tank Received 9-13-11
- Porterbuilt Rear Trailing arms Received 10-5-11
- Thorebeck Tubular Upper & Lower Control Arms Purchased from a board member shipped 9-26-11
- SS7 Front Bags Received 10-3-11
- CPP Tubular SBC Engine Mounts Received 10-4-11

Im sure the list will get longer as I go ;)

Here's how she was last time I worked on her.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

I needed TONS of parts to finish off this build, many body panels, so I hunted down a donor truck, shes a 1972 GMC shortbox Fleet, with a 67 Chevy Ft End. It was perfect, I wanted to swap over to this front end after seeing so many finished trucks, the wife really wanted the stepper, but it had to go. Picked up the truck about 3 weeks ago, snagged it for 2600, likely too much in its current not built condition but still a deal considering my location and the amount of body panels I needed. I even got a 454 with a TH350 with the deal.

Here's the donor

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

welcome to the forum good lookin trucks cant wait to see what u got planned out

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

looken good

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Figured I would send up some more pics of progress!

Got the donor all stripped down, got my quote back this afternoon from the media blaster for the entire truck minus frame and susp. You will see that there is no hood in the pics, I have decided to go with a 2 inch cowl hood and sell off the original 67 & 70 hood. Now time to line up an enclosed trailer for the haul.

If anyone in the area is looking for some parts contact me, I will most likely be placing a few for sale on the correct section in the upcoming days.

I decided to go with a local co here called Michigan Sandblasting, seem like some stand up guys who have been around for a while http://www.michigansandblasting.com/

Also in this first pic of this post, does anyone have any info they can share with me in regards to that grey filler that's in the top opening of the front grille? Should I have two of them? Does anyone know where I can get the other? Does the lower hold the Signal Lamps? Remember I had a 70 Front end originally, these 67-68 are entirely new to me :)

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

will be watching this one

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

yea there should be a lower grill insert that has the markers in it somebody probly has one on the parts board or u could get one at a junkyard maybe

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

So, I have two problem areas on the bed I have to address once I get it back from the Media Blaster. I have been trying to locate someone with patch panels for the rear, anyone have any leads?

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Cool build....glad you decided to keep this one and get her on the road again....I think we can keep ya motivated:D

Yep...should be one in the top (which is there) and one in the bottom....you may want to check the parts board for one, or post a want to buy ad.....

Again...check the parts board or posta want to buy ad for patch panels in these areas:D

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Yeah, true true, I will wait and see what the bed looks like once the media blaster gets done with it, I see Goodmark makes the rear 15 inches but its like 150.00 bux. As for the lower grille I have been on the look out, I will post a WTB ad. Tks

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Yeah, man looking good so far... any progress is better than no progress. Dont get overwhelmed...

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Dropped the Camel Backs off at the machine shop this afternoon, they have been sitting for 10 years on top of my engine on the stand, they where rebuilt prior to the original builds demise, however I just want them to be checked out before installing them back on the motor.

Oh and what do we have here? A 700r4, this one just basically fell in my lap, from one pickup bed right into mine :) Gotta love it.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

I also spent some time today doing some research on air bags, I wanted to go with a 4/6 spindle/spring/lowering block originally. But I know eventually I want to bag this beast. I know that I am going to go with an affordable set up for the rear, just some bags, 2 in lowering blocks, bolt in c notch from cpp, and schrader valves.

My dilemma is the front, to bag or not? I hate to spend money on springs only to take them out, I could just get the mounts, get em installed and toss some bags in there as well like on the rear. Any suggestions welcome?

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Just ordered up my roll pan & new battery tray base today :) Still trying to figure out how to move all the parts to the Media Blaster, might have to rent a Uhaul

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

JMHO...affordable static drop would be 2.5" spindles, 2" springs, drop shocks.....just know they are an easy item to sell once you have the funds to bag it:D

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Did some more shopping today, ordered up my Rear Disc brackets from Captainfab, and reman calipers from Rockauto.com.

I decided to go with the 95 Impala SS rear disc set up, its quite affordable and honestly I want discs for the look more than the function on the rear.

Also today I sold the 454 BB that came with the donor truck for $500, and it's already steaming in my pocket itching to be spent.

Im seriously thinking about this porterbuilt kit for the rear, and thoughts?
http://www.porterbuiltfabrication.co...-63-72-C10-749

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Anything Porterbuilt is a great idea.
Amazing customer service,... and the products are second to none in my opinion.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Well I pulled the trigger, just got off the phone with Nate from Porterbuilt, ordered up the Stage 2 Basic Kit, Firewall filler panel, Schrader Kit, and both rear Tubular Crossmembers. Im so excited! Not about the bill, but when they get here and are installed.

Have any of you guys installed a 700r4 into your C10? I already have one but I am lacking a torque converter and necessary wiring components. I talked with bowtie overdrives, they have great products and are good to talk to. But some of these components arent cheap. Is it possible to wire up your own brake switch style kit to cut out the lock up?

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Off to the swap meet today, wish me luck.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Well, being it was a large Ford restorers meet, with a swap meet, there wasn't many Chevy parts :( It was worth a try though.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Just wondering what kind of stuff you were looking for at the swap meet?

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Mainly some small block chevy stuff, I need an Intake, Carb, HEI dist, and maybe a starter. I did also want to score a 700r4 torque converter on the cheap, no such luck.

Also I am still looking for a lower center grille filler for my 67 front grille assy. Some seats out of like an 02-03 1500 or 2500 silverado cloth.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

On a side note, I did order up a corvette servo for my 700r4, looking around for a 1 piece driveshaft from a 77-90 or so short box with a long tail th350, my research shows this should install perfectly to my 700r4 w/o needing to shorten it.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Looking good...i am along for the ride !!

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Lookie what came in the mail today :)

New Impala SS rear disc brake brackets from captainfab, and some odds & ends from Teeitup , stand up guys, loving all the help :)

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

This afternoon I am looking to purchase all the bolts needed to bolt my bed back together, both the bed to the truck and the bed to itself.

Do any of you guys know the best place to purchase such a kit? LMC has the parts but none sold as an entire kit.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

i went to my local ACE true value hardware store, great selection of stainless steel bolts

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

If you really want a kit check Mar K they are a board vendor. They will have what you are looking for

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Awesome find, thanks :)

So any of you have done these steel bed floor trucks, how did you paint the bed assy? Apart? Together? Painted the bolts as well? If you painted it together did you pre cut in all the underside areas that the bed overlapped? If you painted the bedsides apart did the paint crack when re bolting together?Thanks

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Just got home from loading vast majority of body parts that are getting media blasted tomorrow, the advertised Uhaul trailer thats 6x12, yeah no friggin way, maybe 5.5x12, had to put the bed floor in there sideways, im hoping that any slight bending will come out when bolted back to the frame of the truck.

Off to the media blaster in the AM, will post some pics tomorrow.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Good lookin build, welcome from the other side of the state :uhmk:

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Thanks for the welcome, dropped off the parts this morning to the media blaster, lets just say it didn't go to well as of yet. Its likely they wont be seeing my cab & doors, and likely any future business as well.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Have you gotten your porterbuilt kit yet? Look forward to seeing it installed!!!
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Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

No, Nate is running two weeks out atm, I think he is out on vacay, no big though, I too cant wait to see it installed :)

Only problem now is Im on the fence about the Trailing Arm X Member & Trans Member from Porterbuilt, I dont "need" them, but I do WANT them. Or I may just go the CPP route, but man it would look nice when they all match. Nate is sending me some photos when he gets back in town on the addl PB components.

Next on the buy list is my new CPP modular drop spindles & front lowering springs, so that being said I will soon have a set of ECE 2.5 in drop spindles for sale, they are brand new never been driven on, have been installed of course.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Parts in the truck & trailer, hopefully get them back by friday, then its hurry up and spray Epxoy primer! Our weather like so many other places has been HOT and humid, I am a little concerned about the parts out in the elements so the guy is supposed to contact me about timeline on parts beginning and finishing with media blasting.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Pix

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Does that mean that the price quoted to get you to bring the stuff to him was lower that the price once you got there?

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

Yeah, it turned into a real big mess, I already had the parts unloaded, In the trailer I rented, it sucked, I was pretty pissed. I got multiple quotes, for the entire truck minus frame, his was a lil higher but they seemed very reputable and have been in business for many years. So I said what the hell. He priced just my cab for 650 with doors, Hell most quotes I got was 800-1000 for the whole truck, and that was when I was using the stock 67 hood. His original estimate was for 1100.

Now the price without rad suppt, without hood, and without inner ft fenders is around 1500. So long story short I am going to give the guy a chance to make it right, I let him know how I felt! otherwise he wont see me for any more work. I hate being "that guy" but I feel like I am getting a raw deal.

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

I hate it when that happens. I had a simular thing happen when I took parts to be powder coated, got a fair price quote to get the things done that I was wanting to do at that time so when I took those I added a few more smaller parts and said go ahead and do these too. When I went to pick up everything it was double the original price. I even said wow adding those small parts to the job made the price jump that much and he just said "yep".
I take it he didnt need my business and I have not been back.
good luck

Re: Project: "Home Grown"
 

another one to watch, nice start