Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Back on Jan 4th I bought a factory fleetside shortbed from a buddy he decided he wasn't going to use it. It was an old trailer he had bought years ago. It is in background of photo below. The bed had no floor and was missing several cross floor supports.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

I managed to find factory 1966 shortbed frame a couple weeks later (Jan 21st) forsale locally. I bought the frame brought it home and removed the extra stuff I didn't need. Then I placed the bed on it and it was exciting!!

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

That evening a 1966 C30 popped up forsalel locally. After talking to the seller he held it for me until I could get to look at it after work that Monday (Jan 25th) I went to look at the C30 after work and bought it.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

The following Saturday I went and picked the c30 up and brought it home. It just barely fit through my side yard gate with the dual rear wheels. Truck was a 6cyl 292ci 4 speed manual trans truck that was used on a farm/ranch I believe in cotton wood AZ. THE C30 had an AZ title and ran and drove...tries were junk and brakes were very sketchy.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Looks like it's coming together. Just need some front fenders now. What's your plan for a driveline?

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

I started gathering some parts for the 66. The plan was simple just a static dropped stock looking 1966 chevy shortbed pickup. I refer to this as a Brochure truck look. Kind of a back to the basics approach. I knew I wanted some shiney stuff, Chrome: bumpers, Hubcaps, and grill. Engine and transmission ideas are Small block chevy with a 3 spd manual trans or a turbo 350 automatic. I knew I wanted to run 8" rear steelies with 6" up front. I also wanted my go to stock style steering wheel from a corvair truck/van. Here are some of the parts I gathered so far.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Last weekend. I got the trucks ready to go to my good buddy's shop so I could work on it July 4 week.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Tuesday I pressure sprayed the C30 engine compartment and the C10 frame. What a difference! I used bring home pics vs after wash pics for comparison.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Yesterdays progress.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Last pics from yesterday.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Progress...straitened and installed the bed floor supports, wheel tubs, tailgate trunions, also installed new body bushing kit. Removed the old chrome reverse wheels and put some freshly painted stock rims with staggered size junk tires. What a difference the wheels made.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Rolled it outside for some pics. My 1966 factory shortbed 1/2 ton!
Front clip and chrome bumpers are next.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Great project.
Been following along on Instagram.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

:metal: that was a hell of a lot of work in those temps, looks like a nice project and sounds like you have your plan laid out how you want it to look in the end.
now on a different subject- would you please keep your Arizona temperatures down there, we are supposed to see 113 today up here :waah:

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Man that cleaned up nice, looks like no rust at all on either cab or bed.

I spent about 2 years cutting out rust on mine and patching it. 4k miles on the road with mine so far after almost 4 years of work.

Yours looks really good.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

A great project, it fits together well.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Thanks guys!

I am having a blast!

Progress.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

very cool.. hopefully 1 of these days we'll see each other out cruisin' I am over in the area of the new park.... :metal: ;)

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Passenger floor cleaned up nicely.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Loaded the truck up and brought it back home this morning. It will go into hibernation for a couple months. I will be giving it several scrub baths while it's home. I will get back to it when the weather breaks. Need to clean up the engine and trans, Reseal and paint the engine.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Back in August I took advantage of Tin Works labor day sale. I ordered rear notches and pan hard bar kit.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Today I did some project oranization.
Here is the front CPP lower tubular arms, rear 5 " dropped CPP springs, Front 3" dropped coil springs and shocks.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Here are the front lowered squarebody spindles and some parts from NAPA ( inner and outer wheel bearings, grease seals, spindle nuts, rotor dust caps, 5 lug rotors, square body upper ball joints.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

I also scored some cowl corner without any holes.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Picked up a used turbo 350 and a 350 ci from 2 different buddies.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Great project you've got going. What are you going to do with the C30 frame?

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Just a heads up, and I could be talking out my butt, BUT if the straight arm shown is to go from the frame to the opposite of the rear pumpkin, please not that there is a specific one that is bent and not straight that I had to use as the straight bar would not work and was hitting the rear pumpkin. Just a note, again i may be talking out my butt, but just passing along what i ran into.
otherwise, looking great!

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Hello
I am converting a 65 C30 to a C10 and I am having problems finding a heater core for the recirculating heater. The blower and heater core are located inside the cab. I have seen some info on this type of heater but every part I did find is for the heater located in the engine compartment.
Does anyone have any info on the recirculating heater?

Thank-you

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

subscribed!!

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Update.
Got the motor and trans psi sprayed. Will reseal and paint engine.

Also got front 15x6's 5 lug wheels that match the rear 15x8's.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Updates...

Engine and trans pressure washed. (March 24th)
Bought front 5 lug wheels 6" wide to match the rear 8" (April 3rd)
Rear 5" drop springs installed. (May 4th)
Assembled and installed front end lowered parts (May 22nd)

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

May 24th new front tires.

Last Saturday I got the rear wheels painted on back and primed on face, and the tires mounted.

(Need to paint back of fronts and all wheel faces still)

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Last Saturday and Sunday I got the engine resealed and painted also sand blasted and painted engine parts.

Painted the engine "283" grey. Going with semi gloss black contrast parts.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

These parts will help with the "283" look...

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Yesterday was transport day...

Pulled front clip to make it easier for engine trans install and brake plumbing.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Change in plans. Going 3 on the tree in the 66 not automatic trans.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Nice work so far. What's your plan for pcv and oil fill on the engine?

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Sweet, three pedals for the win. I always liked the 3 on the tree for a driver.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

SUBSCRIBED. I miss build threads.

Re: Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.
 

Looks great. I plan to do the grey with black pulleys, etc on my build too. What grey paint did you use? Looks a little lighter then others, but that could be the light. My camera never takes good pics of colors.
Rob