1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Yup, not much more than a week after picking up my ‘80 C10, I also found this one on marketplace just up the road from me, not even two miles away! It’s rough, but fairly complete, and best of all was only $200! I wasn’t going to pass on a 2wd shortbed for that price.

It has been sitting for a while, but apparently it drove to where it was parked. I’m not sure I believe that, but it does appear intact enough under the hood that it’s possible.

This is how I found it.

https://i.postimg.cc/wMSSsPS0/IMG-8404.png

https://i.postimg.cc/MKBk86Q4/IMG-8405.png

Pulled it out of its hole!

https://i.postimg.cc/fRQGzG7b/IMG-8410.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/x1GWc6g3/IMG-8411.jpg

Surprisingly, all the tires held air but one (couldn’t get the bead to seat again), so I swapped it with a spare I had.

https://i.postimg.cc/6Q9FRCmJ/IMG-8413.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/k5fzyD0V/IMG-8412.jpg

The core support identifies the truck as a 305 unit, but apparantly it’s been swapped out for a straight 6 sometime in its life, backed by a TH350.

https://i.postimg.cc/tTJfvpbB/IMG-8409.jpg

Loaded on the trailer!

https://i.postimg.cc/hjYYH6Pc/IMG-8414.jpg

The GVWR is 5300lbs, so it’s not a Big 10, but it does still have a 12 bolt rear axle and the thicker spring pack.

https://i.postimg.cc/4yh0ZPmt/IMG-8416.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PNsRqDw7/IMG-8415.jpg

She’s home, time to clean her up!

https://i.postimg.cc/3xBYPrMh/IMG-8418.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Wow great deal, do you have any plans for it?

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Probably nothing extreme, clean it up, straighten it out, get it running and drive it!

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

nice I guess pretty good shape considering it's home (alaska)? I like your plan for it, keep us posted

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

It’s actually far better than it look, the pictures kind of don’t do it justice. The paint and dirt and crooked bumpers makes it look absolutely terrible, but I think once it has a single color of paint on it, it’ll look a lot better.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Sounds like a good plan

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

I cleaned out the bed this weekend, to the tune of an $85 dump run. They sure had the back packed FULL. This wasn’t even all of it!

https://i.postimg.cc/hPngmKpx/IMG-8432.jpg

Also tinkered on the engine a bit. It was gently seized, but I tightened the belts and let it soak with a mix of ATF and diesel in the cylinders for about 30 minutes, and rocked the fan back and forth until it turned.

https://i.postimg.cc/g0xPpj29/IMG-8436.jpg

Added battery power, and jumped the solenoid with a screwdriver, and it cranks over really well!

https://i.postimg.cc/1znbTdvs/IMG-8437.jpg

Picked up some basic parts to get things started. Oil and filter, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ignition coil, carb rebuild kit, waterpump, upper radiator hose, turn signal switch, ignition slider switch, and key switch.

https://i.postimg.cc/SKBHpGP8/IMG-8441.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

I noticed that your engine has the integrated head so must be a period correct engine.
I'm just curious if it is the 2 barrel or single barrel setup kinda hard to tell from the pics though judging by the exhaust piping it might be 2 barrel. Anyway just curious I'm a straight 6 enthusiast lol.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

It’s a 1975 engine according to the numbers, and I’m 99% sure that it has the 1BBL carb, at least that’s what rebuild kit I bought, lol. I’ll be diving into it a little more in the next day or so.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Ok the two barrels didn't come in till around 1978 or so.
I looked again at your pics I don't think that was the exhaust pipe I was seeing so never mind lol.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

The rest of my tune up parts showed up last night! Gave her a new cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and have a new waterpump, thermostat, and radiator hoses ready to go on as well.

https://i.postimg.cc/vBfYNkG4/IMG-8525.jpg

I did a quick wiring job to put power to the distributor, and she fired right up and idled!

https://i.postimg.cc/HnmYDzLB/IMG-8526.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Sweet!

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

very cool!!!! nice job!

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

I found this fun little setback this weekend

https://i.postimg.cc/HsXPXtcH/IMG-8549.jpg

It’s already broke. Let’s give it a shot lol

https://i.postimg.cc/mgSX62y5/IMG-8550.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Ouch, bummer . Hopefully the glue will fix it if not that's pretty disappointing. I've heard of that happening but had never seen it myself

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

If not, no big loss. I’ll yard it out of there and put a V8 back in.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Picked up a new radiator today! For some reason, I had to order an 80+ model year because it was a 19” tall radiator and the only options for 1978 were 17”. This also meant that I needed a matching upper hose because apparently the inlet size changed from the earlier years.

https://i.postimg.cc/Wz4YgbNQ/IMG-8582.jpg

I also scored a grille for $60! It’s not correct, but does clean the front up a lot.

https://i.postimg.cc/fWHrZX5Z/IMG-8583.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/QxHnMtn7/IMG-8586.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

It does look a lot better with the grille in it.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Finished installing the hoses and radiator and bled the system out. Ran it for about 30 minutes and seemed to do well! The carb definitely needs to be gone through because the throttle shaft is sticky, but it seems to operate decently.

https://i.postimg.cc/L4bq7GGM/IMG-8594.jpg

My JB Weld repair also appears to be holding up, lol

https://i.postimg.cc/rpkg4D9g/IMG-8596.jpg

I also “fabricated” a basic exhaust system with the muffler and piping cut off my ‘74 Nova last year.

https://i.postimg.cc/0jM7Fvfb/IMG-8598.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/XY0PbjPM/IMG-8597.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Well cool, hopefully it will last. I wonder if running some stop leak would give it any added protection? Probably not but it's a thought anyway.

Careful with those cinder blocks, those things like to break under weight without notice.

The truck is really looking better than where you started.

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

I would if I hadn’t just put a new radiator in. That stuff tends to also coat the inside of the radiator passages and hurts heat transfer.

Hopefully I’ll get the wheels back soon, and have it looking a whole lot better!

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

I wonder why I can't see your pics?

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Next up on the list was to tackle the steering column. I had tried to put the original one back together, but unfortunately it was destroyed and had things literally ripped off of it. So I snagged a replacement from a t-boned Suburban!

https://i.postimg.cc/DfXzGKL0/IMG-8621.jpg

I also picked up a few more replacement switches since the dash would be apart.

https://i.postimg.cc/qqvdBSfs/IMG-8622.jpg

Brake light switch

https://i.postimg.cc/SNYvLkGX/IMG-8623.jpg

Replaced the headlight switch and all the dash bulbs. The heater control is broken and the fan switch is missing, so I’ll be back in here later.

https://i.postimg.cc/L8Tw5vTv/IMG-8624.jpg

Dash cleaned and reassembled!

https://i.postimg.cc/V6MFrkw1/IMG-8625.jpg

New steering column in with new turn signal switch, neutral switch, and ignition switch!

https://i.postimg.cc/RhSnSSVg/IMG-8626.jpg

Replaced the missing spring and pin on the shifter linkage

https://i.postimg.cc/ydVFdXLh/IMG-8633.jpg

The entire engine harness has been cut out, so I wired in the basic things to get it running.

https://i.postimg.cc/yYwYn642/IMG-8627.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/G2VhNbTB/IMG-8628.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/VkZy4DCv/IMG-8629.jpg

As of last night, it now starts and runs off a key!

https://i.postimg.cc/MKjjzFW2/IMG-8631.jpg

Re: 1978 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe
 

Took the front end back apart because I scored some new parts!

https://i.postimg.cc/5tKhZF95/IMG-8664.jpg

I found a brand new front valence on Marketplace for $35! Painted it red

https://i.postimg.cc/x8MBJxvg/IMG-8665.jpg

I decided to make the truck look a little better. This will be a 50 footer for sure, but at least it will look like less of an abandoned vehicle in my driveway. Started sanding the body down, and knocked out some of the larger dents.

https://i.postimg.cc/zGJ4vkVS/IMG-8667.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/QCGy3Q27/IMG-8668.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/7h3QYC4W/IMG-8669.jpg

I didn’t like the black look of the grille, so I decided to paint it silver.

https://i.postimg.cc/PqC3vVhZ/IMG-8671.jpg

Started painting the rest of the truck! It will be red with a white roof and bumpers. I also found some brand new LMC headlight bezels for $50!

https://i.postimg.cc/prHq72jY/IMG-8672.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/7P3Bz2vB/IMG-8673.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/c4TX9GLw/IMG-8674.jpg

I ran out of paint so I’ll be picking more up tomorrow!