"Midnight Rider" 1970 C10 SWB Fleetside

[omodified]

Welcome to my build thread. I have owned my truck since 2010 and I have been a member here for about as long. I have learned a lot from this invaluable board over these years and have even gotten to meet a few of you. With your help, I have been able to clean up the old truck and do some modifications here and there, all while actually being able to drive and enjoy it. Well, this year marks the truck's 50th birthday. I figured there is no better gift to it than a frame off restoration. That is where I am starting today. If you aren't familiar with my truck, please take some time to get to know her in the thread below. Today is the last time it will look exactly like this ever again.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=483487

[1Rusty90]

Looking forward to the updates.

[gmc684x4]

Looks really clean 70 right now
What are your plans for it ?

[omodified]

Originally Posted by 1Rusty90

Looking forward to the updates.

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

Looks really clean 70 right now
What are your plans for it ?

Thanks for checking in Rusty and GMC. The plan is restomod. LS engine and static 5/7 drop. I’ll try to save as much original parts as possible. What can’t be saved will hopefully be replaced with NOS. More details to come!

[geunther]

I like what you've done so far and I like the truck. Don't change too much

[cj847]

nice truck. What is your current drop? 3.5/5?

[omodified]

Originally Posted by geunther

I like what you've done so far and I like the truck. Don't change too much

Thanks guenther. If you like it’s current state, I think you’ll like the outcome. Stay tuned.

Originally Posted by cj847

nice truck. What is your current drop? 3.5/5?

Thank you cj. Current drop is close to 3.5/5.

[omodified]

The name, "Midnight Rider"

I have never really been one to assign a vehicle a name. I had owned this truck for about 8 years, when a name just started popping into my head. At that point, there was no need for a name, but it still just kept tugging at me. When I decided it was time for the full restoration, the name started to make more sense. This truck will in fact be a show vehicle for the first year at least and every good show vehicle deserves a name (I think lol). So....

I have always liked The Allman Brothers Band. I grew up with their music courtesy of my Father. Even though these guys were from Daytona Beach Florida, they later adopted Macon Georgia as their home. They made a lot of great music there and the people of Georgia loved these guys. Now, I am originally from the Midwest (same city as Moraine Truck Plant, Delco Moraine and Harrison Radiator), but early in my adult life, I relocated to Atlanta. Even in the 1990's and 2000's, it was amazing to see how popular The Allman Brothers music still was in this area. I lived and worked right off Hwy 41. I always thought this was cool because that was where Gregg Allman was born (in the backseat of a Greyhound bus - not really lol). Ultimately, it is also where Gregg was laid to rest. During my time in Atlanta, I met a guy named Talmedge. Tal owned a blue 1971 C10 swb that was lowered with 15x10 wheels. I never really noticed these trucks before, but I'm pretty sure his truck began my affinity for them. Since then, I had always promised myself that I would own one some day. I don't know where Tal is today, but I am thankful for having met him and introducing me to the C10 life.

As you already know from reading my cleanup thread from post#1, this truck was manufactured at the Atlanta Georgia plant. From what I know, it was originally sold in Atlanta and spent all of it's life there too. That is, until I brought it home to North Carolina in 2011. The trip to buy the truck was my first time back to Atlanta since I moved away in 2004. That trip has a lot of memories for my family as we visited some of our favorite places that we missed so dearly. We have visited many times since then, but I could never live there again with all the expansion and traffic headaches. Besides, North Carolina is now our forever home. Even though we love NC, Georgia will always hold a special place in our hearts.

With all the tie-ins this truck has to my past, it seems like fate brought us together. So, I am making this truck a tribute to the music I love and all of the wonderful years I lived in Georgia.

I present to you...the "Midnight Rider"

[omodified]

**Disclosure**

When I first bought this truck, it was meant to be a Father/Daughter project. We did enjoy it together, but she has grown up and moved out. The plan was always to keep the work in house. So far, I have been able to do that. I planned to get a lift for my shop to assist with the build but I delayed that due to other house projects. Now, I have a Granddaughter and I am finding that I have less time available than I used to. I don't want my build to be another 10 years from finished, so I have decided to enlist some help. I found a guy locally that restores these trucks for a living and knows them very well. He is willing to assist me with things rather than taking over the entire build. This keeps me active with what is going on, and now I don't have to buy a bunch of equipment that I will likely never use or need again. And, I get to keep spending time doing the things that are really important - family! So, during my build, you are likely to see pics from inside my garage and inside the shop at Piedmont Traction located in Mooresville NC.

[omodified]

The Engine That Could

Took a few videos of the engine running (cold and warmed up) to help me sell later. Sorry for the sideways shots, I thought the camera would flip with the phone.

Cold..
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3qln9co4cd..._4173.mov?dl=0

Warm...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbn8jb7is5..._4178.MOV?dl=0


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[omodified]

The List

This is my first restoration (and maybe my last lol). Admittedly, I am also OCD and very detail oriented. I was hoping to find a list or something that would guide me through the tear down process. I was hoping this would keep me organized and would make for a nicer build thread. I bought a nice book from recommendation that I found. It's a beautiful book with good info and some really helpful tips, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.




I ended up not having to look any further than these forums. Thanks to member davepl for "the list". Although this checklist is for a truck with some slightly different options, it will certainly work with a few modifications. I love this board!!!

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...44&postcount=7


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[KMC3420]

Following along, great looking truck but slow down. You’re making the rest of us look bad.

[omodified]

I really got lucky being able to keep the passenger bed side. Putting the bed back together will be a little easier since I already have some nice parts stored away for it. Thanks to member billsbowtie and Dean Johnson at The Chevy Truck Farm in Tennessee for the nice parts.

[omodified]

I'm glad that I started with the bed. When I step back and look, it seems like a lot has been done already. I know I have a long way to go though. The frame looks to be in really nice shape. It should clean up nicely.










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[omodified]

Stripping the tailgate down. I mentioned before that I wasn't keeping this gate. It is a decent gate with no rust, so somebody will want to buy it. I wanted to take it apart to see if I can reuse the latch rods.

Tailgate band will be a nice driver for somebody. Tailgate handle and latches are decent. Sell Pile

The trim got bent while removing. Chrome pitted pretty bad on handle trim. Junk pile

Latch rods aren't rusted and look really nice. Keep pile.

[omodified]

Made some more progress today.

Removed washer and overflow bottles and mounts. These were NOS when I bought them and they are still really nice, so I will be hanging on to these.






Disconnected and removed the battery. The battery looks nice but it's getting close to being out of date. I'll keep it for now and check it out later.




Removed upper radiator mount brackets.




Removed fan and shroud. Going LS so I won't be needing these two items.




Drained and removed radiator. Removed hoses. Blocked hoses to heater. Only one little spill and that was while recovering the antifreeze into the waste container!

[omodified]

Originally Posted by KMC3420

Following along, great looking truck but slow down. You’re making the rest of us look bad.

Thanks KMC and welcome! A little each day is what I promised myself. I expect the teardown to take much less time than the build up. So, I'm going for it! Keep checking back.

[LT7A]

Honestly, round one with your truck was the kind of build that is nearest and dearest to my heart. Keep it running and fix and improve things while you go. I can understand though that there were certain spots, especially in the body work that could eventually get away from you without addressing them. So I'm watching your off - frame restoration with interest. You are using a lot of nice parts and are extremely organized. Personally, I would avoid cutting body panels when you don't need to. That would rule out in-body exhaust exits for me. It is still happening at a prodigious rate on custom trucks, but it is a fad and has been going on for quite some time. From my perspective, we will see less of them in two or three years and I doubt anybody will be doing it 5 years from now. Some guys can update their trucks as styles change. I have to work on mine for the long haul, so that's how I think. I will enjoy following as you progress. Thanks for taking the time to show us.

[Old_Truck_Fan]

Nice progress! Love the center cap modifications and that meticulously organized and clean shop. Keep it up!

[Chevys4life]

You have a nice build project that is coming along nicely!!

Subscribed!!!

[1971Stepside]

I think I saw one picture where there was dirt on the floor! Unbelievable. Let's not make that a habit

[MDPotter]

Glad to see you working on it again! Are you going aftermarket on the oil pan and replacing the timing cover?

[omodified]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

Glad to see you working on it again! Are you going aftermarket on the oil pan and replacing the timing cover?

Yes and yes! I decided to go with the Holley 302-2 oil pan for extra clearance underneath. I maxed the stroke limit of the pan with this motor (3.62") but it should be okay. I also got a new GM Performance timing cover. The finish doesn't match what I had on here before or anything else. I believe the original had been media blasted, which I like. So, I brought both of them to work today to see if I can get the new one to match the old one. New seals should be showing up today along with some stainless M6 serrated flange bolts for the oil block off plate. Hopefully I will have these installed later tonight!

[Kronald_70GMC]

Just finished catching up from page one. I am very much liking the direction you are headed! I'm in for the ride!

[omodified]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Just finished catching up from page one. I am very much liking the direction you are headed! I'm in for the ride!

Thank you and welcome aboard! Hopefully I can keep you engaged.