Project: Hot Rod Hauler (HRH) Build Up

[chevy_mike]

Hi everyone. I am finally getting this page started up, even though I have done some work already. The project will be a slow build up of my '68 C10. This is my second '68 C10 and this is my favorite year Chevy truck.

My plans are fluid and may change as time moves forward. I do have some things set in motion for the build so it won't just be a random pile of parts. I have been collecting parts, pictures and ideas for a little while and have a good general idea of the final result. In the end I want a cool, hot rod style truck that I can use for parts hauling and some towing. That's how I came up with the name, Hot Rod Hauler (HRH for short). Sit back and follow along with the build. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Here are the specs on the truck,

1968 C10 Fleetside Longbed
Replacement Chevy 350 long block
Turbo 400 3 speed transmission
Power Steering and Power Brakes


Okay some pics are in order. Here are some shortly after I bought the truck.

[chevy_mike]

I picked up a steel floor to replace the wood one. I never cared for the wood beds for actual use. They look great when done up nice but you don't want to put a greasy engine or rear end into one. This will be a working truck so steel floor it is.

Starting to strip the floor



More stripping



Fully stripped and fixed a few of the larger dents



Raptor Bedliner. It uses its own gun and it two parts you mix. It worked very well and I'll see how it holds up in the future.



Early Classic suspension and disc brake parts. Doing a 3.5" front, 5" drop rear setup. Just need to paint some part and get to tearing the truck apart but I have to get the old bed off first.



More to come...

[chevy_mike]

With the bed pulled off



Found this damage to the cab corner, no idea how it happened since there is not damage on the bed???



Getting the bed apart. Had to cut each bolt that held the fenders and wheel wells on.



Apart and cutting the bed up to save the cross sills



Bed sides, fairly good shape. Some damage on the driver side by the light area but I should be able to fix it



Well, that's it for now. Thanks for looking.

[chevy_mike]

Finally got some time again. I had power washed and then used a sand blasting attachment for the power washer (bought from Northern Tools) to clean the crud off the back half of the frame. It worked very well but I was not able to coat it right after. Two weeks and the flash rust had gotten hold. I took a scuff pad on my air prep tool and removed the surface rust that occured. After that I used Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator. I used a small roller to put it on the main areas and their spray can for the tight areas. I am very happy with how it worked. Tonights plans are to get the Chassis Black top coat done.

[corndoggydogg]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I picked up a steel floor to replace the wood one. I never cared for the wood beds for actual use. They look great when done up nice but you don't want to put a greasy engine or rear end into one. This will be a working truck so steel floor it is.

Starting to strip the floor



More stripping



Fully stripped and fixed a few of the larger dents



Raptor Bedliner. It uses its own gun and it two parts you mix. It worked very well and I'll see how it holds up in the future.



Early Classic suspension and disc brake parts. Doing a 3.5" front, 5" drop rear setup. Just need to paint some part and get to tearing the truck apart but I have to get the old bed off first.



More to come...

Hey there. How'd that Raptor Liner hold up? I'm considering doing the same to mine... Just curious.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by corndoggydogg

Hey there. How'd that Raptor Liner hold up? I'm considering doing the same to mine... Just curious.

Honestly it's hard to say. I never got the truck back together and the bed floor has been sitting outside under my carport for 5+ years, with parts on top of it. From what I can tell, it's still holding up fine but I really can't say how it holds up with daily use.

[chevyc10lover]

nice build some great ideas.

[toomanytoyz]

Bed Floor & Frame looking Good, Look's like a Good solid Cab to work with..........

Keep the pics Flowing, We Love to watch along with Build's. Very Motivating when you get stalled out with your own Project.

Rick

[67-72crazy]

nice truck, keep up the good work.

[thelonerife]

nice truck to start with. good luck on your build..

[71'tahoe]

I like your idea. Rad rides by troy did a long bed a few years ago and it got me thinking of doing one too! I love the idea of being able to pull a trailer.... What kinda wheels you going to run?

[chevy_mike]

Thanks for the props. As for wheels, I have a set of 15x8 mid 70's truck rally wheels. May go with something else way down the road but for now that's the plan. Here are some more pics from my work Sunday.

Back half of frame painted with Eastwood Chassis black. Happy with how it turned out.


Springs, driveshaft and rear end removed.


Getting ready to roll out the rear end. I have a '74 5 lug rear end with 3.40 gears instead of the 4.11 in the stock one. I am also putting disc brakes on the new rear end.


That's as far as I got. I needed a 1 1/8" impact socket so I can remove the trailing arms so I can clean and paint them. More to follow.

[chevy_mike]

I haven't gotten much done in the last month due to being out of town, being sick or the host of other things going on during the holidays. I am hoping to get some work done during my Christmas break from work.

I did create a logo in Photoshop one day when I was bored. Hope you like it.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Wow Mike this is cool! Nice truck to start with, I actually like the brown color. Very cool, I like your plans, and being able to use it to haul stuff around is awesome. Looks like you spent a lot of time on the bed floor, it turned out nice,. I like the logo too, if you add an s to "hauler" it would be a great name for a club, which I would love to join! That would be a cool sticker in the rear window. Keep the pics commin

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

Wow Mike this is cool! Nice truck to start with, I actually like the brown color. Very cool, I like your plans, and being able to use it to haul stuff around is awesome. Looks like you spent a lot of time on the bed floor, it turned out nice,. I like the logo too, if you add an s to "hauler" it would be a great name for a club, which I would love to join! That would be a cool sticker in the rear window. Keep the pics commin

Thanks for the props. Actually the color is gold and originally had a white cab. No, not an anniversary truck

Cool idea on a club name. I'll keep that in the back of my mind. I actually was going to start a truck club about 10 years ago, back before 60-72 trucks were popular. I was going to call it Forgotten Years Truck Club. Never did anything with it.

I have a few ideas that will put the haul in hauler (and not in the speed method of thinking but in hauling). Still completely up in the air on color but am leaning again with my original idea of satin black with traditional hot rod flames. I really would love to get a louvered hood to add to the whole hot rod theme but those are $$$ to have done.

[72BlckButy]

chevy_mike, awesome looking project! I love the concept of the HRH, so best of luck with the rebuild.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Oh and I really like your steering wheel

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by LuckyHenriksen

Oh and I really like your steering wheel

I don't. It was already in it. It's too small. I think it's a 13" wheel and trucks really need a 15" to feel right... at least to me. When the time comes to replace it, I'll let you know.

[LuckyHenriksen]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I don't. It was already in it. It's too small. I think it's a 13" wheel and trucks really need a 15" to feel right... at least to me. When the time comes to replace it, I'll let you know.

Yes please, keep me posted

[chevy_mike]

A quick update. I have been working on getting the new rear end ready and working on the trailing arms. I picked up a '74 rear end with 3.40 gears (no posi though) which not only converts me to 5 lug but also a more highway friendly gear ratio unlike the 4.11's the truck had stock. I am converting it to use Camaro/Impala disc brakes so the axles and drums had to be removed. That went without a hitch. I put new outer axle seals in while I had the axles out.

I also modified the trailing arms base on some info I found on this site. I place 2" long welds, about 6" apart along the seam top and bottom. I also put welds in between the holes for the spring and u-bolt mounts. I added a piece at the front to box in the bushing area, to help keep this from flexing. I popped out the old bushing and have new ones to put in. I cleaned up the arms and got two coats of Rust Encapsulator primer. Tomorrow I should get the Chassis Black paint on the arms and rear caliper brackets.

Once that's all dry, I can start reassembling things and get the axle mocked up. Need to weld the new mounts on, that I got from ECE.

Drums coming off, already cut off the old spring pads and shock mounts (forgot to take pics)


Axle read to get new seal and put back together


One trailing arm welded up, one to go


Front plate on trailing arm


This should help keep some flexing down


In primer, awaiting paint

[71'tahoe]

Looking good!! Nice job on the arms! I will have to keep that mod in my todo list. Are you going to use the Implala rear rotors? I know they are 5x5 pattern. Is the off set the same as the Camaro?

[ERASER5]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I don't. It was already in it. It's too small. I think it's a 13" wheel and trucks really need a 15" to feel right... at least to me. When the time comes to replace it, I'll let you know.

I agree. I put a 13" wheel on my '72. Made it weird to drive. Once I get it running again, the original wheel goes back on.

[VA72C10]

Looking good....nice to watch another longbed saved and restored

[PHAT TONY]

Do you already know that steel/wood box floors use different front panels? Hate to see a fella get in a bind

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by PHAT TONY

Do you already know that steel/wood box floors use different front panels? Hate to see a fella get in a bind

Yep, I did. I am going to use a piece of 3/4"x3/4" square tubing to make up the difference. I had asked about this a while back and others had done the same. I think the added bonus is it adds a little more stiffness to the front bed area. Thanks for watching my back.