Sigshooter's 1965 C10

[sigshooter]

This was my grandpa's truck, he bought it new in 1965 and I got it from him around 1987. I got started on the mechanical side (new brakes, rebuilt the engine, changed over to 3:40 gears, all new wheel bearings, new u-joints, pretty much everything!)..... Then life happened with marriage and 3 kids, the build came to a grinding halt. I have this year just got back to restoring it.
My grandpa used this truck on the farm and the body was pretty well shot. I ran ascross this donor truck which I bought from the guy who bought it new in California. The Body is nearly rust and dent free ( for this era truck it is rust and dent free ). It has been sitting since 1977 so it would have to be completely gone through mechanically.
So I am taking the drivetrain from my Grandpa's truck and putting the donor body on it. This truck is a wide bed which I am ready to change over from the long stepside. Both trucks were originally baby blue, so it was like it was meant to happen.

[sigshooter]

The day I brought it home from Grandpa's farm

[sigshooter]

first day of disassembly ( sorry pictures are so blurry they are old )

[sigshooter]

A few of when I drove it

[sigshooter]

Tore it all back down and painted the frame again

[sigshooter]

The donor truck I am using the body from.

[C@rnut001]

Your truck will be great when you get it together...thanks for sharing your build pictures. Good luck on getting it going.

[sigshooter]

This week I removed the locking drivers door handle, ignition switch, and locking glove box latch from the 63 C10 that cam in ascross the scales ( It had two keys with it still ) and installed them in my 65. I also removed the factory mirror bracket from the 63 since it was original baby blue with patina ( I removed the west coast mirrors last week ). I got my Eastwoods paint for the master cylinder and exhaust manifold this week, hopefully I will get those painted and installed.

[sigshooter]

Got the master cylinder painted and starting to work on the exhaust manifold

[Narxoleptic Customs]

Wow, cool story on the build. Keep it up and u r so lucky to have so many of these trucks come across the scales.
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[chevyrestoguy]

If you ever decide to fill the saddle tank access doors, let me know. My '64 has saddle tanks and the doors are missing. I got another set, but the dimension isn't the same as the holes in the bed. Normally, I would weld patch panels in the bedsides, but I'm trying to preserve the patina.

Honestly, the patina on yours is so cool, I would touch anything on the outside. You can't duplicate that kind of natural aging!!

[Jeff La]

Good Looking truck. Glad to see it's going on the road again.

[sigshooter]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

If you ever decide to fill the saddle tank access doors, let me know. My '64 has saddle tanks and the doors are missing. I got another set, but the dimension isn't the same as the holes in the bed. Normally, I would weld patch panels in the bedsides, but I'm trying to preserve the patina.

Honestly, the patina on yours is so cool, I would touch anything on the outside. You can't duplicate that kind of natural aging!!

I am going to fill in the holes for the saddle tanks. It wont be for a few months, but give me the dimensions on yours and I will watch for some coming in ascross the scales. My Donor truck actually spent most of its life in California. Here is the first registration, I have most all of them.

[sigshooter]

Inline 6 went back in today, Plans are to get it running and roadworthy for t he April Cruise and then start the body paint work

[sigshooter]

I dug these up out of an old box I had in the attic. My Grandpa had this truck when he was sheriff and somewhere I have an old newspaper clipping with the truck loaded down with old mattress from the jail headed to the dump. Back in the 1960's

[LostMy65]

^ So Cool!

[chad64chevy]

thats cool that you have all of the sheriff stuff! i got an old orlando florida detectives badge and 1914 i.j. double action revolver from my great grandpa! i hope you get the truck up and running for the car show, i'm going to do what i can to make it! i wont be bringing my truck this year, but maybe next year!!

[sigshooter]

Bring the truck! Mine will be running but not anything else, I dont care at least it will be moving under it's own power for the first time in 15 years.

there is alot of rat rods and just stuff pulled out of barns there each year so it is not just restored vehicles. It is all about vintage ol stuff.

[sigshooter]

Some pics of my days in Law Enforcement ( days as a Deputy Sheriff in Cherokee County and time as a Narcotics Investigator with the District Attorneys Office ).

[sigshooter]

Some pics of Grandpa ( since this was his truck and all ) he was Sheriff for 5 consectitive terms, a state record still held to this day. When he decided not to seek re - election for a 6th term he told it was because they quit letting him be true Lawman. Miranda laws and police brutality and the such. Adair County Oklahoma in the 50's and 60's was a rough place. Still like the old west where you shot first and asked questions later. Grandpa was Firm but Honest, and Adair County was far from being "civilized" enough to start playing by the rules and Grandpa knew it. Civil rights did not mean the same thing in Adair County as in some other places of the Country. He was ready to retire.

[sigshooter]

Moved the truck from the shop to home, so I can work on it whenever I get a few minutes here and there.

[LostMy65]

Great stuff.

My battery is going dead, so you may have already posted one, but, do you have a pic with your grandpa and the truck?
I just found one of my grandpa with me, my cousin Mike, and my truck.
I think these trucks already mean so much to us, but having family connection adds even more value to our projects.
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[sigshooter]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Great stuff.

My battery is going dead, so you may have already posted one, but, do you have a pic with your grandpa and the truck?
I just found one of my grandpa with me, my cousin Mike, and my truck.
I think these trucks already mean so much to us, but having family connection adds even more value to our projects.
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I have one somewhere, I have owned this truck for over 25 years and alot of the photos and stuff have gotten buried in boxes and placed in the attic and such

[65Gregg]

Thanks for sharing the background,it's appears you had a great connection with your grandfather.
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[daverod]

Great story. I think I would slap some of those old election stickers on it and drive the tires off it. Love the old pictures.