The English are coming! Or..another C10 in the Motherland.

[Paul Y]

Back in June of last year I was idly surfing the pages of eBay whilst on one of the many conference calls I have with my colleagues in the USA when this caught my eye.



Was half looking for a C10 as had sold my previous toys a few years back due that strange thing called, life…





A call to the vendor and a number of photographs later a deal was done! Huzzah!

And that’s where that funny thing called life came around and knocked on my front door again, the week after the deal was done I was made redundant!

Luckily for me the gentlemen I had arranged to collect the truck and ship to the UK agreed to hold onto it until I decided what I wanted to do, sell in the USA or bring it back to the Motherland…

Fast forward a month or so and I was back in employment, looked like the truck was coming home, well that is right up until life decided that I needed another reminder of who was actually in charge of my destiny as my father was taken suddenly ill and had to have a fairly major operation! Thankfully he is a tough old boot and has made a full recovery so will be annoying my Mother for a fair few years yet.

So…. Approximately 6 months after purchasing the C10 I arrived at Southampton docs to be greeted by this:-



What is the old adage, expect the worse and hope for the best? Well on first acquaintance the old girl seems to be in a lot better nick than I could have hoped for!







And a long distance hitch hiker



I was quite specific in what I wanted from a truck. Original, unrestored, honest and it would appear that is what I have purchased.

And too show I was in a rather good mood, pictorial evidence of actual physical contact between the ‘evil middle child and I’…




After a quick walk around to check lights, tyres etc, moving a number of boxes that were shipped with the truck into my wife’s car to allow a little suspension travel, throwing 5 gallons of fresh juice into the tank and attaching my faithful jump leads a crank of the key failed in creating any vroom vroom from the engine… Sausages…



Off with the air cleaner and a little go juice down the carb and……



Success!!!!!



Well, sort of as it popped and banged, farted and banged some more until the engine pulled through the new fuel and settled down into a rather noisy tick over. Let the engine warm up, checked all the lights were working and hit the road for the 137mile journey home!

Now I had originally intended to have the truck collected and delivered to me in deepest darkest Essex but after getting a number of quotes I decided that, as it had been driving before it left California, I would collect it and drive home myself! Insured the truck on the chassis number and booked it into the MOT (annual roadworthiness test) for the afternoon.

For whatever reason, I was expecting the California plates to still be on the truck but, as you can see by the pictures, they were missing, so my journey started with me calling a friend to find out what the legal ramifications of driving a vehicle with no number plates on. Turns out that if you have a misrepresented or obscured number plate you will enjoy a £1000 fine and 3 points on your licence. However…if you have no number plate at all it is a £30 fixed penalty ticket and no points on your licence…

So, without further ado…I was off!



Stopped to throw a further 10 gallons of Shells finest in the tank ( yes I know the fuel cap is missing in earlier pictures, one of 2 things that didn’t make the trip)

All looked good on the gauges, if running a little cool, and with every passing mile the truck got happier and happier settling down into a 60mph cruise.






Having driven LHD cars in a RHD world for the best part of 35 years I don’t have a problem with motorways etc but due to ‘the box’ (more of which later) overtaking lorries on the journey home was…challenging… What do you think?



Traffic was very light on the M25 and we made good time but as I approached the Dartford crossing (a toll tunnel under/over the River Thames) I started to feel a little… uncomfortable…

Why, I hear you ask? Well let me tell you… I was sort of operating in that well know ‘grey area’ of legality on my drive home. Technically, you are not allowed to operate a vehicle on her Majesty’s Highway without an MOT.

However, you are allowed to drive a vehicle TOO an MOT station if the ticket has expired…remember me booking it in for its MOT earlier… Also, one of the headlamps had been smashed in transit and there was the small issue of the lack of number plates… So, after 107miles way was I now getting nervous?

To ease congestion at the Thames crossing automated barriers had been put in place, taking a picture of the driver and number plate and charging it against your registered account… So…what happens when you don’t have a number plate? I had visions of the barriers failing to open and the police arriving ‘En Mass’ escorting me off to a cold cell in Kent to be questioned about my ‘terrorist activities’… why, oh why had I not taken the other route home?

Remarkably, the new installation seemed to be doing its job as traffic was flowing freely as I approached the barrier…. Bugger, bugger. Bugger… only one car if front of me, already practicing what I was going to say to the constabulary…me next and……. The barriers opened and I was FREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

HUZZAH!!!!!

Only another 30 miles to go, “what could possibly go wrong” thought I as the unmistakable ‘running out of petrol first surge’ occurred as I entered the one mile tunnel under the Thames…. Guess the fuel gauges is inaccurate then….

Thankfully I managed to get through the tunnel and over to the hard shoulder where I put a further 5 gallons of juice in the tank, looks as if the fuel consumption is slightly higher than I would have hoped…

With the end of the journey in sight my wife left me to collect the 2 younger children from my parents as I made the final leg of the trip alone… Which meant I could act like a hooligan without her telling me off!

Have to say that the old girl can show a clean pair of heals to the unsuspecting ‘Yoof’ of Essex… but more of that later!

Tired and happy I tucked the truck in it new home and retired to my siting room, still smiling and feeling very much as if all was right with the world….



First job is to get the truck MOT’d where I will pick up my tale again but, until then, here are a few, poor, poor pictures of what I have actually purchased.











So until next time….
P.

[Ta2Don]

Awesome story… Nice present in the box… I'm watching!

Cheers and :welcome: aboard...

[duallyjams]

awesome first road trip

[65sub]

Nice solid truck to start with. Glad life got out of your way.

[Grizz1963]

Great intro and story for a guy who does not do build threads Paul.

Thanks for writing up.

Obviously I am here as and when you need me.

[Paul Y]

I like cars.
I like old cars.
I like old fast cars.
I like sleeperzzzzzzzzzzz (please excuse the slip into ‘Yoof Speak’

So what’s the plan, Batman?

I love the style and design of older cars, but I am not 100% happy in how they drive. My 56 (see above both car and truck) looked ‘stockish’ at first glance with different wheels and stance, but with modern underpinnings making them drive like a modern car. Oh yes they ‘might’ have a little power increase over stock…

I also used to do a little racing…

(Mmmmm...supposed to be a picture in here of my thinner, racing days, use your imagination)

So…with that in mind I have a 4 stage plan.

1. MOT and shake down to establish what is what.
2. Upgrade of brakes and suspension – Blame Rob at No Limits for this with his ‘How to make it handle thread’
3. Upgrade gearbox to 5 speed and change rear end gearing
4. Install LM7
5. Turbo.
6. Race.

OK, so that is a 6 point plan but you get the idea….

Without any further ado I give you…

Stage 1!

After awaking 'Woody' (Blame my daughter Woody is an ex California Forestry truck) from his slumbers it became apparent that there was a fairly heavy drain on the battery overnight. Quick charge and, using my trusty multimeter, checked to see if there was a draw with everything switched off.



That will be a no then.



But still not startie when turning the key. Did I happen to mention that I hate electrical problems?

A lot more investigation and still no closer to finding a problem, lot of loud clicking noise from the starter but no vroom, vroom. As it was bitterly call I decided to retire to the comfort of a hot shower, it only took 30 seconds to write but the above process took 6 hours.

Did I say I hated electrical problems?

Always do my best thinking in the shower so, after 20 minutes I had my Eureka! moment. Must be a problem with the starter motor, I concluded. Anyway too cold and late to go out again tonight so woke up early the next day to start the second day of diagnostics.

No pictures I am afraid but it became pretty apparent once under the truck what the problem could be. The main power lead was uninsulated where it attached to the starter and when it had been tightened had cranked over and was hard against the spare terminal on the solenoid.

Will make a new lead at a later point but for today just moved and re-secured. Quick test and….Success!!!!

Next job was to find out why the horn was not working. Quick call to Grizz to establish the position of the horn and the problem became immediately apparent…there was no horn!

Dug through my pile of carefully assembled spare parts, or pile of junk as my wife refers to it, and found a spare horn from my 56.



Tested it across the battery to ensure it worked, Parp Parp! I love the sound of an old horn. Plugged it in and pushed the horn button and…..Silence…. Bugger

So, quick test of the horn relay was inconclusive so disconnected it and took it apart to test in the comfort of the kitchen. I hate electrics…



Nothing much seemed amiss other than a bit of dust (in fact that is a recurring theme throughout the day) so cleaned and gapped the contacts and tested again. Success!



Re assembled and pushed the horn button again…Silence… Bugger, bugger.

Made up a test lead and bypassed the wiring up to the column.

PAAAARRRRRPPPPP!!!!!

We have Horn! But still nothing on the button. Electrics…..GRRRRRRRR!!!!!

Shorted out the contact at the wheel and nothing, so at least I had established where the fault was. Now you might have thought that this took a long time to read but it is nothing compared to the amount of time taken to get the wheel off the column….

Ended up making a puller, cutting threads in metric bolts and finally…



Success!

Tested the contact between the ring and horn push and nothing, HUZZZAAAHHH I have found the problem, only took me 4 hours…
Adjusted the plunger and retested, still nothing. Mmmmm…. My eyes then wondered to my ‘Top Shelf’ where there was a few steering wheels collected over the years.



The Impala wheel provided a replacement part ( in fact was tempted to just fit the Impala wheel) re assembled and… PAAAARRRRPPPPPPPPP!!!!!! We have horn from the horn button!!! Another thing ticked off the list



NEXT!!

Screen washers, the bane of my life in all vehicles…. So a little digging revealed that I did indeed have screen washers, the jets and tubes are all present, sadly no water bottle but that is an easy remedy. Now how do they work, or not in this particular case…

A quick poke around under the dash confirmed the location of the pump, with wires attached but no, Squirty Squrty action when the button was pushed. Looks like another electrical problem.

Did I mention that I hate Electrics?

After confirming there was feed from the switch, or at least I think there is, I decided that rather than remove large swathes of my body to enable me to contort into a position to test the pump I would just take it out. Actually quite easy after I had stemmed the flow of blood to my newly severed midrife.



Once on ‘the bench’ it became apparent that years of dust and probable lack of use, had caused the internals to seize up. After an hour of fannying about I made the decision that £17 spent with Rock Auto for a new pump was a wise investment, especially as they are a requirement for the MOT and I only had 6 days before I was required to attend the station to be tested.

By now it was bloody cold, getting quite late and my Father decided that, as much as he enjoys spending time with me, the lure of a cold beer and a warm fire had far more pull than a cup of warm tea and a cold garage. So we called it a day.

But! He still hadn't been for a ride in Woody, so we loaded up the dogs and drove out of one gate and back in through the other. As I was putting the truck away the older bearded one commented on the fact that one of the brake lights was not working, hopefully just a bulb.



So with Dad off home I thought I had just better check again that all was OK with a quick trip out of the gates…



It would appear I might have an LSD…

5 days until MOT time so, until later.

P.

[bj383ss]

Awesome story and Truck!!! Looking forward to your build thread. And Good Luck with the MOT. You are so lucky to have the LS based motor to transplant. You say you hate electronics. The LS conversion should be fun to watch.

[Ta2Don]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

Awesome story and Truck!!! Looking forward to your build thread. And Good Luck with the MOT. You are so lucky to have the LS based motor to transplant. You say you hate electronics. The LS conversion should be fun to watch.

[TJ's Chevy]

Awesome story and sweet truck!

[mjh1965]

Hi Paul it looks like a good starting point, and a good looking truck . As for the fuel consumption that sucks . Rian said you got about 12 to the gallon . I have sent you a pm with my number Martin

[Paul Y]

Evening Martin,

No 12mpg is not clever but feel with a bit of tuning I can improve on that.

The Big block in the 56 got over 18mpg put out nearly 500hp and ran low 12's whilst the 3100 had a mental smalblock that revved the heavens and still gave me over 20mpg on a run.

Think a combination of new build, a few miles to loosen it up, a bit of tuning on the carb (runs a bit rich) and some time with a timing light will reap benefits. Not 100% what is in the engine but it seems to have a cam of some type as well.

will respond to your PM shortly, just off to spend an hour in the freezer (garage) to check the brake light issue.

P.

[disasterbus]

cool truck, good to see another C-10 on English soil. Will be watching your progress with interest.

[Grizz1963]

I see the cheap Chinese Ditch Finder tyres almost caught you out as well Paul..

[Paul Y]

Right, so where were we then? Ah yes… 5 days to MOT day….

So what was outstanding that would be needed to achieve a magic ticket?
1. Horn – Done
2. Screen Washers – to do
3. Passenger brake light – to do
Screen washer first then.

Previously you will have seen that I decided to save myself a whole load of agro and just order up a new pump from Rockauto.

Placed the order on Sunday and it arrived on my doorstep Wednesday, which was lucky as I had a day off as it was my good ladys birthday. And as she is such a wonderful person, I was allowed an hour in the garage as she spent a leisurely afternoon with her feet up ahead of the evenings festivities.



Also ordered a new fuel cap, so here is a gratuitous shot of my first new addition to Woody…



Felt rather good putting something new on.




Anyway, took the new pump and offered it up… Mmm…something is not quite right here….



Bloody hell fire! Tried for 30 mins to modify it to fit but gave up as it was just too big to fit (that's what she said....)

Anyway, as you can probably guess not too happy at this stage, the grand total of $70, including shipping, wasted.

Oh well, plan b then, which I should have probably done in the first place but I am a stickler for ‘originality’ where possible.
Quick trip to my local auto factors to procure the following:-



Make up a quick loom



Positon under dash.



Push washer button and…..

Nothing.

Mmmm… test feed to motor, all good.

Take motor off and test on battery… Dead.

Return to motor factors who didn’t have another and ordered it in for the following day. Never mind will be an easy job to sort out one evening. More on this later.

Time for Cake and Laughter.

Later.

P.

[Palf70Step]

I am with you on NOT liking electrical issues. Good to see you working thru them. Truck looks like a really great start!

[Paul Y]

Some of you will have seen my pleas for help on the main board regarding an errant brake/turn signal (using the language of the locals here) and its refusal to light upon application of the stop pedal.



Well, with the excellent help and knowledge of Fleetside Larry, who put together a simple trouble shooting guide for, well… Simpletons… I discovered that the fault lay in the turn signal switch.



Hurrah!!

Trouble was that the nearest switch was 4000 miles away and even paying super doper shipping fees it would not be here in time…

I was hoping that I would be able to have an entire build thread without having to expose my alter ego but it would appear that necessity has dictated that this is not to be….

Calling KAPTAIN BODGEIT! KAPTAIN BODGEIT to the BODGE PHONE…



With the good Kaptain in the Bodge Cave, a hasty loom was Bodged together, bypassing the faulty switch and….



Success! We have lights! (to save me embarrassment I decided not to take pictures of this….) You will also be pleased to know that a switch has been ordered and will be here next week.

As the KAPTAIN left me to help other less fortunate I returned to the Elephant in the room… Well actually the LS motor in the bed…



Now, I had put out a plea to my local car people for the loan of a crane to extricate the new heart from the patient but with no luck.

So… How to get a 500lb motor out of a truck using nothing but Pallets, a few scaffold boards, jack and an Engine Stand….

DON’T JUDGE ME!!!!!!!

Let’s just say, not my proudest moment…







Please note that I moved the engine back on the stand so it is fully engaged and have a lump of 4 x 2 supporting the front now.

Cold and tired I retired for the evening, still a lot to do but getting there.

Until the next time.

P.

[Ta2Don]

When electrical issues arise, I always have to step away, breathe, then return...

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Ta2Don

When electrical issues arise, I always have to step away, breathe, then return...

Amen to that!

[Paul Y]

MOT booked for Saturday 10AM, so a few hours Friday night to get the washer motor fitted and tidy up before ticket time…

The good lady had collected the washer pump for me earlier so that upon removal of my suit and tie, I am not as classy as Grizz when it comes to garage attire, I was able to jump straight in.



Connected pump up to the loom and connected the pipes, water in a temp bottle and…

Success!!!!

The motor runs!! But, hold on.. No Aqua…. Mmm… Sucked the water through and reconnected….till nothing….

OK, pump out, took the lower plate off and connected to the battery.



What a load of rubbish (stronger word omitted for those of a delicate disposition). The pump was running but the gear was not, too late to get another pump now, nothing too it but to get up early, rush to the other motor factors in town and get another pump.

Quickly checked over the rest of the truck, filled it with fuel, turned it around and returned to the bosom of my family for an evening of laughter and mindless tv. Plus it was bloody cold and I had the hump.

Woody at new ride height, minus 500lb from his Bootay… Think I might get a nose bleed at that altitude…



You know there is more to come….

P.

[markeb01]

I've used that same pallet technique for moving and positioning heavy furniture before, by myself. Just takes patience so there aren't any injuries. Love your truck and build thread. And perhaps a bit tardy, but - Welcome to the forum!!!

Good luck on your testing.

[factorystock]

Nice find! Yes, it appears to have been an Ex Dept. of Forestry truck (special order green with gray top). Does your truck still have the SPID (service parts indentification decal) inside of glove box? These decals list the factory options ordered. These trucks were usually ordered with 4 speed transmission, posi traction rear axle, 16" rims and heavy duty rear coil springs. There should be a "SPL" on the paint code on the "For Economical Transportation" trim tag on lower inside left kick panel to verify.

[Paul Y]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Nice find! Yes, it appears to have been an Ex Dept. of Forestry truck (special order green with gray top). Does your truck still have the SPID (service parts indentification decal) inside of glove box? These decals list the factory options ordered. These trucks were usually ordered with 4 speed transmission, posi traction rear axle, 16" rims and heavy duty rear coil springs. There should be a "SPL" on the paint code on the "For Economical Transportation" trim tag on lower inside left kick panel to verify.

Thanks for the information, truck has a posi, as previously demonstrated, not sure on the SPID decal, will have a look, and the springs have been replaced with lowering coils from CCP.

Has a 4 speed and, what I am assuming is a very low, Numerically high rear axle ratio. Can pull away in 3rd with no trouble, 4.11 or maybe a 4.56 if there is such a thing.

Will look at the trim tag and report back.

P.

[Paul Y]

MOT Day!!!

Alarm kicks off at 7.30 to give me time for a cup of tea and a little breakfast before the big day. To say I was excited is probably an understatement.

A quick trip to another motor factors provided a new pump but, much to my dismay, it was the same as the two previous pumps but in a different packaging…Oh well, not time to moan yet.

Straight home plugged it in and…

Successs!!!!

KAPTAIN DODGEIT was unavailable when I called so had to improvise on a washer bottle and holder…



DON’T JUDGE ME!!!!!

By this time I was acutely aware of the clock ticking inexorably towards 10am and the 30 minute drive to the station, especially as it was now 9.40…

Collected all the documentation, jumped in Woody and, with a quick call to Andy at the MOT station to tell him I was on my way, we were off!

Having only driven with a full load in the bed the handling was…Interesting as I bounced and wallowed the 10 miles to the test station. I now feel as if I understand what the base line handling of Woody is and… it’s not what I would call ‘good’ by modern standards, or in fact any standard unless your previous benchmark was a Mirror Dingy…

Still smiled all the way though…

Glad that I invested a few Pounds Sterling in Rob at No Limits with his front and rear sway bars and Shocks along with his adjustable panhard rod. Think the time table for upgrades might have been brought forward by a few weeks.

Anyway, arrived a few minutes late at the station but, due to the fact that the C10 is not the most complicated vehicle ever made, still had enough time to carry out the test in full.





SPOILER ALERT!

Woody Passed!

Two advisories, slightly perished drivers side brake hose (Disk conversion coming soon so that is covered) and play in the steering box. To say I was happy doesn’t even cover it.

Whilst there Andy let me have a quick look underneath, not supposed too but he has been ticketing my cars for the past 15 years, and pleased to report that, despite outward appearance, Woody’s undercarriage is, to coin my favourite internet show, MINT!!

No rust, no surprises. Floor is solid with no repairs, 3 small pinholes in the drivers toe board but nothing to worry about. What a relief! Was in such a rush this morning that I forgot my camera so here are a few phone shots, bit pants but you get the picture.







Popped round to see a few friends on the way back one of whom will attend to the body damage on the b pillar and then home to spend time with my son before he goes back to University.

Took this at the local super market as it sort of gives an idea of the size difference between a ‘small’ pickup and the usual fodder….



All in all a great day. So, with the paper work sorted, I can apply for UK registration and now start on the GRAND PLAN!
Until next time,

P.

[Paul Y]

Because my daughter has control of the TV on a Sunday until 9pm went and took this



Not my finest work but it shows the SPL legend on the paint code as Mr FactoryStock indicated.

Wheel are 15" but after the best part of 49 years what do you expect!

Anyway to establish the rear end ratio without counting propshaft revolutions? Could it be on a tag or on the bulkhead?

P.

[markeb01]

Congrats on passing!