Overseas 1965 C10

[2mas]

Hi guys,
Just got myself another project.. Its a 65 C10 LWB, BBW, Texas barn find.
The truck has been sitting in a garage for 23 years. Almost rust free and straight as an arrow, with the patina I wanted. Bought it on a road trip with my 76 years old father! 5000 miles in 8 days..
There is a small rust hole in the front left cab corner, and a poor repair on rear left cab corner. Otherwise it looks really nice! This is my 4th C10 (64-66), my previous truck can be seen below.

I'm currently living in Boston and planning to make the truck drivable before I bring it back to Sweden when I move back next year.

Build plans/wish list...

Suspension/Wheels
I'm going with bags and steel wheels, 20" or 22". Would like to use Porterbuilt, but I'll see how my budget turns out.. I'm definitely getting disc brakes, brake booster, drop spindels, new rack pinion, power steering.

Motor/Trans
Have not really decided what to do yet. Still have my 2007 Duramax donor truck sitting (GMC Savanna). Great donor since it is 2WD and the smaller gearbox. It also have brand new injectors. Would be nice with an LS engine also.. I have a 2010 Camaro SS with a Whipple supercharger that would be nice in the truck! Difficult to find LS3 engines though. I want to have automatic trans. Have stick in the Camaro, but I want the smoother ride in the truck.

Body
Going to leave it for now, add some nice trim and bumpers. Porterbuilt hood hinges.

Interior
Would like to do something to remind me of an early 60s Impala interior, completely red maybe!

I would appreciate input from you guys that have done Duramax swaps.

[2mas]

First question for the experts!

I think I want to stay with 6-lug. I want disc brakes in all corners. Since I'm going with a bigger motor (possibly a Duramax or LS), what brakes and spindels would you recommend?

I was thinking I could buy spindels, rotors and calipers now that will be compatible with a Porterbuild crossmember if I go that route.

I have heard about using Corvette brakes in the front.

/Thomas

[Justin@EntropyRad]

nice start!

[2mas]

Got some work done yesterday. Pulled the Dmax out of the donor. Removed harness. Took the cab, old smallblock engine and front xmember of the C10.
Today the build begins!

[2mas]

Been putting in hours on the truck, 12h per day.... Assembled the PB crossmember. Fabricated engine mounts and moved transmission crossmember. The fire wall was cut out too. Engine sits nice. Might try to lover it 1/2" later when I do the final frame boxing and brackets.

The engine might appear to sit high, but I have a van-dmax and it has everything squeezed to the front to clear the tight space. Therefore some of the tubes point upwards... Will work on that later..

The great thing is that I can do this with my 77 year old father! Now when I live in US for a couple of years I get to hang out with him for some weekends. He lives in Michigan, and I live in Boston. I learn so much from him. He has 60 years in the car/truck/bus/diesel business! He moved to US from Sweden some 20 years ago.

[Grizz1963]

This is a serious Hotrod you are building.

Having your father for company and guidance is just awesome too.

[2mas]

Here is a picture with motor in truck. It is going to be very close to the hydra booster. I have seen someone use CPP angular bracket under dash for the hydra boost.

[CHIZZLER]

Looks like you got the motor to sit about the same as I did. Hydro boost will be very close and with running a PB setup you won't be able to use the stock inner fenders. Looking good.

[2mas]

Is your Astro hydra boost smaller than the Dmax?
Here you can see CPP's angle bracket for under dash mount.
/Thomas

[rmvlt1100]

Very Cool!!! Will keep watching this one.

[2mas]

Picked this beauty up a few weeks back! Any one know if I can get bezels for it?
I'm thinking exhaust right out from the turbo through the hood with flame thrower... Just kidding.. :-)

[2mas]

Hey,
Worked on the truck. Started the duramax today! No major issues! So reliefed when it started. Also assembled the rest of the pb parts with az performance huge 14" brake kit.
Tomorrow the cab will go back on. Hopefully put the new column in there. Need to figure out how to get gas pedal and brake pedal in there. And I need to find room for the hydra boost.
/Thomas

[DPowers]

Very nice.

[CHIZZLER]

Looking good. What did you use on the motor to clean it up?

[2mas]

An other day of hard work..

- Cab and fenders assembled. No body lift needed! Super happy for that.

- New steering column in place. Fitted nicely with the old brackets. Still need to figure out how to get the stock steering wheel to fit though..

- Got the gear shift mechanism working with the new column and the Duramax shift wire.

- Removed starter, alternators and some pulleys for the drive belt to be refurbishes.

- Got the new servo pump on there.

- Wire harness taken of so I would not tear it while putting cab back on.

- Test fitted the hydra boost and put lot of thought in to how to solve this... Not easy. A brake booster or the Duramax hydra boost will absolutely not fit in the standard place. Looked at possibility to fit CPP angle under dash boost bracket, but its really tight. Any ideas? The easiest would be to skip the power brakes, but that would not be ok with these big disk brakes. Once again, please add your thoughts.

- Unfortunately I did not get the tank and radiator from "*********", several weeks delayed. So I could only mockup fit with old radiator to decide what intercooler to run.

- Measured wheel dimensions. I'm going to use 20s from Detroit Steel Wheels again. 8" in front and 11". Does anyone have input on backspace, especially on the front wheels. I have 1" narrowed control arms.


As you can see I cannot close the hood whit this set up. I'll have to weld an angle to the intake or use silicone angle temporarily. The motor was "gently" sand blasted to get its earlier shine back. Came out really nice. So much nicer to work on a clean engine.
//Thomas

[2mas]

Late xmas present! Pods in grate shape for my 60-61 hood.
/Thomas

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by 2mas

Late xmas present! Pods in grate shape for my 60-61 hood.
/Thomas

Happy New Tear Thomas.

Nice presents too.

[2mas]

Got some parts. High hump tunnel and rear wheel tubs.

[CHIZZLER]

We rotated the hydro 180 so the canister is to the outside. It looks like the only thing we will need to do is rework the water neck on top of the motor and make some clearance for the boost tube. engine harness connectors will move back and angle. Good luck.

[2mas]

Got tires mounted.

[2mas]

Wheels and bed on truck. Fits perfect! Need an inch of trimming on front fenders. Removed rear springs to get max drop for now. Super happy!

[2mas]

Hydraboost testfitted. Will fit nice with a small chevy mc that is 1.5" shorter. I can move the whole unit out 1" by redesigning the rod bracket on the brakepedal.

[2mas]

Moosehrad radiator

[2mas]

Finally got my truck delivered after almost 2 months in transit..
The work can begin!

[chevyfreek]

Very nice build, did you get back to Sweden? I would love to read more on the swap for the dmax that was put in their. Keep up the amazing work!