College kid restoring a C10

[OxfordC10]

Hey so I'm a college student and impulse bought a 1970 C10. Money is tight so this restoration project is slowly slowly coming along but just wanted to show you guys that the younger kids are into fixing up the classics. Ill try and keep everyone updated along the way! Any suggestions are appreciated.

Its a straight 6 and so far I have gotten a bench seat for her, and plan to put on some lowering springs, paint it black, fix all the rust, wood bed, newer tires, new mirrors, etc.

[demian5]

Originally Posted by OxfordC10

paint it black

Stop right there junior, its only original once! It has way more character like it is now and you will one day regret painting it black over that beautiful patina.

[OxfordC10]

Ok!

[leddzepp]

Nice truck, welcome to the board. Fix it up the way YOU want, it's your truck.

[Eddie H.]

The first priority is make it safe to drive, brakes, tires, steering, suspension. Next is make it dependable, change all fluids, tune up, belts hoses, etc. Last is cosmetics, paint interior, customization , as money and time allows.

[cooperhw]

Nice looking project to start put with. Next, welcome. Last, your truck do what you want to it. That said, only original paint once. Guys here would live to keep her just the way she is. Not me particularly unless I found just the right one.

[RedRider]

Originally Posted by Eddie H.

The first priority is make it safe to drive, brakes, tires, steering, suspension. Next is make it dependable, change all fluids, tune up, belts hoses, etc. Last is cosmetics, paint interior, customization , as money and time allows.

Agreed. Make sure it's mechanically sound, then move onto cosmetics.

[AussieinNC]

Welcome aboard and congrats on your truck purchase...

Speaking as an old guy,,,its truly refreshing to find a "yungin" even remotely interested in working on an old truck...

Its your truck, you paint it as you like...but like others here, please make sure its safe (brakes, lights, tires etc) then as funds come along, start making it truly yours.

This group has an exceptional bank of knowledge spread across our members, so when you have questions, and you will have many, just ask away...

Pics always help out, especially if you need to know "what is this doohicky"....

Stay safe and welcome again...

[jocko]

Congrats and welcome. Nice place to start - the truck, and here. I like em original too, but don't confuse rust with patina, I think you have a little of each - do what you like as others have stated, it's your baby! Mechanicals first, especially BRAKES! If you can't go, you can't hurt yourself, but if you can't stop, you sure can!

[ryans69chevy]

If you are anything like me, that is probably the best impulse buy of your life!

I bought my pickup 8 years ago now and wanted to do the same thing as you do. I was a senior in high school and just bought my dream truck. I had a blast fixing the important stuff that most people can't see like all new brakes, master cylinder, new tires, new bushings in a lot of places. Everything I focused on was to make it drive safe and be reliable.

After that I started tackling the cab - I ripped it apart and redid the floor and put carpet in and got my bench redone. It was money well spent and I learned a lot since I did most of the work myself. This was all done my senior year of high school. I got that part all done and couldn't stop.

I drove my pickup through my whole first year of college and wanted to do a full restoration on it. So after my first year of college I tore the pickup apart and started on the frame. This is where I went in the wrong direction since I wanted to restore it and funds started running out fast. After college I moved to an apartment and wanted to buy a house so the pickup resto was put on hold.

Fast forward to now and if you look at my build thread you can that it's not even close to being done. I'm still working on the frame! Every time I see one of these pickups driving around I wish I would have waited to tear mine apart. I miss driving it.

Maybe you aren't wanting to go this far into a restoration like I did, I'm not trying to talk you out of it or anything, just trying to share my story with you and let you know that I probably wasnt ready for this project at that point in my life. I wish I would have left it like how I had it before I tore it apart.

Your pickup looks to be a keeper and if you like you said clean it up a bit you will have a blast! Use this sites' search engine tab to your advantage. You will find some cheap ways to clean the paint up to looking pretty cool with just some labor hours.

Good luck and keep posting pics! BTW what are you going for in school?

[OxfordC10]

Thanks for accepting me with open arms guys! I got new rockers on because the previous ones were non existent and rusted.

Already got a new water pump, belt, fan, wires and tubes on her along with a tune up and she is running GREAT. Really lucked out with 30000 miles on the engine.

The floors are next and working on those with some bondo and knocking that out.

Raining here in OH so ill get some pics of it on Sunday or Monday and give y'all a update. Thanks!

[OxfordC10]

Biomedical engineering, looking to go to graduate school after my undergrad.

[Greasey Harley]

Originally Posted by ryans69chevy

...Every time I see one of these pickups driving around I wish I would have waited to tear mine apart. I miss driving it. ...

Two hillbillies, with air tools and a twelve pack, can tear a rig down to the bare frame in an afternoon. It takes a lot of time, a pile of money, and a bit knowledge to put one back together.
Personally I have tore down 3 cars to the frame and successfully re resembled ZERO. (one is close)

[rockyrivermark]

Cool. Have fun with it.
Remember Patina is just a fancy name for rust and faded paint.
Same as fly fishermen calling bobbers a strike indicator.

Mark

[RB72]

Also a college kid as well, here is my project!

[trac209]

Welcome,nice truck. Keep us posted we like pics

[skinnan]

M.A.C.G.A.
Make A Chevy Great Again....

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by skinnan

M.A.C.G.A.
Make A Chevy Great Again....

Well said!

[Foureye71]

Also a broke college kid trying to build a truck. Good luck with both your truck and degree, I'm going for mechanical engineering and can only imagine what biomechanical is like.

[OxfordC10]

Finished the wood bed today!

[Dustmaker65]

Very Nice! Floor looks good!

[dgheinen]

Looks great! What kind of wood did you go with? Did you buy a kit, or make it yourself?

[DeadheadNM]

Best wishes for the build - off to a great start. I had to sell a 71 Blazer I installed a zz4 crate motor in when I when I embarked on an advanced degree. Many years later after my professional goals were realized I jumped back into these trucks big time. I'll say this from personal experience and at risk for being flamed that the trucks will be there, keep it simple for the build at the moment, make it fun, and prioritize your education.