70 C10 One Piece at a Time

[bnorth]

Hi Everyone! I decided to start a build thread so I have a place to document everything and can maybe be held accountable for some progress by someone other than myself. That said I have 2 guidelines:
1) it has to be drivable every summer so no big multi-year blow apart frame off
2) I have to do something on it every day, no matter how small

Pics from the for sale ad:

[bnorth]

As usual the pics look better than it does in person but these trucks are getting really hard to find around here and are usually utter rusty junk or high asking prices for mediocre restorations. There's also a ton of C20's and GMC's for sale here in western Canada but I have always preferred the Chevy front clip and didn't want the hassle of dealing with rear leafs. This one was better than most I had looked at or seen for sale and the asking price was fair for how popular these trucks are now.

It's a pretty low optioned truck 292 4 spd no power steering or brakes. Someone had done a poor job on the cab corners and outer rockers but it was drivable and I drove it home 20km or ~15miles with no issues even getting up to 55mph on the secondary highway.

As I named the thread it's one piece at time so it stays a driver for the non-winter months here in the great white north. The plan, which is subject to change as they all are, is as follows: static 4/6 drop with bolt in C-notch, shortbed conversion, repair the bad rust, 71/72 grill, decent 4 wheel disc brakes, 6L/4L80e swap, sloppy 'don't BS me' turbo kit clone running on Holley Terminator X Max. Truck might get a factory two tone paintjob some day but will be shoptruck/ratty looking for long while first. I want to drive it and not worry about it or worry about my son hitting it with his bike or a puck in the garage.

Truck at home. My wife and her friend decided it looked like an Earl and I can live with that.

[bnorth]

SPID
And it only came with one key but I found a spare hiding in the PCV

[bnorth]

Had these cool mudflaps on it so I had to snap a pic for the state mudflap thread. Seat is in good shape and the fabric looks like something out of a squarebody but it is a fixed back. There is a similar one for sale near me with a flip forward back and drop down armrest that I may go pick up.

[bnorth]

Pulled the seat and floormat out to get a better look at the cancer issues. The floormat was in terrible shape and came out in pieces and liberal shop vac applications. Passenger side is definitely worse than the drivers side but both are mostly contained to the front mount area. The front mounts had been sleeved in some home built tin and tar concoction that just further destroyed any remaining metal. The passenger side got a lot worse looking after I dug out a nice chunk of epoxy. I am a bit concerned about the toe seam on the passenger side so I'll see what the wire cup on the grinder uncovers.

More pics to come, they won't attach right now.

[hevy_chevy67]

Good rule to have for being able to drive every summer. I tore apart my K10 and it's been 3.5 years now and still not ready. Things just snowball and I just wish I could drive it already!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by hevy_chevy67

Good rule to have for being able to drive every summer. I tore apart my K10 and it's been 3.5 years now and still not ready. Things just snowball and I just wish I could drive it already!

I had a car I started on before moving away to school and it sat for almost 8 years before I finished so I'm not eager to get on that program again.

[bnorth]

Passenger side cab floor photos from prior post. I've never done much bodywork before so it will be a steep and harsh learning curve.

Scott's Super Trucks is one of the best sources in Canada for C10 parts so I have a stack of sheetmetal from them ready to go in. Maybe once I get the passenger side done I'll reward myself with some drop springs

[bnorth]

Only other thing worth mentioning to this point is that I pulled the heavy duty rear bumper off to install a fair condition sport bumper the previous owner included when I bought the truck. Unfortunately he cut the bumper bolts so I didn't get the mounts with it so I have those sitting in a pile as well. I pulled the cowl last night as I was finishing up so I can pull the passenger side fender tonight and get a look at the rest of the rot. I would love to be able to leave the outer rocker on but not sure I can make that happen.

[MikeinNH]

Looks like a cool project. I like your thoughts of one thing a day but you also don't want to burn yourself out on it. Can you weld?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by MikeinNH

Looks like a cool project. I like your thoughts of one thing a day but you also don't want to burn yourself out on it. Can you weld?

Fair enough, I'm sure of the days will be ordering a part or shop supplies or cleaning toddler finger prints off the windows lol. I am a beginner welder but yes I have a miller 180 autoset in the garage.

[MikeinNH]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Fair enough, I'm sure of the days will be ordering a part or shop supplies or cleaning toddler finger prints off the windows lol. I am a beginner welder but yes I have a miller 180 autoset in the garage.

You can fix almost everything with a decent welder.

[raggedjim]

I like it, try to stick to your rules, I always blow them apart and then they sit for years!

You know, if you squint your eyes this kinda looks like the Grand Canyon...

Good luck, Rg

[OUbesto]

bnorth,

Keep at it, you"ll love it once its done. It took me just about three years to get my "blue baby" complete (see it in my icon). Even so, there is always something to update etc!

[bnorth]

Well it didn't take long to break my rule of something everyday. Got busy enjoying the last of the summer weather and working around the yard and then hurt my back helping a friend with some fencing so been out of the garage for 3 weeks due to that.

All I can report is that I got the cab braced up on the passenger side, added a couple more supports after I snapped the photo. No photos but got started on cutting out the A-pillar and kick panel. Hope to get back in the garage by the weekend as my back is finally healing up to finish cutting and finally start fitting up some metal.

I should add I met a new buddy because of the truck too. I found out my wife's friend's husband used to be a body guy and he lent me some hammers and dollys and we had a look at his cool Impala he's building.

[May70]

Looks familiar!

[CGCheyenne]

Hello bnorth fellow salmonarmenian! Looks good keep up the good work and stay with it I've had my 71 for 33 years and am always doing something to it!

[bnorth]

Well it wasn't a very productive winter on the truck so now that driving season is here in the great white north the pressure is on to make some progress.
I did get all the cancer cut out awhile ago and thought I had a pic up but turns out I didn't so here's one. And another of working on the fit up of the new panel.

[bnorth]

Fit up and primed ready to start welding. My fit up is certainly not impressive and the big gaps have given me some extra work to fill.

[bnorth]

Started welding the floor in. Had to slice it to get the inner rocker to line up. Just ignore that big pile of bird $sh!t and that hole I blew through

[MikeinNH]

Nothing an angle grinder can't smooth out. Glad to see some progress.

[68 C10 Driver]

Hang in there, you are doing a great job! Your welds will naturally get better as you gain more experience. I am new to welding myself, so I certainly can relate.

Grinders with a flap sander make everyone look like an expert!

[rowdy11]

Excited to see how you do! Sadly, those pillars and floor look very typical for most of these trucks. One day and one step at a time!

[68Gold/white]

Job well done, so far!!!
I’m with you, concerning keeping it road worthy, and working on it when possible!!!
My welding skills and yours are similar! Tell me some time what you have your welder settings on, and type of welder, if possible!
Thanks!
Jeff

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Job well done, so far!!!
I’m with you, concerning keeping it road worthy, and working on it when possible!!!
My welding skills and yours are similar! Tell me some time what you have your welder settings on, and type of welder, if possible!
Thanks!
Jeff

Hi Jeff I'm using a Miller 180 Autoset with .023 wire. I had it set for .023 wire and on 20 gauge for most of that but noticed some porosity when grinding the welds so turned it up to 18 gauge for a bit more heat.