My 1978 C10 Build

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Well I figured I would go ahead and start a thread on here now that I'm starting to get this project going.

Ill go ahead and state that this will not be completed quickly as the c10 is backburner to the silverado at the moment and the silverado is backburner to finishing our house!

What is it?
1978 C10 I bought from my brother last spring. He had owned it since 2003. He ran it low on oil and ate the main bearings, I pulled the motor in the spring of 08 for him to rebuild it... but that never happened. Truck sat at my parents for 3 years before I finally talked him into selling it to me!

Goal?
Just want something I can get in a cruise and handle with my spirited driving. Might take to a couple autocross events but that's secondary.

Whats the short term plan?
-Its going to get the 5.3 out of my 02 or it will be getting a lq4... just depends on if i swap the silverado or not. Ive got a spare 4l60e but may just leave the T350 in there for now
-Porterbuilt touring dropmember, flip, notch, shackles out back. Remount shocks, traction bars, heavy sway bars, stiffen up chassis etc
- Rear disc conversion
-18x9.5 Draglite XPs all the way around on 295/45r18s
- Freshen up the interior (door straps/covers, dash pad)
- Paint between the moldings grey (I love me some 2 tone chevys)
- Rear sport bumper, 79 grille, solid rear glass, etc

Long term?
- We'll see

Im sure there will be other stuff but thats the plan. I hope to be driving the truck a year from now. Probably wont start wrenching until late summer as my wife told me I have to finish our master bedroom before I can touch my toys again! And Ive got to find time to drop my new performabuilt lvl2 60e and circle D converter in the silverado!

[my4by2]

Looks like a fun project & I LOVE those wheels!!! Can't wait to see more pics!

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Originally Posted by my4by2

Looks like a fun project & I LOVE those wheels!!! Can't wait to see more pics!

Thanks, me too! Funny thing, I actually havent seen them in person yet. I found them on craigslist in a small town 5 hours away one sunday night... luckily my parents just moved the next town over from them. So I called up pops that sunday night and monday afternoon he had them sitting in his pole barn. Hopefully Ill make a trip up there to pick them up or he will deliver them soon!

[Dieselholic92]

Can't wait to see more!

[JRANGER]

nice

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Not much of an update. But my dad did come in town so I got my wheels in. Tires are too small but ill be able to roll it around better now!

It was a pain tracking down the proper lug nuts for these XPs! They were discontinued back in 06 and Weld chunked their remaining inventory. Luckily Peter at KC Treads still has several NOS packages of lug nuts so I bought them. Still need to source some center caps though. Also Ill need longer studs since I'm not happy with the amount of thread engagement.

But anyway a few new pics...






Ive also picked up a few parts from the junk yard, solid rear glass, 78 grill, pass headlight bezel.

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Went shopping on craigslist today and picked up a 5.3L long block, most of the accessories for it, and some stainless fbody long tubes. Also got my nos weld center caps in the mail yesterday.

[JRANGER]

nice nice

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Can't get it in there soon enough!

[JRANGER]

haha nice

[BLK2K2SILVY]

Well I've been doing more shopping. Picked up most of the stuff to complete the motor.

Coil packs
Waterpump
DBC throttle body
Factory harness (not sure if Im going to mod it or send it out to someone)
Ls1 oil pan/pickup/dipstick/tube (for clearance when the truck gets slammed and section crossmember)
Dirty Dingo mounts

Going to keep the th350 in it for now since I have everything to run it (converter, proper flexplate, spacer, etc.) Down the road when money isn't so much of a factor I'll swap out to a 60e or 80e.

Anyway a few pics.





Tear down of the truck to start the swap might be a bit delayed. I hope to be running by spring '13, but the wife is due with baby #2 in December, so I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to put into the old girl!