the C10 of a mentlmidget

[mentlmidget]

...so I've had this truck for 10 years now. Yes, the truck and I have gone through changes. I bought my C10 from a car dealer. The C10 was parked under a tree with a ratty old blue plastic tarp thrown over to keep rain out of the broken driver's side window. The motor, stock 5.0L, did not run, and who knows about the transmission. $600 later, and it was mine. The dealer was nice enough to deliver it to my house. I hung new doors and glass, replaced the motor/trans from my previous street/strip car, and changed the gears in the rear. White and full of life once again. I drove it to work, elementary school, for the next few months. During the summer, I flip kitted the rear, and added dropped spindles/springs. Five inches closer to Mother Earth on a set of 15x9.5 rims times four. I later updated the grill from Chevy to GMC. The air bag scene was in it's infancy and an article caught my eye. The owner of a like C10 built a bridge for his C10 with 1/4" plate and 1/4" square tube. "I can do that", I told myself. I borrowed a MIG and my friends warehouse and with the help of a local machine shop, designed my own plates and sent sparks flying. It all fit under the stock bed. To make life easier, I hinged my bed, and added struts to assist in lifting the behemoth.

My brother-in-law bagged his S10 in the meantime. That was my next step. I sat down contemplating the outcome of my C10. I realized that it had been 6 years, a son and now a daughter born to the world. I needed to get back to my C10. I realized that I needed to bag the truck. Bought the parts/pieces to make it work and they sat for 2 years. I finally told myself that it wasn't going to get done unless I made it happen. I started on Friday afternoon, after school let out and I was off work. Yes, I am a school teacher. I blew the front suspension off the truck, mounted the bags and ran all the lines. By Sunday evening, I was on air, or at least 1/2 air. I have the back 1/2 to do, yet. Now I sit and wait; looking for the most opportune time, and to find a warehouse that has a big enough welder so that I may finish what I started.

I talked to Nathan at Porterbuilt for about 10 minutes, nice guy. I realized that I was getting caught up in the hype of slamming my truck to the ground. Thanks Nathan for clearing the cobwebs and putting my feet on the ground. I have examined numerous photos, read tons of articles in truck mags and forums, yes here and others, too. Talking to the local boys and the neighbors, they always ask,"What color are you going to paint it?" or my parent's favorite,"When you going to finish that truck?" It all boils down to...

It is 2 days before 2011. My truck will be finished in 2011. I don't know how, but I do know by whom, Me. It will be me and my C10. I have done all the work, like many of you have done all your own work. This is it, this is the time when push comes to shove and this project will have an ending. (I have to finish, there is a 69 Nova back-halved sitting in my garage.) And no, I am not forgetting my beautiful wife, and my two beautiful children who have from time to time given me a helping hand.

So to all you out there in Truckdom. Get out there.and GIT-R-DONE! (to borrow a famous phrase from LARRY)

Sorry to say, I don't have any pics of the early years of my truck, but I will update later with present pics. This is a great forum with many individuals that are willing to share their ideas and creativity. I hope you had a great year and will endeavor to have an even better year in 2011.