Newbie with a few questions

[shortymac83]

Ok, I'm looking at buying a 68 C-10. This thing is totally base model, white trim, 3 on the tree tranny, 250 six with a 1 BBL carb, 2WD, and a wood bed. Alright, this is going to be my daily driver for a year or so, but then I'd like to pull it in and give it a total restoration, including the wimpy 250.

My questions are -

1. Is there any place to get a full doghouse for this truck? I'm leaving the gas tank where it is, though I've heard that a popular thing to do is to put it under the bed. It's got a decent sized hole behind the seat, and the rockers and rear lower corners of the cab is gone. If it was just the rockers and corners, I'd patch it, but I don't know the condition of the floor, and I don't want to half-ass this job.

2. Is there a diagram for putting a new bed in it? I've got oak wood for it, but the trim (the brass between the wood slats) is really beat up, and the bed is rotted very bad (half of it is gone). I'm pretty good with woodworking and I have all the tools that I'd need, but I don't know how to make the joints between the wood.

3. For daily driving, I'd like to put a 4BBL carb and header on the motor and keep the original equipment for when (if) if I sell it. Is there anyone that still makes this stuff?

4. Can you get repro parts for the dash?

5. Are there any bench seats that will interchange with it? I'm not too sure on the condition of the whole thing, and if it isn't too bad, I'll just get it reupholstered, but if it is, this is kinda a rare truck around here.

6. Maaaybe, eventually I'll put in a 350 (I'd rather not, everything has one) or a 400, or maybe I'll be different and put in a 403 Olds. I'd like to keep the 3 on the tree shifting, but how strong is this transmission? I'm sorry that I can't provide any numbers, but the truck is 2 hours away from me and I don't have anyone to go check on it for me.

umm...I think that's it, but I'm sure that if I get it, I'll be a more regular member here because there's a lot that I haven't the faintest idea about with these things. I'm an Oldsmobile guy, but I'd like a truck and this thing is reeaaaly cheap (think under $400 bucks) and running, and I like these Chevy trucks, so that's that.