Help me plan my next truck - 10-15k Daily Driver

[Seth21]

Hey guys, I'm been trolling around your forum for a few months planning my first C10 build. Admittedly, I'm more of a f*rd guy but the C10 just looks too good and I've been wanting an older truck for year.

I'm looking to spend around 10k to get the truck started and then expect it wont be finished and will need more along the way. I want to do a patina truck shortbed truck with fuel injection, disc brakes and a 5 speed. Not looking to take this thing to the drag strip, just a daily driver and I'd like to get around 20 mpg. I drive nearly all highway so i think it might be possible.

I have 3 general options.
1. Buy a truck that doesn't run or doesn't have an engine with LS swap out of the gate. Only caveat here is that I would be doing it at a friends shop so this would need to be really well executed so my truck isn't in his shop for 2 months. I would probably need to pay a premium on a few things just to get the swap done the quick way. I could finish the detail items like gauges at my house.

2. Buy a decent shape truck that is running with solid engine. Add disc brakes, boyd tank, holley terminator, pertronix ignitor and a few other tune up items.

3. Buy a nice truck that cost 10k. I don't really want to do this to be honest.


I'm leaning towards option 1 but I have considered the possibility that a 283 with a decent transmission and the holley terminator could get the same gas mileage as the 5.3. Gas mileage is important but I still want a truck that isn't slow.

What thoughts do you guys have/what would you do?