Back to the basics...My 1966 C30 to C10 project.

[hardwaa]

Back on Jan 4th I bought a factory fleetside shortbed from a buddy he decided he wasn't going to use it. It was an old trailer he had bought years ago. It is in background of photo below. The bed had no floor and was missing several cross floor supports.

[hardwaa]

I managed to find factory 1966 shortbed frame a couple weeks later (Jan 21st) forsale locally. I bought the frame brought it home and removed the extra stuff I didn't need. Then I placed the bed on it and it was exciting!!

[hardwaa]

That evening a 1966 C30 popped up forsalel locally. After talking to the seller he held it for me until I could get to look at it after work that Monday (Jan 25th) I went to look at the C30 after work and bought it.

[hardwaa]

The following Saturday I went and picked the c30 up and brought it home. It just barely fit through my side yard gate with the dual rear wheels. Truck was a 6cyl 292ci 4 speed manual trans truck that was used on a farm/ranch I believe in cotton wood AZ. THE C30 had an AZ title and ran and drove...tries were junk and brakes were very sketchy.

[bigmoe]

Looks like it's coming together. Just need some front fenders now. What's your plan for a driveline?

[hardwaa]

I started gathering some parts for the 66. The plan was simple just a static dropped stock looking 1966 chevy shortbed pickup. I refer to this as a Brochure truck look. Kind of a back to the basics approach. I knew I wanted some shiney stuff, Chrome: bumpers, Hubcaps, and grill. Engine and transmission ideas are Small block chevy with a 3 spd manual trans or a turbo 350 automatic. I knew I wanted to run 8" rear steelies with 6" up front. I also wanted my go to stock style steering wheel from a corvair truck/van. Here are some of the parts I gathered so far.

[hardwaa]

Last weekend. I got the trucks ready to go to my good buddy's shop so I could work on it July 4 week.

[hardwaa]

Tuesday I pressure sprayed the C30 engine compartment and the C10 frame. What a difference! I used bring home pics vs after wash pics for comparison.

[hardwaa]

Yesterdays progress.

[hardwaa]

Last pics from yesterday.

[hardwaa]

Progress...straitened and installed the bed floor supports, wheel tubs, tailgate trunions, also installed new body bushing kit. Removed the old chrome reverse wheels and put some freshly painted stock rims with staggered size junk tires. What a difference the wheels made.

[hardwaa]

Rolled it outside for some pics. My 1966 factory shortbed 1/2 ton!
Front clip and chrome bumpers are next.

[lolife99]

Great project.
Been following along on Instagram.

[jerry moss]

that was a hell of a lot of work in those temps, looks like a nice project and sounds like you have your plan laid out how you want it to look in the end.
now on a different subject- would you please keep your Arizona temperatures down there, we are supposed to see 113 today up here

[Justin71105]

Man that cleaned up nice, looks like no rust at all on either cab or bed.

I spent about 2 years cutting out rust on mine and patching it. 4k miles on the road with mine so far after almost 4 years of work.

Yours looks really good.

[Braunschweiger]

A great project, it fits together well.

[hardwaa]

Thanks guys!

I am having a blast!

Progress.

[rodstored-72]

very cool.. hopefully 1 of these days we'll see each other out cruisin' I am over in the area of the new park....

[hardwaa]

Passenger floor cleaned up nicely.

[hardwaa]

Loaded the truck up and brought it back home this morning. It will go into hibernation for a couple months. I will be giving it several scrub baths while it's home. I will get back to it when the weather breaks. Need to clean up the engine and trans, Reseal and paint the engine.

[hardwaa]

Back in August I took advantage of Tin Works labor day sale. I ordered rear notches and pan hard bar kit.

[hardwaa]

Today I did some project oranization.
Here is the front CPP lower tubular arms, rear 5 " dropped CPP springs, Front 3" dropped coil springs and shocks.

[hardwaa]

Here are the front lowered squarebody spindles and some parts from NAPA ( inner and outer wheel bearings, grease seals, spindle nuts, rotor dust caps, 5 lug rotors, square body upper ball joints.

[hardwaa]

I also scored some cowl corner without any holes.

[hardwaa]

Picked up a used turbo 350 and a 350 ci from 2 different buddies.