1968 C10 Project "The Twin"

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

After getting the doors put back together and alot of the dash back together. Figured it was time to set the bed back onto the frame, so taped up the back of the cab to protect it and with a cherry picker set the bed back down on the frame for the final time.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Once the bed was back on, moved to installing the back glass and windshield. Back window went quick and easy. Windshield put a bit of a fight, but thats to be expected with having to deal with the trim in the rubber. After a little cussing and yelling, got the thing set and sealed up.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Once the glass was set in, moved to installing trim on the front fenders and grille.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

More reassembly, mounting one fender, the passenger side trim was causing problems at this point and was waiting on a new piece. Got the rear bumper mounted and drilled and mounted the bed and tail gate trim. Also got the tail lights and back up lights installed.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

It was finally time to mount the bed side trim. with the door and cab corner pieces on, laid a string and got everything level before drilling the clip holes. Also got the bolt in low hump in and sealed up.

[bwl101]

Great transformation, good looking truck!

[68 C10 Driver]

Outstanding build so far, the truck looks brand new! I pray that mine comes out as good.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

With the side trim on the bed, moved to the interior of the truck and started buttoning that up. Got the stock bench recovered and got the shifter boot all finalized. Went with a 71/72 style houndstooth seat cover. Used a blue comfort grip wheel to tie everything together.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

With the interior buttoned up, it was finally time to put the nose all together. The end of the main project was close and about ready to get this truck back on the road.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Got the hood put back on and fitted and it was finally time to take it on its first shakedown drive after putting it all back together. Found a few little rattles and a leaks that needed buttoning up. Quickly realized that I was not going to like the original 3:73 gearing in the rear end for longer distance drives, so started planning what gear set I wanted to swap to. Also started planning on lowering the truck more, changing tires, and then swapping for power disc brakes up front.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

With figuring out what changes I wanted to already make to the truck, I found a good deal on a rebuilt 12 bolt of out a 69 C10 that 3:42 gears in it to swap out my stock rear with 3:73's. While out back swapped out the coils for 4" dropped coils, added 2" lowering blocks as well. At this point also realized the truck had been lowered with a ECE kit at some point as it had their relocated shock mount brackets on the frame. Also added a adjustable pan hard bar, cut the bump stops down to finish off the rear. Up front a friend gave me a power brake booster and master cylinder off a parts truck and all the brackets to keep it looking like a stock truck, and then ordered a CPP disc brake kit with 2.5 dropped spindles. Then took 2" lowering springs and cut half a coil off, cut the bump stops down for a little more travel and also installed a hotchkiss front sway bar. To cap off the changes, pulled the white letters off and swapped for fresh redline tires, re painted the rally wheels and got new trim rings and a nice set of original derby caps.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

The results of all the suspension changes got it the truck sitting and driving exactly how I wanted it too. This was kind of the cap on the main restoration, but these things are never done. I am currently already working on its next set of improvements and changes, but now its on the road and I can drive the wheels off while I get other stuff ready to swap out on the truck.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

I have been driving the wheels off the truck since getting everything buttoned up. Ready for the summer to really hit the road with it.

Even with that though already planning some winter projects for the truck. The big thing is pulling the bench seat out and fitting low back bucket seats and a console into the truck. I have always loved the look of them in the 69-72 trucks and blazers. So at a recent swap meet, found a set of early high back seats and from a post somewhere on here, had a hunch I can rework them into a nice set of low backs. So dragged them home and tore them apart down to the bare frame. Now having the fun of sourcing the rest of the stuff to do the swap.

[raggedjim]

Nice work on this truck.

Good luck, Rg

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Forgot I should share some pics of why the truck is called "The Twin". Once I decided to go the whole way on restoring the C10, decided to use my 68 Camaro sitting in the garage as a template/inspiration. The Camaro is my first car that my grandfather and I restored. It was the training tool to learn how to work on these old things. The Camaro is an all original numbers matching drivetrain car, with a 327 and M20 4 Speed. The only real things I changed was dressing the motor up like a Z/28 302, added the SS stuff and changed colors from Red to Blue. So since the C10 was a red small block, three pedal truck would be pretty fun to make a tow rig/twin to the Camaro.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Did a little upgrade/changing on the truck today. Swapped out the metal door panels for the correct padded door panels. Found out the the "Custom Comfort and Convenience" option included the vinyl door panels over the metal units originally. So made the swap and put the metal panels up for another truck down the road.

[FRCvette]

Those looks really nice. Preparing to install mine real soon.

[hardwaa]

Nice Job! truck looks Great!

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Got the latest upgrade to the truck done yesterday. Finally got all the pieces (that was a whole ordeal) to finally add a factory tach and fill the vacuum gauge hole with one of those little clocks. Swap was pretty straight forward, no real issues and tach works really well.

[GSFMECH]

Very very nice, I love this truck.

[yuccales]

Tire, wheel combo is fantastic. Great looking truck.

[chewychevy67]

What brandsize tires did you go with? I love those red line tires.

[Trucknut57]

Great job on the resto. That took some time and effort, you should be smiling from ear to ear when driving it around.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

What brandsize tires did you go with? I love those red line tires.

The tires are from diamondback tires. 245/60 15 Fronts and 275/60 15 Rears.

[chewychevy67]

Nice. Are you happy with the way they handle.