Lattimer's 1970 C-10 build

[Lattimer]

Got the other spring installed. It was just as bad.

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to change the trailing arm bushings, and that will give me pretty much good as new rear suspension.

Patch panels for the A and B pillars are supposed to show up on the brown truck tomorrow, so I'll move back to floorboard repairs.

[Lattimer]

Bushings are in. What a miserable son of a motherless............


Getting them out wasn't too bad. I put a bolt and a washer in the inner sleeve and used a 2-jaw puller to push the inner sleeve out, then just pried out the rubber portion with a screwdriver.

Putting the Prothane bushings in was another matter....and mostly my dumb fault. I took the sleeve out of the bushings, lubed them all over with the supplier grease, and put the sleeve back in. Used a c-clamp, a big socket, and a big flat washer to press them in. Got within 3/16" of all the way in and would not move. I fought with it for about 2 hours. Even took the exhaust off to make room to work. Finally got the bright idea to take the inner sleeve out. 1 shot from the dead-blow hammer and the bushings went right in. Who woulda thunk?

Now I just have to put the wheels back on and the rear end is done.

[Lattimer]

Wheels on, cut out more rust, and fit about half of the passenger floor. Had to piece in the A pillar below the bottom hinge and the foot well. The I had to do some major modification to the re-pop floorpan to make it fit. It will work, just won't be the prettiest. Good thing it all gets covered. What I have in there is about 80% welded.

Tomorrow I will finish welding and go after the back half. Outer portion is gone in the back, so lots of work to do.

[Lattimer]

Finally got the passenger side floorboards done. Took a lot of adjusting, the patch panel on this side didn't fit anywhere near as well as it did on the drivers side.





I still have to do some filler around my nasty weld on the cab corner, but I shot some paint on it to keep it from rusting.

Tomorrow I plan to get the flooring down, get the seat in, and hopefully if I get some help I can get the door back on. Also have to re-install the exhaust, as I had to pull that off to reach everything I had to cut, plus it was in the way of doing the suspension bushings.

[Lattimer]

Flooring is in.
I bought a full coverage rubber floor mat from LMC. NOT recommended. It fits very poorly. I think I wasted almost $200 on it. I picked it because it covered under the seat all the way back to the tank, but it really sucks. 6 hours with a heat gun and I have it tolerable. Probably going to replace it with carpet.

Got the door on and the seat in. Both doors need a little adjustment, but not too bad, considering the new weatherstripping and whatnot.

Did all of that yesterday. Today I put the exhaust back on after adding resonators. Still have to finish the tailpipes so they come out in front of the wheels. Right now it just dead ends under the cab. Sounds much better so far with the resonators....much more mellow.

Took it for a drive to run some errands and the radiator cracked. Fairly new looking aluminum radiator, but it cracked right at the bottom. Its one of the universal fit types, and its really a touch too big for the truck. Said screw it and ordered a direct fit replacement from AutoZone.

After that is more interior work. Re-work the doors, headliner, mirrors, etc. Also got some steelies on the way and scored some NOS '73 hubcaps on Ebay. No more Ford wheels!!!!!! Everyone who looks at the wheels on it says they look like Ford wheels.

Then......rebuild the front suspension and steering.

[derrickmanx1]

Build looks great so far. I'm at about the same place in my build with my cab. Keep it up.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by derrickmanx1

Build looks great so far. I'm at about the same place in my build with my cab. Keep it up.

Thanks!!!!

[Lattimer]

Installed a Highliner headliner today. Decided to do this to have speakers rather than doing a bunch of cutting or doing the crappy kick panels. I wanted a headliner, but didn't want to deal with trying to glue up a vinyl one, so its all good. Sound is just ok, and I will probably install better speakers before too long. It really cleaned up the interior though, and I was dreading painting the ceiling. Installed my new black sunvisors and new rear view mirror, so now all that's left in blue is the door panels. Those will be painted black soon.

Also spent about 4 hours adjusting the doors. I think I had the passenger door on and off about 8 times. I've been using my motorcycle jack with a wood block to hold the doors for install and removal, works very well.

Here are a some pics of the headliner and a couple just of the interior. Its coming together nicely.

[Lattimer]

Let's see......realized the other day that I have a tiny leak at the bottom of my gas tank, so I ordered one from Rock Auto.

Carpet should be here in a day or 2, so I will rip out my atrocious attempt at the rubber mat and replace with nice black carpet. I'll do the tank at the same time since I need the seat out.

Also ordered everything to replace all of my steering since the pump is moaning and the box leaks. So I have a new pump, new box, hoses, and tie rod ends on order, along with a new pitman arm and drag link. Already have a new rag joint.

Tonight I replaced the window seal on both doors. Very degraded stuff....a lot of it turned to powder.

Also got my steelies that I bought from a member on here. UPS showed up with them today. Now I have to clean them up and get them painted and pick out some tires.

[twangismythang]

lookin good, cant wait to see it with the steelies.
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[~Whitey~]

Nice work on the floor, looks really clean. What's with the emblem on the glove box door? hahaha sorry couldn't resist. I seen that post and had a good laugh. I wouldn't have even known if you didn't say anything. Guess I'm no purist. :-)
Officially subscribed. Keep the pics/progress coming.

Wanted to ask, since you have that headliner in.. Does it bother you in anyway? I've been considering one, but didn't know if it would make you feel crowded.

[Lattimer]

Originally Posted by ~Whitey~

Nice work on the floor, looks really clean. What's with the emblem on the glove box door? hahaha sorry couldn't resist. I seen that post and had a good laugh. I wouldn't have even known if you didn't say anything. Guess I'm no purist. :-)
Officially subscribed. Keep the pics/progress coming.

Wanted to ask, since you have that headliner in.. Does it bother you in anyway? I've been considering one, but didn't know if it would make you feel crowded.

Figured if I didn't mention it somebody would have to point it out....LOL. The guys at Early Classic Enterprises actually called me and asked if I was sure about that emblem because it doesn't belong on this year truck.

The headliner isn't bad. I'm 6'3", and I have a long torso, so I'm pretty close to it. Plus I added foam to my bench seat. I've hit my head on the center part a few times leaning over, but now I know to watch out for it.

[Lattimer]

Tonight I re-mounted my driver's seatbelt so it will retract properly and started installing the footwell covers I bought. Also installed a hood ornament to cover up the holes the PO had drilled in the hood.

[Lattimer]

Productive day today. Installed a new gas tank, which was much easier than I expected. ripped out the junk LMC rubber floor I wasted my time and $$$$ on and installed ACC carpet. Soooooo much easier and better. It fit perfect. Only had to cut holes for seatbelts, shifter, and dimmer.

Got my tripod mirrors from a member on here also. Got them installed and put the peep mirror in the circular file where it belongs.

Then I went for a 50 mile cruise.

Pics tomorrow.

[Lattimer]

Pics!!!

At Advance getting more anti-freeze



New Mirrors!!!!! No more ugly holes in the doors.






Also installed a hood ornament to cover up the holes in the hood from the PO


New carpet and floor mats. Dirty already





New radiator. Truck had a universal aluminum radiator in it, but it was a touch too big to really fit right and it somehow cracked in 3 places. Got this one pretty cheap at AutoZone online. Its the correct size 4-core.





Minor modification of the electric fan shroud was required





Also, a buddy gave me this that he found in his garage. Its a leftover from his Chevelle




I'm thinking of mounting it in the grill.

[zicc1835]

looking good keep them pics coming

[Lattimer]

Took a wire wheel to the used steelies I bought off the board. Got them all in primer and 2 painted gloss black.





New tires arrived today 255/70-15




The trans on the floor is the 4-speed waiting to be installed.

[Lattimer]

Got a flyer in the mail yesterday from Bother's with a decent price on tailgates, so I ordered one and all the hardware today. Mine is rusted through on the bottom and otherwise crappy.

Ordered a set of front lowering springs from Early Classic Enterprises today as well. Ordered ball joints and control arm shafts from RockAuto.

[Lattimer]

New shoes are on!!!!

255/70-15 Cooper Cobra's---bought them because they were inexpensive and had the perfect look.

15x6 GM steelies. Got them from a member on here, wire wheeled and hit them with rust converter and Rustoleum gloss black

1973-86 hubcaps, found NOS ones on Ebay and got them for $41. Painted the over the gold with red enamel.









Rear is lowered 2" and I have 2" lowering springs on thew ay for the front. I think I may have to add 1" blocks in the back to get the stance where I want it.

[zicc1835]

i like .....

[Tillik]

Sub'd Nice Work

[Lattimer]

Thanks!!! Its getting there.

This weekend I pulled the steering wheel back off and got the Grant horn kit to work (finally). Also got the turn signal cancellation to work. Installed my new black face tach on the column.

Worked on installing new power steering. Got everything in, new pump, lines, box, rag joint, pitman arm, and idler arm. Only problem is the pump leaks like crazy, so I have to pull it back out.

[~Whitey~]

Looking good! What exactly is the hood ornament? I seen you installed it to cover up some holes, but I can't tell what it is. Those wheels look great on there!

[Lattimer]

Its for a 1971 Monte Carlo. Its a little black circle with Chevrolet on it in script. Found it on Ebay. It covered up the holes and doesn't look too bad.

[jhwkns]

Lookin' good Shawn! Your truck has really come along.