1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:23 PM

As a child, we would spend the summers with my Grandfather in Tampa Florida for a few weeks each year growing up. We would often take short rides in his pickup and stop along the way, collecting random cans and recyclable metal along the side of the road. I loved the old truck and had fond memories of my time spent in and around it. My Grandfather purchased it new in 1966 and drove it daily to work on the railroad. My time was spent with him in the 80's so by that era it was quite worn. None the less I still always longed to drive it and constantly begged for it every summer.

In 1992 I turned sixteen years old and as a surprise, My Grandfather showed up on my door step with the keys to this old green C10 we had spent the years in together. So the project begins... It was already a classic by the time I received it but it was barely drive-able.

As a young man, I patched and scraped together what I could to keep her on the road. Vibrant dreams of restoration always circled in my head, pouring out any time someone made a comment about the truck and would listen to me. Like most start up projects, I lacked funding. Surprised? I am sure many readers of this have had a similar experience at least once in their life.

Well, life happens... After some years as I made my way through college and married, I quickly found myself in need of reliable transportation instead of a project. I asked my Grandfather for permission to sell the old truck to a friend and find something more suitable for daily use as a budding adult. He understood my situation and we both agreed that it would be best to sell. So off it went to my friend's home in Tennessee! We had often worked on the truck together and he offered new vigor to it's restoration potential. I knew he would be a good steward of the truck.

Some years later I had started a family of my own. As we gathered together at Christmas and thanksgiving, stories of the old truck would still circulate the table. I would chat with my friend about it once in a while as the truck sat in a field behind his home.Waiting and waning in the outdoor conditions.

Then a call that would change this stories direction. My friend was moving in a few short months and was ready to part with the truck, if I was inclined to take her back. It was like lightening striking! Finally I was in a place in my life where I could take on a restoration project now 20 years in the making! That was in 2003.

We shuffled the truck back down to Florida on a trailer and rolled it into my garage. I began the tear down and found that the years had taken quite a toll on the old lady. Frankly, there wasn't much left of her that was salvageable. Piece by piece, I removed, blasted or replaced parts. All of the way down to the frame which I had powder coated. Week after week I would emerge from the garage covered in forty years of grime.

So here I am today in 2015, more than twelve years into the restoration. I had purchased two other entire trucks to scavenge the parts for one good build. Paint is just completed, interior just installed and I'm ready to turn over the engine for the first time in over ten years! So much time and work that I've poured into this truck. So much meaning and emotions are connected with it.

Here is the real kicker for you readers. My Grandfather turns 95 this year. AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE THE TRUCK BACK! We have not spoken of it's restoration or that I have it back!

My hope is to have the truck completed this May when we have a family gathering so I can pull up and surprise him.

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:25 PM

see photos attached.

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:27 PM

some of the motor

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:29 PM

Bed wood custom made from Purple heart

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:31 PM

Powder coated frame and line-x cab bottom

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:33 PM

Body work... and more body work.

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:35 PM

First coats of color! PPG Glamours Green

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:37 PM

Global clear coat finish.

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:39 PM

Final assembly is almost done on the body.

Leeforbes · 03-25-2015, 01:41 PM

interior carpet and kick panels with speakers and side vents.

disasterbus · 03-25-2015, 02:16 PM

great story and what a great looking truck, you must be very pleased with how it has turned out.

**TJ's Chevy** · 03-26-2015, 12:27 AM

Awesome story and sweet truck! I'm so happy to see that 6 banger still under the hood!

Awesome that you kept it! It looks sweet to! I did the same treatment to a 292 and also have another 292 I completely went through and hopped up. Looking forward to watching the rest of the build and hope to see a video of this thing running. Here's a picture of my 292 I hopped up for kicks and giggles.

Leeforbes · 08-31-2015, 10:05 PM

Here are some photos I shot tonight

**TJ's Chevy** · 08-31-2015, 10:32 PM

One Sweet truck!

Jeff La · 08-31-2015, 10:54 PM

One sweet truck is right, just make sure to get a pic of gramps face when he sees it. It's priceless.

GSIMFAB · 09-01-2015, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leeforbes

interior carpet and kick panels with speakers and side vents.

Where did you get the carpet kit from? Looks clean and great build btw.

Johnny_Lamebridge · 09-02-2015, 09:43 AM

Gorgeous C10... and awesome story about your Grandfather. I hope he's doing well.

azdude1964 · 09-02-2015, 01:44 PM

great to see another truck restored . the purple heart wood makes it sweet..

Lokin4AReason · 09-02-2015, 02:43 PM

nice build and love the colour ... =0)

03-25-2015, 01:23 PM	#1
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! As a child, we would spend the summers with my Grandfather in Tampa Florida for a few weeks each year growing up. We would often take short rides in his pickup and stop along the way, collecting random cans and recyclable metal along the side of the road. I loved the old truck and had fond memories of my time spent in and around it. My Grandfather purchased it new in 1966 and drove it daily to work on the railroad. My time was spent with him in the 80's so by that era it was quite worn. None the less I still always longed to drive it and constantly begged for it every summer. In 1992 I turned sixteen years old and as a surprise, My Grandfather showed up on my door step with the keys to this old green C10 we had spent the years in together. So the project begins... It was already a classic by the time I received it but it was barely drive-able. As a young man, I patched and scraped together what I could to keep her on the road. Vibrant dreams of restoration always circled in my head, pouring out any time someone made a comment about the truck and would listen to me. Like most start up projects, I lacked funding. Surprised? I am sure many readers of this have had a similar experience at least once in their life. Well, life happens... After some years as I made my way through college and married, I quickly found myself in need of reliable transportation instead of a project. I asked my Grandfather for permission to sell the old truck to a friend and find something more suitable for daily use as a budding adult. He understood my situation and we both agreed that it would be best to sell. So off it went to my friend's home in Tennessee! We had often worked on the truck together and he offered new vigor to it's restoration potential. I knew he would be a good steward of the truck. Some years later I had started a family of my own. As we gathered together at Christmas and thanksgiving, stories of the old truck would still circulate the table. I would chat with my friend about it once in a while as the truck sat in a field behind his home.Waiting and waning in the outdoor conditions. Then a call that would change this stories direction. My friend was moving in a few short months and was ready to part with the truck, if I was inclined to take her back. It was like lightening striking! Finally I was in a place in my life where I could take on a restoration project now 20 years in the making! That was in 2003. We shuffled the truck back down to Florida on a trailer and rolled it into my garage. I began the tear down and found that the years had taken quite a toll on the old lady. Frankly, there wasn't much left of her that was salvageable. Piece by piece, I removed, blasted or replaced parts. All of the way down to the frame which I had powder coated. Week after week I would emerge from the garage covered in forty years of grime. So here I am today in 2015, more than twelve years into the restoration. I had purchased two other entire trucks to scavenge the parts for one good build. Paint is just completed, interior just installed and I'm ready to turn over the engine for the first time in over ten years! So much time and work that I've poured into this truck. So much meaning and emotions are connected with it. Here is the real kicker for you readers. My Grandfather turns 95 this year. AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT I HAVE THE TRUCK BACK! We have not spoken of it's restoration or that I have it back! My hope is to have the truck completed this May when we have a family gathering so I can pull up and surprise him. __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:25 PM	#2
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! see photos attached. Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:27 PM	#3
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! some of the motor Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:29 PM	#4
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Bed wood custom made from Purple heart Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:31 PM	#5
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Powder coated frame and line-x cab bottom Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:33 PM	#6
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Body work... and more body work. Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:35 PM	#7
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! First coats of color! PPG Glamours Green Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:37 PM	#8
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Global clear coat finish. Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:39 PM	#9
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Final assembly is almost done on the body. Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 01:41 PM	#10
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! interior carpet and kick panels with speakers and side vents. Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

03-25-2015, 02:16 PM	#11
disasterbus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: London UK Posts: 135	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! great story and what a great looking truck, you must be very pleased with how it has turned out.

03-26-2015, 12:27 AM	#12
TJ's Chevy Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 10,384	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Awesome story and sweet truck! I'm so happy to see that 6 banger still under the hood! Awesome that you kept it! It looks sweet to! I did the same treatment to a 292 and also have another 292 I completely went through and hopped up. Looking forward to watching the rest of the build and hope to see a video of this thing running. Here's a picture of my 292 I hopped up for kicks and giggles. Attached Images __________________ 1966 Chevy C10 "Project Two Tone" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596643 1964 GMC "Crustine" semi-build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=665056 My youtube channel. Username "Military Chevy": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h...fzpcUXyK_5-uiw

08-31-2015, 10:05 PM	#13
Leeforbes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 38	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Here are some photos I shot tonight Attached Images __________________ My 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet Project. Build Photos Accessory Drive System I used

08-31-2015, 10:32 PM	#14
TJ's Chevy Post Whore Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 10,384	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! One Sweet truck! __________________ 1966 Chevy C10 "Project Two Tone" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=596643 1964 GMC "Crustine" semi-build:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=665056 My youtube channel. Username "Military Chevy": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_h...fzpcUXyK_5-uiw

08-31-2015, 10:54 PM	#15
Jeff La Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Donaldsonville, La. Posts: 1,024	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! One sweet truck is right, just make sure to get a pic of gramps face when he sees it. It's priceless.



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09-02-2015, 09:43 AM	#17
Johnny_Lamebridge Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 507	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! Gorgeous C10... and awesome story about your Grandfather. I hope he's doing well. __________________ * My 63 C10 SWB Fleetside (converted to BBW): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...58#post6851558 @johnny_lamebridge on Instagram

09-02-2015, 01:44 PM	#18
azdude1964 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: tucson,az Posts: 179	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! great to see another truck restored . the purple heart wood makes it sweet.. __________________ efi 496bbc th350 custom brakes narrowed 9 coilover rear.

09-02-2015, 02:43 PM	#19
Lokin4AReason Registered User Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: a beer can .. Posts: 927	Re: 1966 C10 short Bed Fleet 250 L6 3 on the Tree performance upgrades! nice build and love the colour ... =0) __________________ dont want to hear excuses, i want to hear solution(s)

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