1980 Silverado C10 “Big 10”

[Nick_R_23]

I just picked up this 1980 Chevy Silverado C10 from Fairbanks, Alaska for $800! It was a beautiful trip and well worth the 600 miles around to bring it back home. It is a factory Big 10 package, the engine is missing, but still has the TH350, 12 bolt rear axle, and was optioned with power windows, power door locks, sliding rear window, A/C, power steering, power brakes, and what appears to be the deluxe interior. It has factory rally wheels with only 3 trim rings missing, and two tone paint with exterior body trim. It also has an aftermarket rear bumper still in pretty good shape. Despite the options, this thing sat outside with the windows open for quite a number of years. However, it seems to have faired pretty well and there’s not too much rust, mostly just some large dents I’m hoping to get smoothed out. It’s missing the title, so until I get that bonded I won’t be doing too much to it other than cleanup and collecting parts, but I do have quite a lot sitting around that will end up being used here.

Ultimate plans are a stock-ish Vortec 350 that’s sitting in my shop, and one of the two TH350’s I have, most likely the one that’s already in the truck. I will also probably do a 4.5”/6” drop, and undecided on using the rally wheels or going with an aftermarket set. I have a 73/74 grille kicking around the shop I might throw in as well. Other than that, just clean it up and drive it.

The drive up! Left the house at 4:00 am



This is the picture from the ad.



Lookin’ a little sad there buddy. Let’s get you home.



All loaded up!



Beautiful views the whole way!





Got home and started cleaning it up!





Set the hood back on. Cleaned up pretty well!





Going to hit the interior next. Half tempted to find a bucket/console set from a suburban.



BIG 10!

[Nick_R_23]

Here’s some of the new parts I have sitting around that will end up on this engine.

Milodon Anti-climb shelf for the oil pan and ARP Vortec intake bolts



Holley aluminum Vortec timing cover with no sensor hole



Cloyes True Roller single row timing set



Melling M55HV high volume pump and drive shaft



Elgin 1.6 ratio rockers



LS3 beehive springs with Comp retainers



ARP main bolts for 4 bolt main blocks



OEM LS7 lifters



Weiand Vortec carb conversion intake

[Nick_R_23]

This was originally purchased for another project, but I found a better block I wanted to start off with instead, so this engine will now be used for the C10.

Donor rig was a 2000 Express Van



Engine out!



Engine separated from the transmission and heads removed





On the stand. Oil was a little milky, so head or intake gaskets were done.



Started teardown





Completely stripped down. Everything looked serviceable other than some light scoring on the pistons. Off to the machine shop!

[Nick_R_23]

Tinkered on it a little this weekend. Hooked a battery up to see if I could get the power windows to work. The switches seem functional, but I believe the motors are seized. There’s a little bit of life in her, though!



I also scored a bench seat for $100. It’s from a crew cab and non-folding, and the mounts will have to be swapped, but it’ll look better inside now.



Vacuumed the interior and removed the carpet and padding. Found some rocker rust, but the floor seems to be pretty nice overall!



Also wiped the interior down!



I picked up a full set of interior switches. Part of the title process says that the vehicle needs to be street legal, so all of the safety equipment needs to function, such as the horn, headlights, turn signals, brake lights, etc, so I’m hoping this solves a lot of issues right out of the gate.

[Nick_R_23]

Small change of powertrain plans, picked this up today! 1999 Express 2500 with a 5.7 Vortec and 4L80E for $250! Should be a good donor rig!

[Nick_R_23]

I really need to get that winch mounted on the trainer. Hand cranking it up on there was a pain in the ass!



Wasted no time parting it out!



Sawzall to the rescue!



Engine and trans out!

[PowerdbyChevy79]

Post some pics please...

[Nick_R_23]

Engine and trans in the shop!

[straight6chevyguy]

Cool project, Im kinda curious how positive you are about it being a 1980? Since it doesn't seem to have the correct hood or grille setup for an 80. I know those things could have been swapped but I'm just curious what you're thoughts were.

[Nick_R_23]

It’s an 80 per the VIN and door tag. The hood, although close, isn’t the exact same color, and the front end has definitely been worked on since the valance is white. It’s getting a ‘73 grille though as soon as I get the mounting brackets from a buddy.

[straight6chevyguy]

Okay that would make sense.
After I posted my reply I realized the truck does have the correct mirrors and has the fuel doors in the bed which would be correct. (I think fuel doors came out in 79? Someone can correct me if I'm wrong)

[Nick_R_23]

Don’t laugh, I changed my mind yet again! Found a 1997 Express 3500 that ran and drove with 135,000 miles for $900. The previous van had engine issues, this one will be drop in. I now have 3 Vortecs and 3 4L80E’s!



I’ve got the teardown on these figured out now!



This one was even easier because it was previously a box van. Need room? Tilt the cab!



Ready to be pulled!





She’s out!

[straight6chevyguy]

Well, that just means you'll have good reason to purchase some more none running old trucks that need engines or transmissions lol.

[Nick_R_23]

I might actually have a set for each car now. The 74 Nova is getting a very worked over -638 TBI block and one of the 4L80E’s (already been built to hold 900+hp). This 80 C10 will get this latest Vortec 350/4L80E. The 78 C10 seems happy with its 250 Inline 6/TH350 so far. I have a 72 Camaro SS and 72 Chevelle shells, one of those may get the other 350/4L80E, and the remainder gets the final Vortec 350 and choice of two TH350’s. There’s also a 400 SBC sitting in the corner. Who knows, maybe a Vortec headed 400?

[LT7A]

Wow, a couple of short beds in a short amount of time. Nice finds!

PS: Nice van collection ; )

[Nick_R_23]

Got the powertrain unloaded and staged to go in!



Brought the truck up to the shop!

[Nick_R_23]

Pulled the old transmission tonight!

[Nick_R_23]

I stripped the front end off to make it easier to install the engine and transmission.



Took a bit of fighting, but it’s in!



I picked up a new transmission mount to hopefully reuse my old crossmember, but I couldn’t come up with a way that made it fit to my satisfaction, especially since it hit the gas tank this far back.



So I bit the bullet and ordered a Holley C10 4L80E crossmember! I figured this was the better solution in this case not to continually mess around making something fit.

[straight6chevyguy]

Yeah I took most of the front end apart on my 76 when I pulled and replaced it's engine. That was mostly because my engine lifts arm was to short to reach in far enough lol. But it also does make it a lot easier to get in there and mess with the things you need to with the front end stuff removed.

[Nick_R_23]

New crossmember showed up today! I was hopeful that the existing frame holes would line up, but being that it’s for an LS swap, I had to drill a new set. Great fitment though!

[Nick_R_23]

So far, I’m pretty impressed with how well the Express van setup fits. The motor mount heat shields need to be removed, the shifter cable bracket needs to be removed, and the dipstick/fill tubes all need to be replaced with truck style, but otherwise it bolts right in, including exhaust manifolds!

Shifter bracket hits cab.



Driver side exhaust clearance.



Passenger side exhaust clearance.



Removed the oil cooler setup and converted over to a regular filter.

[kitsbeach]

I like it. Is this engine getting the carb setup?

[Nick_R_23]

Sticking with the factory EFI on this one. The ‘78 will most likely get the carb setup.