Over 25 Years Later, Finally My 71 C-10 Truck Build

[Palf70Step]

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Ooooooh, spiffy! Looks nice!
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Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Thanks guys.

I never built to be a show winner, just so it would look good enough to be parked there. That bigass brake set up under the hood takes away from the looks. My wiring and tubing isn't that well run compared to others I've seen. I probably should have clear coated the intake manifold before I installed the engine. It's clean and pretty much stock looking and is not as bad of a mess as it could have been.

I want to paint the studs for the brake booster to firewall bracket, and the bolt heads for the hood hinges.

I still have things to finish in the cab yet like hooking up the heater controls, the washer pump, floor mats, touch up the steering column.

Still need to do exhaust, adjust the e-brake cables, etc.

The problem is that I'm enjoying driving it too much, and I have the Jimmy project I've been working on also. I've always procrastinated on the details. I'll get to them eventually.

[hgs_notes]

Just doing a little more detailing and clean up. Checked out my heater controls and everything seems to be hooked up ok, but the fan only runs in low speed. I wonder if the problem is that little switch thing on the back or just dirty contacts or something. No heater hoses to the core, but I just want it to blow air to unfog if needed.

I figured out a quick simple way to paint some of the bolt heads under the hood without getting overspray all over and not having to tape everything up. I used an air filter box and cut it up to fit over the bolts I needed to paint. First I did the hood hinges...



Then used a different piece of the box to go over the brake booster bolts...


It worked great and on each shield I just needed to flip it over to do the opposite side.

After that I just washed the truck. I'm using a wash/wax mix that I hope works out well. It was dark when I finished so I might need to touch up some spots, but it looked ok when I got it back in the garage. A tip I learned from the body shop is to use compressed air to blow dry areas of the truck that will drain for a while and cause water spots, like the grill/headlights, wheels, body joints, etc. And when I opened the hood I found that a LOT of water leaks in there and will leave spots on the inner fenders, radiator support, etc. and need to be wiped down for a nicer finished look too. My truck was always such a beater before that when I did wash it I really didn't care about anything besides getting the bugs and bird crap off from it along with the thick layer of dust/dirt. This time I wanted it to look nice, if even just for this weekend.

Gratuitous truck pics ...




Those look like awesome burnout marks into the garage, but just wet tires.

[hgs_notes]

My first car show is over. No awards or prizes, non expected, although my wife thinks it should have won everything. On the way to St Peter I was thinking about the last time this truck had been more than about 20 miles from the house. I believe it was sometime in 1996. Today was 50 miles each way and it ran terrific, which was really the highlight of my day. As we came to the top of the hill overlooking St Peter, inside I was yelling "yeah, I made it to St Peter!"




We got parked, wiped the bugs off the front, registered, then spent the next couple hours in the swap area. I found a GM Performance air cleaner and valve cover breather to match my valve covers, $12 for the pair. I got a framed ad pic of a 67 stepper, 2" lift blocks to level the jimmy (the 1" I had were not enough) and a bottle cart for a cutting torch ( I have everything but the bottles now).


I hardly spent any time around my truck the whole day, so if any board members stopped to look and talk, I'm sorry I missed you. There were 5 or more other 67-72 trucks there. All were pretty nice.

No problems on the drive home. And when we got to New Ulm I pulled over and told my wife to drive to the store from there. She was nervous, it has changed dramatically since the last time she was behind the wheel. The first time she hit the throttle it jumped and she squeeled, huge grin. Then a beautiful smile the rest of the trip through town. When we got to the store I asked her if she would drive that to work if she could? She just smiled and nodded. She drove it to work as a daily driver back in 1993 when we lived in Owatonna and my oldest girl was our only child. She may not have driven it since about 1996.

Its been a good day. One for the books.

[Frizzle Fry]

Nice! Truck looks great! The detail work makes such a difference. Congrats!

[67cheby]

Congrats on getting to show it ! Can't wait to do the same
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[Mike Bradbury]

Feels nice to have a successful long road trip, that is until you look at the gas bill!

[Mike Bradbury]

What was your MPG by the way?

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

Nice! Truck looks great! The detail work makes such a difference. Congrats!

Thanks! Details schmetails.

Originally Posted by 67cheby

Congrats on getting to show it ! Can't wait to do the same
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Honestly, the best part of the day was the drive and time I spent with my wife. Thats the part you are REALLY going to love. I don't think we spent more than 20-30 minutes by the truck once we parked and cleaned it up.

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

Feels nice to have a successful long road trip, that is until you look at the gas bill!

Originally Posted by Mike Bradbury

What was your MPG by the way?

I really don't know. I put about 13 gallons in on 9/7. That didn't fill it. There is still gas in it. Might be as low as 10 mpg, as high as 12-15. When I drove it regularly with the carb it got 10 mpg. It always ran too rich, performance cam, driving style, etc all contributed to that. Not much has changed

I think about the cost of fuel on a classic car/truck like the saying for expensive trinkets. If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it. Its just the cost of having those feelings, the enjoyment and memories that I'm not going to get from 50,000 miles per year in my company car at 33 mpg.

Once I finish the exhaust and get the closed loop O2 sensor installed, and a good tune on it, I plan on tracking the mpg to see what, if any, improvement I get with the EFI. The problem I forsee is that I can't keep my foot out of it because I love the way it sounds when it doesn't upshift until about 4000 rpm.

There's another swap meet next month I might go to. Maybe I'll take the truck for a before test to see where its at now. It's about 100 miles away.

[Low Elco]

Great story. It's cool that your lady digs it. Definitely drive it to the swap! LBT can be thirsty, but thats because I enjoy the 1-2 bark!
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[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

but thats because I enjoy the 1-2 bark!
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I'm with ya there buddy.

She has always liked my truck. The night we met (7/10/1987) we were at a bar (celebrating my birthday the following day), we drank (a couple), we danced (scary, I know right?) but I decided to go play some pool at another bar and left (playing hard to get). She was with my co-workers wife (the match maker) there and another girl they worked with. About half an hour after I started playing, she showed up at the pool hall/bar. They drove around until they spotted my truck. We have been together ever since.

And now when she wants to get out of the house, she says "wanna go for a ride?" We put the windows down, hit the 2 lane and listen to the exhaust note (she likes that high rpm shift also) and the wind blowing. Now after 25 years together, we have our "dates" at the grocery store, or walmart, or a pizza place.

My kids are 15, 16 and 20. Its all about alone time now, where ever that may be. nudge, nudge, no what I mean? Say no more!

[Low Elco]

That's a cool story! My wife says that's why I couldn't mess around on her, everyone knows my truck, and they're too loud too sneak around! X2 on alone time, ours are 10&12, they're hard to dodge! My wife likes LBT, though, I had a show quality 85 stepper when we were dating, and she really liked that truck. Glad it's all good for you. Get the blazer going and go drift blasting this winter with the kids!
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[longbed67]

What a nice clean simple truck! I like it! What kind of exhaust are you planning on running?

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Get the blazer going and go drift blasting this winter with the kids!Posted via Mobile Device

I'm working on it.

Originally Posted by longbed67

What a nice clean simple truck! I like it! What kind of exhaust are you planning on running?

Thanks. I like it too. My vision for this truck all along has been what it is now. Simple and fun driver. BTW, yours is one of my favorite builds. I almost bought a 69 4x4 a few years ago with a straight 6 thinking turbo right away. I can't wait to hear it running and see how it all works out.

The exhaust I think is 2.25" stainless. Out of the headers, through the X type crossover, through the mufflers (placement undecided yet, either under the cab or between the trailing arms) and then over the axle and side exit. I have the crossover installed now with clamps and mufllers with just short sections of tubing so I can drive it. I have the stainless tail pipes in hand too. I have flowmaster 40's now and although they sound bad ass, I don't like the drone at idle in gear. It makes the rear window buzz its so loud. I might switch to a sonic turbo style which is what I had before and what I have on the jimmy. I like the sound of them and they are cheap, unless they are stainless, then they are a far cry from cheap. I'll weld it all out this winter when I know I won't be driving it for a while.

[longbed67]

I really like the side exit on the exhaust, for some reason the rear exit on these trucks just doesnt look as nice.

[hgs_notes]

Oh yeah, your patina look. Just takes a lot of taping but should look good like your doors.

Since I'm on a new page I'm moving my punch list over.

Punch list:
fan/headlight wiring upgrade
adjust e-brake cable
horn
Cowl shims
Washer pump
finish exhaust/install closed loop O2 sensor
upholstory recovered
alignment
stereo (eventually)
floor mats

[Palf70Step]

That is sweet!!
Your truck makes it look so much better too!

[67cheby]

She looks beautiful man !
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[VA72C10]

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[VA72C10]

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[longbed67]

The funny thing is, Is that your 2wd truck is still built heavier duty than his POS Yota that is has lifted trying to look tough! (key word trying)

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by longbed67

The funny thing is, Is that your 2wd truck is still built heavier duty than his POS Yota that is has lifted trying to look tough! (key word trying)

I actually like the toyotas. The only vehicle I ever bought new was a 1989 SR5 with a V-6 and 5 speed, xtra cab, 31" tires. It was an excellent truck that I put 100k on before I sold it when we had our 2nd kid (no room for seating or we would probably still own it). We put 5000 miles on it the first 3 weeks we had it, then had it out off roading in the western washington woods and mud a week or 2 after that. Loved that truck.

I also had an 83 celica GT that was a good car. I sold it to my cousin who slid it sideways off the road and into a tree about 3 weeks later. I saw it at a junkyard a few months later and was pissed at him all over again. It was in great shape and fun to drive (another 5 speed, rwd).

Remember the supras with the inline 6 turbo engines? Don't knock them too bad. I've considered getting another early 80's celica and dropping a small block (or maybe now an LS) into it and a stronger axle, something like frizzlefry is doing with the sunbeam (check out the alternate tinkerings part of the board).

I'll admit I don't know a lot about the current line of toys. I'd be surprised though if they weren't built fairly stout.

[hgs_notes]

This thread went over 100,000 views last night. Thats pretty cool for a pretty tame build compared to so many others on here. Probably has something to do with longevity, but I hope its been informative or entertaining at times along the way. Thanks for the kind words and support.

[bollybib]

congrats on 100k, your truck looks really good

[Low Elco]

Sounds to me like good work being appreciated. I personally like how you've gone from the usual fear of body/paint to seemingly effortlessly handling things pros would think twice about. Congrats on the 100k.
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