1963 C-10 in NC

[1963c-10]

Well, been working on my latest 63 c-10 on and off for around 3 years, so I figured its time to start a thread. The truck was built in Baltimore as a standard cab and was sent to Pennsylvania where it was a farm truck until the early 80's. The truck then found its way to Raleigh NC, on to Fayetteville in the 90's and parked in a field where I found it 3 years ago. The truck still has the original 230 L6, muncie mc318 3 speed trans on the colum, and original 12 bolt rearend. Truck as it sits today has 71,017 on the odometer and I have the inspections going back to the early 80's to add some provinance. I have the original 63 truck manual as well as warrenty information for the truck, but no build sheet was found when I reupholstered the truck. The 1st pic is how it looked when I brought it home (the 61-63 hub caps were installed a few weeks after I got it home).

[1963c-10]

I had to replace the fuel pump, carb, fuel lines, all fluids, radiator, new tires, brakes, outside mirrors and all the wiring before I could make her road worthy. Somebody was trying to work on the wiring and made a complete mess out of it. I decided to convert the truck from standard warning lights to factory guages, so new wiring harness's made the conversion much easier. I restored the cluster myself. Took two years to find the factory vacuum guage, the tach was in the 1 1/2ton truck that my guages came out of.

[1963c-10]

Next project was the spare tire carrier in the fender. I just got tired of having to crawl under the truck every time I needed a spare tire, so I found a great rust free donar fender and carrier in Texas and had greyhound do the delivery. Took a good day to prep the fender, remove the old fender and install new. My 85 year old grandfather helped turn wrenches with me. He passed a year later, but everytime I look at the truck...I think of the time we spent together on it. Was a memorable day.

[1963c-10]

Next was the bed...or lack there of. The metal cross sills were there, but all the top harware including the angle strips were removed. I installed all stainless steel and oak to make it look a little nicer. Duplicolor supplied the roll in bed liner.

[1963c-10]

Finally after 3 weeks of wood work..ready to install

[1963c-10]

The rest of the time has been spent getting more parts ready for future projects. I have a new front end to install. The NC and PA winters have not been friendly to the sheet metal on my truck. I have a rust free driver door to replace the one currently installed. The interior is 90% complete, although now Im considering going to dark blue interior. I have a 427 big block chevy and borg warner t-16 HD 3 speed out of a 67 chevelle SS to go behind the big block. Im converting the clutch to hydraulic via a Novak kit and CaptainFab clutch converion kit. I have a brand new CPP master disc brake kit waiting to be installed along with a brand new dual master cylinder (using the same plate made by Captain Fab). The CPP kit includes new ball joints, tie rods, etc...The truck still retains the original 12 bolt rearend. New springs and shocks are in the boxes to be installed at the same time as the new front end. My vision is to look original,inside and out, but be powered by a 427 BBC w/3 speed on the column.

[1963c-10]

The truck did come with factory four way flashers and a litter container. I added the 60-61 glovebox emblem for no other reason than it looked at home on it. The custom cab trim was also added. The radio was pruchased from custom sound audio and although alot of people do not like them, I have been pleased with the radio. It looks and performs great. I did the upholstery myself in half a day.

[1963c-10]

I did manage to find an aluminum 63 grill which I stripped all the anodization off of and polished the aluminum out by hand. I still have to instll it, just waiting until I do the front end swap and the new front end sheet metal.

[1963c-10]

Other options I have waiting to be installed are the driver side spotlight, the 60-63 GMC side window trim and the windshield trim.

[1963c-10]

The spare tire lock came from an early 60's corvette.

[1963c-10]

The rims on the truck are the factory 3 bump rims which wont work with my disk brake conversion, so I got a stock set of 4 bump steelies from a 71 blazer 4x4 which came with disk brakes, so I can run my all my factory hardware once the conversion is done.

[Littletony]

Very nice truck, keep up the great work.

[1963c-10]

I spent a little time cleaning up the original 230, replaced a few gaskets, converted the points to an under cap electronic ignition, and some new paint.

[1963c-10]

More recently, I have just been doing some of the body work. Got some of the hood done this past Sat.

[1963c-10]

The bumpers I did a few months ago. The tailgate was a donar from a 57 truck. To date, I have parts off of 17 trucks to get this one in the condition its in. But Id rather have OEM parts than repop.

[1963c-10]

I could probably write days more worth of stuff on my build so far, but will try and do the progression better in the future instead of tryna catch up on 3 years worth. This truck is my daily driver and has been for the last 3 years. It is extremely reliable and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by Littletony

Very nice truck, keep up the great work.

Thank you...I call it my diamond in the rough.

[1963c-10]

I added 58-59 taillights...I like the stainless steel bezel than the standard 63 plain red lens. The 63 Farm truck plate took me awhile to find and almost 40 hours or knocking out dents, prep, tape and paint.

[McMurphy]

wow !
Very well done!
That turquios color was the same as ours when I was a kid.
I wish we had kept that truck!

yours just looks awesome, you got some good work on it now... cannot wait to see more!

[1963c-10]

Thank you McMurphy. I belive it was Glenwood green. Mine has only been painted two times so far, which definitely helps. I plan to go early 40's-50's pepsi blue on the next spray. Here is a pic of the color that Im going to use.

[1963c-10]

This is a pic of the GMC window trim I was refering to. I have a set that Im putting on my chevy.

[allaboutchevelles]

Very nice looking truck you have sir. Im glad to see someone near me building one of these trucks!! Im from sanford nc right up the road from you. You may already know but this weekend is the HUGE auto fair at the charlotte motor speedway. You should check it out, great place to get parts and check out some cool rides. Anyways welcome to the site and ill be following your build. Keep the pics coming. By the way I just picked up a brand new never used 64 plate for my truck from the raleigh collector car show a few weeks ago for 15$.

[62 Barnfind]

Truck is coming along good. Why don't you want to keep the turquios color? Both colors will look killer! Do you still have the left side fender? I am looking for one. I am in Killeen, Tx 76542.

[1963c-10]

thanks allaboutchevelles....yeah I know about the auto fair, but I'll be workiing on Sunday and theres a local car show Saturday in Hope Mills. We are trying to get a bunch of the locals together for a Sunday Lunch here in the next few weeks. Nice Chevelle too. I had a 69 SS 396/325HP when I was a teenager. The only car I sold that I wish I still had.

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by 62 Barnfind

Truck is coming along good. Why don't you want to keep the turquios color? Both colors will look killer! Do you still have the left side fender? I am looking for one. I am in Killeen, Tx 76542.

I have thought about keeping the factory color, but lately Ive been set on the Pepsi blue. I auctually have extra driver side fenders, but they will both need the inner support replaced, and probably wouldn't hurt to do the bottom patch also. They'd be good for a guy who doesn't mind patching one.