project "C10 Fever" (68 factory black 396 swb)

[68bowtie]

finally starting my first build thread! not sure if it will qualify as a "build" for a while, but i have big plans for this one. it's in really good mechanical condition (reliable driver), but really needs a complete restoration.

The story of how I found this truck:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=683389

factory options:
- 1968 shortbed fleetside
- custom cab
- 530 black/white two tone
- 396 big block
- turbo hydra-matic
- air conditioning
- full wheel covers
- wood floor
- power steering
- tinted windows
- front and rear chrome bumpers
- front sway bar

SPID:


i've got a few things planned for the near term, and lots of ideas for long term. might just play it by ear and see what happens, but one thing for sure, BIG BLOCK. also, whatever i do i'm not going to make any mods that can't be undone. as time goes by i seem to have more appreciation for the factory aspects of these trucks, so who knows when i'm old and cranky i may decide to do a factory resto.

work completed so far (updated7/25/20):
- powdercoated 15x10 (custom bs) and 15x8 steelies & oem dog dish caps
- 295/50r15 and 245/60r15 m/t sportsmans
- 4/5 static drop
- front suspension rebuild and disk brakes
- buddy buckets!
- replaced interior parts with original fawn color parts (dyed to match)
- rebuilt tilt column
- restored dash and glove box door
- all new door & window hardware
- swapped the steel bed floor for a new black wood floor, powdercoated strips & polished hardware
- cleaned up the engine bay, custom firewall a/c delete plates
- wilwood master cylinder
- elec wp, elec fans, 1-wire alt, relocated battery under bed
- 396 hi-perf, dome pistons, 049 heads, XE274H cam, roller rockers, edelbrock performer, demon 625, BB8 headers
- 700r4 trans
- 3.42 gears

on our way home...


first drive, first gas stop, and first compliment from a stranger...

[xtremedurb00]

Good luck. Can't wait to see the progress.

[sierragrande71]

Good looking truck!

[68bowtie]

Originally Posted by sierragrande71

Good looking truck!

thanks! hey did i get that floor shift tilt column from you? i plan on installing it in this truck eventually...


the more i explore this truck the more i find. some good... and some bad...

some good ones... even though the PO swapped in a small block, the original high hump trans cover, 4-core radiator, engine stands, mounts, and radiator shroud are all still there.

[68bowtie]

on the bad side... the "carpet" turned out to be cut out pieces of felt GLUED to the floor and lower door panels. after peeling it out and scraping the silicon off, it looks kind of sorry. that's easy to fix at least. the felt on the passenger door was covering up a carefully cut speaker hole. only on that door luckily, the driver side is not cut...

[68bowtie]

pulled the 73 buckets out and dropped in my buddy buckets. they need to be overhauled, but for now this works for me...



pulled out the 60-66 steering wheel and after a good scrubbing put a fawn one in from a 67 cst i had laying around.



got some drop spindles in a trade, cleaned them up and painted them last night. one piece of the 4/6 puzzle...



so i have a question for you guys here. i have a pair of parchment door panels from a 50th anniversary truck. i put them in to see what they would look like. this truck was originally black and white, so i was thinking of doing a black & white interior/exterior. but it seems like too much contrast to me. i'd love some opinions.

[mywifestruck]

Do the black and white. It will be a lot of contrast but it will really pop. My 68 interior is blue with red door panels and red dash. Keep it interesting. Plus it's your truck and your build don't make it look like everyother truck out there, make it look like yours.

[67chevy1series]

Just my opinion, I like the factory black combo, but I would go with the black interior and do fawn vinyl. Now I agree the parchment looks nice but the fawn will look cleaner with actually driving the truck and fawn is a combo that will look really 60's and factory but it's something most people don't do anymore as they go to red/blue/parchment (white). Pretty cool to have one of the first 1/2 ton trucks Chevy ever put a Big Block in.

[sierragrande71]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

thanks! hey did i get that floor shift tilt column from you? i plan on installing it in this truck eventually...


the more i explore this truck the more i find. some good... and some bad...

some good ones... even though the PO swapped in a small block, the original high hump trans cover, 4-core radiator, engine stands, mounts, and radiator shroud are all still there.

Attachment 1462185

Attachment 1462186

Attachment 1462187

You sure did! Are you gonna put it in your truck? Anyways good looking truck man glad you found one!

[68bowtie]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

Just my opinion, I like the factory black combo, but I would go with the black interior and do fawn vinyl. Now I agree the parchment looks nice but the fawn will look cleaner with actually driving the truck and fawn is a combo that will look really 60's and factory but it's something most people don't do anymore as they go to red/blue/parchment (white). Pretty cool to have one of the first 1/2 ton trucks Chevy ever put a Big Block in.

thanks neighbor. i actually already started buying some original fawn pieces. i liked the idea of white vinyl, but seeing it installed didn't seem right. my truck came as you described from the factory so i can't go wrong.

Originally Posted by sierragrande71

You sure did! Are you gonna put it in your truck? Anyways good looking truck man glad you found one!

yep! gonna keep it auto, but with a floor shifter.

[68bowtie]

fawn visors, door panels, seat belts, dash pad, and wheel installed. i like it a lot better. now i just need to find some a/c bezels, arm rests, and a center seat belt.







had to put my 6-year old to work of course...

[darkhorse970]

Cool build, I'm in.

[72 tigger]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

fawn visors, door panels, seat belts, dash pad, and wheel installed. i like it a lot better. now i just need to find some a/c bezels, arm rests, and a center seat belt.

Attachment 1471604

Attachment 1471605

Attachment 1471606

had to put my 6-year old to work of course...

Attachment 1471607

Just wondered how long your 6 year old has been smoking? Cool build!

[swamp rat]

Subscribed!

[70cst]

That truck has very good bones and be a real winner when you get done. A 396 swb with factory AC are key.

[nlped]

Cool truck!!! I'm in

[68bowtie]

well i don't have any good updates, i've been working on selling some parts to build up my truck fund. i did get my custom backspace 15x10's on order a few weeks ago. and i bought an ac dash in pretty good shape. can't decide if i'll replace the whole dash or try to just repair the radio section.

i wanted to share this pic i took the other morning. it had just rained and my ugly primer looked pretty darn good. made me think i need some maaco in the near future. it's gonna be a LONG time before i can afford a quality paint job, and i want some color bad.

[tommys72]

Good looking truck there. I'll follow along

[flashed]

I like it ,Im in.

[First c10]

Nice Truck!!

[68bowtie]

thanks guys. i got some parts sold and out of the way so the truck made it into the shop finally. ordered a bunch of suspension parts. the tires and front wheels should be here tomorrow. it will be a month more for the rear wheels from wheel vintiques. once those arrive i'm gonna tear into the suspension.

i'm still trying to decide between POL and ECE for 5" drop springs, adjustable track bar, and shock relocator kit. i can save a few bucks going POL but i don't have any info on the quality. any feedback would be appreciated...

[68bowtie]

295's. yeehaw. so i have all the tires and the front wheels. it will still be a few weeks for the rear wheels. still trying to decide what track bar and shock parts i want (overthinking it for sure). once i get everything here i'll tear into it.





in the mean time i took apart the gauge cluster. doing some cleaning and touchup, and replacing a few parts from spares laying around.

[68bowtie]

i tried some argent silver (or so i thought) on the bezel trim trying to imitate a 67 bezel. i bought some textured black to do the center next. but for some reason the silver doesn't look right to me. too dull. it has no shine at all. going to have to try some more options...

[shawno72]

Sub'd. We have been waiting a long time for this haha

[RRR18]

Watchin