New Guy...Meet BOB

[Chapstr's65]

Hello all,

This is going to be a long intro because I have been reading the forum for a while and I can see you all know each other and their vehicles well. This will also be my build thread too.

I just want to introduce myself, and my ride BOB (65 C-10 SWB Step-side). My wife named it because she says it looks like a Big Orange Box. I bought him back in summer of 2002 in South Carolina when I was into illegal street racing with my mustang. I had always wanted a truck of this era since I was a kid and when I found one, I sold my 2000 mustang GT to buy it. I got tired of dumping thousands into my mustang only to pick up tenths of a second when my buddies in their 68 ElCo and 72 C-10 picked up seconds with only hundreds of dollars plus no car payment.

Originally, when I found it (which now I wish I had done more research) it had a swapped in 305 and the original three on the tree tranny. The tranny went out a few months later and I had a turbo 350 installed. It was an ugly bright sea foam green ( no offence to anyone who likes that color ). And everything , I mean everything was painted that color from the exterior to the interior, the motor, and the drum brakes, so I had it painted orange back in 2002 for $200. I have recently replaced the grill with a chrome one (not pictured).

Currently the truck has a 383 stroker and a newly rebuilt turbo 350, that I put in two years ago. Drum brakes all around with the manual single master cylinder, all rebuilt back in 02. No power steering, no AC and I just pulled the heater out of it because I only drive it during the summer. I enclosed a picture to show you why. The frame is good and there is only a few of the typical rust spots in the door corners, the cab corner and the driver side fender, cab floors look good but who knows. Now the passenger side front fender looks like one of the PO’s hit a pole and rebuilt the front corner with massive amounts of bondo. The bed looks like it was used and abused. Considering it has a $200 paint job it has held up well seeing that all I do is wash it and have never waxed it. I never really intended on putting off the build so long but at the time I bought the truck; however, I had just come off active duty with the Army at Fort Bragg and was waiting for my wife’s term to end so we were broke. Then we moved to North Idaho and got mobilized with the Reserves to Arizona two years later and lived there for three years. During that timeframe the truck got pushed aside because I bought several motorcycles to feed my addiction to speed. Currently we are mobilized again as Drill Sergeants again, this time to Fort Sill. Now that we are on the tail of our mob I have sold my ZX-14 and have $7000 to put into my truck.

So here is my question, seeing how $7000 does not go far I was hoping that the veterans of this site can help guide me on a path to best suit my needs and maximize my money. Here is the list of stuff I want to do only question in reality what can get done. The build won't actually start until I get home in April. Wish me luck.

Complete frame off restoration (I am pretty sure it is not possible with only 7 grand)

Sand blast the frame

Sand blast the body minus the front fenders (I think it would be cheaper to get new ones)

Power Disk brakes front and possibly back (with 5 lug conversion)

New drop spindles and 3” drop front springs to match the 5” drop rear

C-notch kit and new trac bar

New 5 lug wheels 20x8.5 & 20x10 (coys, boss 338, torque thrust, etc…that style whichever is cheaper)

Power steering

Re-wire the truck

New smooth tailgate, and smooth front panel and possibly Bed sides

Narrow the rear end and mini tub the bed to fit 20x10 wheels (stupid narrow step side fenders)

Insulate and carpet the interior

Relocate the gas tank to the rear under the truck

Smooth out the dash and install a 63 hump in the center with Auto Meter American Muscle Gauges and build a center console to flow from the dash to behind the seats

New stereo system

Paint the truck a flat black which I can do or have it painted a two tone color

I am keeping the door handles, badges, and maybe even the gas cap but going with smaller mirrors. I just like the look of it all.

New windshield

New rubber gaskets all around for the windows and channeling and new cab, radiator, etc… supports

Thanks in advance for all your input and man there are some bad ass trucks out there.