Back to being square!

[erikgto]

Hi folks!

Just want to let you guys know that I'm back in the squarebody world.

I had a really nice customized '80 stepside Silverado with a 455 Olds bigblock.
Sold it 2 years ago.
But the itch for a squarebody kept getting stronger.
Since I like the ShortWides a tad more than the Steppers I've finally found my new toy.
With a '70 GTO convertible about to go frame-off and a low mile original '81 Trans Am WS6 t-top summertime cruiser I wanted a rustfree squarebody swb as a semi daily driver / fun vehicle.
Nothing too fancy, but nice enough not to be embarassed with it.

Well, just before christmas I found "my" C10...
It's a pretty basic '81 C10 swb 305 4bbl 150 horse with TH350 trans.
Options as far as I can tell (without the RPO sticker......it's M.I.A.) are;
A/C, sport mirrors, sport bumpers, power brakes.....and I think nothing else.

Most important to me: It appears to be a very solid rust free California resident from Rio Linda, Ca (between Sacramento and Reno)
Paint looks nice, but it's a cheapo job it, a lot of orange skin, maybe some wetsanding can improve it's current condition.

Needs some small electrical and mechanical issues taken care off, but I'm happy with it.

Already ordered a set of 18x8 and 18x9,5 Boss 338 wheels with grey centers for it
The 20's on one of the pics are not mine...they're loaners from my buddy.

Got a lot of work ahead, but I'm really glad to be back in the game!

[1987 Shortwide]

truck looks great. I like the seat, from what little I can see of it...

[68c10owner]

Looks great. I am not too far from Rio Linda, just down the street actually. did you get it off of craigslist? It looks familiar.

[erikgto]

No I did not get the truck off Craigslist.

I bought it from a guy who regularly goes to Cali to buy cars and truck and imports them to The Netherlands, Europe.
He had it for sale for a little while here and I think it hadn't sold because of the ugly black wheels.
Actually, I think he had it since early '08, he told me the title got lost (shipping company's fault) so he had to wait until he got another one before he could get on.
However I know that the truck had 17" alloys and a billet steering wheel when he bought it (he'd already sold that stuff seperately....dunno why tho) and a big FOX decal on the back window.

The title shows the last registered owner lived in Rio Linda, don't know if he bought it there but I think so.

Cool to hear your from that area What's it like over there?!?

BTW here's a post of the interior
I don't have any better pics right now. Hope the weather gets better so I can shoot some nicer pics.

[68c10owner]

It`s a really clean truck. I still think I`ve seen it somewhere though. This area is really nice. It`s known for having alot of trees. There are good and bad places like everywere else but in general it`s a nice place to live. The weather has been unusually warm for this tiem of the year, about 65* or so. By the way, i like the billet wheels better. Can you list the specs of them? Tires too.

[erikgto]

Well, I was thinking it was a bit desert like.......why???!?!?! There's a lot of dusty sand inside the cab and under the hood & the underbody.....

Actually, I liked the billet rims but I want the rears to be wider so I opted for the Boss wheels. They're a bit smaller in diameter but just right for this model truck. Not too small and not too big (pimp style)

Here are pics of the rims





The billet ones are 20x8.5 with 275/45R20 tires

I'll go for 255/50R18 on the front 18 x 8
and 285/50R18 on the rear 18 x 9,5

[Square84]

nice looking truck but the cab looks to be a pre-80

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by erikgto

Well, I was thinking it was a bit desert like.......why???!?!?! There's a lot of dusty sand inside the cab and under the hood & the underbody.....

Actually, I liked the billet rims but I want the rears to be wider so I opted for the Boss wheels. They're a bit smaller in diameter but just right for this model truck. Not too small and not too big (pimp style)

Here are pics of the rims





The billet ones are 20x8.5 with 275/45R20 tires

I'll go for 255/50R18 on the front 18 x 8
and 285/50R18 on the rear 18 x 9,5

Reno is desert but thats 2 hours away. I like the new wheels.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by Square84

nice looking truck but the cab looks to be a pre-80

It has an 81+ dash pad, but 77-80 door panels.

Nice truck, I like it!

[1984 swb chevy]

Nice truck.. Love the wheels

[Square84]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

It has an 81+ dash pad, but 77-80 door panels.

Nice truck, I like it!

ok thats what it was it just looked a little different.

[Trick76]

There are some pretty dusty areas in Rio Linda Nice score!

[asphaltburner]

Yo!
Very nice, erikgto!!
So am I correct that you and this truck are in, or near the Netherlands,...Holland?
And is a welcome to this part of the forum in order?
If so, a warm welcome from northern Colorado!
Todd.

[erikgto]

Yes, The Netherlands, aka good old Holland!

Hadn't even noticed the door panels!

They are almost identical to the ones I had in my old '80.

Anyway, I do like them in this interior, a friend of mine has a '73 truck with '87 panels on it, but I feel these look better. They go nice along with the billet dash.
BTW the doors themselves are original to the truck, '81. (production decal on drivers side is still there)

Got many idea's for upgrades for this truck;
Billet steering wheel
Window tint
Stereo system (none right now, only Flowmaster!)
Tilt column swap
Original tach cluster
Tonneau cover
Mabe drop the nose a bit further
etc.
etc.

Well, you know how it goes.....

[grinch4om]

its hip to be square

[kikkegek]

he Erik,
those are some mighty cool wheels you got there.

and nice truck. Did you buy the truck from Joos? in Heerlen? I bought mine there.

[erikgto]

I bought the yellow one from a guy near Culemborg.
Because the 305 was pretty underpowered and I didn't like the orange peel of the cheap paint job I sold it a few months later.

But I kept the itch for a square shortwide.

On my last holiday in November I went to the States with a friend to attend the Moultrie Georgia Swapmeet and the Turkey Rod Run in Daytona Florida.
Keeping an eye out for a nice square I found one in Daytona.

It's a '86 Chevy shortwide bed with nice upgrades
It has a 400 small block 700R4 trans, cowl hood, bedcover and a nice interior.

Right now I'm waiting for it to get here It should have been delivered today but now it''s tomorrow eve...

Got a lot of plans for this one; stereo system, 20" Eagle 225 wheels......I'm even going crazy thinking about transplanting a 2005/06 5.3 LSX 4L60E combo for maximum fuel economy with the rediculous lpg prices here lately......
Better to drive a fast reliable fuel efficient modern v8 than a guzzling lpg conversion.....

These are some pics I took in Florida

[erikgto]

I know a lot of people around Heerlen in the US car hobby, but no one by the name of Joos...

Here are a few more pics

[spudz]

man...... I need those door panels...