1969 C-10 in Dallas

[Storm Rider]

Hello there,

Yesterday I purchased a 69' C-10. It's got some work to be done on her but she at least runs smooth and has a very good body for the age. Just little cancer spots under the roof lip and inside bottom of the tailgate.

Oh and the body trim moulding is affixed via screws so there is probably some rust under them.

I'll have pictures up this afternoon or tomorrow. Today is my day of rest.

Frank
edited by staff

[Storm Rider]

Oh yea, I already have a FSM on the way. Being a motorcycle mechanic, I already know the supreme glory that is the factory service manual. Can't find a Factory Parts Manual yet though.

[RCbowtie69]

Hey from N.C.& welcome to the Forum for trucks,it's a good placed to started on a project,hope to see pictures soon & Keep on Truckin'

[Storm Rider]

Thanks for the welcome, I'll take some pics tomorrow. Already pulled the upper trim strips from the body seeing as they were held on by screws... found (what looks like) the original color underneath the dirt. So body work will commence in bits and pieces.

I need her to remain drivable so I can tow motorcycles to my shop, so it's going to come in stages.

Stage 1: Spot grind/treat and primer each and every little spot of rust. (I feel like I'm back on a ship.)

Stage 1.5: Find a good steering wheel and replace.

Stage 2: Remove tailgate and cut out bad sections and weld in new patches as needed. Smooth, prime, and lay a light top coat to seal it

Stage 3: Replace rear springs with new ones already on hand and figure out how to tighten up the rear suspension. (Question, is the truck really supposed to sway like a brothel girl in 35mph turns like it does? Pardon my ignorance but I'm more familiar with muscle car handling.)

Frank
edited by stafff

[oldblue1968chevy]

Does it have a front swaybar? That'll help alot

If it doesnt we can help you put a junkyard one on or an new aftermarket bar

[Storm Rider]

I'll check in the AM. But the problem seems in the rear... like the chassis and bed are trying to rotate out of line with the rear wheels by inches. Maybe the current rear springs are just weak... the previous owner did include a set of new springs. Hence Stage 3.

[Storm Rider]

Oh how could I forget... it's missing the accelerator pedal. That's going to have to be somewhere around Stage 1.25.

Frank

[Longhorn Man]

frank, you need to inspect the panhard bar in the rear. I suspect it is broken or even missing. These trucks are supposed to be quite stable, even at over 100 MPH.

[Storm Rider]

Thanks I'll check that in the AM as well... I see how that would cause the issue I'm feeling.

Frank

[70cst]

Hey Storm Rider ... and from Ohio. We luv pics. Lookin forward to tp your progress on your truck.

[Storm Rider]

Couldn't wait. Panhard bar looks solid, mounts are solid, very very slight bend in it.

No front anti-sway bar.

Also where the fuel tank rear relocation spot is there is a weak little crossmember bolted to the frame... that in addition to the lack of a cut out might be why the previous owner couldn't get more than 10" ground clearance when he put the tank back there.

Thanks to other threads here I know what I need to do for mounting it in it's proper place, but what kinda fill line is recommended? Even if I run it to the side of the bed, what should I use to span the distance from the fill hole to the tank? Does it get welded to the tank? Is there a thread I haven't found yet on it?

Frank

[Storm Rider]

One more item for the list asap... mirrors. Anyone got a couple? Or a line on a vendor?

[Longhorn Man]

wow, I was certian the panhard was the problem.
A front antiroll bar won't do anything at all for this issue.
Panhard bushings, as well as trailing arm bushings would cause thus, yet look fine to the naked eye. Underinflated rear tires could do it a little... but you describe major sway/float. Too wide a tire on a narrow rim can cause this too. Loose/dammages U bolts holding the rear end in place, or rotted trailing arms where the U bolts go could do this...

[Storm Rider]

Here are some dirty pictures for you all

.
I removed the top trim, but haven't cleaned all the dirt from under it yet, I'll have to spot treat the rust from each and every screw that had been used to hold it on... but I'm used to that sort of thing. I suspect she's going to have odd looking touch up white dots for a while after I prime the spots and give them a light topcoat.

[Storm Rider]

But I do seriously need an accelerator pedal (the assembly is fine, but it doesn't have the plate attached to it), right and left stock mirrors, and a thicker steering wheel. Anyone got a line on any of these things?

Frank

[RCbowtie69]

Hey Stormrider,here a picture of my 69swb

[Storm Rider]

So I've searched the forum, searched e-bay, searched google, and NOT one has resulted in an accelerator pedal. With all these cabs people have been swapping in and out for, no one has a spare pedal lying around? No one knows where I can find one for sale? I can't just buy a whole aftermarket assembly, don't have the cash, and mine is perfectly fine save the missing pedal.

And on the whole internet I have only found one set of stock like replacement mirrors.

No one knows where there might be some more?

[kevmic28]

Lmc has the pedal you need. I put a grant Steering wheel in my truck. I have a flat bed on my truck to haul bikes. Mostly just dirtbikes to the track but I could fit 3 full dressers on the back. A mirror from Advanced auto will bolt right onto your mounts.

[Storm Rider]

Did that grant wheel require an adapter kit? Looks like the only piece of the kit recommended is the same basic collar that mine has on it already.

Thanks for the tip on the pedal. Still can't find anything with LMC other than brake pedals

[Storm Rider]

Found a pedal that I hope will work on ebay. If not I guess I'll have to fabricate one.

As far as the rear suspension goes, it looks like the shocks are as old as I am (which could be the case as I'm 8 years younger than the truck). So I'm picking up some cheep ones from O'Reillys and replacing the springs with the new ones I have to see if that will tighten things up a bit. Was going to wait, but a buddy of mine needs a truck towed, and in return I'm getting an MR2 that I can probably flip for some more cash to put into the truck... so I need the suspension as hard as I can get it this week.

[kevmic28]

The new springs will make a huge difference on the truck. I need to replace mine too so I have a good idea of what you are talking about.

[Storm Rider]

Shocks (Monroe Magnum) will be here at the shop tonight, springs are standing by. And new mirrors are sitting there waiting for me to go back out into the heat.

[Storm Rider]

Oh and I figured out why the truck feels like it's sliding so much...

The frakin' seat isn't bolted down.

Time to scower the bolt bins.

Frank