Rookie Builder w/68 c-10 stepside std

[CTIPTON]

I am a long time dirt track racer and am wanting to do something different. I have been watching this forum and have seen some really nice trucks. My goal on this build is to have a nice somewhat stock looking truck with a nice mild sbc with a 700r4 and a/c. During this build I will be asking a lot of questions about what parts,such as steering column, can be borrowed from other vehicles and slightly modified to fit my truck. Thanks in advance to all the help. Here is what I am starting with.

thank you
Chris

[STOCKISH]

Looks like a solid foundation. I look forward to progress

[CTIPTON]

Well one day in and tear down begins. I am planning on a 3.5/5" drop. Any special instructions on what to do to the chassis before powder coating?

[CTIPTON]

Well had a good weekend of tear down. Now getting things put together to sent off to sand blasting. Once I get those things back the fun and expense will begin. Here are some pix of the tear down.

[STOCKISH]

Nice! Looking forward to more progress.

[CTIPTON]

Now I am going to start looking for parts to start prepping for the build. I want to use a GM tilt steering column. Can I get some ideas of what will work in my 68 without a lot of mods needing to be done? I am going to run a 700r4 trans and I also want to have the switch on the column.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by CTIPTON

Now I am going to start looking for parts to start prepping for the build. I want to use a GM tilt steering column. Can I get some ideas of what will work in my 68 without a lot of mods needing to be done? I am going to run a 700r4 trans and I also want to have the switch on the column.

If it were me I would buy the CPP Classic Fit column because it will cost you more to buy a GM column and rebuild it.
Trust me I know from experience.
Here is the CPP part# TC-6772-SB

[67cheby]

great project

[CTIPTON]

Thank you Xeen for that info. I need all of that little info. that I can get during this build.

[Fastandcrazy]

My two cents prior to powder coating. Get everything you want done that requires drilling, grinding, or welding, for instance any extra holes you want to weld up. Sounds like a no brainer but you will be surprised what you will forget. Ensure you know what crossmembers and suspension setup you are going to go with so you know what to change or fix prior to powder coating.
Good luck dude.
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[CTIPTON]

Thank you fastandcrazy for the good info. Last night I decided to go ahead and put a small c-notch in my frame just in case later on I decide to put bags on the truck. I used a 4" schedule 40 pipe, cut it to length then cut it in half to make my notch. Laid it in then boxed an eight inch area around it. Hopefully giving it plenty of strength. Here's what they look like.

[CTIPTON]

Thank you fastandcrazy for the good info. Last night I decided to go ahead and put a small c-notch in my frame just in case later on I decide to put bags on the truck. I used a 4" schedule 40 pipe, cut it to length then cut it in half to make my notch. Laid it in then boxed an eight inch area around it. Hopefully giving it plenty of strength. Here's what they look like. Next I am off to powder coat.

[hopped up]

looks like a solid truck to start with. keep at it
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[Hardesty454]

Good start! Excited to follow along.
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[CTIPTON]

Well chassis is now off to powder coating and the cab bodywork begins. Here are a few pix to show progress. I am having a guy from a small shop help with the body work, I am not much of a body man, he is doing a great job for me.

[CTIPTON]

I can say that you guys that do body repair a very patient people. It drives me crazy having do take all those steps to make things look like they do. More pix

[Hardesty454]

You sir have a bit of cab repair to undergo!
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[CTIPTON]

You are right. it is going to take a little time to work through this rust(rot) but I have a really good body man helping get through it. Powder coating should get done in about 2 weeks and the cab be done about the same time then we can get to assembly. Getting excited

[Xeen]

Is there a lot of the same rust damage in the pinch weld around the windshield support, rain gutter and inner roof header panel?
The repairs look like they are progressing nicely.
It looks like you lucked out and found an old school body man that knows his stuff.

[LowLifeS10]

great progress! lookin forward to see it going

[CTIPTON]

THANKS guys. No rust up top but we are going to trim the rain gutters off and smooth the roof edges off. Just to change the look a little.

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by CTIPTON

THANKS guys. No rust up top but we are going to trim the rain gutters off and smooth the roof edges off. Just to change the look a little.

Man you better be sure you want to do that, take a hard look at some others that have been done and make sure you really like it.
The drip rail is part of the charm on these trucks if you remove it the roof line just doesn't look quite right anymore.

[CTIPTON]

Sorry I have NO new progress to show. Frame still at powder coating and not much done on the rust removal. I did however find a shop in Arizona called The Chrome Guy that has everything I need to put my truck together. I visited him last week and got a boatload of info. from him. Very knowledgeable guy with the year truck that I am building. I think that he will be my source of parts and info. for the remainder of my build. Great that he is right here in Arizona also.

[CTIPTON]

Went to a Good Guys car show over the weekend and looked at a lot of nice cars and trucks, in Pine Top Az. Decided that the Viper red color is what I am going to use. I am still undecided on if I am going to chrome and polish under the hood or use the red color. Anyone have any under the hood pix that they can share to help me make up my mind???? Thx

[Xeen]

I think both have their merits keep in mind the more shine you have the more there is to clean.
One thing you can do to really add some wow factor to your engine compartment is paint your engine the same red including the pully's, use an aluminum intake, and also use polished aluminum valve covers and air cleaner.