1972 "I'll finish this one, I promise" Project

[Sac]

Might be starting this early, but I am bored at work and still have 2 weeks left. While I'm at work I like to kill time on Craigslist. I'm always browsing for 55-59, 60-66 & of course 67-72 trucks. After selling a 1965 SWB fleetside just to make a little profit, I've been kicking myself in the ass & wanting another C10. But to be honest, that body style wasn't my favorite. Knew I always wanted the 67-72 body style. So I'm looking through all these trucks that have crazy asking prices & thinking I'm not going to find an old beater that I want. Low and behold I found one sitting in South Louisiana, about a 3hr drive from my house. It beat up & rusty, but for the price I paid... I'll take it.

Pictures from the Ad




Being that I'm still offshore I had my cousin call him and make the deal. We settle on the price and start the waiting the game. The seller nor my cousin could work out a date for him to go get it. So after waiting a week, worrying if the guy is going to sell it out from underneath me or something else might go wrong. Finally I get a message telling me he is going to pick it up! I was still clueless about the truck really. He goes to pull the winch cable out and the guy asked what was he doing? The seller jumped in it and fired the old straight 6 right up and drove it on the trailer.

Pictures from Picking it Up




And what you are seeing, is what I have seen of the truck as I'm still at work. But that hasn't stopped me from getting a build plan together and start ordering parts. I knew I wanted Porterbuilt from the first time I seen Old Aux, Hazel & some others. So I sent Nate an email asking for complete front/rear extreme dropmembers. I get a quick response back, but at the end of the email its says "10 weeks out". My heart sank again. I was thinking I'm going to get home, start taking it down and installing those awesome parts. After talking with my suspension guy he said he was been wanting to build his own DM's and that we can put it on the frame table & start fabricating. Well his timeline wasn't much better either & deep down I still wanted Porterbuilt. So I messaged and couple venders on here and they didn't have any in stock either. Which brings to where I'm at now. I sent Travis from AZProPerfor a message and he has some on order like everybody else, but his delivery date is a lot better than anyone else and his has 2 that wasn't accounted for yet. Being pleased with that, I get two invoices that says PAID on full Porterbuilt! I still have the misc front parts to buy, but I wanted to knock out the fabricated parts while they where there.



Goals for the truck. Shorten it to SWB, 350SB etc, etc... My list goes on. But short plan is to have a rolling chassis by Last Resort this year in October.

[Sac]

Still haven't made it home. My relief quit so I had to pull an extra 2 weeks… But just means I can order more parts. My cousin took the pressure washer to it, cleaned up pretty nice.



Talk about a low option truck…


Last one for now. Check out that mighty fine masking job someone did when they painted the valve cover. Haha Some peoples kids I swear….

[BigMike]

I think the only masking tape used was over their eyes

[Sac]

Originally Posted by BigMike

I think the only masking tape used was over their eyes

I think you're right.. I'll do a much better job.

[Sac]

Well I fell deeper in love with the truck today. Charged the battery, changed fuel filter & air filter and it fired right up! Took it for the first drive today. Once I figured out the shift pattern, I didn't won't to get out of it. Even better the headlights, tail lights & blinkers work so I'm going to get it registered & insured tomorrow so I can cruise it around till all the parts get it.

[Sac]

I bought some American Racing 20/22 Daytona's with grey centers from a friend of mine. He is waiting for his Raceline's to show up, so I'll pick them up once they come in.

[Sac]

Also, my high hump came in.

My dog doesn't know what to think of California dirt…


Was messing with my turn signals and my niece had to give me a hand.

[Sac]

Travis changed my motor mounts to LS ones before he ships everything this week. Porterbuilt greatness will be waiting for when I come home.

[mooseknuckles]

you're off to a great start!

[Sac]

Originally Posted by mooseknuckles

you're off to a great start!

Thanks! Ready to get home and start taking it down to the frame.

[Sac]

Got the email I been looking for! Thanks Travis for making my last min motor mount changes to LS ones and PB for tech questions on what headers to look for.

[Sac]

Where is the Saturday crew change boat to take me home? Teardown starts next week!

[Sac]

Took the truck to a friends shop to tear it down, he has the "proper tools" for rust buckets. Got after it with the hot wrench. Good news, its down to bare frame. Bad news, I'll be buying a new cab. I knew it was bad, just not that bad.

[ChuckDriver]

Wow, that one is rusty! Looking forward to seeing the PB install.

[Sac]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Wow, that one is rusty! Looking forward to seeing the PB install.

I'm going to scrap that cab.. I found a factory A/C cab that only needs outer rockers for dirt cheap.
Also dropped all my frame and PB goodies to my suspension guy. Gave him a deadline of Oct 16th, gotta make the Last Resort car show!

[79azc10]

Good luck

[kjdolphins]

Great start! I might almost be as excited as you too see all of those porterbuilt parts put in... It'll be a good year if my christmas looks anything like that! Keep up the good work

[Sac]

Originally Posted by 79azc10

Good luck

Originally Posted by kjdolphins

Great start! I might almost be as excited as you too see all of those porterbuilt parts put in... It'll be a good year if my christmas looks anything like that! Keep up the good work

Thanks. All those PB boxes was a lot to take in. Laying it all out and seeing it in person really makes you appreciate the craftsmanship that is in all the parts. And that dead line is for just a rolling chassis, still have a very long way to go.

Also bought back my single cab 1998 from my cousin that is at its midway point. It's going to be interesting splitting projects, but he made me a deal I couldn't say no to!

[Bennett68C10]

Nice looking parts you have there count me in for the build. I can tell you from experience a cab swap with a lot less rust will definitely speed up the build. I spent a year just fixing rust on my cab.

[Sac]

Originally Posted by Bennett68C10

Nice looking parts you have there count me in for the build. I can tell you from experience a cab swap with a lot less rust will definitely speed up the build. I spent a year just fixing rust on my cab.

Your build has been great. I already found a new cab. It is a heavily optioned truck with factory A/C and all it needs is outer rockers.

[Sac]

This picture might hurt a little bit, but trust me it was gone.. Entire floor, outer/inner rockers, all supports, cab corners and not to mention the roof. Plus it was a no option cab so not many desirable parts.

[Xeen]

You aren't alone on this deal a lot of people have done the exact same thing.

[Sac]

My budget couldn't take $2,000 worth of brakes right now. So I told my suspension guy to replace with the factory parts for the front and I just ordered the Little Shop's rear disc conversion.

Originally Posted by Xeen

You aren't alone on this deal a lot of people have done the exact same thing.

I felt bad at first.. But then I needed my trailer and I was going back to work for a month so just decided to take it. Keep the tailgate though, going to build a seat out of it.

[Sac]

Parts still coming in.. Hopefully this is the last bit to get me into rolling chassis status. Next picture update should be frame progress!

McGaughy's drop spindles


Little Shop's rear disc conversion

[Sac]

My next purchases depends on what motor I'm going to run. The truck I got the cab from is a factory 350/350 that is running. So do I rebuild & run that or LS swap is the question I keep battling.. I like reliability and easy cruising, not monster engines & big HP/TQ numbers.