Project C10 for Dad

[C10forDad]

It seems that as life goes on we sometimes loose track of those early childhood dreams. For me, it was completely restoring a vehicle from the ground up with my Dad. We used to talk for hours in the garage about what we could do as he worked on other people's cars to make a little more money for the family. It was a time when anything was possible and thoughts flowed easily. I learned a lot about the maintaining a vehicle, rebuilding motors, and some body work.

As the years went on less and less was spoken about a future project, but there was still a spark of interest left when I would could come back from college in the summer. One summer, I learned that the motor that we always spoke about rebuilding but never had a place for was sold. I knew then that the years he spent as a machinist had truly caught up with him and he wanted easier hobbies.

Metal detecting became his new obsession and would spend hours perfecting his method. He even got me interested in the hobby. Around 2008, he had begun loosing weight and we thought it was just the extra exercise he was receiving. By late 2012 it was apparent that it was something else when he began experiencing other symptoms. The same year that he was to retire, his doctors diagnosed him with stage 4 renal cancer that had spread to his prostate.

My Dad, Cash William Saville, passed away the Sunday before Thanksgiving of 2013 due to complications related his treatment.

[C10forDad]

It is with this project that I would like to remember my Dad.

[midnight rambler]

Sorry for your loss, make your dad proud on this project.

[C10forDad]

Thanks Midnight Rambler.

[cooperhw]

So sorry for your loss. I am sure you really miss him. Build a nice tribute truck or at least something he would have approved of. Lost my Dad, then Mom, then Mother-In-Law, lastly last month my Father-In-Law.
It sucks. I feel for you.
Now lets see some pics of that project truck.

[C10forDad]

Here are a few pictures of the truck after pulled off the aftermarket running boards, nasty 80s cap, and pulled into my garage.

[C10forDad]

Fortunately, I know somebody with a much larger garage that will be helping me out. I took some Mothers quick polish to the fender and beneath all that oxidation there was still some shine left!

[trac209]

Sorry for your loss,tribute builds are always special no matter what they involve. Good luck with the project.

[C10forDad]

Thanks Cooperhwk and trac209.

I have started a started a build sheet with the parts I believe I need for the rolling chassis. The nice thing is that the body and frame had very little rust and should make the build go relatively quickly.

[C10forDad]

Here is my most up to date build sheet for the rolling chassis.

[C10forDad]

A little history behind this C10. I was built in California and at some point the original straight six was swapped out for 70-73 Camaro 350 built for the Los Angeles area. The truck was in Montana from 76 to 91. The last time it was driven was in 2001 and had been stored ever since then.

[C10forDad]

And the tear down of the front clip and making sure to note where all the shims came from.

[C10forDad]

Some friends came over to help get the bed and cab off the frame and stored for the winter. That cab was incredibly heavy!

[C10forDad]

The frame back inside and ready to be worked on some other day.

[C10forDad]

So it has been a while since I've posting anything, but I have still been keeping up with progress on the truck and taking plenty of photos.

[C10forDad]

During the first weekend of December, we pulled the 3 speed manual, headers, brake lines, motor, and the rear end.

[C10forDad]

The second weekend of the new year saw the removal of the front suspension and a mock-up of the exhaust cutouts for the drop crossmember. Oh yeah, my truck still had the original ball joints riveted in place that needed some extra grinding. The upper and lower control arm shafts had tons of play in them and will be replaced. We also flipped the frame to make it easier t get at the remaining rivets on the bottom of the frame.

[C10forDad]

Last weekend we got the crossmember finished and bolted into place. After looking at the drop crossmembers on the market, I noticed that the shock mounts were flipped upside-down. So, we ground off the 12 rivets holding them in place, flipped the brackets, drilled two new holes per side, and bolted them in place. I am planning on going back and welding the old holes closed and grinding them flat. Remember...the frame is upside-down.

[C10forDad]

And that brings us to this last weekend...

I was told to expect that the cross pin bolt would probably be broken and as it turns out, it was. Either way, we were able to remove it. With the C-clips out, we pulled the old 6-bolt axles out and pressed the new seals in place. After that, installed the new studs in the CPP 5-bolt axles.

[C10forDad]

Also on the list was to remove the old bushings from the rear trailing arms before they get blasted. The backing plates were blasted, primed, painted. The casting numbers on the axle tubes confirmed what we estimated was 3.73 ratio.

[C10forDad]

I just want to say that this build is still going. The past several months have been difficult for me with the holidays, the remembrance of my Dad passing, and his birthday.

Our car community here in the small town Two Rivers, WI also lost a close friend and car enthusiast suddenly this past week. We all called him "Bear" and he'll be missed. He's the short guy directing us where to put the cab in post #13.

Either way, I am pushing forward and setting a lofty goal of completing this tribute resto-mod within a year from now. I greatly a appreciate comments and assistance

[C10forDad]

Yesterday, we got the rear end all closed up and the new five lug axles from CPP installed. The new slave cylinders went in too.

[C10forDad]

I also gave the rear-end one more pass with the buffing wheel before going on to primer and paint.

[C10forDad]

I spent quite a lot of time today on the buffing wheel removing decades off dirt and grim from the brake lines and some other components. Its amazing how a little extra time make these old parts look like new. I don't pictures of them primed and painted yet.

[C10forDad]

And here's the rear-end all primed and painted. I don't think that I'll ever get used to paint fumes.