mild68 Step Side 6.0L

[mild68]

I'm due to put together my own build thread.
I found this 68 in Daytona Florida while on a trip. We went to the Turkey Run. Huge car show, car sale and swap meet. I was looking for a Chevelle wagon. Didn't find one, and if I did I realized I could afford one.
I saw this 68 C10. I though cool a 68, since I have a 68 Chevelle. It wasn't a super nice truck. Just what I wanted though, something decent to do a 5.3L swap and keep it relatively cheap and simple.
I bought it.
I left it over night outside the track, hoping it wouldn't get stolen. It was still there the next day. Drove it 40 miles or so to Titusville, where a friend had a house. The plan was to leave it there until we could come back after Christmas. Went back after Christmas for New years. Tried to tow it home to Illinois w a dolly. That was rather sketchy. We decided to leave it in Ormond Beach, Florida, only an hour away from Titusville, at another friends. It stayed there until I decided to have it transported to Illinois.
It finally got to Illinois.
I haven't done anything with it for nearly seven months. I found a frame on Craigslist. I disassembled it. It's painted now. I have new suspension for it, getting dropped spindles and disc brakes.
I also found a 6.0L and 4L80e on Craigslist. The motor is cleaned and painted now too.
The plan is to get motor and frame together and switch the body over.

This is as I first saw it .







A couple after I got it home.

[mild68]

Picked up a 2002 6.0L and 4L80E

[GR8-68]

Looks like a great start to a wonderful project

[mild68]

Adding pictures when photobucket cooperates.

Looks like the motor was found in a creek. lol


Rattle can epoxy primer.



Finally in color. The color really matches.





Of course, broken exhaust bolts.



Six all together

[mild68]

Trans looks good now, I hope it works.


I replaced the leaking front seal. The loan a tool balancer installer wasn't deep enough to thread into the crank. I made one, using a 16mm x 2.0 threaded rod and nuts from Fastenal. Had to buy 3 foot length. Cost about $20 for rod , nuts and 2 washers.


I used a long 3/8" bolt through a torque converter hole in the flex plated to stop the crank from turning.



Photo bucket cooperated enough and that's about where my current progress is now.

[mild68]

Lower control arms cleaned, new bushings and primed



disc brake conversion kit











Cleaned rear end


Can the model year be determined by these numbers??

[GR8-68]

Looking good, keep up the progress

[mild68]

Cleaned and painted the rims. Not sure if I'm keeping them.



Needed to do some rearranging in the garage. Took the cover off of my other 68. Had to get an eye candy pic.

[Jason7121]

Awesome work so far. I'm using an 03 6.0 with 4l60e.

[supercheyenne]

Fun build. I'll enjoy riding along!

[mild68]

Thanks for the compliments.
I was back at it again today.







This part has been what I have been waiting for. Painted frame, new suspension, brakes, and engine and trans cleaned and installed.










I was concerned about the steering arm interfering with the rim. No problem.





Stock truck pan depth past cross member.

[Advanced Design]

Very nice...chassis looks great. Tagging along for rest.

[tommys72]

Looking real good ago far!

[RRR18]

If you didn't figure out already....as far as I've be told, learned, seen, and read you can only tell the year of the rear end by width. I'm sure I'm wrong but hey that's all I know.

[slowcpe]

Nice work! Gonna be a cool truck!

[mild68]

Originally Posted by RRR18

If you didn't figure out already....as far as I've be told, learned, seen, and read you can only tell the year of the rear end by width. I'm sure I'm wrong but hey that's all I know.

Thanks. I'm going to guess and say it's a 72. The THC 3 letter code and 5 stud axle.
The frame is a 69. Body is a 68. Engine 2002. Hodge podge

Thanks to everyone for the compliments.

The chassis primer and paint are from a local farm store. Farm and Fleet.
$10 quart. Shhh
The grey on the springs is $3 half pint.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice looking truck, I'm in for more updates.

[mild68]

I took a break for a while. I'm getting back at it. I moved the truck from one garage to the garage at home over the weekend. Today with the help of my son took the front clip off.
My intention is to have a fresh chassis with motor and trans set in and change over the body without any body work. I decided today that I'm not even going to clean and detail the engine compartment. Inner fender wells are rusted out at the core support. I'm leaving that too. I'm going to get it running and driving as soon as I can.
It turns out that after the cab is removed, the cab mounts need to be replaced before I set it on the other frame.
any way, here are some pix.

[mild68]

Have some more progress pix to add.
I got some 15x8's.







Pulled the 6 banger for a guy that is coming to get it in a few days. You know the guy that never comes n never called to say he isn't coming.



Thought this was cool, found it in my garage.


Had a couple of guys help lifting the bed off. Looks way better on the bottom side, the top is really weathered.





Looking ugly underneath



simple taking the cab off the frame











Wonder what the neighbors are thinking. lol



Looking ugly. Previous body work, FAIL.









I'm pretty sure I'm not going to do any metal repair or replacement now. I'm just going to make sure the cab mounts are sturdy enough to put the cab on the other chassis. I'd like to enjoy driving it rather then my own body shop prison.

[STAP54]

Thank you for saving another C10. Hate seeing these trucks neglected...keep the updates coming, subscribed!

steve

[cornerstone]

I'm pretty sure I'm not going to do any metal repair or replacement now. I'm just going to make sure the cab mounts are sturdy enough to put the cab on the other chassis. I'd like to enjoy driving it rather then my own body shop prison.[/QUOTE]

Very smart indeed. I thought that my job would be finished in a couple of months not a couple of years.....

[mild68]

I got back to doing some work on the truck. I brought the chassis home to work on it there.


Laid out the wire harness and connected it.


Put the cab on the chassis.







That's were I'm at for now.
I ordered a new sending unit w 3/8" line. Have to make some sort of return. Not sure what fuel pump to use.
Going to order a brake booster / master combo soon and a set of headers.

[along for the ride]

As much work as you have put into your truck this far. It would be a shame to stop without fixing your cab. Why have to take it back apart later. You already seen someone's failed attempt at bodywork.

[hewittca]

Lookin' good! Man, many weaker souls would have passed on that LS, or at least cracked her open to see what's going on inside. That's one rusty block. Are you concerned at all about it or was it running fine when you got it?