White Lightning - 68 C10 Shortbed Stepside

[farmfieldfinds]

After viewing the boards the past few months, I decided that I should create a build thread for my latest project.

I found this 68 in a construction company's storage lot in San Antonio. Fortunately some hundred dollar bills and a flatbed was all that we needed to bring it home. Based on a teal paint job, I'm guessing the truck was restored in the mid 90's as I can't imagine anyone picking that paint color anytime in the past 20 years. Original color was light blue. I'm calling this truck White Lightning because of 2 reasons:
1. I'm painting the truck Gloss White
2. I have a brand new 350 with close to 400 horsepower so the truck should haul!

I'll try and post pics every few days. I'm hoping to have this truck ready for eBay in a few weeks.

[farmfieldfinds]

Removed the rusted out radiator support (darn battery acid) and started getting the engine ready for removal!

[flashed]

It looks pretty solid .

[farmfieldfinds]

Pulled this nasty old master cylinder and ordered the CPP 12" Disc Brake conversion kit with 2.5" drop spindles and new master cylinder. Of course I had to get the red Wilwood calipers and a new 9" booster. Power brakes here I come!!!!

[GR8-68]

Looks like a great project, look forward to the updates on it

[farmfieldfinds]

With a little bit of tugging and a lot of pulling, the engine popped out! Managed to get $175 on Craigslist for the engine minus the power steering pump and flex plate.

[farmfieldfinds]

Starting to grind the engine bay and front end in preparation for painting and new drop spindles.

[farmfieldfinds]

Drop spindles are in! On the driver's side I had to literally beat the original in order to get it apart. I did find out that the Advanced Auto spring compressor that I bought wasn't up to the task. I ended up renting (free rentals) from O'Reilly.

[farmfieldfinds]

Wow, the picture doesn't do these calipers and rotors justice!!! I can't believe how easy they were to install. I replaced the hard lines as well with the ones from Advanced Auto. Super easy to bend around the engine compartment! The hardest part was finding the adapter from the back of the proportioning valve to the rear brake line. I had to stop by 3 stores.

[farmfieldfinds]

Radiator support is in! Kind of like a puzzle stacking the metal washers, shims, and rubber washers that hold the support in.

[farmfieldfinds]

There is a 350-400 horse present under this wrapping paper!!!

[farmfieldfinds]

Why would anyone put this ugly bumper on a C10????

[farmfieldfinds]

Fun times replacing the passenger side rocker!

[farmfieldfinds]

I finished the inner floor piece, mocked up the rocker, mounted the door to check alignment, and welded in the rocker. Turned out pretty good. Now for the driver's side!

[farmfieldfinds]

Not having the bedwood in is very convenient having all this natural light shining under the bottom of the truck!

[farmfieldfinds]

Yeah, I guess I'll be ordering a new sending unit!!!!! To clean out the gas tank, here is what I did:
1. I drained the tank and let it dry for a few days.
2. Knocked the tank around a bit to get any rust chunks out.
3. Dumped in a quart of acetone and swished it around a bit. After around 30 minutes, I drained the tank and let it dry for a few days.
4. After drying, the last few bits and pieces of rust came out.

Under the cab I added a see through fuel filter. The filter did turn a little brown but I didn't see any bits of rust in the filter so my steps worked!

[farmfieldfinds]

Almost like Christmas came early. What could be hiding under that wrapping paper? Could it be a brand new 350 with somewhere between 350-400 horsepower?!?!?!

[farmfieldfinds]

Starting to add all of the front components. I tried to piece this together from random parts places. I should have just bought a complete set from March or Summit that includes all of the billet brackets and all of the accessories.

[farmfieldfinds]

Radiator is in and truck is heading to the mechanic shop to have the engine installed!

[Phill0406]

Great work so far! I'm glad to see that ugly bumper going away haha.

Keep us updated

[farmfieldfinds]

Engine is installed and turned out to be a beast! Truck runs great and sounds incredible!!!

[farmfieldfinds]

Engine running video: https://youtu.be/jFNRKXTCgXs

[flashed]

Looks and sounds great .

[farmfieldfinds]

Something interesting about this truck....notice how the front frame cross member has the 1/4 circle cut out of it. I can't figure out why someone would do that. The truck had an inline 6 in it but there was plenty of clearance. Obviously there is still plenty of clearance even after I put in a 350. Maybe someone had a big block in this truck sometime in the past? But why would you pull a big block and install an inline 6? I always find something weird done to these old trucks.

What's the weirdest thing you've discovered in a build???

[farmfieldfinds]

Drivers side rocker is in and all floor repair is complete!