1963 C10 Stepside "Rochambeau"

[JJ660]

I took my brother with me when I bought this in July, his job was to prevent me from buying anything needing an excessive amount of work. I guess the Sun was in his eyes too. No engine or transmission which was okay for me, I have a 2007 5.3L with a 4L60E transmission that I plan to put in it. This will be my 2nd LS engine swap (same engine & transmission). Should be easier than the 1st time...pull everything out of first car and transfer to this one. Want to do a static drop - 2 1/2" front - 3" rear and up grade the brakes.

[Palf70Step]

It happens to all of us. That dern sun!

[JJ660]

My first step was a complete tear down to the frame. I find that a lot of bolts look okay form the cap or nut but have very little left in the middle. The rusted out trailing arm was a surprise. I either missed it during my buying inspection or it partially collapsed during loading/unloading. I've since seen trucks at car shows with the same rust out problem. The cab supports were all rusted out too.

[JJ660]

I sandblasted the frame and painted it. After adding up the cost of buying individual floor panels I decided to go with the complete floor replacement. I now get even with brother by having him weld everything. Only thing I welded was the support bracing inside the cab...we wanted it to be easy to remove later on. The floor went in fairly easy.

[JJ660]

I've installed the new spindles and brakes in the front. Installed the engine, but not the wiring. The LS engine fits great. I have a high hump transmission tunnel, so there is plenty of clearance. Whipped some quick paint on the cab before the wife made an inspection visit to the "Skunk Works" aka "brothers barn". I have also installed the cab back onto the frame and test fitted the fenders radiator/grill support. It's suppose to get cold here starting this week so my progress might slow way down. Been looking for replacement doors without much luck. Decided try and reskin the ones I have. Might still be looking.

[JJ660]

December update:
Painted under the dash and the dash, hopefully we will have a mild winter and I can install the gauges and wiring harness.

De-skinned the doors. First time. Need to fix some of the inner bracing.

Started to re-upholstery the bench seat. Just using pull-over covers, but needed to fix a few of the springs. After I finished I found out that I could have just bought the zig-zag springs from LMC vs trying to bend a piece a spring wire into the correct shape. More than likely I will run up to LMC and buy 4 replacement springs.

[JJ660]

About ready to start working on this project again. Had to build 25'x34' a "Shop/Garage" for it. Received the building in April will be finished with it in 2 weeks. Just have to put the electrical in. I've been doing some of the electrical work on the truck, but have forgotten where I was when I stopped in April (had the LS harness all sorted out) been watching videos on LS wiring to refresh my brain.

[Sac]

Hand clap for you! Believe I would've walked away..

[JJ660]

Got the truck moved into its new home. Wife got to see it for the first time. (Been working on it at my brother's barn (a.k.a. The Skunk Works)). Started the chassis wiring today. Hope to turn the engine over this week.

[JJ660]

Big milestone yesterday. Drove the truck out of, and back into the shop on it's own power! My retired neighbors are gone for 5 weeks so I can make outside noise without much worry. Planning on having it all in primer coat by the end of the month. I have most of the big area's sanded, its the little nooks and crannies that are slowing me down. (Update: The next few/many time I tried to test drive it, it would not idle and would hardly move under it's own power. Had several codes come up. I believe the engine had 4 related to the cylinder deactivation intake valves circuit being open and the transmission had 4 more, all with a possible low fluid fix. You gotta be careful how you plum your dual remote oil/fluid cooler! Appears to be no damage done except to ego.)

[JJ660]

"Rochambeau" finally was able to be driven out of the shop last night under it's own power out of 4 cylinder or limp mode. I had to add a sensor plug to my wiring harness for the DOD solenoids. After I did that I had good idle and power when I shifted it into gear. If the yard dries out today I may take it around the block once to see if I get any codes.

I still need to adjust the panels and doors and check that all wires and cables are tied up.

[joesscamaro]

Nice job, I’m sure it feels good to drive it around!

[JJ660]

After a 3 year break, I started back to working on this project last month. I left off with a bowl of spaghetti for wiring under the dash. Someday, I will need to adjust the body panel's better, (or not).

[62bagger]

Thats looking really good. Your work has paid off big time.

[Braunschweiger]

You built a great truck, it looks great.

[The Rocknrod]

That looks great, you've come a long way. Great work. Ya get that wiring straightened out, it will pay off.