Seeking opinions on staying original or going modern

[bh86]

So I’ll keep a long story short here. I picked up a really neat 68 k10 short bed stepside that I pulled out of a barn a few years back and put some love into. I got it to be a nice driver and an all around really neat truck, but it drove me nuts that I could see the pavement when I looked at was once the floor lol. I had a guy that had done work for me and things had gone well, he gave me a bid on doing a frame off build and it made sense so I agreed. Fast forward over two years now and it’s been a total nightmare. My truck is in a pile of parts the guy that was supposed to be restoring it got half way through the cab and went off the rails. Wife left him and he lost it blah blah blah. He’s a train wreck and I’m now gathering myself back together and have locked down a new resto ship that’s solid. I’m ready to get it done and done right but I’m torn on which direction to take it. The truck was an original I6 truck, 4 speed, Orange, government ordered truck from what we can tell and the one thing that sets it apart is the fact it was ordered with a factory winch. I don’t know wether I want to keep it 100% original or make it something I can actuallly drive with modern power etc. As much as I’d like to say I’ll never sell it I know that would be a lie so overall value when finished matters. My main question is wether there’s any real good reason to keep it original, will it be more valuable? I can replace the drivetrain and keep all of the original numbers matching stuff with it if that helps. Regardless of the direction I take I will be adding power steering and brakes just to make it livable on a daily basis. Any way, I am torn between keeping the I6, going with a sbc, or committing to an ls build. Any and all opinions are welcome. I did locate the original winch off of this trucks twin that it appears I could purchase also. If I keep it I6 or sbc I’d reinstall the winch, if I go the LS route I think I’ll ditch that idea. I attached pics of the truck when I found it and after I had it up and running, I’ll keep the original exterior look, color, wheels etc. Thanks in advance for the advice and opinions.

[Boog]

I remember when you first posted pics of that one.
And you certainly came to the right place for opinions right?

[OARNGESI]

Do a ls keep the original look. It would be pretty easy to convert back if into the future you need too. The only real problem is the ls is already starting to get dated but it’s a great motor

[bh86]

Originally Posted by Boog

I remember when you first posted pics of that one.
And you certainly came to the right place for opinions right?

🙂 I couldn't think of a better place to ask!

[palallin]

You ask for opinions, so here's one: restore it bone stock. Will be worth more? Not to most people. It will, however, be a much better representative of the breed.

Opinion: worth what you paid for it. I can tell you that such is the route I would take with it were it mine.

[jocko]

LOVE that truck! I too remember when you got it, have always liked it. Opinion, since you asked, if it were mine, I'd chunk the 6, put in a 327 if I could find one, or a 350 or 383, but make it look like a 68 motor, even down to the oil fill on the manifold. No chrome stuff, etc. I'm an original fanatic, to a fault, but for some reason - I'm turned off when I get a lead on a nice swb K10 stepper then find a 6 under the hood. Worth more? Probably not - I'd say a nicely done 8 that looks correct will be about a tie for "value" if you sell it compared to the numbers matching 6. I know I'll tick off the 6 cyl guys, but that's just me. Most important thing is keep it looking original, steelies and all.

[RTHarvey]

Wow...that story has a familiar ring. A very similar thing happened to me many years ago on a 64 short stepside. Two years in the body shop, and went by the shop one day and it was an empty building with the telephone sitting on the floor. What a mess. I had to do some real detective work, and finally found out the body shop owner (who had done quite a bit of work for me before, and really good work) was in jail, the business was collapsed, and he owed everybody money. Kind of the same deal, he had gone off the rails, and his life had fallen apart. I finally retrieved most of the truck from a small town about 10 miles south, and the bed from another small town about 40 miles east. (he had tried to move the few vehicles that were left in the shop to friends and family houses with the thought that he would recover and re-start his business.) I never found the rear bumper or the glass, a few other misc parts. The body work was mostly done (not quite up to snuff) and the paint was partially done. I finished up myself (couldn't afford to start over). Anyway, I had the truck for another 20 years, and finally sold it about 6 months ago. It was still going but had developed serious rust issues. The good news is that I sold to a guy that owns a body shop so hopefully he will resurrect it. On your question, I always say "keep it stock". Or almost, anyway. As you know, the short wheel base trucks of that era are pretty valuable, and more so if restored to stock. What size I6 did it have? My 64 had a 230ci with a 4-speed. It was OK, but really the 230 is underpowered. In my opinion, the best engine for these trucks is the 292ci I6. LOTS of torque. I had a 292 in a 62 LWB I had 40 years ago or so. Great engine. To me, if a guy is thinking fuel injected V8, auto trans, disc brakes, PS, PB and AC...why not just buy a nearly-new truck? Doing all that conversion is expensive. I would not say that a stock truck would bring more money when you sell, but you will have a lot more money in the extensively modified version than you will in returning it to excellent stock condition. However--although your truck is uncommon, it isn't quite rare, and it is your truck, so whatever you want to do is what you should do. The problem with selling a modified version, is that you won't find another guy that has exactly the some ideas as to what is cool that you do. As they say, stock is always in style.

[Hutch]

you ask for opinions, so here's one: Restore it bone stock. Will be worth more? Not to most people. It will, however, be a much better representative of the breed.

x2

[Barba Negro]

I traded for a basket case field find 68 K10. PO had swapped,poorly, 292 for 250 I6. I pulled drum front axle and installed a square body disc. I was torn to keep stock. I gave away the 250 and dropped in a CL 65 2bbl 283. Drives fine but not enough giddy up. Now have a vortec headed, edelbrock efi 350 going in. In the end it won't be stock and it won't be crazy, but built for me. The best thing you can do is build it for you.

[BCOWANWHEELS]

bone stock IMO

[bh86]

Thanks for the opinions. Is it correct that this style of front end is narrower than the later disc style front ends?

[Peanutbutter]

Make it look like it just drove off the chevy lot, you won't be sorry. Post some pics of the winch, is it a Ramsey 8000 or Warn 6000?

[BCOWANWHEELS]

Custom is in style for a short time, stock is always been in style

[bh86]

I love all of the opinions, and I also am leaning to a very stock build, although I do want at the very least to have power steering and brakes. I also really like the idea of a sbc that’s built to look era correct. I’ve had that idea on my mind.

[bh86]

Originally Posted by Peanutbutter

Make it look like it just drove off the chevy lot, you won't be sorry. Post some pics of the winch, is it a Ramsey 8000 or Warn 6000?

I don’t have the winch, I have a line on the original style winch off of its twin but it’s not in my possession. A forum member has it I’ll ask what model it is, we’re chatting about possibly doing a deal on it.

[35boulder]

Personally I like them stock. Not sure what your intended use is but that I6 is a good motor. Enjoy whatever your decision.

[MARKDTN]

I vote updated, but not crazy. Modern fuel injection makes them so much nicer to drive. I would go small-block with one of the 3 GM options for fuel injection (TBI, TPI, Vortec) on a SB. I prefer TPI myself as the look is awesome and the low end torque is nice. Very few permanent mods to the truck are required. You can use all factory small-block mounts, exhaust, accessories, etc. I swapped a TPI into my '83 K20 and the difference is night and day.

[special-K]

Do exactly what I did or you are a butthead


Here's the thing.

1- You are fortunate enough to have found a very low production all original unmolested truck that would be very easy to restore back to it's original condition.

2- What is the point of doing an LS swap on a truck you will most likely not be driving all over the place all the time? Does it need any more power than what was good enough all these years? And what about the rest of the old drivetrain handling all that new power it was never designed to handle when new? Would you be changing all that out then? Brings me to the question why would you need to start out with an original SWB 4wd when you could shorten a long frame from any year between 67 and 87 2wd or 4wd, or for that matter find a much more easy 73-87 SWB chassis that already has rear leaf springs. If you want a project, there ya go!
.................................................................................................... .......

WWSpKD? On my '72 K2500 with all original drivetrain and all original except a repaint in same color and a few add-ons I have owned since '01 I have gone through wanting to build a beefy stock looking 4wd with using 1t axles, either 4spd or TH400/NP205, 383 or Cummins, and lifted enough for the 37/12.50 Super Swamper SSRs mounted on white powder coated 16.5 x 8.25 wheels with hubcaps, and adding herringbone saddle buckets and console I had everything for, as well as the Sierra 3500 N.O.S. emblems. Time has passed and I have come to realize with it surviving this long remaining all original it would be foolish to deface it from what it originally was. I'm no purist, but I do have high regard for the merit of an all original survivors. There are others out there to play with. I have done reversible things since, that still follow the beefy stock theme with no permanent alterations. I will be building a 383 from another engine while storing the original safely.

I still want a big bad 1t 67-72 4wd to actually take off road and put through some real action, though still with care. Always was my style anyway.

I am buying a '77 K30 4spd/NP205 rolling chassis for $1k, putting the '70 cab light/high hump/AC cab on that I have, the front clip off my '72 once replaced with better, and building a bobbed flatbed for it. I am starting with parts saved from trucks that were not, creating one with a new life, built to my own personal satisfaction. This one my very well be my first LS-powered, if not Cummins or Turbo'd 292.

That's what I am doing. My serving of food for thought to you.

[sick472]

It's so much easier to go the stock or period correct route, cheaper too. You have a fantastic truck btw. This question crosses a lot of truck owners minds and for good reason. Some vehicles. like GTOs, Cudas, Corvettes, so on an so forth have big value due to their low production numbers and big power options and modifying those means big loss of value. So, if your truck has some special niche that makes it very collectable then the answer to your question is simple...keep it stock or sell it for big money and go buy a lesser valued truck and modify it to your hearts content.

Our trucks, as great as they are, rarely have that special SPID that makes them untouchable. If that is the case with your truck and it were mine...I would put some power under the hood, maybe 350 to 400 hp with truck torque, a manual tranny conversion with OD, some 3:73 gears or close, and a sport rear bumper.

[Mollzyie]

I'd say if your gonna keep it original , keep the engine and transmission too .

[tdangle]

I think you should make the changes that would make the truck safer, and a more reliable driver. If you like the feel of power, go head and change the motor, trans, whatever. It will still always be a classic truck and you should enjoy it as such.

[davepl]

I figure there are two ways to go: stock or modified. If you're going stock, be stock. A K10 short step might be uncommon enough to warrant a stock restoration.

For me, since I wasn't going to Pebble Beach or building a valuable truck, I went stock appearing (except safety). So there's Pertronix ignition under the cap, that sort of thing that you can't see.

But if you're going to modify, I start with safety and driveability:

- 3 point seatbelts
- Upgraded HID or Xenon headlights
- Improved tires, wheels, steering

Then once it's safe I'd improve the driving operation by adding EFI, whatever... but my point is I'd always be in pursuit of a better vehicle, not a faster one, and you'll be much happier.

[1968 baby blue C10]

Originally Posted by palallin

You ask for opinions, so here's one: restore it bone stock. Will be worth more? Not to most people. It will, however, be a much better representative of the breed.

Opinion: worth what you paid for it. I can tell you that such is the route I would take with it were it mine.

Originally Posted by jocko

LOVE that truck! I too remember when you got it, have always liked it. Opinion, since you asked, if it were mine, I'd chunk the 6, put in a 327 if I could find one, or a 350 or 383, but make it look like a 68 motor, even down to the oil fill on the manifold. No chrome stuff, etc. I'm an original fanatic, to a fault, but for some reason - I'm turned off when I get a lead on a nice swb K10 stepper then find a 6 under the hood. Worth more? Probably not - I'd say a nicely done 8 that looks correct will be about a tie for "value" if you sell it compared to the numbers matching 6. I know I'll tick off the 6 cyl guys, but that's just me. Most important thing is keep it looking original, steelies and all.

I believe both of these are good ideas, if you do swap the engine hang on to the original. But either way I would go original on the out side. If the body and paint is as good as it look I wouldn't even paint it.

[toms68cst]

I'd keep is bone-stock. You can't go wrong. If you do modify some things, make it so it can be brought back to stock without any major work.

[bh86]

I uploaded a pic of the build sheet that is still in the seat, I will also upload a pic of the spid. It is a very rare spid due to the winch option, and if I remember correctly not a lot of 4wd were made in 68? Anyway, I am leaning toward the sbc route and keeping the original I6 on hand if ever needed to swap back in. I would build the sbc to look bone stock for the year and possibly use a throttle body injection of some sort that could hide underneath the air cleaner. Has anybody used one of the aftermarket tbi setups? Holley or fitech? They both looked very simple. I am leaning heavily in the direction of original style sbc, question I have is how hard is it to find all the original small parts such as intake manifold, carb if I go the carbureted route, air cleaner and whatever else I may need? Does anybody reading this have any parts for sale? If so shoot me a message, I would like to start looking that direction. Right now we are leaning towards a very original style build with upgraded safety items such as brakes and steering, and keep the original rebuilt I6 on a pallet ready to go if needs be.