Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Thanks guys. I'm hoping to put some miles on it this weekend....

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I'd convert it to a Gmc personally

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Man, I love the truck. I have a 68 stepside with the same color blue interior with a darker blue outside. What color are you going to paint it. Your exhaust is a very high dollar chambered exhaust from a High perf Camaro or chevelle 68 or 69. Never seen it on a truck. If it is not rusted you might want to save it or sell it to someone who needs it for a restoration. You might look it up at year one or some other Camaro resto parts place and see what they sell for. If you get up near Asheville with it let me know and we will get coffee or lunch or something and compare notes.

Mika

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Thanks. I have no plans to paint it (for now at least). It took 43 years to get the paint this cool so I want to leave it for a while. Maybe freshen it up later. Maybe....

I'm surprised to hear that about the exhaust- they're marked "Turbo Tubes." When I was trying to find out where they came from I found these guys:

http://www.classicchambered.com/

I don't really like them very much. I guess I need to hear them on a drive-by. Not too loud though and there is a really funny "blat-blat-blat-blat" when you shift at high rpm. Kind of like a Harley when the engine revs down. My 7 year old loves it. They're mounted too low on the truck- they should have been tucked up much higher. The installer really didn't care how they looked I guess.

I don't head up to the mountains much unless I'm on the bike. You should come down for the meet & greet Liz is setting up this way next month.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Just been driving Blu on weekends (when I'm in town). Got a few more tanks of gas through her incident/tow free. The truck is running really nice and its a real pleasure to drive around in it. Its just fun. Its seems to be set up with the 3-spd and 3.07 rear for for country backroads- 50-60 mph. No hurry- just moseying along. It just runs real nice there without seeming to have to work.

Went to Dixie Truck Works with forum-buddy Steve Cole yesterday and got a great score- I found a '68 intake manifold in great shape for $40.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps197e731f.jpg

This is one of the parts I've been hunting for to get ready for my engine work. Now I just need to find a pair of the 60's Chevrolet scripted valve covers. Orange Truck has got a pair of steel ones for $139 that might do the trick.

I've still been tinkering a bit. I replaced the side marker light lenses to freshen them up. I'll get my heater controls next week from my Saturday trip to Dixie ($85 for a real nice looking repro). I found 6-lug chevy rally's (also at Orange Truck parts) for $89 each. I think I'll go with 15X7's on the front and 15x8's on the back with the early 1967 center cap.

I'm still fighting the door weatherstripping- it still takes a real hard slam to close the doors. The drivers side is aggravating me- I can't get the door lock to work with the door closed. It works perfectly with the door open (by key or knob) and with the door closed and weather stripping out. But with the weatherstripping and door closed it won't properly lock. I completely disassembled it yesterday, cleaned and lubed everything...still no joy. I just can't find the sweet spot on the adjustment to get it to work.

Other than the door lock, its fun now- I'm just driving it around not sinking a lot of money into it. More money for gas than parts right now. I've got some high dollar projects coming- engine, lowering, wheels.... but I'm not blowing money on repair parts for the time being (which is good because my 02 Tahoe had to get a new fuel pump last week :censored:. ) Life is good!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Hey neighbor the truck looks great! Just down the road from you in Albemarle. The next time you go to Dixie Truck Works look me up and stop by (I am only 10 min. from them). I would love to see your truck in person. All the hard work you have done is starting to pay off. I also have been working on an old long bed truck.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

LOL- if you want to see my truck in person you need to come over and look at the pile of parts! I'm in the middle of an engine build which might turn into some body work too while it is down. A three day job morphed into a three week job and I am going to try desperately not to let it be a three MONTH job.

I'll surely be at Dixie again before too long but it won't be in Blu!

"I used to have an old truck. Now I have a bunch of old truck parts."

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Hey y'all.....long time, no update.

I've done a bunch of small stuff (refurbed by gauge cluster) and some bigger stuff (lowered it 3" in the front and rear with springs).

Here it is with just the front done:

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps6a52b1ff.jpg

Now I'm into the BIG stuff. I decided that over the Thanksgiving holiday I was going to pull the engine, reseal it, change the timing set and oil pump, paint it and put it back in....

I ended up taking the entire front clip off to make the engine removal process easy.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psf9caa7d2.jpg

Tugging out the small block and Saginaw....

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps34174d1a.jpg

And ready for cleaning and teardown....

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps6cb1b486.jpg

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I spent a lot of time doing pre-cleaning on the engine before I started tear-down...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psc227e450.jpg

With the front clip removed the truck is all set for some more cleaning....

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psec4780e4.jpg

I spent a few more hours on it with a 3,800 psi pressure washer, copious amounts of degreaser and toothbrushes.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psd46e16d3.jpg

With that done it was time to start disassembling the engine to see what I'm working with...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps09e4a38e.jpg

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I was doing pretty good keeping on the plan until my Dad talked me into pulling the heads to see what the valves looked like and to change out the valve seals. "What's a set of head gaskets cost- nothing!" he said.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...pse937ad21.jpg

Everything looked really good and it was obvious that I was the first one inside the engine. No signs of anybody else ever cracking it open.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps03d8b42d.jpg

I decided since I had it this far apart it would be stupid to not rebuild it properly. It's too much work to do this again in another year or two. I stripped it right down to the bare block.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps236cc40d.jpg

And made a big pile of parts in the garage....

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psd6ee1444.jpg

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I got the machine shop to go over everything for me- the block, heads and crank.

They magnafluxed everything and made sure it was good to go. The block got hot-tanked, bored 030 over, new cam bearings got put in and I had them install the freeze plugs. The crank got checked out and just needed a polish to make good as new. The heads got the works. Decked, new hardened valve seats, new guides and valves. They installed my comp cam valvetrain parts and checked the springs against the lift of the new cam I was putting in.

I got my stuff back and it looked fantastic- like brand new.... Pretty cool for 43 yr old parts...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psc10034c1.jpg

I got a bunch of performance parts from summit and jegs and some basic parts (bearings, rings, new 030 over pistons) from the machine shop. My garage looks like a UPS truck exploded. (which answers the question - what does a pair of head gaskets cost? about $1,500 in machine work and other parts!)

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps400bd907.jpg

On Friday I gave the block a final soapy hot water wash with dawn dishwashing detergent and a hot water pressure washer at work. I cleaned, cleaned and cleaned it again.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psf7ef6f49.jpg

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Nice update! Keep em coming.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Looks awesome!!!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Yesterday I took advantage of some terrific December weather (70 degree temps) and gave the block a coat of paint. Chevy Orange VHT. If its as durable as it looks good, I should be all set.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psdfb8fe16.jpg

I put the paint on so thick I even had to wetsand some runs out of the timing cover and oil pan (my OCD was kicking in). I also did a lot of the other parts- fan, water pump, balancer, bellhousing, etc... Everything on the engine is going to be chevy orange or hot-rod black. Should look really good and really true to stock.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps412cb9f2.jpg

So the garage is still a huge mess but at least its a more painted/clean mess.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...pscf03ecc7.jpg

I bought a bunch of sheetmetal too. Rad support, inner fenders....rockers, cab corners, some other small patch panels for the front fenders. With the front end already off, now might be the time to get the brunt of the rust repair done too.

This is way more than I wanted to do this fast but the truck should look (sound, and run) pretty good this spring.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Thanks guys.

I'm seriously considering getting it on a trailer and taking it to a frame shop to get the frame 100% straight before it goes back together. Then to the body shop to get the bodywork done. All of the bodywork I need done is below the lower molding so I'll be able to keep 90% of the original paint and should be able to fake patina the new close enough to match.

I'm going to get the engine buttoned back up, make some room in the garage and sort out the remaining details.... like what transmission I am going to put back in. The old three-speed Saginaw might not last too long behind the new engine (should be 350+ hp based on the parts I am putting in).

Maybe paint the front section of the frame? Disc brakes up front.....

ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

HA,its good to see I'm not the only one that starts one little project that turns into a huge one!Nice truck keep up the good work!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

There are some great ideas on this thread. I'm just starting on a project of my own. You will be my first subscription, keep up the good work!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

thanks- I need to do an update- this may be the bump I need. Engine is about back together...

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Nice build!!!!!
I just bought a 1970 GMC 1500 w/ 3 spd for my daughter as a project truck. She will be driving it in a year, so she should know the in's and out's of Her truck by that time.
She was inspired by "Farm Truck" from Street outlaws. I stumbled onto your thread here and love that you are doing exactly what needs to be done to her's.
Please continue to update, and I hope that I may bother you from time to time with some questions.
thanks

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Update time.....

Engine is pretty much together from oil pan to valve covers. Everything is painted and the intake is powder coated to match.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...pscad4cd86.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps9866c483.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps39bb2b14.jpg

The transmission has been gone through (great shape throughout now with new seals and gaskets). I'm going to put the Saginaw back in for this year and transplant a nascar 5-spd unit next year.

I took the (original) rad to get cleaned and checked out and its toast. I'm waiting for the price to have it recored.

My bodyman came over last week and is working on a price to do my rockers, cab corners, patch the front fenders..... Hopefully I'll be flatbedding it over that way soon to let him have his way with it.

Progress is slow but going well.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Things are going to happen quick now....

I am on the schedule at my buddy's body/resto shop. He has a $2 million (yes, MILLION) dollar Shelby Cobra in there right now waiting to get picked up and hauled back up to NJ.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps36233bfb.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2913aa49.jpg

This car has got a really early SN and some serious documented racing pedigree giving it the crazy value....

When this one gets picked up, a $65K Austin Healy is coming in......

Then Blu!

They're doing the outer rockers, cab corners, bottom of the kick panels, one cab support and my front fenders. David was a little perplexed why I wanted him to leave all the blue paint alone and only blow in white below the lower molding where he'll be doing all the work. He was ready to do a frame-off for me. Maybe later.... I want to run the patina'd paint for a while.

The Austin Healy should be done by Mid-Feb so I have to rush like crazy to get mine ready to go as soon as he's ready.

This weekend I am painting the frame with a coating David recommended (he uses it on all the cobras and GT-40's that roll through his place).

http://www.tat-co.com/products/speci...ip-guard-4313/

Then the engine is going in sometime next week. It's pretty much ready to go. The transmission is done and I just picked up my clutch kit yesterday. My CPP motor mounts just came in. I'm going to bolt it up but not plumb or wire it (won't have time with all the other prep). (I don't know why the pic is upside down....)

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps9c750947.jpg

I'm going to have to bring him my new rad support on Monday- he'll be in the booth spraying black and has a satin that he says looks great underhood.

I need the rad support painted so I can get the front clip back on (he wants it on when I bring it to the shop). The engine is going in prior to the body shop for one very good reason.... David is going to do the alignment on all my panels so I'd rather put the engine in now while its easy and let him do his magic on my sheetmetal. He is going to save me hours and hours (if not days) and he'll do a way better job than I could ever dream of.

I'm bringing him the truck without the bed and with the bench seat and gas tank removed. (I'll do some work to the bed later). I'm wondering now if I should c-notch it before I put the bed back on.... Hmmmm.....

I scored a set of mid-60's poverty caps that are on their way from the seller in Canada. Those with a set of freshly painted but low-key steelies should look fantastic.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps1a6b004e.jpg

My rad is being recored by a local old-school shop. They are using my original tanks and putting in a new 3-row brass/copper core that'll be better than anything aftermarket I can get. It'll be a perfect fit and I'll still have the original tanks and factory tags on it.

When the truck gets back from the shop (end of feb, beginning of march), I can finish the engine and engine bay and knock out all the rest of the stuff on the punch list to have it ready to go.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Nice build! Those '67 hubcaps will look great on the steelies!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I got the front clip finished last weekend- cleaned, wirewheeled and painted with John Deere paint (the semi-gloss black has a perfect finish). I am stoked at how clean the frame is after a little bit of cleaning. It kills me not to be able to completely tear it down, media blast it and finish it properly but I'll do that in a few years. I bolted my new CPP motor mounts on.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps8e0b350b.jpg

Yesterday I gutted the cab (seat, carpet and gas tank) to get it ready for the body shop. I got my cab mount bolts loosened up and did the gas pedal conversion for the cable throttle. I did some detail and cleanup work on the firewall and then really got to work....

The engine finally, after several long months, got off the stand and assembled with the flywheel, new clutch set and freshly gone-over transmission.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psd9390426.jpg

And then- a buddy and I got it planted back in the truck. It went pretty good- we didn't bump scratch or damage anything. We had to really fight to get all the motor mounts lined up (especially the rear mounts), but we got it done without having to use a lot of "persuasion".

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps82b3dad5.jpg

I am a pretty happy guy. I can start tinkering around now bolting on the accessories and other stuff. I'm getting my newly painted repop rad support back and then can bolt the front end back together around the new powerplant. I'll be about ready to fire it up when it comes back from the bodyshop.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

A ton of stuff has gotten done since the fall and a ton of money has been spent...

Truck got to the body shop and got new outer rockers, cab corners, the front fenders and rear cab supports were patched. No paintwork was done above the lower molding line.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps1a092fe0.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psc24b3d66.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psb58086cb.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps54177fa9.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psbaaa273c.jpg

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Any updates on this truck? I enjoyed reading it so far and just hoped there would be a few updates.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Thanks for asking. I'm not much of an attention whore but nobody seemed to be interested so I didn't bother updating.

Yeah, its been back apart and out the road a little while. Definitely not finished and still a seemingly endless work in progress. This is at the Goodguys Southeast Nationals a couple weeks ago.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps3488676c.jpg

Under the hood...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps2a9c478b.jpg

The exhaust...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps96237d91.jpg

How it sounds (just back from the exhaust shop):

http://vid780.photobucket.com/albums...psjvn5tacz.mp4

The interior (so far, a good ways to go still):

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psb856f613.jpg

And a bunch of shiny stuff underneath:

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psdc2ffc99.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps8e834c80.jpg

I just picked up a 4L60E to swap out the Saginaw three-on-the-tree (which doesn't get along with the new engine). Need to get a torque converter, electronic controller, crossmember, steering column etc. Going to go posi in the rear with 3.73 gears... Figuring out my plan for the front end.... More drop, front and rear, disc brakes, rack and peanut steering. The usual nonsense that is keeping me poor.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Looking good. Keep us posted on progress.

Mika

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

That is coming along really nicely. Great looking rig.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

:lol::lol::lol:

Sounds like something my dad would say about the head gaskets and what the outcome would be.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Trucks looking good! I like the stance! I really like the idea of keeping the patina but then redoing all things mechanical

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Looks awesome! :metal:

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Nice write-up. I enjoy reading it.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Love the attention to detail. This is an awesome thread. Much of what i have in mind.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I must have missed where you installed the rear end set up ,what are your trailing arms connected to ?

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Looks great. Keep us posted on any updates.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Very nice

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

I'm always interested in builds and I usually chime in time to time. Thanks for updating on your truck. Some threads go stale and you wonder what happened, then once and awhile somebody will post an update or ask an question so yeah we still listening.!

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Mitchell72 asked for a pic with a better side profile so here it is...

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psa78389e3.jpg

The wheels are 15x6's up front with (I think) 215/75/15's and 15X8's on the rear with 235/75/15. I'm going to upgrade to 18's or 20's when the suspension/front end will need better rubber.

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Just found this thread. There's a bunch of great info in here. A lot of which I need to apply to my truck. Any updates to the current state of the truck?

Re: 1970 C10 LWB "Blu"
 

Hey Chris- actually, yes- its been a busy weekend. Old transmission and everything associated is out. Got a tiny bit of cleanup and will be ready to start putting bigger and better parts back in.

Its frustrating. Every time I get this truck "completed" and out on the road, I find something else to do and it gets all torn apart again. I am thinking I might get stupid and do a short bed conversion before I get the new driveshaft and exhaust done (again). If the bed is coming off, I'll c-notch the rear as well I guess.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psuwt9b2vs.jpg

All the steering and shifter/clutch components are out:

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...psnxpnrbpj.jpg

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps20sx7xnl.jpg

All set underneath to bolt up the newly built tremec:

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/y...pslzggctaf.jpg