Taking the leap to build
 

After playing around with cars and trucks most of my life, I have decided to take the leap to build the 69 Chevy C-10 that I have always wanted. I bought this truck about 2 1/2 years ago and started tinkering with it to get it road worthy.

It had wiring problems along with several other things that I found on the short drive home that scared the hell out of me.:lol: Everytime I hit the brakes the rear end locked up. The steering column moved around as much at the steering wheel did. I got about half way home and the new battery I bought and put in it to start it was just about done for. I drove most of the second half home with no lights to help limp it home. Thank God my son was following me.

I started by replacing the alternator and changed it over to an internal regulator, rebuilding the brakes and fixing several shorts in the wiring. The truck appeared to have a new painless wiring kit that had not been installed very well. I worked on the steering column a little and got it move around less but was not perfect.

A few months later I decided I would update the front end to disk brakes, new brake booster and master cylinder, drop spindles and drop springs for a total front end drop of 3 inches and a new steering column. I also have 4 inch drop springs for the rear, tubular trailing arms and new trailing arm cross member that I have not installed yet. I decided I would wait to do the rear until I started the build, if I ever did.

Well that is were I am and I have decided I will try and build the truck now. The truck is not a daily driver but I do drive it on a regular basis and will be tryking to keep it in a running state as long as I can. I have started on the bed and have gotten all the trim holes welded up, after removing all the bondo the PO put on the bed to try and fill all the holes. The drivers side has been taken down to bare metal and I have started the body work on it.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Looks good, keep us updated on the process, And If it hasn't been mentioned welcome to the board.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Thanks BarryB. I have been on this site for a while now but just starting to get more involved. Seeing all the awesome trucks being built on this site has motivated me to do something with mine. Its not going to be a show truck but I hope it turns out to be a nice semi-driver.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Looking good, just seeing that bed side stripped makes me cringe at how much work that took. Keep at it and keep the pics coming.

Welcome from Springfield, MO!

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Thanks Whitey, It wasn't that bad but it wasnt fun. Not a lot of damage to the side except the front lower section had a crease in it and a few dings in the upper rear section. I plan to skim coat the whole bed side with metal glaze to get the small waves out of it.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Lookin' forward to more pics of your build!

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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Well got the major body work on the drivers side bed done and the first round of primer on. Now it's time to start blocking it out and see how I did
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

First round of blocking on the drivers side is done. It came out pretty good but still has a few things to fix but I knew there would be. I dont know of very many guys that get everything the first time. :lol:

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Got the second round of primer on and it's looking pretty good. Time to let it sit for a little bit since I have to go back to work tomorrow. Im still undecided if I should go with a two tone blue and charcoal grey or go with a solid blue. All the moldings will be removed so a painted dividing stripe will be painted and air brushed to look like diamond plated stainless steel if I go with a two tone. The interior is going to be charcoal grey leather.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Looking damn good I'd say
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Thanks Scott. Still have several rounds of blocking but it will get there sooner or later.

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My bed mostly straight but a big dent in the rear by the bumper. That ought to be fun but ur work is keeping me inspired
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

The passenger side has a big area of visible bondo repair that is about 2 feet by 2 feet in the upper front. Im not looking forward to getting all the bondo out and trying to fix it right.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

I cant wait to see more. Dont be like me and post a few shots, get everybodys hopes up, and than shoot us down by running out of steam.............I run out of steam pretty quick but I think it has to do with getting older.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

It has been a while since I have been able to work on the truck. Spring break, kids sick and work but I will be back to it today. I hope I can get the drivers side of the bed in final primer and start on the passenger side. Not looking forward to the huge dent in on the passengers side, but it has to come out so no use in complaining about.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

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This is my dent i was telling u about follows around on the side but the big issue is under the light. Oh boy. Can't wait to see more pics
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

I worked on the dent on the passenger side a little bit. There was about an inch of bondo on it and I ended up chipping it out with a hammer and chisel. Why in the world would someone put that much bondo on a truck? They make body hammers and dollies for a reason.:banghead:

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

I have the same dent on mine. The bumper is pushed up against it.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Well I got the huge dent out of the passenger side of the bed and the first round of primer on. Time to start blocking and blocking and blocking.:metal:

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Welcome to the board!
Fantastic progress so far. I am interested in the repairs you made to the side that had all the bondo. Do you have any pics showing how that repair was made?

Keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Here are a couple after I got it all out and ready for a skim coat of metal glaze. I started with the lower body line, you cant see it in the pictures but there was a 1/2 inch bow in the body line. I took a 2x4 and lined it up on the inside lower edge of the body line. Then used a 4 ton portable hydraulic equipment kit with the spreader attachment and put it between the bed floor and the 2x4 and pushed the body line out where it needed to be and worked the top portion of the body line with a hammer till it stayed where it needed to be. Once the body line was right I started on the dent itself from the outside edge of the dent toward the center moving all the extra metal to the center with a hammer and dolly. After several hours of massaging the metal all the extra metal was in the center where it was about 1/4 high. I shrank the metal using a tourch and water and a little more hammer and dolly work. I got the center dead even and the surrounding area was around 1/16 low. Used some metal glaze to even it all out and you see the result.

It was a lot of work but in order to do it the right way that is what it takes. Hope that helps a little sorry I dont have more pictures showing all of the work in steps. When I get to working I forget about stopping to take pictures.:dohh:

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If you look at the bare metal pictures you can see the discoloration around the outside edge of the dent. Yea it was a really big dent and about an inch deep.

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Well I started the finish work on the passenger side bed last week and half way through the first blocking I got a call from my wife that she was going to the hospital. Needless to say the truck got put on hold and off to the hospital I went. Hopefully she will be released from the hospital sometime this week and I will be able to get back on the truck next week.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Prayers going up for you and your wife. Excellent work bud cant wait to see more.

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Hope your wife gets better soon and back home. Truck looks great! I know how much work body work is. Keep the pics coming!
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Thanks Jeff.

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I see you live in Arlington. My mom lives there. Pretty cool
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Good news, my wife was released from the hospital last night and doing much better. Looks like the truck may get a little attention next week.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

That's great news to hear!
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Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Awesome! Im glad to hear your wifey is doing better!

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Well I as able to get back in the shop and work on the truck a little yesterday. Got the drivers side bed blocked again and it looks pretty good. Should be able to finish up the drivers side next week.

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I also got the first round of blocking done on the passengers side done. Considering the amount of damage and work I had to do on this side it looks good to me. A little more work and this side will be done soon. I got the outside of the tailgate stripped and all the dents, waves and spot welds smoothed out also.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Welcome to the forum, I like your truck, I have to give you a lot of credit your work looks 1st class. Do you paint also?

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

I have never painted anything, I have color sanded and buffed a lot of things tho.:lol: The work I do on my truck is a way for me to relieve stress, as funny as that may sound. I go to the shop on my days off and work till I feel like stopping. Thanks for the compliment on the work.

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I got the bed ready for some color and started on the front fenders. Stripped the front fenders to bare metal and sprayed some sealer on them until I can start smoothing them out next week. They look ok but the passenger side has some waves in them that will take a little time to get out. After I get the outside of the fenders looking good its on to the hood and doors. Getting closer to taking it apart and not being able to drive it till it gets some color on it.:metal:

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

I Love the truck bud im Glad to hear your wife is doing better! I Just recentley moved from mansfield so i know your area pretty well , Now i gotta say your makin some dang good Progress on your rig. Keep it up!

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Thanks she still isn't 100% back to normal but getting there. I am trying to get some color on my truck by the end of the summer. Its going to be hard to do working on it by myself 2 days a weeks but we will see how close I get.

Re: Taking the leap to build
 

Nothing wrong with that! That's kinda how I keep myself sane. Nothing better then turning some wrenches and doing some tinkering. ;)

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:agree: