Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Hey guys..been floating around here for a while now. Unbelievable forum. Thought i would start my own build thread. It'll be some what time elapsed until I catch up to where I'm at currently. It's a local (Manitoba)1970 C10, LWB, inline 6, 3 speed manual column shift with 64,000 original miles. They salt the roads here heavily during the winter months... making this a typical repair for the region. Thanks for all the info on this site so far guys... Start with some tear down

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

A bit more... mice. Lots of mice

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

This pic was snapped about one year ago... Inline 6 and transmission gone. (for good)

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

To bare frame.. that was fast! At this pace it'll be like the BS we watch on TV.. total rebuild in 6 days

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

I thought I would do a quick rebuild on my 70 lwb 18 months and 20k heres what you get and now the fisrt 15k or best offer its gone.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Yes! You find a hiding spot for all the receipts in a hurry. (wife) Beautiful truck..

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

there not hidden she just doesn't want to look. I have it forsale locally and am going to move on the something different.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Brakes needed everything..brake fluid had gelatinized in lines/master cylinders. Rear control arms were rotted through. Found a good used set locally

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Skipping ahead... frame,crossmember and diff stripped, primed and painted. (rustoleum) Wheel cylinders, shoes, brake hoses, steel brake lines all new. Steering/suspension components replaced. Rear differential assembly gone through. New bearings and seals. Discovered I had a 3.73 ratio.. think I'll keep it for now.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Installed one of these to help keep tires on the pavement.. Richmond gear powertrax locker. (ratcheting spool of sorts) Install was a snap.

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Not much to it really.. they're noisy compared to a posi assembly when turning.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

I have a powertrax in my 69 Camaro and really like it. One thing to remember is to keep your air pressure in your rear tires at the same pressure and you will greatly reduce the noise.

:gmc2:

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Good to know... thank you.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Located an 1/8" sway bar from an '80's 1 ton 2wd. Had to make the frame mount bracket. New urethane bushings and set it in place. (no factory sway bar on this truck)

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

looks good! quick question, for the rustoleum, did you brush it on or spray?

and what method did you use for stripping/sanding the rearend and other parts?

im getting ready to do similar and just getting ideas. (dont have a resources for a big compressor for my sandblaster)

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Next was the fuel tank.. I used a 1973 blazer 25 Gal. fuel tank, with a sending unit from a 1984 K5 blazer. It was one I found that would fit the hole in the tank... and have proper resistance range (0-95 ohms)to read accurately with the factory guage. (It does read accurate) The straps were made with 18G sheetmetal. T bolts fit through holes in straps at outer end, then strap folded back and welded. T bolts fastened at front through cross braces I made. (heavy wall square tube) Straps bolt into threaded holes in heavy wall tube at the rear. Made this way to enable tank removal without removing the truck bed.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Thanks! my compressor is too small as well. This truck will be a driver.. and I have to drive some dirt road to get out. Frame paint is gonna get beat up.
I used a braided wire wheel and a braided cup on a grinder.Lots of hours with grease remover and manual wire brush/scotchbrite! Primed it and I sprayed a water based rustoleum. Wouldnt use it again. Their oil product much more durable.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Moving on to the rad cradle. Commonly rotton on the bottom. A small metal brake is a valuable tool. Cut off rotten lower sections, trace outline in a piece of 18G, give a half inch extra in areas for the return bend. Cut, shape and weld it home. Marked holes where inner fenders bolt up,(used old piece as guide) and tacked 5/16" nuts on inside of repair piece. Seam sealer, prime and paint

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On to the cab.. it was pretty rough. Supports, rockers, pans, firewall, cab corners, clearance lights and a million holes drilled inside for everything from coat hangers to St Christopher medallions. Lots of hours into the cab. Never been so happy as when we set it back on the frame.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Some more...

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

I normally wouldn't cut the cab corners this high... but the PO had a set replaced. And they were brazed in. Warping was so bad I had no choice. Not a nice area to do bodywork. Holes welded in for clearance lights. Metal repairs made to cowl area where mice nests caused damage.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Cab exterior bodywork complete, shy of block sanding.

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Minor steel work to kickpanels. Bodywork and prime interior.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Picked up buckets and a console from local scrapyard. Made a support to enable use of an early '90's console. Lots of work to change my mind later and not use it. Seats spaced in cab for leg room, etc. Holes marked on floor, then drilled. 3/8" bolts welded into 1\4' backing plates brought up through holes from underneath. Seats bolted to them to verify alignment. Then everything welded up and welded to pans under the cab

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Some midnight black sprayed on interior after sanding, truck box liner sprayed on floor, firewall and rear wall

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

and some midnight black on the firewall, jambs and window areas...

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

I'll back up a bit on a tip I got... phosphoric acid. I used the product shown. Worked great for areas I couldn't get at with a grinder. Dissolved rust with no effect on good metal. Apply, let sit for 5-10 mintues and rinse. Wire brush what you can get at, and reapply if needed.

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I wanted a cowl hood for my project. Wasnt sure on direction I was (still aren't) on carb setup. Thought I would try making one.. had a spare hood in case I destroyed this one. Looked at several pics... and tried a few different lines with tape before cutting. Only cut sheet metal. Leave cross braces intact. Lots of 2x4's hacked up for different angles... settled on this one

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All I can say if you decide to try a cowl is spot weld very slowly. Keep the hood metal from heating up. Large piece of metal and warps very easily if not careful. If you do warp it... some have had luck heating the area up and shrinking it back by hitting it with cold water. I've never been able to do it. Lol I always make it worse.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

The metal pieces were made in a small metal brake. Front pieces were traced on backside to match hood contour, trimmed and welded. Grind welds, fiberglass seams, finish off with filler.

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I made an under cowl support out of 1/8"x2" metal bar. Shaped to fit underside of cowl(leaving a 1/8" space between support and hood) welded to existing hood support edges. Filled space between support and cowl with seam sealer so it wont rattle. Sprayed the hood with hi-builds primer and sanded. Grille piece made with a section of hammermill screen.

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After block sanding, the underside was sprayed midnight. I made a hood lift spring from a large washer and a gm starter solenoid return spring. It pops the hood up a good 1 1/2" now when the release lever is pulled... versus digging between the hood and grille with finger nails.

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I located a set of '80's truck rallies locally... always liked these rims. Went with 295/50/15 on rear and 245/60/15 on the front. Had them blasted.. primed and sprayed satin black. Would likely powder coat next time.. not sure about trim rings yet. Opinions?

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Got my hands on a rebuilt th400. Installed a transgo reprogram kit, B&M holeshot converter and flexplate. The engine I purchased from a friend of mine we built years back for a project of his we were working on and then sold off. ('66? chev swb fleet) Its a 383 stroker, performer rpm intake, AFR aluminum heads. Updated mounts and towers from a mid '70's V8. Painted to match my project. Still considering carb options.. feel free to chime in with advice. Willing to hear any and all.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Me knocking out auto crossmember from my parts truck..lol!!

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Bwahahaha :lol:

Your build looks good so far, I dig the metal work you did to make that cowl hood.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Thank you sir! Hillbilly special here.. lol safety first

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The wife snapped this pic, sitting in the car.. with all the kids... shaking her head at me..lol!!!

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Motor and trans. set in place. New master cylinder. Seal kit installed in heater core/fan box. Replaced fan cage with a metal one. Plastic one that was there half eaten by mice. Longtube headers installed.

Re: Project NiteMare-1970 C10 LWB build
 

Next was some doors. My original doors were straight, but tubs were rotted badly. Found a better set locally that required some lower skin repairs, and inner tub seam. Pieces were made with my metal brake and hand working curves into panels.