1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

While my this project is now complete, I figured I would share all the photos of the truck and its transformation.

I found this truck on craigslist for sale back in July of 2018. I was looking a truck to tinker with and drive to work in the winter here in the PNW. I was mainly looking for a 71/72 Cheyenne as both my grandfather and great grandfather have had a couple of them when I was little and growing up. Plus the factory disc brakes and 5 lugs was a nice thing to just start with, but really any clean 67-72 would do.

That's where this truck came along. It checked all the boxes I had. Was a very rust free cab and nose, doors never cut for speakers, was an original full trim truck, and ran & drove. It just needed some brake work and a few other mechanical things. The bed was the worst of the metal on the truck. The previous owners were using it as a work truck for artificial lawns and while loading a pallet, the forklift had smacked the passenger bed side and then dropped the load onto the metal floor pretty well ruining it. The truck had spend all of its life in so cal and had only migrated to Oregon a few months before I bought it, hence why it was so rust free, but it was an original 2 tone Custom cab truck.

Made a deal and drove the thing home with 2 and half working brakes.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Once getting the truck home, fixed the brakes, flushed the fluids, touched up a few bare spots, swapped out the door panels & steering wheel and promptly began driving the truck. It was just a sweet running little truck. Replaced the door seals before winter and just overall had a blast owning this truck.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

While having a blast driving the truck, one morning after a very heavy rainstorm and hopped into the truck to go to work. I noticed the passenger side floor was dark and felt over there and it was full of water. The windshield seal or rain gutter sealer had failed. Was not too surprised as the truck has spent so much time in nice sunny so cal it was not used to the wet weather in Oregon.

This seal failure was the tipping point off the cliff to start really restoring the truck. So in July of 2019 the tear down began.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Since the bed had been smacked by that forklift and all the stake pockets were busted. Made the call to take the long bed off and sell it and cut the truck down. My grandfather was helping as well since I had the truck stored at his place and was chomping at the bit to cut the frame down. He has been cutting these trucks down since the mid 70s. This was going to be truck number 15 or 16 so it was as simple as a weekend in the shop and the frame was done.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the frame bolted together loaded the truck up onto a trailer to have a certified welder weld up the joints and add a fish plate on to truly finish the frame up. Welder also fabbed up a new exhaust system to the rear axle as the old glass packs needed to go. Swapped to Flowmaster mufflers.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

From now with the frame done, started fixing a few of the worst dents and dings on the truck prior to pulling the panels off the truck.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

While tearing down the truck, this is where the theme and name for the truck start forming. Along with this 68 C10, I have a 68 Camaro SS/RS that was my first car. My grandfather and I restored the car together. Starting when I was 8 years old, he taught me all the skills needed to restore a classic Chevy.

Since this truck was a 68 as well, decided that it would be cool if they were similar color schemes, same wheels and tires as well as drivetrains. The camaro is a all numbers match small block 4 speed car. While the truck had a small block and truck 4 speed, I had a M21 Muncie 4 speed out of a Chevelle on the shelf that I decided to swap into the truck. So these pics are on kind the first fitment and kind figuring out shifters. The big thing was the truck was a factory high hump. I found a buddy with a low hump floor he bought for the rockers and I bought and cut the low hump out and made a bolt in low hump section to better work with the Muncie 4 speed.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

While figuring out the 4 speed swap. I had bought all new sheet metal to build a new metal floor short bed. So grandpa and I worked on getting the aftermarket metal fitting together. I originally tried to use a NOS tailgate I had picked up and a original front panel but they just didnt want to play nice with the after market metal so sold them both and bought repop pieces and they took way less fitment to get all the gaps looking good.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the transmission sorted and the new bed assembled. It was time to start stripping the old paint off the truck. Started with the top and fixing the handful of tiny dents along the back of the cab.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Once started on the cab top, kinda started hopping around. From there started pulling the nose apart and yanking the motor out to clean it up and paint it proper chevy orange.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

As soon as the motor was out, pulled the doors off and loaded them up along with the front end sheet metal to have them stripped. Everything came back really nice and not needing much bodywork outside of the areas I had straightened before stripping.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

At this point is where the project really goes off the rails. That pesky little shutdown hit about this point and at first I kept my distance from my grandparents place for a little bit to see what happening. I would still call over and talk with him. He would say he was getting bored and go out and tinker on the truck. I was fine with that as it was keeping him busy and staying at home. What finally ended me staying was when I called him one night after work and he informed me he got so bored that he figured out how to pull the cab off the frame by himself and had yanked the cab off. So now the project was a full frame off. I promptly started going back over to really get to working on it as well as watch him from taking the project farther than I wanted, now looking back I am glad that cab came off the frame. It really made things alot easier from that point.

Since the frame was now just a roller, cleaned and POR-15'd the whole thing.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Welcome to the board. Nice truck and some good work you've shown so far. Hard to beat early camaros, too.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Now that the frame was cleaned up, turned back to the motor and getting it all dressed up and dropped into the frame along with the 4 speed.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the motor and tranny set back into the frame, measured the driveline put in a order for a 1 piece driveline, ditched the 2 piece.

At the same time it was time to really finalize the bodywork. Got the top, fenders and grille piece all done and it was time to start masking everything to paint the white area of the truck. Made a make shift booth in the shop to shoot the pieces.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Once painted here was the results once unmasked. Then after a couple days it was time to start remasking to paint the jambs.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

For the next stage of painting the truck, was able to rent a spray booth to lay down the Medium Blue Poly. So masked up the new white paint and all the main exterior surfaces to spray all the jambs and inside the cab. Also tore the bed apart again to be able to paint the inside surfaces easier.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With everything masked off, loaded the parts into the trailer and off to the booth we went. Grandpa suited up and laid down the blue and clear on the jambs. Forgot to snap pictures before any of the jamb painting, but here was the results after yanking out of the booth.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Brought the pieces home and then unmasked the jambs. Then bolted the doors back on, as well as hung the front fenders off the cowl, so the metallic paint would all match. Masked off the inner bed sides to then paint the exterior.

The loaded it all back up and hauled to the booth. We filled the space up, but was able to move around and get everything. Grandpa then suited up again and sprayed the remaining panels with the blue and clear to finish up the big hurdle of the project.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Was great to get everything back to the shop and finally unmask everything to finally see the new two tone. We cut and buffed the panels as well as start bolting some things back on. First thing was the heater a few other firewall items.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

While putting something back onto the cab, we then went to the hardware store and bought a couple boxes of stainless bolts and then took turns on the polisher and polished the heads of every bolt going into the bed. Then it was time to finally put the bed together for the last time.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

amazing job on the truck, love the two tone blue and white combo

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With the bed reassembled and had as much as we could stick back on the cab it was almost time to place the cab back on the frame. Pulled the cab and the frame outside for some pictures before mating them back together.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

After that little photo session, it was time to slap the cab back on the frame. Didnt take any pics of the process as it I was more worried about not scratching or damaging anything as we put it back down on the frame with some wood and a couple of floor jacks.

Luckily everything went perfect and got the cab set back down on some new cab mounts.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the cab back on the frame it was full steam ahead on reassembly. Started putting the doors back together and getting the dash reassembled, got the gas tank stuck back in as well.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

After getting the doors put back together and alot of the dash back together. Figured it was time to set the bed back onto the frame, so taped up the back of the cab to protect it and with a cherry picker set the bed back down on the frame for the final time.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Once the bed was back on, moved to installing the back glass and windshield. Back window went quick and easy. Windshield put a bit of a fight, but thats to be expected with having to deal with the trim in the rubber. After a little cussing and yelling, got the thing set and sealed up.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Once the glass was set in, moved to installing trim on the front fenders and grille.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

More reassembly, mounting one fender, the passenger side trim was causing problems at this point and was waiting on a new piece. Got the rear bumper mounted and drilled and mounted the bed and tail gate trim. Also got the tail lights and back up lights installed.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

It was finally time to mount the bed side trim. with the door and cab corner pieces on, laid a string and got everything level before drilling the clip holes. Also got the bolt in low hump in and sealed up.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Great transformation, good looking truck!

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Outstanding build so far, the truck looks brand new! I pray that mine comes out as good.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the side trim on the bed, moved to the interior of the truck and started buttoning that up. Got the stock bench recovered and got the shifter boot all finalized. Went with a 71/72 style houndstooth seat cover. Used a blue comfort grip wheel to tie everything together.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With the interior buttoned up, it was finally time to put the nose all together. The end of the main project was close and about ready to get this truck back on the road.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Got the hood put back on and fitted and it was finally time to take it on its first shakedown drive after putting it all back together. Found a few little rattles and a leaks that needed buttoning up. Quickly realized that I was not going to like the original 3:73 gearing in the rear end for longer distance drives, so started planning what gear set I wanted to swap to. Also started planning on lowering the truck more, changing tires, and then swapping for power disc brakes up front.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

With figuring out what changes I wanted to already make to the truck, I found a good deal on a rebuilt 12 bolt of out a 69 C10 that 3:42 gears in it to swap out my stock rear with 3:73's. While out back swapped out the coils for 4" dropped coils, added 2" lowering blocks as well. At this point also realized the truck had been lowered with a ECE kit at some point as it had their relocated shock mount brackets on the frame. Also added a adjustable pan hard bar, cut the bump stops down to finish off the rear. Up front a friend gave me a power brake booster and master cylinder off a parts truck and all the brackets to keep it looking like a stock truck, and then ordered a CPP disc brake kit with 2.5 dropped spindles. Then took 2" lowering springs and cut half a coil off, cut the bump stops down for a little more travel and also installed a hotchkiss front sway bar. To cap off the changes, pulled the white letters off and swapped for fresh redline tires, re painted the rally wheels and got new trim rings and a nice set of original derby caps.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

The results of all the suspension changes got it the truck sitting and driving exactly how I wanted it too. This was kind of the cap on the main restoration, but these things are never done. I am currently already working on its next set of improvements and changes, but now its on the road and I can drive the wheels off while I get other stuff ready to swap out on the truck.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

I have been driving the wheels off the truck since getting everything buttoned up. Ready for the summer to really hit the road with it.

Even with that though already planning some winter projects for the truck. The big thing is pulling the bench seat out and fitting low back bucket seats and a console into the truck. I have always loved the look of them in the 69-72 trucks and blazers. So at a recent swap meet, found a set of early high back seats and from a post somewhere on here, had a hunch I can rework them into a nice set of low backs. So dragged them home and tore them apart down to the bare frame. Now having the fun of sourcing the rest of the stuff to do the swap.

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Nice work on this truck.

Good luck, Rg

Re: 1968 C10 Project "The Twin"
 

Forgot I should share some pics of why the truck is called "The Twin". Once I decided to go the whole way on restoring the C10, decided to use my 68 Camaro sitting in the garage as a template/inspiration. The Camaro is my first car that my grandfather and I restored. It was the training tool to learn how to work on these old things. The Camaro is an all original numbers matching drivetrain car, with a 327 and M20 4 Speed. The only real things I changed was dressing the motor up like a Z/28 302, added the SS stuff and changed colors from Red to Blue. So since the C10 was a red small block, three pedal truck would be pretty fun to make a tow rig/twin to the Camaro.