69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

I originally bought a 69 C10 in January of last year as my project truck. After getting it down to nothing but a frame, which was in real bad shape, I gave up on it, especially when my body guy told me the cab, after sandblasting, would require way too much work. I decided to part that one out to recover some of the purchase dough. Still doing that, albeit not very well as I have yet to become a paying member here to post the parts I do have. That will be coming soon.

So, I turned to this forum (which has been an unbelievably helpful resource) for leads on a "new to me" truck. Someone posted a Craigslist ad for a 71 C10 in SW Michigan. Turned out it was a gem and it has become my project. It is unbelievably clean and has 85,000 miles on it. I drove it home late last year from the Battle Creek area. It was well kept and garaged nicely.

The seller is a class guy and had tons of documentation from the original owner, from whom he had bought the truck. History of the truck was that 2 brothers bought identical pick ups in the Fall of 1970. This one spent a significant portion of its time in Florida. In fact, the now removed cap had a very well worn and faded "Florida County Sheriffs Association" sticker on the rear window.

Pics of my project below. Yes, that is some snow you see from inside the windshield. I had to let it spend a night outside of the garage and it snowed, of course. Since then, it's been in the comforts of my garage.

And so it begins. I am going to do a static drop of 4/6. I've got CPP front and rear disc brakes all the way around, with lowering coils, spindles and front shocks from CPP. I have Brother's tubular control arms for the front and ECE trailing arms for the rear, along with PB trac bar, frame cross members, c-notch, shocks and shock relocation kit.

The plan is to get the frame and suspension done before it gets nice enough to drive this Spring. The front suspension and cross member are off. Going to blast and powder coat (or simply paint) the cross member this weekend. I'll be doing the frame clean up and painting in stages, starting with the front. Bed comes off later when I get to the rear frame and suspension work. Update photos to follow.

Ultimate plan is to go to a newer drive train (maybe an LS) and to repaint it in original colors. That will likely be next winter as I want to start driving this thing as soon as possible.

Here goes nothing...

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Nice lookin truck!

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

That thing is beautiful! Good luck on the build

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Look"n Good, Billy Ray!!!
A 71 is much better to start with, already being 5 lug and disc brakes, you've made some good decision making!!!

Is that a 307 engine???

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Thanks guys. It is a 307. Feeling good, Louis.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Finally, some progress. It's been so cold here it's tough to spend much time in the garage, even with a propane heater taking some chill out of the air. But, I have removed the front cross member, control arms and steering. Peeled off the front bumper, grill and inner wheel wells. Had the wheel wells and cross member blasted. Passenger side wheel well lip near the battery tray had some pin hole rust. Everything else is looking good. Took a scraper and wire wheel to a portion of the frame to see how it would clean up. So far, so good. Just need some global warming to make it easier to work in the garage. This morning was -5 degrees so not looking good in the short term.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Some more progress. A bunch of new parts painted or powder coated and ready to go. Going to get the radiator mount, battery tray and some other parts blasted next, but the front end is getting close to ready once I clean and paint the frame rails. And yes, that is an ice rink in its final stages in the background. Can't wait for it to be totally melted away and packed up.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Holy Shnikes, thats a clean truck! I wish my 69 was that clean when I got it. Good looking project to start on. I'm excited to see how this one comes out. should be really great!

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

More progress. Bed wood is out and my brother-in-law volunteered to see if it was worth re-finishing considering it was in great shape. We'll see soon enough. Rear tubs are out and bed supports are exposed for removal and blasting. Gonna lift the bed off in the next few weeks to go at the rear suspension and frame work--rear disk brakes, Porterbuilt shock relocators, frame cross members, lowering springs, shocks and Early Classic Ent.'s trailing arms. But, I plan on finishing the front end first to get it back to rolling around. Got to get this thing ready to drive now that spring is here.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Finally, some more work getting done. Front suspension is prepped and ready to go on. Outer front frame rails are cleaned and painted. Working on removing and cleaning up rust-proofing all over firewall. Took a tip from a thread here on heat gun and plastic scraper. That gets most of it off and then a little scrubbing with a mineral spirits soaked rag helps with the rest.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

I did the exact same thing when I started out with a 1968, then found out it was in way worse condition than I originally thought and have recently purchased a new matching short fleet title, frame, cab, and glove box door to replace it and I'm now in the process of swapping everything over.
You found a real gem there is no doubt, congratulations on a great find and happy building.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Painstakingly slow movement due to not getting enough time to work on my truck, but finally an update. Front suspension and brakes are on. Nice rake with just the front lowered. Moving to the rear suspension and brakes in the next week or so. So far, all brakes, rotors, suspension stuff has gone on flawlessly. Really well-engineered stuff. Not the best photos, but more coming soon, I hope.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Coming along nicely!

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Looks good...

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Pretty sweet!

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Nice upgrades man the truck looks great.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Thanks guys. If all goes well, this Sunday it will see the light of day outside my garage so I can lift the bed off. If it makes it outside, better pics on the way.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

The beat goes on, a bit, at least. Bed off, power washed rear frame, etc. and the truck finally saw sunshine for the first time since last Fall. 12 bolt is out, cross-members out and Porterbuilt rear kit about to be installed. Those pics coming later, but the backyard sunshine ones included below. Also, my brother-in-law, along with some routing and planing by the local Amish mill near his cottage, has prepped, stained and sealed new red oak for the bed. Photos don't do the wood justice. It really came out great.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Porterbuilt cross members, c-notch and shock relocation bar installed. Working on the differential this week installing rear disk brakes. I hope to have it re-installed with ECE trailing arms, CPP lowered springs and drop block by next weekend.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Do you plan on cleaning up the rear part of the frame and painting it before final assembly?
If so here is something that will be of use to you.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-h...eel-94017.html

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

I do plan on doing that. And many thanks for that recommendation. The old wire wheel was making only slow progress. Heading to Harbor Freight today.
Phil

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

The original plan was to have it drive-able by Dream Cruise, but that is not working out. Some real headaches on the CPP disc brake lines not matching calipers, etc, but working through that. Nonetheless, it's starting to shape up. Rear frame cleaned and painted up. Full Porterbuilt rear c-notch, rear cross members, shock relocator and track bar are in. ECE trailing arms too. CPP disc brakes installed and working through the plumbing issues. CPP lowering coils and spacer installed. Can't see it too clearly, but the ride height looks about perfect.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Did you like that Polycarbide abrasive wheel?

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Xeen, I meant to mention that. They were awesome. Even the ones that came with off-center mounting holes. Made my Ryobi high speed grinder wobble, but they took off rust and paint like a charm. Thanks very much for that suggestion.
Phil

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

In post #18, the hood almost looks like a sun visor.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

You bet, hell I'm just happy to be able to pay it forward, I've picked up a few tricks along the way and I always try to make someone else's restoration project a little bit easier when ever I can.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

True. Or, with supports on each side, it could be a wing and I could make it a dirt tracker. Woo, hoo.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Radiator support and RnD radiator are finally in. Hoses next and will plumb trans cooling lines right after. New Hella headlights are in, too. Pics for that coming. Need to be wired in with new relays, etc. Really slow process because I've had no time to work on das truck. Working on trans pan and other gasket leaks in the next week or so. Front end might be back together by the end of the month. Crossing fingers as I write this.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Drove the truck from the garage today. Hella headlights in. RnD Radiator and fans installed. Had to re-route new trans cooling lines for the new location on the radiator. Wiring stuff is still hanging loose, but one inner fender is on and it is otherwise "driveable"--at least for a few feet. Better pics of the stance and all the new add ons. Fenders, cowl, hood and grill are the hopeful additions this weekend. Edging ever closer to getting it on the road.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

A few more pics.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

The truck looks great, I bet it feels good to drive it even if it's only for a few feet.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Looks great, I really like the color combination.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Thanks guys. It did feel good to drive, even while doing the 3 point turn to turn it around to adjust the headlights. No leaks, no electrical shorts (headlight and fan wiring are not my specialty, though they weren't nearly as much hassle as I anticipated) and no major problems. And Ol Blue, funny you should say that as one of the reasons I got interested in getting one of these trucks was a '71 my buddy had growing up--and his was your color combination.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Productive weekend. Coming together nicely. I even took the truck down the block, without a bed or tail lights. It drove well and I like the stance. I might have a complete truck in the next few weeks.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Bed is on and it once again looks like a complete truck. Rented a cherry picker from a local shop and install was a breeze. Bed wood and strips sure were easy to install with bed off the truck and on a couple of sawhorses. Better pics of the bed wood and stainless strips coming soon, once I install the last piece of the bed. One of the center planks warped a ton while sitting in the garage. Need to have that one re-cut and stained. Once the rear bumper is on i will be taking it for a spin.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Very clean!

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

On the road again. I took the truck for a spin around town Monday night. It rode nice and straight given my eye-ball front end alignment. I think it rides as nice as my '14 Silverado. Before it hits a highway, it will get aligned. Bed came out great, even absent a few polished ss carriage bolts.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Time flies. Long time since an update. I installed a Retro Sound radio with kick panels and speakers. Decent sound. Subs at a later date. Only complaint I have about the radio is that there are too many steps to get to sub-menus to set, adjust and deal with the various functions. Three point belts also installed. The GM logo came off on the first click so I complained and the folks at Seatbeltsplus came through with replacement stickers. And US Mag Ramblers sitting in the garage waiting on the Nitto tires to come in from Jeg's. Summer driving soon. Can't wait. More pics coming once they are mounted.

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Good work on truck.. Just got on board. keep it going. love the originality....Casey

Re: 69, no wait, 71 C10 Project
 

Now we're talking. New wheels and rubber for summer. Ready for driving now and enjoyment. I enjoyed the looks I got when it had original rims and tires. Can't wait to get it out now.
Before photos below. After next post.