A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Ever since I bought my house, this truck was parked around the corner about three houses down. I’ve watched for the owners to stop in and ask about it, but never saw anyone there. Well, last night I saw it posted on Facebook, for free! I messaged them and swung right down to pull it out of there. Turns out the land was abandoned and sold, and the new owners wanted it out of there.

It took about $85 between garbage bags and the dump fees, but I got that disgusting mess cleaned out of the back. I washed all the tree spores off and waxed it, and it didn’t turn out half bad for a free truck! I’ll need to get the paperwork for it, but after that I’ll get started on it. It was definitely someone’s start at a hot rod - 88-91 front end, 60 series tires, smooth bumpers, aftermarket steering wheel, air gap intake, and Holley carb. The hood and tailgate are both unusable, but other than some typical rust it’s actually in pretty good condition. I’m not sure if the engine or transmission are any good, I might try to get it fired up to see what they do, but ultimately I’m thinking of doing an LS swap but keep the outside stock with a “shop truck” vibe to it.

https://i.postimg.cc/SKjTkTTy/F32-B0...DD532-A165.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/RV9gNVsp/260915...1-E8882-B0.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/X78QFStj/256-FA...CFB8313300.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/qvvQxDd8/0-C389...EC67-B31-C.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/x1p5xG0B/49-DA8...B80-E7-C40.jpg

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

You lucky rascal , congrats , Free is always good .

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Nice Score!!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Wow, good grab! I have a very similar truck and thought I did well on the purchase price -- until now, haha. Looks like you may have a GMC C15 there if the fender emblems are original.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Nice find. Depending on your State laws and their process, I wouldn’t do anything with it until you get the title...in your name. Good luck!

I cross-posted your ‘before’ pics here:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...postcount=3411

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Thanks guys! As far as the title, I have four routes I can take. I can either:

1. Get a registration printout at the DMV and attempt to track the owner down.

2. Send a registered letter to the last known address and then file for an abandoned vehicle lien.

3. I could get it running and driving and make it street legal, then have it inspected and pay for a vehicle bond for a title.

4. Call up the Vermont DMV and pay for registration there, then have the registration converted to a title back in Alaska.

Working on the best option right now!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

That truck cleaned up pretty damn good!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Before and after of the interior - this is also AFTER hauling all the big junk out of the inside.

https://i.postimg.cc/0jQ1SN31/23-BC5...2883183057.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/yxb4yH4g/F88-C8...D66-DD3-DF.jpg

So after getting it all cleaned up inside and out, I threw a battery in it to see what would happen - turns out the starter grinds on the flex plate and doesn’t turn the engine over. I’m hoping this is the reason it was parked, instead of something major like the engine or transmission. If that’s all it needs, it may actually run and drive!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

I'm in. Nice score! Good Luck.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Well, we’re off to a good start. I removed the starter, which actually turned out to be in great shape, and found that the solenoid was failing. I installed a new solenoid and put the whole deal back together, only to be met with a loud THUNK when the key is turned. Or should I say key tumbler, since the key is MIA, but the truck has apparently forgotten that it’s supposed to require one in order to crank over :lol: The crank doesn’t even budge, even with a breaker bar. According to the RPO sheet in the glove box, it’s only a 305, so nothing of value has been lost. I’m guessing the years of sitting with an open carb claimed the life of this one.

Now that I know for certain what I’ll be up against, I’ll use this time to work on getting a title and formulate a plan on what to do next.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

So apparently the DMV is only open three days out of the week and I’m having a hell of a time getting through, the phone is constantly busy. Hopefully this upcoming week it’ll slow down and I can get through to start the title process.

In the meantime, I installed the drip rails I removed from a parts cab, and installed a set of visors in better condition. Next time I hit the junkyard, I’m going to scope out a decent headliner and the missing trim pieces around the roof.

https://i.postimg.cc/pr4SZNVr/8-EA05...74-F518937.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/ZYMXZNPm/BAE4-B...452-F018-F.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8Pf9CCw6/620734...E4-FAC3012.jpg

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Have you figured out the engine yet? Maybe you'll get lucky and the trans is still good!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

I haven't touched the engine yet, but I'll probably pull the plugs and drain the oil when I get some more free time with it just to see what it looks like. It's sat for years with an open carb, the hood was closed the whole time, but I'm still betting water got down there one way or another.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

If you've got the LE9 305 then you have a good motor. I was surprised how well mine drove when I bought it and then even discovered that the secondaries were stuck closed. I used to see 305s as not worth the trouble to work on, but now I think they're worth effort up until they need to be rebuilt. At that point it's hard not to grab 45 more cubic inches for the cost of a 350 block.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

If it wasn’t stuck or was an easy repair, I’d have no issues keeping it in there and cruising around with it. Unfortunately it’s like you said, once it’s done, it’s hard not to step up for the same price.

I managed to get ahold of the Vermont DMV yesterday, and it’ll be $370 for taxes and registration, and about 4 weeks for it to be processed. Probably another $180 or so for Alaska registration and title fees, so for under $600 titled and tagged, so far it’s not a bad deal!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

I can't seem to help myself...I went to the junkyard to get some parts for the '78 K20 and came home with more parts for the '86 than the other truck!!

I took the old junk seat out and finished cleaning the rest of the carpet. Other than the wear, it's come back in surprisingly good condition.

https://i.postimg.cc/bv9z2bDB/IMG-1096-1.jpg

The "new" seat, after about and hour of cleaning. It still has a bit of wear over towards the driver side, but in far better condition overall. I'll probably still try to find a seat cover for it, just to keep it in as good of shape as possible.

https://i.postimg.cc/5yT1MST6/IMG-1099-1.jpg

All installed! MUCH cleaner looking now!

https://i.postimg.cc/6pdKDR0p/IMG-1101-1.jpg

I snagged an ash tray to replace the missing one on this truck also.

https://i.postimg.cc/MpkxPt1L/IMG-1100-1.jpg

I found a hood in great condition other than one ding right in the very center of the rib, but for $50 I can easily live with that! Before cleaing:

https://i.postimg.cc/Fz7mqBPM/IMG-1097-1.jpg

After a wash and wax! If you didn't see it here, you wouldn't ever be able to tell it's not the original hood.

https://i.postimg.cc/g0mpdJSq/IMG-1102-1.jpg

I found a pretty nice vintage full floor mat, and a couple other odds and ends that the truck is missing inside.

https://i.postimg.cc/cHJNgzNv/IMG-1106-1.jpg

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

you could lube the crap out of it from all sides and keep trying to break it loose.. may be able get it running well enough at least to diag the rest of the drivetrain.. may just be a temp smoker but running does have its advantages..

good luck!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

You are doing things to that truck that are making the engine want to run! Good job!

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

There's no way that the PO would believe that that's the same truck in such a short amount of time.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Thanks!

Unfortunately, it looks like this engine is off the table. I pulled the plugs and filled the cylinders with penetrant, but even with a breaker bar on both the crank bolt and the accessory drive, it wouldn’t even budge. I got curious and pulled a head, and sure enough it looks like the pistons are seized in the cylinders from rust. I tried knocking one loose with a couple whacks from a 5lb hammer just out of curiosity, but even then it didn’t help! To make it worse, I found the TV cable to the transmission wasn’t connected to the aftermarket carb, so there’s a chance that the transmission needs to be gone through as well.

https://i.postimg.cc/zDbVVrRh/0-C80-...458-CF7771.jpg

However, the floor mat cleaned up well and further improved the interior, so that’s nice!

https://i.postimg.cc/ZqHJDfv4/946-C9...-F095-F7-B.jpg

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Maybe a 50/50 ATF/motor oil cocktail in the combustion chambers and let it sit until you've either got to get the motor going or replace it? Looks like your door pocket is ready for the level of clean of the rest of the interior ;) It's all cleaning up very nicely.

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

I don’t think I’m going to invest any time or money into this engine, the rest of the cylinders look nearly the same, and I‘ve only pulled one head. I’ll probably pull and donate it to the local machine shop as they trade me cores for labor. A couple hundred bucks on CL or Marketplace will buy a running take out 4.8L or 5.3L, and I’ve already got all the carb swap components that I decided not to use on the ‘78 build, I think I’ll use them here. Should make for a pretty cheap build, as I just need another set of DD mounts, flexplate spacer, H3 oil pan, and manifolds to get one dropped in.

Yeahhh, that door pocket has become the hardware drawer for all the still-missing interior pieces. :lol:

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

Well, I decided to play with this one a little more! I felt bad that I hadn't touched it at all since inspecting the engine, and ordered up a lowering kit for it! I tried out the kit from UMI Performance, and I'll say that this is definitely my go-to kit now. Includes all the hardware, new U-bolts, nice directions (even with templates!), new bumpstops, pre-notched spring plates, the shock extensions even have built in spacers so the bracket doesn't get pinched on the shock! Very good quality! You can also spot CPP sway bar brackets and there is also a pair of their spindles that didn't make it in this weekend.

https://i.postimg.cc/nLYqKb70/IMG-1783-1.jpg

As she's been sitting!

https://i.postimg.cc/Vv5McJhV/IMG-1786-1.jpg

First step, remove the leaf springs!

https://i.postimg.cc/KjVTcZSv/IMG-1787-1.jpg

Next, remove the old bumpstop brackets!

https://i.postimg.cc/5t1C27Gv/IMG-1789-1.jpg

Old junk mounting hardware!

https://i.postimg.cc/7YFzpYnK/IMG-1788-1.jpg

New bumpstops installed!

https://i.postimg.cc/vmz6g7FK/IMG-1790-1.jpg

Reinstalling the leaf springs with the flip brackets. Using ratchet straps to hold the axle worked great as it gave me the ability to shift the axle easily. I ended up running one across the driveshaft end as well.

https://i.postimg.cc/vBZxW1GZ/IMG-1791-1.jpg

Shock extensions and spring plates installed!

https://i.postimg.cc/xCpJg0dy/IMG-1792-1.jpg

I think we're done under here!

https://i.postimg.cc/QCBByR9L/IMG-1793-1.jpg

After!

https://i.postimg.cc/Bbd89MHj/IMG-1794-1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/tCxZtGGW/IMG-1795-1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/pLM9scP7/IMG-1797-1.jpg

Oh, I don't want to forget this! ;)

https://i.postimg.cc/LhKs0hFf/IMG-1799-1.jpg

Re: A freebie! 1986 C10 Longbed
 

OH, What have you got there? Your holding out on us.