Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Might as well get a build thread started for newly '70 CST/10. I have been wanting another SWB fleetside since the minute I sold my red '69, and I have finally found what I always wanted. It's not a fully loaded truck, but it has most of the good stuff. It is a CST with the BB, TH400, A/C, P/S, P/B, body molding and black interior. The SPID matches the VIN tag, and is in very good shape and legible. The body is a little rougher than I would have hoped, but I have bunch of rust free, dent free sheet metal wearing factory paint that I have been hoarding to use for something special. This is my something special!

All of the engine codes, casting numbers, and date codes and everything checks out original. The stamped engine code is T0504TBG - meaning the engine was built at Tonawanda on May, 4th and the TBG designates it as 1970 402 truck engine. The engine casting number is 3969854 designating it as a '69 -'72 396/402 block. The date code is D 22 0 -meaning it was casted April 22nd, 1970. The blue sticker on the driver's door has a production date of 5 - 1970, so everthing is consistent. The engine had an alumninum intake and Edelbrock carb on it, but I went and got the factory stuff to go back on it.


THE PLAN

I plan on making this a very nice truck, but it will a driver. A trailer queen is useless to me. I'm sticking with the gold and white (hence the GOLDMINE name;)), but I may do a white 2 tone to throw a little more color to it. As I said before, I'm probably going to add a few desirable factory options (buckets, tach, maybe tilt) that should have been there anyway.


Frame:
I am planning on taking the body off the frame, but its not going to be a full blown "every nut and bolt" restoration. I'm going to clean the frame throroughly and paint it with chassis black paint to deter rust and to look fresh. I am probably going to rebuild the front end and add disc brakes, but I will stick with 6 lugs to appear stock. I'll replace the rubber brake lines and service the rear axle while I'm there.

Engine & trans:
I plan on pulling the engine down and freshening it up (probably the trans too) to keep from having to do it after it is painted and risk messing up the paint. I'm going to stay absolutely stock appearing, but I might bump the comprerssion up to 9 - 9.5 : 1 and go with a little better cam. I want a stock sounding smooth idle, but there are good cams available that sound stock.

Body:
The cab is pretty good, but will need a little attention. The cowl, floor, and inner rockers are nice, but the cab corners and rockers have some rust. I am going to fix everything correctly. I have 2 doors, 2 fenders, and a hood that rust free, dent free, and still have original paint that I can use for it. The drive's doors is pretty nice so it may stay, but the passengers door has a rust spot on the rear corner, so I'll replace it. Both fenders have issues, and I'll probably just replace them because the ones I have are so good. The hood has a sizeable dent, so I'll replace it too.

Bed:
The bedsides are both kinda rough and the floor is wavy. At this point I think I'm going to go ahead and buy a new bed piece by piece from Goodmark. I want a truck with a perfect, shiny, inside bed floor, so unless I find a mint bed, I think this will be the way I go.

Interior:
I'm going to stay totally stock appearing, but I may add a few factory options like a tach, maybe buckets, and a tilt - all of which I already have - which makes it that much more tempting. Either way, its going to be done with all factory stock stuff.

I'm excited about getting started on it. I've always a SWB BB truck, and I finally found one. I'm going to get it running, shake it down, and probably drive it a little while while buying parts. Here's a few pics as it sits now:

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

More pics

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Here are some of the parts I'm going to use. The first pic is the intake, carb, air filter for the engine. The red truck is the truck I'm going to rob the driver's fender and door if needed. The orange truck is the truck I'm going to get the passenger from. The white truck is one I'm going to get hood from. I have lots of parts trucks, so hopefully I can use as good ol' GM parts as possible.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Here's few pic of it coming home and before before I cleaned it up.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

I like the idea of staying all factory. I'm subscribing to this one.
keep us posted every step of the way.
there something about looking at those trucks..especially when there all stock huh?.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

In....looking forward to watching this come together!!!

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Thanks. I think I read in another thread that you had bought a complete repro bed. If so, were you pleased with the fit and finish of it? Would you recommend going that route? Thanks!

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Yep....bought a complete repop bed....unfortunately, I didn't put it together, so I didn't get first hand experience or brand, but the paint shop said they were very impressed by how well it went together....couple of small things I have noticed when putting on tail lights....the rear tail light mounting took some convincing, and the bedsides are a bit thin....a couple door dings b/c the wifey open the door into the driver side:(

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Thanks, that sounds good. I've got a connection to get everything from Goodmark for just a little less than $2000 including the tailgate.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Not much progress, but I did get the inside of the valve covers cleaned up. This engine is pretty clean, and HOPEFULLY I can get it put together and have it running by the end of the week.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Subscribed, can't wait to see what you do with it

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

That's about $600 less than I got mine for....NICE!!!! (Does that include all hardware?)

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

In for the win... :D

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

I think that's everything except the hardware. I have a friend who is a Goodmark dealer, and he's giving me the buddy deal. I know another guy that is a Cars Inc. dealer and I get get them at cost too. I'm trying to figure out which is the best route to go. I'm thinking the sheet metal will pretty much be the same.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

If I can offer any advice from my project....use ORIGINAL doors:D

Always nice to have connection in the business when ya need discounts!!!:lol:
Looking forward to whatever ya do!!!:metal:

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Oh yeah! I've been down the road with repro doors and fenders. The fenders are OK, but the doors pretty much suck. I've got both doors, both fenders and a hood that is rust free, dent free, and still wearing original paint. I'll use these in place of anything I can't repair. At this point, its only looking like I may use the driver's door. Both fenders have some rust, and the passenger does has a little at the bottom. I am going to see if I can fix the passenger door, but I think I'll just end up using the perfect one I have, and change over the chrome vent windows and tinted glass.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

I got the intake cleaned up and installed tonight, along with the carb, and 1 of the valve covers. I'm going to try to get the other valve cover on and get the distributor put in tomorrow or Thursday, and see how the old girl runs!:metal:

Here's a pic of the intake cleaned, but unfortunately, it was too dark to see the engine by the time I got done.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Looking good! Definitely looking forward to following along with this project!

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Thanks! I also confirmed that at the least the driver's side head is the orignal 3975950 head and had a casting date of April, 9th 1970. So far, so good on everything being numbers matching!

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

I got the other valve cover on tonight, but again not enough light for pics. :o I do have pics of what I did yesterday though. I need the air cleaner spacer and the manifold heat riser, but I just set the air cleaner up there.

I also found what's left of the owner's manual. Gotta love vermin!:rolleyes:

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

A build thread on a factory SWB BB CST! Definately subscribed!

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Subscribing as well.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

I love the truck! I would love to have a clean original truck like this to start with. One of these days maybe. Subscribed for sure.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

Thanks!

I got pics of the other valve cover installed. I have to install the distrbutor, bolt up a few more things, time 'er up, and see how she runs. Hopefully I can take it for a spin Saturday.

Re: Project GOLDMINE - '70 CST/10 SWB 402BB
 

IT'S ALIVE!!! She runs really good. The transmission dropped into gear, but I gotta do some work on the brakes before I drive. I took a little quick clip with my phone, but it sounds terrible. The engine DOES NOT sound like that in person. I'll get a better one with my camera hopefully tomorrow.