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Project "My Happy Mess"
New member and think this forum is awesome! 10 years ago I bought my 71' (C10/20, LWB, 350sb) Custom Deluxe with the intentions of someday restoring her to original condition. It was a farm truck used to haul horse manur, etc. Well, that day has come and the project (partial restoration) is well underway! :metal:
Though there's something the matter and I'm not able (or smart enough? lol) to figure it out. I think my truck was converted (and/or previously restored) from a C20 to a C10. Looking at the SPID and the driver's door, they both reference a C20 in the VIN #. But, the emblems on the fenders say C10 Custom Deluxe and not C20 Custom Deluxe. It's got a 12 bolt rear end and 5 on 5 (front and back). I have registrations dating back to 71', and even though the VIN # is the same, some registrations note C10 as model type. Maybe it was converted? I've tried contacting one of the previous owners, but wasn't successful. I've got it stripped down - bed, hood and fenders off. Reading the forums here, I noticed that the frame should be stamped with the VIN also. But since I'm doing a "frame-on" (partial) restoration, I can't see the VIN # on the frame since the cab is still on (with no intention of taking it off either). The cab will need some work, after the blasting and undercoating (getting done next week! :metal: ) - a couple cab mounts, floor extensions, rockers, corners. Is there any way for me to identify? Or is it really considered a C10 now that it has 5 on 5 with the matching rear-end. My concern is the front suspension and parts. I've read that 3/4 ton has slightly different parts than the 1/2. Any insight or suggestions going forward, are my concerns valid? Pictures up soon! litew8 |
Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
litew8, welcome to the site, sorry but I don't know that much about these trucks. I'm sure someone on here will help out......Jim
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' LWB)
Thank you oldman3. Doing a little more searching, I found some visuals.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=296953 These boards rock! I'll be able to check and see if a previous owner swapped out the entire frame or not, come Monday. This will help me ensure I get the right cab mounts/bushings. |
recent pictures
The story continues - my prior attempt at contacting the previous owner proved successful after-all. I received a phone call the other day, and got a lot of good information/history of my truck. Here are some recent pictures, I'm sure I have older ones, though I'll have to look later:
Before pics, July 4th, 2011 - cleaned, ready for blasting http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-759S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-758S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-757S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-756S.JPG Interior - will clean up nicely http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-760S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-761S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-762S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-764S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-765S.JPG |
Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
Welcome to the board from southern oregon... Hope you figured out the frame deal..c-10 or c-20
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
welcome to the board from up the highway (Marshalltown)
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
Welcome to the board. Looks like a nice project!!!
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
Thanks for the welcoming everyone! Chevy2racr, got any good OEM fenders or bedsides? Got some more pictures, time to show off more custom pinstripe -
Hood is in good shape, except for the hole someone drilled in the top. Small amount of body work will conceal it well: http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-766S.JPG Bedsides not in the best of shape, might need aftermarket for both. Front bumper has a indentation on the right bottom. You can also see on the bottom of the pile, what was left of the wood bed. http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-767S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-768S.JPG Custom pinstripe on the bedsides (more about this in a bit): http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-769S.JPG ...on the inner wells - http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-775S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-776S.JPG Rear wells good shape, need minor body work - http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-774S.JPG The back-end of the fenders - http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-771S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-773S.JPG Check out the fancy work on the underside of the hood - http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-779S.JPG Now for the bold! Haha! Real men can appreciate these (as I have). I actually liked this pinstripe work, but I'm not going to restore it with the truck. It's a little too bold for driving to the office, etc... on the farm, very cool. I am however going to try and reproduce (via vinyl) the pinstripes shown above (not sure about under the hood (that may have to go if it gets repainted)) - From a distance, they resemble corn, lol http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-772S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-770S.JPG |
which is it
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Other stuff he said - He didn't replace the rear-end or anything. He did purchase custom wheels (not pictured yet) for the 5 on 5 - so that confirms it was like that when he bought it. He said (I'm pretty sure I heard right) he bought it from a kid who wanted a 4x4 instead. He says the truck had the original engine with only 50K on it. When he had to replace the master cylinder, he had to return it because it wouldn't bolt up right. It turns out he had to order the master cylinder from the C20 instead. I made a run out to the sandblaster today to drop off the bed rails. I was hoping my truck was sitting outside awaiting tomorrow, but it wasn't so I couldn't take any pictures tonight. So it's still a mystery. *************** The pinstripe work was done by "Dirty Harry" (he gave the guy's real name, but I forget). At this time, Don Johnson (the movie star) flew "Dirty Harry" down to Florida for the week to have him paint "dolphins" on the side of his yacht or speed boat? Cool! The previous owner said he may have a picture of the truck when it was "finished" back in 91', and that he'll mail it to me if he finds it. -------------------------------------------------- It doesn't make any sense to suggest the truck rolled off the assembly line as a C20 with the 5 lug rear/front end, but C20 frame/coils, right? It did have the Auxiliary Spring - but all that is left now are the mounts for them, of which exhaust support brackets are welded to the underside of them. |
Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
welcome to the board, good luck with the project
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
Thanks! I made it out to the shop today. They haven't gotten started.
Got some more pictures. If what I read is correct, it looks like I have a C20 frame with a 5 on 5 setup. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I've outlined the C20 parts of the frame that distinguishes it from the C10. First, here's a picture I found from 2004. Taken before the rust on the passenger door began breaking out from the bottom mirror mount. http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/2004.JPG Here's the air filter cover that "Dirty Harry" air brushed. http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-780S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-781S.JPG Rear cab mount http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-783S.JPG Front cab mounts. Sits lower than frame = C20 http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-787S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-788S.JPG Extra support brackets not on the C10 = C20 http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-786S.JPG Auxiliary Spring mount http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-790S.JPG Differential. Anyone know what the numbers mean? http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-791S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-792S.JPG The custom ordered wheels. Performance http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-789S.JPG |
Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
That looks just like the 3/4 ton frame that is under my now 1/2 ton..
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Re: litew8 Restoration Project underway (71' C10?)
Not the most exciting news, but blasting is 3/4 finished :metal:
Going to stop out and take more pics, posting late tonight. |
Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
Came out looking pretty clean overall!!! A couple spots to fix but all in all looks good and should look great painted!
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Re: Project "Do Over"
nice project
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Re: Project "Do Over"
Great looking truck.
Be care sandblasting where there are grease seals. That sand goes everywhere. |
Re: Project "Do Over"
Thanks all! Update on some context:
Decided not to have it undercoated, just primed (pics up next). Figured it would be difficult to do the cab (and other) work with undercoating, so it'll wait until later. I bought the truck off of a girl who raised horses. She owned the truck a few years, but didn't do any preventive maint. The previous owner I mentioned above sold it in 1991 to a guy, who sold it to her after a few years. This truck has had a handful of owners, of which all lived in rural areas. I do not live, or work, on a farm. My goal is to restore the truck to at least a 5-10 year old level. It'll probably look allot nicer than that. Not going to be perfect, but good enough - I do intend to use it sparingly for whenever. It isn't my daily driver, so it sits around quite a bit. -------------- Sand and grease zerks- probably was my biggest concern going forward with the blasting. The guy who blasted my truck was really good. The company has been around for a long time. I'll probably end up replacing some of the suspension up front. |
Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
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I figured that brake line would disintegrate, it was the worst with rust. I ended up replacing the front lines about 5 years ago due to them rusting away. Okay, not bad for a 40 year old truck! The BEST steel in the world, ever made! Love this truck and everything it stands/stood for in American ingenuity/craftsmanship. Here's the truck frame/suspension primed! :metal: http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-813S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-814S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-815S.JPG http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-816S.JPG Trailing arm, may need some patch work http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-817S.JPG The "black rust", he said it "grows" - it's alive! :devil: http://ilsiciliano.net/truck/MVC-818S.JPG Pictured in an above post, I'm so glad the cab floor was clean! It had a thick coat of old undercoating that seemed to have protected it well. You guys are fortunate I like taking pictures! lol :metal: :lol: |
Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
I'd probably just look somewhere like AZ, NV, or CA for a nice used set of 3/4 ton trailing arms. They're the same as the others but they have the extra support welded onto the top and bottom (what rusted the worst on the one)
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Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
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I need to do something about that busted brake line. No garage and never enough free time. |
Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
Truck was dropped off at the brake shop an hour ago! :metal:
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Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
Nice looking project, wish I would have sent mine to the brake shop. I messed around for over a week before I finally got them working. I've got a 71 LWB and I'm stuck on the gas pedal assembly. Any chance you have a picture to post of the the back side of the pedal/how it attaches to the rod assembly. I think a picture would do wonders, can't find it in the books anywhere. Thanks have fun with yours!
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Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
Welcome from knoxville
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Re: Project "My Happy Mess"
Thanks wicky - from Knoxsville, IA - home of the world famous Knoxsville Raceway! :metal:
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