The Start of Something New...& Very Unique

[the_69_C10]

This is going to be my official build page for my 1969 Fleetside SWB C-10.

Bought this truck in early November. From Savannah GA <-- This was a mistake.
Bought a 43 year old vehicle from a Coastal Area....$2500 for what I didn't know would be more than a frame, a beat up, rusted out bed, and a mediocre brake job. Few weeks later, and $500 later bought a 1969 LWB all original with 74,500 original miles and one owner. It's cab and front clip will become that of a SWB now. After self-conflicts of what I should do with an all original truck. That LWB had a 350 that, after putting my Holley 4BBL Performance Carb, and Holley High-Rise Aluminum Intake & Electric Ignition, runs like a brand new crate, Best present I could have EVER received.

[the_69_C10]

Those rusted out areas in the floor were covered by sheet metal and rubber mat. Ugh, what I depressed person I was for a week. Until about 3 weeks later I brought home the LWB for Parts. Which had that rebuilt 350 and I dropped my Holley 4BBL and Intake on it and man oh man. Here's the LWB, the 350 before the intake and carb swap and the A-Frame My dad & I built to lift the motor and cab. We don't have a big fancy shop. So we do what we have to.

[the_69_C10]

Spent today writing out my build plan, and my specs I want to follow on paint & all my custom things. Gonna go with a burnt orange eventually. Many other things I'll list soon. As soon as I can I'll post a picture of the 350 with the new Intake & Carb. Hoping I can find someone to buy the 307 and tranny. Comments welcomed!

[sgaylord]

Sorry to hear of the unseen rust. One thing that's pretty common on these old trucks is rust. Good luck with the build!

Steve

[the_69_C10]

Yea, It was a heartbreak, but it's all good and replaced with a new cab now. So should speed up that part. Unfix-able rust is the worse ;(

[the_69_C10]

Truck Colors:

Guys I've jumped around with colors alot, now I'm really serious about a gray color, like non-metallic for sure, like a non-metallic gunmetal or a dark pewter non-metallic. Does anyone have any paint codes, and pictures of these colors or something like it? Doesn't have to be on a truck anything! Thanks!

[the_69_C10]

So after I got home from work tonight, I decided I would take a fender that I wasn't planning on using, and practice some body work fundamentals, sanding, patching, welding, bondo, etc. I have never done any body work before but I knew enough to get me started and learned some of it from my help on here. I don't have a dual-action sander yet, going to pick one up Monday, and don't have the welder or bondo yet. Borrowing a MIG from a friend of mine. But I had a Vibrating Sander, and some 220 grit sandpaper So I started to sand it. Wet Sanded of course! Tell me what you guys think for my first time!

[the_69_C10]

So today I got out and pulled the exhaust from the frame and removed the wiring harness from front to back. I plan on sandblasting and painting the frame gloss black. I also want to change the 6 lug drums to 5 lug disk on front and 5 lug drum on back. I plan on taking those ends from a mid-70's Chevy. I also want to take off the air shocks on back and take shocks off front and putting new gas shocks. Also want to drop the truck 3/5 but not sure how to go about that. Who can give me some tips and directions and kits I can buy! Thanks Guys!

-RS

[gdavis]

I can relate to your problems. I bought mine local here in Florida for 2000.00. I found out the truck came from Wis. The frame was bad and the cab, well let me say it is now in it's final reasting place. After three cabs I have almost got a good cab. A ton of welding and grinding and patch panels. and a ton unseen rust. You see it was raining and I did not want to craw under the truck what a mistake that was. anyway happy building.

[the_69_C10]

Originally Posted by gdavis

I can relate to your problems. I bought mine local here in Florida for 2000.00. I found out the truck came from Wis. The frame was bad and the cab, well let me say it is now in it's final reasting place. After three cabs I have almost got a good cab. A ton of welding and grinding and patch panels. and a ton unseen rust. You see it was raining and I did not want to craw under the truck what a mistake that was. anyway happy building.

I'd love to see some pictures of your welding and cab just for some idea. I have a few patches to make in mine. the toe boards and kick panels. Etc.

[the_69_C10]

Guys?

[the_69_C10]

On the frame of my SWB underneath the bed, the frame has some pitting, should I replace/fix or not worry about it and just paint over it?

[knomadd]

I say fix it. You'll regret it later if you don't do it while you have it apart. Rust that isn't fixed has a tendency to grow/spread.

As for the fender, are you practicing on the fender that will be on the truck? If not, play around with patching it. A junk piece of metal (or a trashed body panel) is a lot safer to learn how to patch and do body work on than a part of your truck.

[the_69_C10]

How do I go about fixing it? and yes, just a scrap fender, I'm practicing on. Gonna hang in my shop when I get it built.

ALso thinking about shaving the firewall channel when fixing it, but where to out wires ? Would like to hide them

[knomadd]

That depends on how bad you're talking about. I'd have to see it to give you suggestions. Can you see through the pits, or are they just small dimples in the metal?

[the_69_C10]

Originally Posted by knomadd

That depends on how bad you're talking about. I'd have to see it to give you suggestions. Can you see through the pits, or are they just small dimples in the metal?

small dimples, nothing major. I'll try to upload some tomorrow at the latest.
Posted via Mobile Device

[the_69_C10]

Anybody?

[BuiltwithIvy]

i would fix the rust, either cut it out, or sandblast it out and repair what needs to be repaired, any type of rust is akin to cancer, and it will grow, whether you like it or not, there are some decent videos on youtube of people repairing rust problems in various ways, take your time and be patient and it will come along just fine

[the_69_C10]

Alright thanks guys, I'm working on that this week. So is there anywhere I can find a suspension for dummys? Ha! I'm wondering about my suspension on my truck, I'm changing it to disk brakes on front and 5 lug all around. Obviously. & I've thought about lowering my truck for a cool stance. Nothing crazy, just a small lower to fill out the fenders. I'm wondering if I put 17's or 20's will I have any rubbing issues? Can I do this, not lower my truck any and fill out the fenders? I hare the tiny wheel look. Also, what is an economical but good way to update my front suspension ( steering ) I'm putting a PS box & Pump from the other truck on there, but are there any low cost but effective ways to update my steering & suspension upfront? Also, where can I find gas shocks for my truck? Not sure where to look. Links would be great. Thanks in advance!

[the_69_C10]

Guys, today, I decided that in order to have me a drivable truck soon, I'm going to have to sell my project. It kills me to list it, but I have no other choice.

[frostbyte]

Sorry man. Good luck

[the_69_C10]

Originally Posted by the_69_C10

Guys, today, I decided that in order to have me a drivable truck soon, I'm going to have to sell my project. It kills me to list it, but I have no other choice.

Afyer some thinking. I decided just to keep it and go forward.

[the_69_C10]

Today was a very productive day. I removed the bed from the lwb, removed the brake booster for painting, prdered some parts, and cleaned the truck out kinda for a reset, it was all getting to junked up. Ordered new valve covers, ps return hose, and tonight I ordered the Barefoot, gas pedal and dimmer switch cover, and a new brake pad.

[the_69_C10]

Guys, I'm going from 16 - 17 inch wheels on my truck. Some JR Motorsports wheels. What speedometer gear for the tranny do I need to buy to keep it all calibrated

[gdavis]

I'm glad to hear that you are keeping your ride. It will take a while but it did not get in that shape over nite and it don't have to be done over nite. Take your time and do what ever you do, do it right. You will thank yourself in the long hawl. Good luck.