Author Topic: Project C10 Muscle Truck!  (Read 5011 times)

Offline dine73ss

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Project C10 Muscle Truck!
« on: January 17, 2019, 12:19:35 AM »
Project C10 Muscle Truck:

Picked up an 88k mile 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe heavy half ton couple of years ago. Thing that drew me to the criagslist ad was a midnight black SWB with number match 350 (upgrading to full roller 468)/ 4 speed / camel interior buckets /console / tach and gauges/ rally wheels

Grew up around these body styles and seen many as we all have but not in this combination. Ordered the GM invoice and was ordered this way.

Original owner manual dealer sleeve with original owner name and dealer badges on front fenders.

Non AC truck seems like what a muscle car guy would have ordered minus the 454 which dealer brochure shows it could be had but only with automatic trans.  Seems to be a fairly rare truck combination from forums and lack of pics on internet. Or most didn't survive.
« Last Edit: February 10, 2019, 12:23:28 AM by dine73ss »
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Online Rapid Roy

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2019, 06:16:53 AM »
Welcome
1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB STOCK 350 W HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
Mopar by Birth
Chevy by Choice

Offline KilgoreTrout

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #2 on: January 18, 2019, 07:37:03 AM »
That's a cool truck, man. Welcome.

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2019, 02:44:17 PM »
Thanks. Finally figured out how to shrink the pics and updated the thread.
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline Jason S

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2019, 10:59:41 PM »
Welcome!

I'd say it's unique just from the interesting combination of options.   The MSRP on the options is enlightening, especially if you figure in 1979 versus present day dollars.

What gear ratio in the rear end?
1973 GMC K2500, Super Custom, Camper Special, 350, TH350, NP203, 4.10's
1974 Chevrolet K10, Custom Deluxe, 350, SM465, NP203, 3.73's

"1) Peace through strength; 2) Trust but verify; 3) Beware of evil in the modern world"

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2019, 05:04:31 AM »
Thanks. Haven't opened up the rear end yet to change fluid but guessing to be the standard  HE3 3.08 gears since the HE4 3.42 wasn't on the invoice sheet or glove box tag. Plans are to upgrade to 3.42 posi when the BBC goes in.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2019, 05:55:14 PM by dine73ss »
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #6 on: January 20, 2019, 06:16:34 PM »
Got my reproduction window sticker to display with GM invoice. Will be a nice addition at a show.
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #7 on: January 20, 2019, 07:25:27 PM »
So did you change the wheels and tires and grille?
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2019, 07:35:14 PM »
Going back to factory grill with blue bowtie and the truck rally wheels. I have changed the headlight bezels to the 78 earlier style. Like them better.

I'll keep adding more pics as the project moves on. Working to get the 454 done then start restoring what's needed and detailing.



 
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2019, 01:53:12 AM »
Pics of when I removed the 350 and rebuilt it before deciding to go big block. Truck had 5 to 4.75 wheel adapters for the mag wheels so using car rally wheels until the truck rallys are ready to install.
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2019, 02:10:43 AM »
Going to take the 79s rebuilt 350 and install in dad's 75 short bed for now until we get his 350 rebuilt.
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline 77 Scottsdale

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #11 on: January 21, 2019, 02:10:41 PM »
Wow that is a very cool truck, I wouldn't want to race against that when you're done. Great find

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2019, 02:55:11 PM »
Nice Ride!

I agree, '78 grill and bowtie look better.

Do you know when they went to blue?

I put a gold bowtie on my '78.

Welcome from SoCal!
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline dine73ss

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2019, 04:40:41 PM »
Thanks. Blue bowtie I did myself. Painted the gold insert. I remembered grandpa's 47 Chevy truck and the old Chevy commercials had blue bow ties and always stuck as favorite look for me. The "chrome grill" in black with chrome trim and black headlight bezel inserts. Will be going back to that look using the 78 earlier bezels instead of 79.
« Last Edit: January 22, 2019, 06:33:57 AM by dine73ss »
1970 Chevelle SS 396/ 4 speed
1973 Chevelle SS 454 station wagon (factory 1yr only)
1966 Caprice 396
1979 C10 350/4 spd (factory 4spd/buckets/tach)
2004 Chevy SSR

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: 1979 C10 Custom Deluxe SWB. Unique factory truck?
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2019, 05:28:53 PM »
Oh yeah, we used to be able to drive on the beach...  :-\

Actually, there is a beach in San Diego where you still can, Fiesta Island, the only other I know of is Pismo Beach up north.

So is  that picture a '79? My '80 has the same bezels, but the grill does not have the two horizontal chrome strips.

The only thing that make these bezels look good are the square headlights.

I've got the entire front end apart, now cleaning and dressing her up are next.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction