1973 c10 (far from perfect 10)

[Car10s]

I was without a truck for what seemed like an eternity. Life happens! you get a different job, you marry and eventually enjoy what parenthood is like. For the car guy/gal this can be quit the dilemma. In one hand you have Life while in the other hand you have your hobby. So what should I do??

Well I made my hobby a family affair. My 5 year old knows his way around the garage better than some grown men I know, My 1 year old daughter plays in the dirt with toy trucks, and my wife.... Well, eerrr... Let just say she is along for the ride! lol

This is now coming along full circle and I have MY DREAM TRUCK! a 1973 Chevrolet model c10 Short bed! The reasons I wanted this model was simple. CALIFORNIA BABY! where the "Man" wants your guns, money, and even passed a law to stop you from wrenching in your front yard in LA....
So since I wanted a ballsy muscle car (too expensive) and I am at that age where getting pulled over is lame (isn't everyone) plus I want to modify to my hearts content the answer was 1973 c10!

Enjoy my build, chime in, motivate, whatever! thank you in advance


Carlos N.


Purchased as a basket case and I am working my arse off

[Car10s]

Basket case I bought!

I started with a 1973 cab with a clean california title on non op

[Car10s]

cleaned the cab and started blowing apart the donor truck

donor truck

cleaned chassis before and after

[Car10s]

Now I am working on finishing up the suspension rebuild/lowering. 2.5 drop spindles and cut springs in the front with a flip kit in the rear.
Also the cab came with a 383 and t400. here is the engine all cleaned painted and put to the side so I can finish the rolling chassis

[Car10s]

currently I am stuck with the chassis flex. Is it normal for these trucks to have so much flex? I can jack up one corner of this chassis and it just flexes like heck. Also I am looking to box certain areas. If you know ahead of time what I should look for let me know.

[sphinx]

Looking good.  I know what you mean about life getting in the way of your hobbies.  Then again maybe I have too many hobbies and no life.  What did you coat the frame with?  I need to do something with mine.  I'm not noticed the frame flex problem, but then again my 76 C10 has been on jack stands for its 3 year now.  Did you freshen up the 383?

[Car10s]

Yes the 383 has all new gaskets and seals and a coating of vht gloss black, the frame is rustoleem gloss black with 3 heavy coats and the flex is strange to me but I guess it is normal. Jack up one corner and the other 3 corners will not come off the jack stand until 3" of lift. After searching I ran into an episode of trucks TV. They were building a ford ranger that had the same flex issues and they boxed the whole thing. I'm just going to box certain areas

[jumbowolfe]

Are you going to keep the stock yellow of the cab, or going another direction with it?

[Car10s]

I love that sunset yellow!

[Car10s]

I ran into trouble with a flip kit that I bought to save time. I had to send it back and just do what I have been doing on these trucks. New spring perches, re drill the hole for the spring pin and set pinion angle.

Perches


Welded in

[Car10s]

I have been working on the suspension. I completely disassembled and rebuilt the control arms upper and lower. It was a pain in the arse and I would Do it again in a heartbeat. All moog components.

First a coating of ezoff and pressure wash


Then after new ball joints, control arm bushings and paint.

[Car10s]

And here she is. Rolling chassis. 2.5 spindles upfront on cut coils. Flipped perch springs outback.

[fxrsrider]

Looking good!  I can appreciate how you're approaching this.....maybe it's an LA thing 

You mentioned a concern about the chassis flex....I don't think it's cause for concern....once the cab and block get mounted, you'll notice a difference.

...some would argue that's what makes '72 model years and earlier better (the rigidity of the frame....as well as body design etc).  Like you, I've always liked the rounded-line body style.

Looking forward to seeing more progress...
...and eventually seeing that truck next to me in traffic....lol

[Car10s]

Mounted the cab and now it is time to work on the gas tank.

[Dabbler]

Great build, dude! Are you going to be using a fuel cell or just sticking with the original tank?