Author Topic: 76 C10 short box  (Read 3681 times)

Offline VegasDave

  • New Users
  • Posts: 1
  • Not so new Newbie
76 C10 short box
« on: March 14, 2016, 12:22:07 pm »
So, I'm new to the site, but not new to these trucks. My current project is a 76 with a 84-85 front clip 4 headlight grill. Got the truck about a month ago. Evidently the prior owner thought he was a wiring genius.  I had a spaghetti mess under the dash. The front light harness must have been hacked with a machete and in most states would have been considered a crime scene. It's in primer but has an arrow straight body. Due to the fact I am a hoarder, I just happen to have a complete 85 C30 C&C sitting around as a donor. I have swapped the front light harness, engine harness and cab harness into the 76, gave me ATO fuses and a virgin harness for the most part. The only harness not hacked was the rear chassis, plugged it in and it worked. Had to swap to the 85 cluster but no biggie. Also used the column from the 85 due to previous owner brilliant idea to hack off the cilomn harness plug. Total time to remove and install...1 day and 4 bottles of Sam Adams Scotch ale. Next came light upgrades. I was working on a set of LED tail lights for my 77 k5. I used truck lite 4550 for stop turn tail and maxima M20332 red for rear and yellow for front side markers. A lot of modification is necessary to fit them into the tail light housing and I lost reverse lights for now but dang what a difference. For the front markers, had to open up the back. As the maxima lights have 12 LED bulbs. For a flasher I used an electronic one rather than wiring in load eualizers(a stupid idea whoever thought of them) Next up was wheels and tires, since it came with a beat up set of centerlines and 4 tires of different size and mfgr. I found a set of skinny steelies on craigslist with a sweet set of poverty caps. Got a set if rally wheels in the shelf and may swap. New tires and I was rolling. Funny thing happened on the way home from work. There I am in the left lane getting right after it(cuz ya know, a 454 sounds good out the tail pipe) when it died. So I cruise on over to the shoulder, whipped me out some tools, cranks, his fire, no gas. Just filled up the tank. Looking at the headers notice a fuel line touching. Vapor lock. Haven't had to deal with that in years. Joy. Cools off and make my way to the house. Take the hard line out of the picture and use a hose for interim fix. Next I had to fix the climate control system. Since its a no AC truck , I needed to get the windows working. Pulled the regulators out of the 85 and put them in the 76, also decided to put mirrors on the doors and locks, since it didn't have those either. Also stole the 85 1 ton sway bar and stuck it on the 76. I recommend this swap to everyone. It's like riding on rails. A rear bar might keep it planted a little more but if not in the budget don't sweat it, the 1.5" 1 ton bar is sufficient. Future endeavors to this truck are; drop spindles sitting on the shelf waiting on garage space to open up, rear roll pan, also in stock but its prime golfing weather right now. A phantom grill. Brakes, disc conversion in the rear, I got plenty of go, but lacks a little in the whoa. Cowl hood suspension bushings and an axle flip. Either paint or wrap undecided yet. Bucket seats. And interior redo. The reason for the work on the lights is solely that any swinging Richard can plug in a light bulb, but no one has lights like mine. 

Offline blue64chevy

  • New Users
  • Posts: 1
  • Newbie
Re: 76 C10 short box
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2016, 06:55:38 pm »
Sounds like your making good headway. Would be cool if you could post a few pics. Nice work!

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk


Offline Captain Swampy

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 504
  • Wisconsin
Re: 76 C10 short box
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2016, 07:00:41 pm »
Sounds cool! Hope to see it.
1987  350TBI 700R4  4X4  4.56 gears  33" BFG All Terrain


http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=32209.0

Offline 1967KaiserM715

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 914
  • 1985 GMC K1500 w/ 6.5 TD
Re: 76 C10 short box
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2016, 07:04:40 pm »
Pics please! Sounds cool.

PS, maybe try a few paragraphs with spaces between them, would make reading much easier on some of us.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Current Vehicles:1985 GMC K10(Daily) 1991 GMC K2500(Daily) 1975 Beetle(not running) 1985 Mercedes 300D(not running) 1952 M35    1967 M715(not running)
 1986 Chevy K30(under repair)