Here we go... 1969/70 Chevy C10/K20 projects

[Greg]

It's AMAZING what a set of wheels and tires will do for a vehicle. I'm normally not the kind of guy to run 22's, but these came up for a pretty good deal and I had to check them out. They're massive, a good 3" taller than the original wheels & tires.... the pics in the ad didn't do the size justice! The tires are shot, but they seem to hold air enough to roll around.

I'm actually liking the look, but the truck is just begging to be lowered now. I don't know that I'll be able to go with the 3"/5" kit I mentioned early on, due to the size of these wheels/tires. I'll have to see if a 2"/4" is available, even that will be tight IMO.

The chrome (again, not my usual style) of the shiny grill and wheels really offsets the patina and really brings it all together. It's turning into a pretty good looking truck!

 

[Herzog]

Dude... now I'm interested

 

[Greg]

Dude... now I'm interested

Seriously, huh?! Wheels and tires totally changed the attitude of this truck. The amount of space underneath it bothers me though, it needs to be lowered badly now. 😎

@Cody suggested air bags on FB, that would be awesome to park it and drop the frame on the ground.

 

[Cody]

Lay frame!

Cut out the bed for the diff and tires, couple vaire compressors and a little tank and some firestone bags. I guess you'd have to link it though?

Honestly, the patina on that with a well done bag setup would probably make it worth quite a bit of money.

 

[Greg]

Lay frame!

Cut out the bed for the diff and tires, couple vaire compressors and a little tank and some firestone bags. I guess you'd have to link it though?

Honestly, the patina on that with a well done bag setup would probably make it worth quite a bit of money.

It has coils on all 4 corners, the rear is a crazy radius arm setup... so bags would be fairly straight forward.

Pretty affordable kit from Jegs. - https://www.jegs.com/i/EZ+Air+Ride/...CQS5BhaYDt8y6GTshkON6x34NufTmsWMaAmiSEALw_wcB

 

[J-mobzz]

Looks awesome! +1 vote for bags

 

[Greg]

Too bad you’ll likely sell it before we could meet up to do a bagged photoshoot together! This truck is already beautiful and the mods you’re doing just make it better and better

You're probably right, my plan is to list it within 2 months of buying it. I'd love to do bags, but the cost is more than I had planned. We will see though, Cody has a point about it being worth more on bags.

The whole idea behind picking this up to flip is to help pay for TJ parts to finish that build. The more time I spend on the C10, the less time I work on the TJ. 😞

 

[Greg]

With that being the plan, honestly probably wouldn’t do the bags, personally. IMO that gives the buyer more options to do their mods their way. Plus, as you say, that’s time you don’t have to spend messing with it.

When shopping for vehicles I always prefer to find stock ones and then can modify how I want, and don’t have to undo or change what the PO did.

But you know what they say, a bird in the hand is worth a hand in some bush… or however it’s said.

I feel the same way about buying myself, but there are plenty of people out there that don't have the time, skill, etc to make these big mods, but they can pay for a built vehicle. There will be plenty of mods left for the next owner to make it his, but if I can get to stand out in a crowd and look great, that'll attract the right attention.

 

[Cody]

If you bag it, you won't want to sell it.

 

[Greg]

If you bag it, you won't want to sell it.

You may be right! 😯

 

[Greg]

After thinking about it overnight, air bags just don't fit the build plan for this truck, they'd add more time, cost as well as complexity. I'll stick with my plan of lowering it with springs.

Here's the kit I'm going with, 2" front, 4" rear with shocks and relocation shock mounts. Looks like a pretty complete, quality option. -

63-72 C10 Lowering Kit, 2" Front 4" Rear Drop w/ Shock Relocation

Lowers and levels out your C10 pickup for a clean street cruising look Springs provide a lowered stance without sacrificing spring rate Lowering provides improved handling and traction with less body roll Proper steering geometry and turning radius is retained All new components provided for...

www.speedwaymotors.com

Maybe in the future I will build another C10 and do it right with an LS swap, full disk brakes, air ride suspension and put it on the ground. 😎

 

[Hickey]

Ya stick to the plan. This one is your TJ's sugar momma.

 

[Greg]

Well, it's lowered! The suspension drop kit arrived today, so I installed it after work! Took about 5 hrs, used the plasma cutter a couple times due to froze, rusty bolts. The rear suspension has this crazy reverse quarter elliptical spring that was an overload leaf! The spring ended up getting cut off, leaving the bracket in place... those were the rusty nuts.

I did a 2" front, 4" rear drop and the nose is too tall. I'll be tossing 3" drop springs up front. The massive 22" wheel and 275/50/22 tires completely fill up the wheel well, but look like they shouldn't hit anything! I think this height is a good compromise, looks sporty but not so low it will be difficult to drive.

I also picked up a set of lightly used Bridgestone Alenza 275/50/22 tires and had them mounted up on the wheels. They have an easy 90% tread and were way cheaper than new.

 

[jeeper]

Don't worry, after you cummins swap it, the extra weight will lower the front.

 

[Greg]

Don't worry, after you cummins swap it, the extra weight will lower the front.

Not part of the build plan, therefore not happening. Besides, its a classic Chevy with a running 350... so it stays.

 

[spaggyroe]

I love this generation of Chevy trucks.
I.M.O., they haven't made an attractive truck since.
lol. Sorry square body guys... 🤷‍♂️

@Magerdgr and I have joked that in 1972, GM had a meeting where they decided that their trucks were WAY too good looking and were built WAY too well, so they decided they needed to change that!

Anyhow, as always @Greg, I enjoy seeing your builds!

 

[Greg]

I love this generation of Chevy trucks.
I.M.O., they haven't made an attractive truck since.
lol. Sorry square body guys... 🤷‍♂️

@Magerdgr and I have joked that in 1972, GM had a meeting where they decided that their trucks were WAY too good looking and were built WAY too well, so they decided they needed to change that!

Anyhow, as always @Greg, I enjoy seeing your builds!

I agree, the looks are classic... hard to go wrong with one of these! Thanks for the compliments.

 

[Greg]

More progress tonight, I've had a few conversations with friends about how I was going to finish this and did some thinking today. IMO this truck has beautiful patina. The finish of this truck could tell some stories, from the multiple paint jobs to the custom pinstriping and previous owners name written out on the door, it was worth preserving the last 52 years of its history.

I decided to polish up the old paint with an application of Linseed Oil... first time I saw this done was years ago at the Moab Car Show. A guy with a beautiful hot rod Model A had stripped the paint down to bare metal, then just coated it with Linseed Oil to keep it looking rust free and shiny. It was amazing, blew me away. Perfectly clean bare metal.

The application took about 45 min, I put a pretty heavy coat on then went around with a dry rag and mopped it up. I think I used about 1/3 of the bottle, not much at all. The colors absolutely POP with the oil, it came out amazing! The truck went from faded and dull to shining bright! The oil will usually last about 6 months and reapplying is pretty simple.

 

[Houndoc]

I love this generation of Chevy trucks.
I.M.O., they haven't made an attractive truck since.
lol. Sorry square body guys... 🤷‍♂️

@Magerdgr and I have joked that in 1972, GM had a meeting where they decided that their trucks were WAY too good looking and were built WAY too well, so they decided they needed to change that!

Anyhow, as always @Greg, I enjoy seeing your builds!

I agree. As a kid we had a 1967. Lot of great memories- but not as cool as my lowered, street rod '48 I drove in high school.

 

[Greg]

That rear bumper needs to go....

Looks way to 'farm truck', might be time to order a roll pan.