"1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I have been looking for a nice '67 or '68 SWB for quite a while, and I finally found a keeper. It is an 89,000 mile all original 6 cyl, 3OTT Custom. It came with the original Protect O Plate, warranty papers, and the original window sticker. The body is the best I've had, and is going to require very little metal work, and my plan is to, fix anything little things it needs, do the metal work, get the body straight, and paint it. The truck runs like a dream, and so I will address an engine upgrade later on, but for now I'm gonna 6 bangin'.
Here's some pics as delivered.

The original owner hit any spots that had surface rust or dings with primer in an effort to protect the truck.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps42729bc6.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps623a9c95.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps728f2e28.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psbc843ed6.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps2170e357.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps3a420c6b.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psfb14b4ee.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps5b641cff.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps40236701.jpg

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

I have been driving the truck a lot, but I've started with little things. I changed the 70's center caps to a set of caps that look similiar to the original '67 - 68 caps.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps536040bb.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps3e642a05.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psa1d6ad2d.jpg


I painted the rings and the bowtie red and they look pretty similiar. I also replaced the dash gauge bezel and glove box with a '67 style set up. It really wakes up the dash, IMO.

Before:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps9bf63ad9.jpg

After:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psb7594a3b.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps803752c1.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps05874048.jpg

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

I went Saturday, and bought a Tri-plus bedside and RH fender cup. The bedside looks really nice, and is made of decently thick metal. The original bedside may have been fixable, but it would have been tough.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps6fedb7fa.jpg



After I get the truck painted, I plan to install an airbag setup Ihave to have the abililty to run it low most of the time, but have the ability to run it at stock height with stock wheels if want. My bag set-up consists of dual 3 gallon tanks, dual Viair 450c compressors, eight GC250 Xtreme valves, and Contitech bags. This set-up was installed on an old Mercury, but it never got finished. It has zero miles on it and is practically new. The frame will be left stock with no cutting or anything like that.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps48ed702c.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps240c98eb.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psa7247ce4.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps98e89f14.jpg

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

I like the plan, I'm in for the ride!
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Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Amazing truck. This is going to be a great build.

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Since I plan on this being a keeper, I went digging in my shop today and started pulling out some of the "good stuff" out of my stash. I have a tach cluster with the vacuum gauge, a tilt column, and a set of buddy buckets that I am going to use for this truck. The gauge cluster has a diesel mechanical 4000 RPM tach, but I can put a normal tach head and new lense in it.

I had planned to use this cluster in my dually, but I a could not find a feasible way to use the cable driven tach with 6.2. The vacuum gauge is pretty much useless in a diesel truck also.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1213548575

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1213548575

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1213548575


I picked these up from uncle several years ago, and I'm thinking about going with blue houndstooth covers on them.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...cture001-1.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...Picture002.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...cture003-1.jpg

Like these!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psd6ada06b.jpg

The tilt has gotten dusty in the top of my building, but it needs paint anyway.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps37274ff2.jpg

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Nice parts stash, for sure!!
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Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

I love the look of this truck already. What was wrong with your old fender? Wanna give it to me!? :D

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Man, what else you got stashed in the top of that barn? LOL

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

This thing is gonna look sweet. Can't wait to see it on air
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Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Uh - Ummmmm, nothing! -lol :)
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Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

This truck is perfect, great find man!!

Looking forward to following the build...

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

Here are photoshopped pics of the truck (thanks McCoyAZ!). I have a set of 15 X 8 steelies that I may run on it too for big and skinny look like I did on my '69 shop truck.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1376520049

This was my '69 shop truck. I am going to paint a pair of the 15 X 8's white and swap them out with the stockers, but keep the stockers on hand to go back to a stock look when I want.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps390193ac.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...0truck/025.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...0truck/009.jpg

Re: 1968 C-10 build
 

I got the new bedside put on today. I am very happy with the fit. It went on probably as smooth as any aftermarket panel I've ever done. All of the holes aligned well. The stamping is very good except a little waviness right above the taillight and on the little strip of metal between the taillight and the tail gate. These are small issues, and are easily fixable. The side of it is slick and looks very nice. Overall Tri-Plus is putting out a quality piece.


http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...psbd8984a7.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps204d3072.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps2c452187.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps8300646d.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps9395bf25.jpg

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I bought the factory paint code Ivory paint Friday. I am going to have a make a decision on whether I want white rockers or not. What say ye???

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps47bc0216.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps488b4eba.jpg

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I scored a nice '68 license plate for the truck today. I'm gonna go get it registered tomorrow.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Nice license plate. Concerning the white below the trim, I would say "No" unless you are going to run chrome caps. I think with white hubcaps, it will be too much white.
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Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I will probably run the chrome caps. I just got McCoyAZ to photoshop the wide and narrow wheels off my shop truck onto the pic.
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Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Great looking project. Looks like a very solid truck to start with.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I installed a shiny glove box emblem and got the tag registered today.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks - it is definitely the cleanest one I've ever had.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

The interior looks good!!!
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Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Here is a pic of the tag installed.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I picked up a good working factory AM radio with a working FM converter. I had one of these years ago, and it picked the local Rock station just fine (strong signal). If it will do that, I'll be happy. I'll put the FM converter in the glove box, and set to Rock 103 and let it ride. Worse case scenario is I might have to pull and change stations if I travel. Its worth that to keep the stock look to me.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

That bedside fits nice for aftermarket! I like the white rockers with the chrome caps. This is a darn nice truck!

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks! That's probably going to be the combo I go with. The truck below has 8's on the rear and 6's on the front with the same caps I have, and it looks great. I am probably going with a very similiar stance to this truck. It just looks right to me.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I did get a little something done today - I stripped the passenger door to the metal and primed it. The paint had some bubbling from the heat, so I went ahead and took all of it off down to the body line where the molding mounts.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Nice work! Keep those updates coming. :)

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks Nate!

I got the new radio and FM converter put in today, and it works great! The new radio have very nice chrome housing and looks better the original, which had some pitting. I am going to mount the FM converter in the glove box, because unless I'm traveling, my radio is always on Rock 103 anyway.

Here's some pics of it. I still have to mount the FM converter in a new glove box liner.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

After driving the truck a lot this week, I realized how much of a hassle changing radio stations was going to be by having to open the glove box, so I decided to mount the FM converter in the ashtray. I cut up an ashtray out of one my parts trucks, made a flip down dummy ashtray door. I was able to do with without modifying the dash or the original ashtray. Now I can just flip down the door, change the station, and flip it back up and still look stock. I put small magnets on the door hold door closed.

Just gotta paint it now!

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I like the ashtray mod, very slick!

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks - it should look good when I get it painted.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Nice! What type of hinge did you use?

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I used stainless piano hinges from McMaster-Carr. I used the 3/4" leaf hinges with 3/32" pin diameter.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-s...hinges/=oeuqbq

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Just some little stuff today. I got some really nice visors (Thanks Uncle!), Installed a new dome light, and a installed a new wiper motor. I also picked up some more vintage Alabama license plates and I now have a plate for each year of these trucks with my correct County code (12) except '69.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Got the ashtray door finished. I didn't want to cut up the original ashtray, so I decided to paint the ashtray to match the silver/textured finish on the gauge cluster and glove box door. I like the way it looks. I have an amp on the way to boost the speakers a little, and I'm going to wire it up and reinstall the radio and fm converter.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

I have never seen an ashtray theme painted like that it looks like it could have been that way from the factory, I like it.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks - I wasn't sure if I would like it, but I do. I think the dash will look great with the radio back in and new heater controls.

Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Always been one of my favorite trucks on here! Excited to see a build on it. Glad your bed side fit well I have a complet new bed to assemble and hope I have similar luck. I vote white under the trim. I think c10kings gumby looks awesome two toned that way
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Re: "1968 C-10 SWB build - Project Keeper
 

Thanks! As long as the floor is stamped correctly, I think it will go together well. I was told by someone here a while back that bought a whole new bed that it went together pretty smoothly.

As far as the truck goes, I didn't get a whole bunch done, but I did put a new vacuum advance canister on it, reset the points, and put a set of plugs in it, and it really runs smooth now.

I also fixed tag light.