How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Houch

Beautiful truck. Your doing an awesome job. I had just about wrote my cab off but your windshield repair inspires me to repair it. Keep up the inspiring build.
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Me too, but I'm glad I did it. I think it was less work than I see a lot of guys putting into their floors; it was just a pain doing it overhead. Pulling it off the frame and flipping it on the firewall would make it a LOT easier.

Thanks for the compliments

[Jacfourteen]

Great work! If you can't find a matching marker light you could get a full set off of an 80's chevy/gmc full size van. They bolt right in and they have a smoother look to them, if you would like a picture let me know I have the van lights on my truck.
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[brn agn]

I just wanted to say that I am loving this build. I know it takes a lot of discipline to not go overboard on the body work, paint etc... Good job!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

Great work! If you can't find a matching marker light you could get a full set off of an 80's chevy/gmc full size van. They bolt right in and they have a smoother look to them, if you would like a picture let me know I have the van lights on my truck.
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Thanks! I actually used those smooth lights on my '72 Blazer and liked the look of them. The vans are also a good source of the 'deluxe' marker lights. Gonna hit the 'yard in the morn and see what I can find...

Originally Posted by brn agn

I just wanted to say that I am loving this build. I know it takes a lot of discipline to not go overboard on the body work, paint etc... Good job!

Thanks for the compliments I am having serious difficulties in not making this thing perfect, but some 'bumps and bruises' are needed to pull off the look I'm going for. I shoulda just started with your truck I might actually make it shiny someday, but not anytime soon...

Got a bunch done today, but squat for pics- forgot to grab the camera. I did a lot of final assembly type stuff, such as bumpers, inner fenders, weatherstripping, blah, blah, blah... Here's a crappy cell phone pic of 'in progress', just to satiate the pic need:

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Not much of a picture day, but good progress nonetheless. I started by taking the front wheels and tires to get mounted this morning. I put the tires on powdercoated 7" rallies, instead of the 6.5" van wheels and it bought me the clearance I needed at the lower control arm. It turns beautifully and the inner wheel weights actually stay on

Once the wheels were back on the truck, I drove her over to the local alignment shop and had it lined up. They also charged the A/C system for me and it blows nice and cold The guys there loved the truck- couldn't stop asking question and giving compliments- even had one of the 'old heads' give me kudos on the front suspension rebuild, and thanked me for leaving the inner fenders out for him to get to the alignment shims.

Also finished installing the rest of the body side molding and tailgate and taillight trim (anyone have a spare amber marker?), then had a terrible time glue-ing the passenger door weatherstrip in- what a pain! NOT looking forward to doing the driver's side. More choice words than used on the windshield install...

The truck is coming out nice! I highly recommend going with the push on door seals. They are re-usable and install in about 15 mins...

[Dinos63]

Great work! I always enjoy your builds

[Number98]

Looks great man!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

The truck is coming out nice! I highly recommend going with the push on door seals. They are re-usable and install in about 15 mins...

Thanks! Tried 'em. Never did fully compress, so I went back to originals...

Originally Posted by Dinos63

Great work! I always enjoy your builds

Thanks! Back atcha!

Originally Posted by Number98

Looks great man!

Thanks a lot. She's coming along

Made her maiden voyage Friday from LA to OK (380 miles) with no major issues. Fiancé and I have been working on the 'patina'. Pics to follow upon my return...
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[gringoloco]

Sneaky preview:

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[LooseCannon]

I want your truck! Nice work.

[Bennett68C10]

Nice Teaser Pic, i can't wait to see more pictures

[bobski]

bump for the updates!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by LooseCannon

I want your truck! Nice work.

Thanks, though I think it's staying around for a while...

Originally Posted by Bennett--G4L

Nice Teaser Pic, i can't wait to see more pictures

Originally Posted by bobski

bump for the updates!

ask and ye shall receive

Loaded up the 'toolbox' and a spare and headed 380 miles to OK- the truck performed well other than the A/C not being able to keep up because of the holes I left open in the firewall (clutch, booster, etc). Made a stop at Lowe's for a temporary fix then had a mostly uneventful trip. Truck runs, drives, rides good and should have no problems getting to NC for the wedding

While I was there, my fiance and I took 400 grit sandpaper to the fresh paint and started the 'weathering' process. I know I'll lose some of you here- my next-door neighbor already thinks I'm nuts- but, we're ruining a truck, remember? Also stopped by a random little town in TX on the way back and snagged some pix...

[gringoloco]

Snagged a few more pics today of the mostly done 'patina'. I really just want a truck that I don't have to worry too much about. I've had nice, shiny stuff before and parking always stressed me out- with this one- a rock chip or door ding will go mostly unnoticed. Also, I hope for it to be an anti-theft device, as people will just think it's a beat up old truck...

[gringoloco]

...and some overall shots to get the feel for the truck as a whole. The patina is actually very subtle, and much of it doesn't show in pictures. We tried to mimic naturally occurring wear by studying photos of old trucks. I did not want it to look like a 'faux-tina' job, or be too over the top, and I think we got pretty close. I do need to do some more work in the bed area-maybe actually using it like a truck will help accomplish that, though I have a few more tricks up my sleeve...

Also decided, by popular demand, to detail the black stripe on the grill. Letters are next

[VA72C10]

Cool deal! I like the look!

[mcbassin]

Hey, your truck looks great! Cool that your road trip went good. I would like to have seen it if you were in my neck of the woods.

[lolife99]

Your truck is perfect!
Well thought out plan.
Grill details, (inner and outer), correct "black" headlight bezels, and flat paint.
Love it!
Any plans to paint the tailgate band?
I have one in about the same condition,... and I want to re-do the black areas.

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Snagged a few more pics today of the mostly done 'patina'. I really just want a truck that I don't have to worry too much about. I've had nice, shiny stuff before and parking always stressed me out- with this one- a rock chip or door ding will go mostly unnoticed. Also, I hope for it to be an anti-theft device, as people will just think it's a beat up old truck...

Don't believe that your truck will not get stolen because it has a few flaws. Check my sig if you need proof.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Cool deal! I like the look!

Thanks! I think it turned out pretty good

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Hey, your truck looks great! Cool that your road trip went good. I would like to have seen it if you were in my neck of the woods.

Anywhere near OKC? It will be back up there at least once more...

Originally Posted by lolife99

Your truck is perfect!
Well thought out plan.
Grill details, (inner and outer), correct "black" headlight bezels, and flat paint.
Love it!
Any plans to paint the tailgate band?
I have one in about the same condition,... and I want to re-do the black areas.

Thanks I'm just glad it turned out close to what I had envisioned. Wish I coulda found one already done like your no-life, but this works. I had thoughts of painting the band black, but was turned off (for now) by the prospect of having to remove/reinstall the letters and the crusty goo from the woodgrain decal. It will likely happen at some unknown future date...

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

Don't believe that your truck will not get stolen because it has a few flaws. Check my sig if you need proof.

Man, that just sucks. I know it's not fool-proof, but odds have to be better than if it were shiny- though it does still get lots of attention. Keeping my eyes peeled for your truck...

[RatRod68]

I'm digging the weathered look! Personally, I'd like to see more!

[Jacfourteen]

Looks really good, I like how its turning out!
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[killer71]

Well you perfectly ruined it...actually turned out nice!!! I like the theme! You gonna roll with the ralleys for a while or ??

[brn agn]

I think it turned out great. I completely understand what you mean about stressing out when driving a finished vehicle vs driving one that is rough around the edges.

If you need a place to stop/stay while you are in NC, let me know.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by RatRod68

I'm digging the weathered look! Personally, I'd like to see more!

Thanks! ...and you just may, but not too much, I kinda like the subtlety.

Originally Posted by Jacfourteen

Looks really good, I like how its turning out!
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Thanks! I'm pretty happy it worked out- I wasn't sure what I had in my brain would look like in reality...

Originally Posted by killer71

Well you perfectly ruined it...actually turned out nice!!! I like the theme! You gonna roll with the ralleys for a while or ??

Well now, that's a question isn't it? I have thought about going a few different routes- from 17" stock style steelies with dog dishes, to grey spoke 20" TT2s, to something traditional looking but not as common as thrusts: 18" Cragar SS in chrome. I am not completely settled on what I'd like to do, so it will be rallies for a while, unless I find some full wheel covers cheap

Originally Posted by brn agn

I think it turned out great. I completely understand what you mean about stressing out when driving a finished vehicle vs driving one that is rough around the edges.

If you need a place to stop/stay while you are in NC, let me know.

Hey, thanks for the offer! It is VERY nice not having to worry so much about it- and I can actually haul something more than gas!