C10 Bay Area build

[Marc_b]

Been on this forum for years and always wanted to do a build thread, but was always so busy with life that I never took the time. Since we're still in covid lockdown mode, life has slowed down for sure. I always enjoy reading other peoples build threads and think it’s a cool way to share with other enthusiast, get new ideas and keep a record like a time capsule of your project.

A brief history about the truck. It’s a 1970 C10 LWB I bought March 2013 for $1000 not running from the family 2 houses down from me and pushed it to my house. Got it running, and only had the intent of using it as a truck to help me in my various house projects and dump runs. Having already built several project cars that didn’t last long once I got the itch of what it could be. I always wanted to do a truck because they looks so cool, but never saw myself as a truck guy due to fact that I have 3 kids and a wife that all want to cruise with me. It was worn out for sure, but was really clean in the areas you want for a project. After doing a little research about the trucks history, I found out that the truck was original a work truck for the University of Arizona till the early 90’s, then lived down in southern California till the family I bought it from brought up in 2011 to the bay area. Being a desert truck really help preserve it and made it a great foundation for sure. Over the next 2 years I did a budget build sourcing parts on forums, cyber Monday, ebay and Craigslist, it got a 5/7 drop, front power disc, power steering, new motor, trans and learned how to paint. Next was a 71 k5 blazer in 2015 and a 70 c20 in 2016. Sold the 70 C10 to my brother in law to fund the blazer project in 2016. In late 2016 I finished the blazer and had no project cars till mid 2018 when I got the idea of building a SWB C10.

I found the prices over inflated for what was just some extra metal in the frame or bed that would separate the LWB from a SWB truck. At that time my brother in law was wanting to sell the C10 after having his fun with it. Which made it the perfect candidate for a full LWB to SWB conversion. So we agreed on a price and late 2018 it was back in my garage.

Looking back I always wish I took more pictures of some of the steps or stages my trucks gone through over the many years. I have lately made myself stop to take time to take more pictures, to document where I started from and where it may end up. Like any other project I have had, it never feels done and I am always thinking of ways to make it better or improve in my own skills along the way while working on it.

The Photos below are around early 2019 after I just purchased the truck back from my brother-n-law in late 2018.

I'll try to find some old photos to post of what it looked like when I first purchased it back in 2013.

[Marc_b]

Have to give credit to Rokcrln for the write up on LWB to SWB fleet side conversion for this part. Used a lot of information from that tread to complete the conversion of converting to a SWB. Here's the link for the the LWB to SWB conversion I used http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509442

[Marc_b]

A Laser level makes the measurements so much easer and accurate once the bed is perfectly level. Making reference marks for the horizontal line across the bed will make sure the vertical line is square to the bed.

[Marc_b]

[Marc_b]

[Marc_b]

[Marc_b]

The rear was not as easy to line up as the front and required a little massaging to get into place. But the panels were not perfectly straight to start with.

[Marc_b]

You'll have a little trimming on the bottom to line up the panels.

[Marc_b]

[CG]

Looked good before and it looks good after.

[weq92f]

.

Nice! BTW I dig that color...

-klb

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks good

[67C10GS]

Very nice

[cornerstone]

Very nice work Marc! Looking forward to seeing more of your efforts documented.

[rodstored-72]

cool!!.. never thought or seen using a laser level for the lines. nice job! , now to show & tell how it went from a longbed to a shortbed frame.....

[Joe Pass]

Nice write up....

[layinrocker65]

Nice build. Good to see another Livermore guy on here

[Marc_b]

For the frame LWB to SWB conversion, I used the brothers trucks conversion kit. It' s one of the best laid out instructions I have seen for anything I have built.





Made 4 foot long crib blocks for the rear to roll to the front when lining up the frame when chopped. Serviced the rear diff and added and new diff cover. Which looks so cool, even if no one ever sees it after the tank is added.





Flipped the trailing arms to help correct pinion angle and added urethane bushings.

[Marc_b]

This is one of those times I look back at and wish I took more pictures. I was in the fabrication zone I guess.

[Marc_b]

Bolted back up and prepping for new rear tank and seats.

[tinydb84]

Great looking truck.

Hello from San Jose.

[hewittca]

Dude, brilliant idea using the laser level on the bed! I've wondered every time I see a conversion, how do you get the lines straight? This is the way to do it. Also, really clean work. Truck looks awesome.

[rodstored-72]

very nice work on the LWB to SWB conversion. thanks for the info on the instructions note. good info. ...