start of my 78 c10 project started out as a drive.r now tearing apart and restoring it to a show truck still deciding about leaving it oem or lowering the truck, so far leaning toward the lowering of the truck.
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start of my 78 c10 project started out as a drive.r now tearing apart and restoring it to a show truck still deciding about leaving it oem or lowering the truck, so far leaning toward the lowering of the truck.
Lots of work to do from where it's at to a show truck. My experience with show cars and trucks is that it takes either a very unique vehicle, or some really standout features on a common vehicle like your pickup. If you go all original, it's going to have to be a really outstanding, flawless restoration to make it stand out at show time.....
thanks it will be alot of work but i plan as i go right now im just trying to get everything apart to start working on snading everything the way its supposed to be done. then i will work on planning the paint and everything else that needs to be done.:)
I would suggest that you start with an exercise that costs nothing but is very important to the outcome: write down your theme for the truck....not just "show truck" but make a spreadsheet of every component and write a plan for each. The theme might be "mild custom truck that can be competitive at a show while still driven on the street." For your list of components, you might have entries (Excel makes a good platform to work in) such as FENDER, Front with comments like "remove side marker lights and K10 emblems" Under dash, you would spell out your intended gauges, radio, switches that kept with your theme......this way, you can plan the build so you dont end up with contradictory components like a billet air conditioning knob on a stock dash.....
Then, you can keep making revisions to your plan as your theme changes during the build process. From your spreadsheet, you can also assign cost dollar amounts to the components to see what your total might be (of course, the total cost will escalate as all project costs do). You can plug in an average show quality paint job of $25,000 for instance and see where that goes in your budget.
mike in tucson
I've seen a few of these done up nice; Chevy made a version of this body style of truck called the "Gentleman Jim" that was pretty decked out, if I remember. Anyone else remember that one?
im looking into a auto cad program that will help me plan my process on building up my truck which looks pretty good so far. but ths will be the hardest project i have done because i have back issues which is slowing me down and money is xtremely tight also making it even harder.
You DO NOT need to buy any AutoCad program.....there is NO WAY that you can model an existing truck well enough for the program to have ANY usefulness during a build. IF you had a contact at GM, you could get the CAD models and use that but the body is not modeled in a format that is AutoCad compatible......forget the computer, just use a pencil and paper and write down every part and every operation. When you add estimated costs to your document you will have a $$ figure to shoot for as a budget. To be honest, for that truck in that condition, I would budget $45,000 as a minimum. Next, go see what you can buy a cherry truck of similar vintage for.....probably $10,000. I would suggest starting with a cherry body.....cheaper in the long run.
Not meaning to burst your bubble, just a bit of reality. "money is tight" and "show truck" probably don't belong in the same sentence. It can be done, but it'd be very labor intensive and still require a lot of new parts. Some things to consider;
1. Show truck means everything comes apart and gets media blasted to within an inch of it's life.
2. After the blasting, then it's time to grind, sand, fill and smooth every joint and every square inch of the frame an suspension pieces.
3. No rattle can paint, all the small parts get smoothed, filled, and sanded then either powder coated or painted
4. All new hardware, no used nuts and bolts here. Also plan on either cad plated hardware or stainless steel
6. Body work, if you are quite experienced and have all the necessary tools, plan on about 500 hours of fill, smooth, block, high build, smooth, block, high build, smooth, block, and on and on after all the existing damage is repaired. Cheap materials won't cut it, top shelf stuff only!
When you get into the engine and drivetrain the above continues on and on... Then all new wiring and connectors, even faded color on the wiring will cost you points at a show. Also, all new glass, seals, and trim.
The list to go show quality is long and expensive, requires a lot of $$$$$, skill, and patience!!!
I'm not trying to discourage you from your goal, just hate to see you get into a show project thinking that 3 months and $10K will do the truck to show quality....It won't!
thanks it wont be in show it will just be a fun project to just show off at little get togethers in parks nothing extremely special. it definately wont be 3 months i plan on alteast 3-5 years working due to having to go through back surgery proably in august. plus being 22 with 2 kids i put them and my wife before anything or anyone else. =)
Looks like a good start. Seems like every piece is available for them to restore or hot rod it. If you are leaning towards lowering it do it. You have to have a project that in the end says "thats exactly what I had in mind" Best of luck.
Don Jr.
Great platform to work with...lots of aftermarket parts available including body parts.......take your time building it.......and pay attention to the small details. You dont have to spend BIG$$$$$$ o get a show car to tkae to the weekend Streetcar and hotrod meets.....heres the motor that I just finished.....had it hot tanked and painted with Duplicolor spray bombs(engine enamels).....cleaned up all the parts and bolts on a bench grinder wire brush and die grinder wire brush and repainted them all.....made tons of difference in looks for cheap.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...d%20BB/B27.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...d%20BB/B36.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...d%20BB/B41.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...d%20BB/C11.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...d%20BB/C13.jpg
thanks for the support and understanding it helps alot i like the way you did the engine it looks great. how long did it take to get the engine complete i need to find a hot tank to get the engine done when i get my 454 stripped down if i find one in utah.
to take it apart and bag and tag all the bolts, take off all the old gaskets and clean all the mating sufaces was about 1 week, to have the heads and block hot tanked with new freeze plugs and cam bearings installed was a couple of days. To mask and paint block...couple of hours, to do all the pullys, parts and hardware to clean and repaint.....couple of days, and to assmble the block back to what we see couple of days......total time for me was about 2 weeks. I tried to make the engine as clean as possible. 1 can of Dark Ford Blue, 2 cans of Satin Black, 1 can of Aluminum is what it took to paint everything you see except the intake manifold. Total cost for hot tanking, freeze plugs and cam bearings, wire brushes for die grinder and paint....approx...$290.....
I put in $1400 of new parts, rings, cam, lifers, springs, retainers, oil pump, intake, edelbrock carb,timing chain, oil pan, valve covers, Ford racing air filter, water pump main bearings, cam bearings. Pullys are from the wrecker off a 90 ford F250 with 460 motor and the harmonic balancer is the original from the 72 lincoln all cleaned up and repainted.......total cost for the rebuilt motor.... including the purchase of the motor is $2100.
thats not bad most people make it seem like this 8-10,000 dollars to make the whole build come to life of an engine. but that might only be in the extreme high performance engnes which im going to try to do if i can get my hands on a 454.
this one is estimated at 535HP at the flex plate.....you dont have to go extreme big money to get descent HP.Quote:
Originally Posted by djaccent718
Have you made friends with the guys at LMC Truck yet? Chevy Truck Parts & Truck Accessories for Chevrolet Trucks from LMCTruck.com If you're serious about this I think you'll be on a first name basis with them and your UPS guy before you're done. Like others have said, you need to have a detailed plan including accurate costs for each step, and then you need to have the money set aside to fund the project. You are right to put your wife and kids first, but if you start down the road of buying parts and materials only as you can you are at risk of handing your project to someone else and getting penny's on the dollar for everything spent for a project truck in pieces, or even a running roller that has most of the body work done. Not trying to discourage you, but you need a realistic plan for what you want to end up with, and how you intend to get there.
[QUOTE=rspears;428116]Have you made friends with the guys at LMC Truck yet? Chevy Truck Parts & Truck Accessories for Chevrolet Trucks from LMCTruck.com
This is probably the best place to get your new parts. I have rebuilt at least 5 pick ups with them email them for a free catalog for your year
And.......don't make the common mistake and start buying chrome stuff and accessories before the body work, suspension, and other work is done. The wheels and tires are LAST!! Buy them at the start and you will be sorry. It's not only the right thing to do, it is the least expensive thing to do....no reason having a $1000 in wheels sitting on a non-running vehicle for a couple of years....stupid money waste.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robot
I do agree with this. Not only do you tie too much money up in them. By the time the car (pick-up) is ready for them, you will have changed your mind about what look you was going for.
thanks guys i only need 2 panels at the moment the passenger side bed fender and the hood thank god. but im found them on certifit.com which is international oem replacement panels comes primered and everything same quality for half the price of lmc. i am wondering on one thing on my build before i get really into it am i able to use the same front 2 wheel drive front member or am i going to need to buy a lowered no matter what?
I say keep her stock, every truck like this you see on the road or at shows is pimped out to the max. A stock truck IMO would stand out more.
i agree with your opninion and it sounds better that way even though it will probably be worth less but it will show the real truck not some stereo type.
I agree , especially since I own one.
Everything stock except the clor and the grill I made up.
The stance could go down about 2'' for a nicer look. It looks a little ''too'' stock.
Also, if you spend more money on these trucks, you'll lose alot more. You get back about a quarter of what you put into it when you sell it.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...83_Medium_.jpg
if i keep it stock i might just do a custom interior audio wise and seats i like the bench but i hate how wide and how there is no arm rest. thinking of getting some camaro seats and put a padded rest on the side and put subs behind everythign just for a little kick i have always been into that stuff but idk yet just waiting to see what comes along on my way through the restoration part.
The interior needs work for sure.
Armrests are important also.......
http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...m/DSC03329.JPG
yea i am most likely doing armrests because when its done its going on a 2200 mile ride to pennsylvania to my father. he doesnt know it but its something i always wanted to do and his dream but he cant because of his back. i am going through worse issues but i am doing it for him and to make something special for the both of us, by putting a marine and airforce emblem on it as a father son logo.
That's great!
It will not really be worth less IMO. I would not want to pay 20k for a vehicle thats been customized to some one elses idea. I would how ever pay for a vehicle that hasnt been pimped out and cut up to some one elses liking.Quote:
Originally Posted by djaccent718
The choice is your though , just giving oppinions and ideas. I also have 4 chevy trucks 2 modded and 2 stock. :D