I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Why didn't he just go for the gusto?

1970 CST-10
HD Springs and chrome wheel covers is about the only real options that this joker ordered. Otherwise it's plain-jane. 3 on the tree, manual drum brakes, no A/C, 6 lug axles(ok, he didn't have a choice about that).

So now I have to spend all kinds of money to upgrade to automatic trans., 5 lug power disc brakes, A/C, bucket seats(cuz my wife is vertically challenged and it sucks being a passenger when she drives), 3.73 rear end(I have no idea what I've got, I'm afraid to look), etc.

:drama:

The first owner should have foreseen that I'd be buying the truck 35 years later without researching it first. Actually, he should have waited a year and bought a 1971 so I could have disc brakes. He should have ordered air conditioning too! He obviously had no concern for my needs. :dum:

I'm going to end up dumping $25,000 grand into a truck I paid $6000 for just to get it the way I want. What did these things cost new? Like $850? :lol:

Is this vehicle a good candidate for a "restification"? I'm thinking "Copperhead" but with a milder engine and more stock interior. Or would I be better off selling it and finding something with better starting options? It just seems a shame to molest such an orginal truck, but the bottom line is that it sucks to drive it more than 50 miles.

Here's some pics. Thanks for letting me rant, I already know what I'm going to do anyway, but I just like to see myself type.;) I'm just hoping one of you will enable my new addiction... I mean hobby.

Darren

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

A shame to mess up a nice truck like that. Im not sure if you're being tounge in cheek or not? If you really are going to copperhead it, at least you're starting with a complete, straight and looking to be pretty rust free rig. Thats going to save you a ton of money down the road. Have fun.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

She is asurvivor just get an original am/fm and show it. Iwould sell it and just look for A truck that is fairly straight but ready for a rebuild ( tired engine, fairly worn) to start your project. Just my opinion.
Aaron

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

that's a nice truck. I'm with the others, but it's your truck.


Jay

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Welcome and nice truck! I would leave it just the way it is, but make additions that you can convert back to stock if needed.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

:lol: YEH... I'D BE PISSED TOO AT SOME S.O.B. FOR NOT ORDERING THE TRUCK I WANTED 35 YEARS LATER, & THEN NOT TAKING CARE OF IT & LETTING IT BECOME A RUSTED , DENTED POS. MY QUESTION IS.... WHY DID YOU BUY THAT.... THING.... IN THE FIRST PLACE??. YOU SAID YOU PLAN ON GIVING IT THE COPPERHEAD TREATMENT??? ARE YOU PLANNING ON CHOPPING THE FRAME TO MAKE IT A SHORTBED & PUTTING SOME 24" WHEELS ON IT WITH SOME AIRBAGS??? I'D BET THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER WOULD BE MORE THAN A LITTLE PISSED IF HE HAD ANY IDEA WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR IT. I THINK YOU SHOULD SELL IT BEFORE YOU GET IN TOO DEEP. YOU'LL SURELY GET $2500 OR $3000 BACK IF YOUR VERY VERY FORTUNATE. :lol: :lol: JOHN
ON SECOND THOUGHT... BRING THAT.....THING DOWN TO ME (IF IT'LL MAKE IT UP ON A TRAILOR) & I'LL PART THAT SUCKER OUT IN ABOUT 6 HOURS, & I'LL GIVE YOU $1700 CASH MONEY & A BUS TICKET HOME. JOHN :)
OH... & WELCOME FROM SOUTHERN KY. NICE TRUCK YOU HAVE THERE. I HOPE YOU KNOW I'AM JOKING. JOHN :)

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

That's a sweet ride. But I am partial to the bare bones models. Mine came with the same options, minus the wheel covers and a radio.

Have fun with your truck.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

That is a good lookin' truck. My options would be to leave it as is and just do a few updates. Or, fresh paint, some new wheels, lots of motor, different tranny, probably some brake upgrades and off I go. JMO

Again, sweet truck. Wish mine was half that nice.

Welcome from Indiana...:hiya:

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Beautiful Truck! But I am with Aaron on this one. Wouldn't touch it!

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

That truck is to clean to mess with. My opinion is to keep that and find another one to molest. That's what my wife said my problem is, I have a hard time getting rid of one when I find another one I like. I bought my last one when she was visiting her family in Ohio. What a surprise when she got home. It's been five months and were still married. What a good woman.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

I agree with most others, keep it stock and find another one to build. Use this one to pull your Copperhead re-creation to the shows. There are a lot of good candidates out there to build or customize and you'll have no trouble finding a project truck .

Remember this one thing ... A car or truck can be many things , many times...BUT IT CAN ONLY BE ORIGINAL ONCE. If that is the original paint, interior etc ... you'd be nuts to make any permanent changes.

Just my .02, Dean

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

wouldnt touch it, its worth more as is.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

looks to me like you got a very nice truck, now you need to find a project

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

I agree with all the others here, That's too nice of a truck to touch! She survived this long keep her that way. Purchase one that straight but needs work, sell that one and be a few bucks ahead for awhile.

Brian

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Put on a set of TT'2 and drive it!!!!!!!!!!

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

man, you can have my truck if you give me that one. ive already done all the hard parts (bb,turbo 400,tubbed,rollpan etc.) drive it out to phoenix for me and you can drive mine home.
only things i would change on that truck would be the tranny (auto since i hate standards) and front brakes.
i only wish mine was that clean/perfect.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

My brother-in-law brought this one new for $3750.00. Still has it.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

I hate to break the news to y'all... that ain't a stripped down model. That is a top of the line CST package.
While, I will agree that it is YOUR truck, and you should do to it as you see fir... consider this plan;
get some buckets (or don't let her drive), maybe toss a quickie 350?th350 in there, install a van tilt to make it more comefortable on the cheap...that'd get you the shifter you'd need too... then, drive it for a year or so as is. Maybe add some tunes, rims... light mods. See if the stocker look kinda grows on you.
You can use the excuse that you are saving up the money to redo it when some one razzes you about the old stock truck.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Oh yeah, the inline with a 3 speed will have a 3.73 onless the SPID label says otherwise... at least, 37 years ago it woulda.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Drop it and drive it.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

If you lived a lot closer I would be tempted to trade you a 72 C10, Cheyenne Super, long bed, A/C, 402, TH400 with Tilt project truck for it plus some cash. Problem is I am all out of cash!:whine:

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Wow, thats a nice one! Not really as "plain jane" you may think. I have the factory cst buckets in mine but like your bench more, just tell your wife she cant drive it. Drop in a big inch motor, an auto trans, lower it & enjoy.


No wait, after you do all that bring it to me... & bring the title. ;)

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

Keep it stock looking but drop in a nice V8. Change the rims but I wouldn't go so far that people would wanna steal them. So you stay classic but with a nice small block under the hood. Make your wife use a pillow or strap wooden blocks to her feet :lol:

And just rough it without the A/C ;) I do.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

hey if your that concerned about it i know where there is a 70 chevy with disk brakes and power steering for $3000. it's actuly in good shape and i would have bought it if i hadn't purchased his 69 gmc 2 months ago. it's red if it matters.

as for the one you just bought i wouldn't do anything but sell it simply because you want to build a truck not drive it right away. there's no sence in molesting an all original truck.

Re: I'm mad at the first owner of my truck...
 

You are so funny. I love this place...what comic relief.

If it were mine...I would add a/c from vintage air, tunes and drive that baby for another 35 years.

I am funny that way.

You are lucky dude.