'73 Super Duper Cheyenne project on a roll again

[John Gilbert]

This '73 C10 is a project truck I started awhile ago at Custom Classic Trucks that's going to start showing up in Classic Trucks tech features. Outside of a book I'm writing for Cartech Books most of the work I'm doing these days is writing tech for either for CCT, or CT. Special thanks go to editor, Jim Rizzo at CT, and editor, Ryan Manson at CCT for allowing me to do this.

Right now the '73 is at my good friend Jeff Costa's shop Sonoma County Street Rodz in Petaluma, CA., but we're at the point where I'm going to haul it down to my So Cal home shop where I'll have easy access to shoot (photograph) chopping the top, and the bodywork, and maybe a few other things before I get it back up the coast to Jeff.

My friend Chris Alston and I have been talking about building a radical badass C10 with insane handling and performance for some time. It's starting to take shape. Chris made the then one-off 16-inch Wilwoods for the '73 at his shop Chassisworks in Sacto, CA.

Here's the concept illustration done by Jon Bell, and a shot of the F-44 chassis with KP Components, Alston, and the monster Wilwood 16-inch brakes.

[bigblock73]

John, that is exciting...can't wait to read all about it in the magazines!

How much of a chop? I would like to do one one day, and if I do, I have always wanted to keep the back window the stock height, just lower the top enough to bring the bottom of the glass down to the top of the bed. I'd also keep the front windshield stock, just lay it back during the chop.

I thought Classic Trucks was pre-73 years? Did it change?

[3r!c84]

i dont think the 15s are going to fit with them brakes (;

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

John, that is exciting...can't wait to read all about it in the magazines!

How much of a chop? I would like to do one one day, and if I do, I have always wanted to keep the back window the stock height, just lower the top enough to bring the bottom of the glass down to the top of the bed. I'd also keep the front windshield stock, just lay it back during the chop.

I thought Classic Trucks was pre-73 years? Did it change?

It's a 2-inch chop. I forget the details about how we're doing it as far as the windshield and rear window go. It will come back to me when I have start cutting.

Yeah, I'd heard at one time CT was pre-73, but I don't think that holds true anymore. Rob Fortier owned a Squarebody while he was CT's editor and ran tech on it. I don't Rizzo would have okay'd my '73 project if he wasn't going to include '73-87 C10s in Classic Trucks.

By the way Jeff, or anyone else who might want to reach me, my email is still the same as when I edited CCT: john.gilbert@sorc.com.

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by 3r!c84

i dont think the 15s are going to fit with them brakes (;

I think you're right — That's why we're running 20s... and they look like a tight fit!

[moneyeater]

Please keep us updated on your progress, as i don´t have access to that magazines!
Thanks Volker

[Chlsnk]

I did the cobra esque wheels.

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by moneyeater

Please keep us updated on your progress, as i don´t have access to that magazines!
Thanks Volker

Volker,

I understand the problem. Although CCT is distributed worldwide, it can be a real pain to find even in the largest of U.S. cities. No problem, you can log onto www.customclassictrucks.com and find everything I've done so far in the tech section. From here on out the truck will start appearing in Classic Trucks.

As soon as I get the '73 back in So Cal, I'll start posting build photos on here. Maybe even a few shots of it riding home on a trailer from northern California. Speaking of the trailer, here's a shot it this morning hooked-up to my S-10. Usually I use my '05 GMC as a tow vehicle, but today is street sweeping, and I was too lazy to unhook the S-10. To the truth, I'm kind of proud of the little bugger!

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Chlsnk

I did the cobra esque wheels.

Thanks! Yeah, I think they're a Chip Foose design, I'd have to look it up on the build sheet... Wherever that might be.

[KQQL IT]

That just killed that poor S-10 lol

[WigglesTheHoly]

in my best sling blade voice " shouldn not done dat its just uh s10"

[Low87]

Looks sweet, I'm subscribed.

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

That just killed that poor S-10 lol

Yeah, to be truthful I have to admit that I carefully creeped the S-10 down the street by letting the clutch out without slipping it. It's still the OE clutch, and it has some noises that make me suspect the day might be coming sooner than I might like. I'm still surprised it could pull it.

Next week I'm headed north to haul the '73 home. I'm going to swing by Rene's and shoot a couple of truck features while I'm passing through the Fresno area.

Here's a shot of the improvised water cooler in my '05 GMC. I don't know if the cubby below the A/C vent was designed to function this way, but it sure works good on that long haul up Interstate 5, and over to the 99.

Life is good, I'll talk to you guys later

[Yezzi]

Originally Posted by John Gilbert

This '73 C10 is a project truck I started awhile ago at Custom Classic Trucks that's going to start showing up in Classic Trucks tech features. Outside of a book I'm writing for Cartech Books most of the work I'm doing these days is writing tech for either for CCT, or CT. Special thanks go to editor, Jim Rizzo at CT, and editor, Ryan Manson at CCT for allowing me to do this.

Right now the '73 is at my good friend Jeff Costa's shop Sonoma County Street Rodz in Petaluma, CA., but we're at the point where I'm going to haul it down to my So Cal home shop where I'll have easy access to shoot (photograph) chopping the top, and the bodywork, and maybe a few other things before I get it back up the coast to Jeff.

My friend Chris Alston and I have been talking about building a radical badass C10 with insane handling and performance for some time. It's starting to take shape. Chris made the then one-off 16-inch Wilwoods for the '73 at his shop Chassisworks in Sacto, CA.

Here's the concept illustration done by Jon Bell, and a shot of the F-44 chassis with KP Components, Alston, and the monster Wilwood 16-inch brakes.

Hey John whats going on with the 73 project?

[nekkidhillbilly]

chop tops arent my thing other than that looks great.

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Yezzi

Hey John whats going on with the 73 project?

Sorry for the lag getting back to you, I was off the computer over the weekend. The '73 has been on the back burner. The last time it appeared in a magazine was Classic Trucks dropping the old school Vortec and Gearstar TH350 into it.

As of last November I'm on staff at Classic Trucks, and the '73 should start appearing in CT later in the year.

Thanks,

John

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

chop tops arent my thing other than that looks great.

That's cool, I like a '65 Gran Sport Skylark better than a '66. Had a '65 Riv GS. Now got a '69 Riv... yeah, I know they're kind of ugly... I prefer a '66. Guess its all a matter of taste, huh?

Thanks,

John