Sam's 1979 LWB C10 350/TH350

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

I have been meaning to start a thread on this truck since I joined this site. I need to get motivated to finish it, and this seemed like a good motivator.

First picture is from 2015 just before I moved into my new to me house with a large garage, and the second is this past winter. See the difference? basically in the last two years all I have done is pulled the front bumper and stuck the partially assembled bed on it. It did move 6 miles to its new home, but it was on the back of my 87 and not under its own power.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

First little history,
I have owned this truck in some form or another since 2001 and it was my first daily driver. When I purchased it from the original owner it was a C20 with a 350/TH400. I drove in for a year in its original configuration until I had a fender bender that bent the original frame. it sat at my parents for a few years until I found a replacement frame and then I started a frame up re-build. Currently it has a 1982 C10 frame, 1981 TH350, and the original 350 rebuilt and bored .030 over. Cab and bed are also original and need some light body work. Front clip consists of 2 NOS GM fenders ad clean radiator support, and I have the original hood that I'm planning on using. Suspension is stock other then some 454 springs and some poly bushings.


Then, some pictures I found of early stages of the build.

First pic is after I mounted the cab on the frame, I was in college 3 hours from home so progress was almost none existent for several years. I was having the original engine rebuilt at the time, but otherwise the truck was just sitting in the barn.

Second is when I moved it into my Dad's garage and borrowed an engine hoist and started by removing the 1982 305 that came with the frame.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Starting the frame re-paint. Kinda regret doing it in sections like this, but hindsight is 20/20

this was the progress for about 2 years, so it was kinda sloooooooow

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Around the time I was painting the rear frame I got the engine back from the re-builders.

After I was done painting the front frame I installed the engine, and put a dummy transmission in the truck.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Next project was the front suspension. I was planing on using the parts from the 82 frame, but the lower control arms had some deep pitting. I did consider purchasing new and then I found a 80 C10 that the owner had driven from California and blown the engine on the last leg of the trip. He started to cut it up for scrap, and I saw his add for parts on CL. I was able to save the frame and suspension from the crusher. Unfortunately the bed and the cab were not so lucky

I had the control arms powder coated and installed them with all new bushing and joints. I cleaned and painted the spindles, and stuck a pair of used rotors on to make the truck a roller.

I really wish I had taken more pictures, but at this point I was just trying to make progress and didn't intend on sharing it with anyone.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Next up was painting the last bit of frame and the underside of the cab. This was one of the most miserable parts of the project. I spent several weekends on the creeper wire brushing old paint and undercoating. Really should have pulled the cab at this point, but live and learn. I did use 2x4 blocks between the cab and the mounts at one point to get the top of the frame.

I didn't worry about any rust holes on the cab, I planned on returning to that at a later date. Luckily I only discovered one small hole on the outer cab corner on the passenger side. Some holes in the driver side rocker, and some holes in the floor along the door jamb on the driver side that I already knew about.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

After hours of wire brushing and scraping the undercoating off, I painted the underside with Por-15. While it was still tacky I misted some self etching primer over the Por-15. I then let it dry for about a week.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

After the Por-15 dried, I added a coat of self etching primer followed by several coats of satin black to match the rest of the underside. My intention was to protect the Por-15 from any UV light, and give give the cab a few extra layers of protection from rust.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

After I finished the frame, I started cleaning up the rear axle that I planned on using. It is also from the 1980 C10 from California, it has 3:42 gears as opposed to the 3:08 gears in the 1982 10 bolt. Still need to paint it and get it installed 2 years later

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

So that is more or less the progress up to this point. I did pull the grill when I moved it, and the bumper that was on it was sold. Doors are not a sure thing, I have been eyeing a pair of OE doors I have on a parts truck in the yard. The aftermarket doors I have on it came on a project truck I parted out, they are pretty much new, but I'm not happy with the fitment. Bed needs to be re-assembled because I pulled the passenger bed side to replace the front panel have yet to finished that project.

My current plan is to finish the brakes, and get it moving under its own power. Body work and finishing touches are not a priority, at the moment.

So feel free to ask questions, make comments, or just lurk.

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

Its Alive!


It came out of the garage on its own power for the first time since 2002!

the 2nd time I tried to move it, it promptly sprung a leak on the transmission and I had to rescue it with my 87.

Currently it's back in the garage with the rear axle removed. Just waiting on some new u bolts to install the 12 bolt axle.

[daddyjeep]

Congrats on at least a small victory. It sure is nice to hear them run for the first time in a long time.