1979 C10....The last 20 years

[bowtieguy79]

I have looked back on my posts here and realize I've never shared the back story on my C10.

My dad and I bought the truck when I was 17 years old, in 1997. It was great! White alum topper, full hub caps, compass on the dash, CB AM/FM radio. Working factory air, drove like a new truck. Had 150k miles on it. 350/350 3.08 Locking diff.

We traded my gas hog 78 K20 farm truck on it and a lowly $500 to the dealer. I was young and dumb and didn't stop to get the camera out and snap a photo of what it looked like the day I got it. So many times I wish I had.

Here it is less than 48 hours after I got it. My brother had a set of alum wheels and nice tires that he was not using, so he loaned me those. I was set!

17 and had a nice 2wd truck just begging for upgrades!



During HS I bought a truck from a family friend that was very rusted out, an 81 GMC with nearly new dual exhaust. ( gave $200 for truck ) I pulled the exhaust off of the 81 and put it on the 79, I now had some nice pipes and glass packs every kids dream! I also scored a set of look alike Cragar SS 15's and bought a set of tires for them. Really changed the looks of the truck. The rust was starting to get the better of it come late 98.





As I started college I drove it to and from school about 40 miles one way and it was eating into my wallet. So I parked it and started looking for rust free parts. Again, didn't take time to snap any photos, but they are still pretty fresh in my mind.

I found a pair of rust free GM fenders locally and bought them, the doors where solid and the bed was needing replaced pretty bad. Had a hole in the floor near the rear like many did and the fender wells where eating away. I located a bed in northern Illinois for $400, had some dings but zero rust. I bought it and hauled it home upside down on top of my bed! We used C clamps to hold it in place. Over the next few years I started to replace the rusted fenders and eventually found a guy who would weld in the cab corners and rockers, as well as spray it.

In 2000 It was back on the road and not looking to bad at all.



I got tired of the SS replica wheels and found a set of Wheel Vintique corvette rallies from a friend. They really changed the look of the truck. In college I had also built a 355 small block topped with a Holley 750 vac secondaries. Long tube headman headers, and duals with magnaflow mufflers. Had Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, cam and springs as well. Old truck ran great!





With anything time takes it tole and I didn't drive the truck much, as gas was starting to creep up and my minimum wage job didn't give me enough to run it much. It sat, carb got junked up and never would be right again. I swapped to a Demon carb but with it sitting it soon found the same fate.



In 2003 wife and I got married, the truck failed to run enough to drive away from the wedding

In 04 or so I started to find a little rust on the doors and one fender. It was time to start on it again. and it took me roughly 3 years go get it back on the road again. And when I did, it was sporting an LS, I was done with carbs and sitting around not getting used.



























It was running great, not shiney loved it! Drove it on 2 legs of the 09 Power Tour and it was a hit. Was not many LS swaps at that point.





Even made it to Cordova to see what she would do!


Right is with 3.08 Gears and the left is with 3.73 gears.


More when I get a chance to.

[bowtieguy79]

In late 09 I hauled the C10 to my cousin Randy in Delphi Indiana. He spent the winter and spring of 10 putting her back to shiny blue!



He spent a lot of time taking it down and repairing some issues it had under the old paint.









He spent a lot of time aligning panels and making it look just right. Installed new door strikers and seals as well.


The blue is a Chrysler Blue don't recall exactly what though.





















Got it back home and started to reassemble it.


Had my ace helper on the job! lol

[bowtieguy79]

The truck was back from paint just in time to take it on the Power Tour. I worked a ton of hours getting it back in one piece. It was worth it.

For the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour, I long hauled the 79 from Newton Iowa to Mobile Alabama. It never missed a beat, but didn't have AC, that sucked....







The bugs... man! glad to get it out and use it.






Had a blast on the tour, my best bud Dave and I did the Comp Cams engine build challenge. built in like 38 minutes and it idled! and still got second...




We drove in rain and shine.




Farthest south I've ever driven the old 79!




Hot Rod Power Tour is a blast, can't say enough good about it. If you have not gone, just get up and go in 2016. You won't regret it.

[bowtieguy79]

Its been 5 years since that awesome road trip. The 79 has changed just a little bit.

I have lowered it, finally... axle flip in the rear with a C notch and 2" drop coils and 2.5" drop spindles up front. It has a nice stance finally.





I also spent a little coin with LMC truck parts and got the interior spruced up. I was able to get color match paint from local paint shop for door panels and kick panel speakers as well.



Huge improvement






Got the frame painted in the rear and looking nice again.



Kids love it, this is my then 2 year old girl enjoying a trip to the gas station.


A little action shot going down the road.


And this is what its all about for me. I am now able to share this huge part of my life for nearly 20 years with my kids. My son is now 8. He'll get the truck at some point. I will raise him to appreciate just how special memories like this can be. I started out with my dad on this truck, he's helped me get it to where its at, and I want my boy to help me do the same for years to come.







I drove it into work today, probably the last day of 2015 I'll drive it. I love my old truck, so many great memories. Thanks for looking.

Brad

[tintbox]

Thanks for sharing! Nice truck

[bowtieguy79]

Thanks tintbox, can't wait to see where it goes next

[Eyegore]

Nice story and pics.
Will your son get the eight different tire and wheel changes also????

[OutlawDrifter]

very cool brad! i've followed along on this pickup, my first one was a 79 4x4 Bonanza.

love the western wheels you borrowed from your brother, polished up fins with the background painted black looks awesome on those. also, i think a set of white corvette rallies, with highway patrol caps and no rings would look awesome on your pickup!

thanks for sharing.

[bowtieguy79]

There is one thing I like, is a different tire and wheel package. I've never been thrilled with anything I've ran yet

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

very cool brad! i've followed along on this pickup, my first one was a 79 4x4 Bonanza.

love the western wheels you borrowed from your brother, polished up fins with the background painted black looks awesome on those. also, i think a set of white corvette rallies, with highway patrol caps and no rings would look awesome on your pickup!

thanks for sharing.

Is funny you say that. .. this is my winter project, sandblast and clean up the old painted steel vette wheels...

[OutlawDrifter]

Bingo, great minds!

[MTCK]

Cool truck and story. Love seeing these get the miles on them.

[tinydb84]

Great truck and story. Love it!

[bowtieguy79]

Thanks guys, means a lot

[BossH0G]

I greatly enjoyed the pictures and story. Its nice to see pictures of you enjoying your truck with friends and family. These pictures are the memories that makes theses projects and all there challenges well worth it. The kind of memories that at the end of the day, makes you smile and say, aaahhhh yup life is good.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by BossH0G

I greatly enjoyed the pictures and story. Its nice to see pictures of you enjoying your truck with friends and family. These pictures are the memories that makes theses projects and all there challenges well worth it. The kind of memories that at the end of the day, makes you smile and say, aaahhhh yup life is good.

Thank you sir, you are correct, life is good

[Low Elco]

Great truck and story!

[allengator]

love it!

[bowtieguy79]

After months of thinking about it...... I finally got the rallies painted and tires mounted. I'm happy with the look!

Went with 15x10 5" back space on rear and 15x8 4.5" back space on fronts.

275-60-15's rear and 255-60-15 fronts

[OutlawDrifter]

brad that looks killer!

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

brad that looks killer!

Thanks man!

[AbigailAmelia]

Thanks for sharing the adventure and the photos! Great story.

Michelle

[bustin dailey]

Awesome story, man! That's what these trucks are all about!

Also, the stance, body, and everything else looks great!

[bowtieguy79]

Thanks Michelle and bustin dailey, I appreciate the kind words!

[LT7A]

Cool! beautiful truck and great story. BTW I am now on the lookout for a cousin Randy. He did a great job on your paint. Glad to see you doing the generational thing. How are those to 255/60s? That's what I'd like to run on all four corners.