1981 Chevrolet C50 Pick-up Conversion

[rambler]

love the truck ! I'm sure it gets attention !

[Stevedwnng]

Awesome build man. I'm starting on my 82 C6500. I'm wondering how those block hugger headers fit. I got a 427TD and I'm thinking of replacing the exhaust manifolds with a set of headers to let it breathe. I know your running a small block but how tight is the fit? Are they for a regular chevy pickup? I'm thinking of a getting a cheap set and doing a high heat powder or I might ceramic coat em. I do alot of powdercoating and I want to make my flatbed kind of a show piece for advertising.

[Bigasstrux]

Headers are the best one thing you can add to a TD big block.

[superduty_59]

I haven't been getting any update notification lately. I just read through all that I missed. Awesome!! Have you been able to do any longer trips with the truck? Put many miles (kilometers) on it yet?

[Stevedwnng]

Thanks for posting the info Big. Came across your site several months back and gotta say I love what your doin. I came across a C6500 yesterday at my uncles shop thats a short frame dump. I gotta go back and take pics to use as reference cause this thing is pretty much mint condition and all original. I did look underneath and its a 427TD with headers. Gonna find out where he got them from. I'm also considering swapping to the tilt nose.

[Stevedwnng]

Hey Big, been going thru the Auto-Jet website I can't find any headers or manifolds listed. I went down thru all the GM pages but no luck. Any chance you have a link for that page you posted? Looking for headers for 1982 GMC C6500, so I'm guessing any C60-C70 w/ 366/427 would do it. Thanks

[UPNADM]

Hello all, just thought I would say hello...

Summer has been hectic with not a lot of work being done on the truck...

With that all in mind, I am driving this rod on a regular weekend basis. All to lots of looks and compliments. It is a blast to drive!!!

Into the fall I will be doing all the loose ends and finishing the truck. All with lots of photos of course.

Again thanks for all the support and feedback throughout.

Here is a photo as it sits today...

[l79m20]

Wicked! Good Work!

[Darkrider]

Just rereading this thread and noticed that the truck is powered by a 350. Is it just a standard SBC 350 like we see in the smaller trucks? I have a line on an older C50 that i can hopefully get my hands on and one of the ideas i had for it was to swap out the two barrel intake for a 4 barrel intake and run a throttle body fuel injection set up.

[UPNADM]

Hello,

My truck has just a regular 350.

Good luck on the purchase.

[UPNADM]

Good morning Folks,

Well I have a bit of the itch to get working on the C50 and finish the loose ends.

The weather is getting crappier, and pushing me inside the shop.

With all that in mind, I am ready to get back at it.

I have been driving around all summer without inner fenders, and the fact that they are taking up floor space, I decided to go at them. I had a start in the spring, but never finished.

Well, I will hopefully have them in before the weekend is done.

[77ChevySharkBite]

I'm not sure if I've posted in your build thread until now, but I have watched it all the way through.

Amazing build my friend, and I will have you know when I see big c50's here in Houston and surround areas I think of your truck and how you took a full on work truck and make it a pick up. Your truck is awesome and I love the way it looks!!

Inner fenders look great btw!

[UPNADM]

Thank you for the compliment, it is a real blast to drive.

I want to get everything completed this winter. My biggest project I think will be to re-gear it, so that it is more street friendly.

[Darkrider]

Originally Posted by UPNADM

Hello,

My truck has just a regular 350.

Good luck on the purchase.

Awesome, glad to know i can proceed with building up the engine in the one im looking at as if its one of its smaller brothers

[Flatlandsurfer]

This was a very interesting build to read. I am very jealous of so many in here with the incredible ability to rebuild anything they put they're minds to. What a beautiful truck you have rebuilt, a testament to your abilities and passion.

[UPNADM]

Been doing a lot of wax on wax off this weekend on the C50, it was in need of a good cleaning.

Through out that process, I kept looking at the bed rails I got a while back. Decided to dust them off and put them on. I am satisfied with the result.

A couple pics... Nothing too exciting, ha!

[old Rusty C10]

I just noticed that you have the truck tanks and the gas doors... I assume you are working with the truck tanks so what do you have hidden in the gas door spots?

[UPNADM]

The old tank doors lead to know-where.... any thoughts?

[JRANGER]

looking good

[motornut]

Originally Posted by UPNADM

The old tank doors lead to know-where.... any thoughts?

just keeps lookin better.....need a hidden compressor conection?

[UPNADM]

Originally Posted by motornut

just keeps lookin better.....need a hidden compressor conection?

Great idea, but I never leave much farther then a hot lap around Lindsay... I would like to change that for next summer with a rear diff change to something more streetable...

[UPNADM]

Here is my latest... My son's school wants to use my truck to pull this years Santa Clause Parade Float...

I am for it, however, I do not have a hitch. I have this old one from a previous wreck. I am going to shorten it and fit it into this location (pictured), look for the results coming up.

Please do not mind the dust on the bumper... lol.

[UPNADM]

Finally got some time to get the other inner fender cleaned up, primed and painted today. Was hoping to have it done last weekend, now hoping for this weekend... ha.

In the meantime, I pulled out and dusted off the new shocks I have for the front of this truck. Perhaps this will soften some of the ride... lol.

[UPNADM]

I keep looking at the grill and I am not 100 percent sure I like what I have...

I have had a few ideas in my head.

I think I like the look of metal cast paint by dupli color. I have been thinking either blue or yellow. Or perhaps I just need to finish what I have with my proposed grill additions.

Any thoughts?

[truckfan]

i had a C-60 in the 80's with a chrome grill. none around?