New Guy- grandpa's truck

[hank scorpio]

First a bit of history. I grew up restoring first gen Firebirds from my Dad and other 60's Pontiacs and then around the time I graduated high school, I made kind of an odd pivot and got into building turbo Volvo's. I'm still a bit of a Volvo fanatic, they are fun for me because they don't really have the same kind of aftermarket following that bigger brands do. It's evolved from junkyard tech into many of us becoming adults who work in engineering fields and making amazing parts for those cars.

BUT... my Grandfather had this 64 C10 since 68. I've ridden in it many times as a kid and even though I'll admit, I'm a bit of an anti chevy snob (I *was* a Firebird guy after all) always had a soft spot for the trucks. Rebuilding this truck was my Dad's way to learn cars as a kid and Grandpa has kept this in the garage since he bought it. I literally have a log book with every tank of gas, maintenance etc dating from 68 to about 3 weeks ago.

Now for the sad part, I inherited this truck about 2 weeks ago. I'm thrilled to have it and glad there wasn't any drama around that but you know how it is. That being said, I know he was excited knowing that I'd keep it going for another 250k miles!

So I have plans for it but I'm also right in the middle of another Volvo build so I'm trying to avoid the cardinal sin of having two project cars apart at the same time LOL. I'll probably just continue to lurk around till I finish the other car up. OK, enough talking, here's some more pictures.






Original color there on the firewall. He had the truck painted in 69 by a buddy but it was clearly worth all of the 25 dollars he paid for the job That being said, doubled up paint is a lot of why the truck is so solid. Looks a lot better in these photos than the paint does in real life though


My own kids get to enjoy it too (4th generation to ride in this truck!)

Here's a few past adventures

My DD in high school




First turbo volvo

second. Believe it or not but this one dyno'd 453 at the wheels.


BTW the fun thing is my day job is www.kauerguitars.com so I'll have to build a matching guitar for the truck when it's done

[Gotenntitans]

Those two Firebirds are super slick looking! Grandpa's '64 looks very solid. Keep driving it and enjoy the memories you made with him. I'm not so sure about the Vulva's, though.

Actually, that little mustard colored one in the last photo looks fun. The others remind me of Alan on Two and a Half Men.

[aerotruk63]

If you put enough attention as you've done on the other projects , you'll have one nice looking truck. Not to say it isn't nice right now.

[Clyde65]

I’d leave it just the way it is, the memories you make will be priceless!!

[hank scorpio]

Originally Posted by Clyde65

I’d leave it just the way it is, the memories you make will be priceless!!

It's tempting but it's just not in my nature

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by hank scorpio

...So I have plans for it but I'm also right in the middle of another Volvo build so I'm trying to avoid the cardinal sin of having two project cars apart at the same time LOL. I'll probably just continue to lurk around till I finish the other car up. OK, enough talking, here's some more pictures.
...

If you put the Volvo parts outside no one will bother them.

[mongocanfly]

very solid looking truck.......welcome and congrats

[rvrfoot]

Oh wow that volvo is a sleeper!!!!!!!!!!!

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

Grandpa's '64 is quite a nice looking truck. Plus all the past memories and future memories with your kids make it all the more special. Very nice Firebirds too!

I'm not much on Volvo's but I can appreciate the thought, planning and work that goes into them.

[LostMy65]

It would be cool to see some old family photos with it in it.

[Palf70Step]

Welcome aboard. Great looking truck and history. Your other rides are very nice. I also have always preferred the Firebird over the Camaro.

[hank scorpio]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Welcome to the forum

Grandpa's '64 is quite a nice looking truck. Plus all the past memories and future memories with your kids make it all the more special. Very nice Firebirds too!

I'm not much on Volvo's but I can appreciate the thought, planning and work that goes into them.

Thanks! The volvos are fun for me because they are a challenge and just something you don't see every day. Plus Volvo seems to have a rule: 90% well thought out or over built, 10% dumb idea. The trick is to shave the 10% out

Originally Posted by LostMy65

It would be cool to see some old family photos with it in it.

I'm hoping to find photos like that too. I have to dig thru their photo albums here soon.

[Ken Cook]

Wow, that is a nice truck. The only thing I would do is upgrade the brakes.
Welcome.

[350TacoZilla]

Nice looking truck for sure man! I would be tempted to let that thing alone as nice of shape as its in, that or just make it so it can be returned to stock if you ever feel like it. On the firebird and volvo front my feelings are if you are a true car guy brands and engine type arent really a factor in liking a car or not, I have had tons of subaru's , toyota trucks, suzuki samurais etc but my first car and still favorite is a 69 Chevelle SS and loving that car has never stopped me from enjoying my other projects. (though $$ has stopped me from enjoying the Chevelle for now sadly)

[BR3W CITY]

I might be in the minority, but keep the ladder rack (camper rack?) ! Campers, racks, service beds etc are kind of the "in" thing right now. Keep the outside the same, throw a drop on her, and your good to go.

[oem4me]

The P1800 is sweet! Nicely done. The appeal the boxy Volvos must be an acquired taste, one of which, despite the fact that my very first car was a 71 144S, I have not yet acquired. LOL. Those Firebirds are close cousins to Camaros, so we are family.
The truck looks solid. No doubt whatever you do with it will be on the money!

[NONHOG]

Thought that name looked familiar. (TBricks) awesome truck.
You can post Volvo stuff here as in Alternate Tinkerings if you get the bug.
Love the Firebirds too.

Subscribed, anxious to see the changes,

[hank scorpio]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

I might be in the minority, but keep the ladder rack (camper rack?) ! Campers, racks, service beds etc are kind of the "in" thing right now. Keep the outside the same, throw a drop on her, and your good to go.

I actually have the camper shell for it. It's probably going to stay like this for a while. It'll actually be great for when I make lumber runs for work. It's not in the long term though for it.

Originally Posted by NONHOG

Thought that name looked familiar. (TBricks) awesome truck.
You can post Volvo stuff here as in Alternate Tinkerings if you get the bug.
Love the Firebirds too.

Subscribed, anxious to see the changes,

It'll be a while, still have that 245 to finish. I'm actually going to do this truck to match the wagon, might even be a half decent tow vehicle for it. Could look cool with the truck and 245 on a flatbed matching.

[turbobrick]

Good to see you over here Doug. Did you ever finish that 245 for Theresa? I'm out of the Volvo game myself, been playing with Jeeps then built a Chevelle for my mom and now a '64 C10 for me.

[nsb29]

Was this an original California truck I noticed the blue plate

[Macdaddy1]

As cool as the Volvo's and Firebird's are every family needs a truck. Welcome.

[hank scorpio]

Originally Posted by nsb29

Was this an original California truck I noticed the blue plate

That's a good point. Asked Dad about it and I guess it was something about when my grandfather added a camper shell to it in the early 70's and needed to go from commercial plates to passenger plates (or vice versa), he got updated plates. He was a police officer so he probably knew the rules and he was a stickler for them.

Originally Posted by turbobrick

Good to see you over here Doug. Did you ever finish that 245 for Theresa? I'm out of the Volvo game myself, been playing with Jeeps then built a Chevelle for my mom and now a '64 C10 for me.

No, having kids and buying a new house put a pretty good slow down on it but it's over at the body shop. I actually took the truck there over the weekend to check on their progress and to motivate them a bit ("heres the next project. Be a shame if I had to go somewhere else" LOL).



I've gone from passive to pushing them a bit to have it ready for color by end of the year.

[Chevy Fleetside]

Nice Truck the way it is but I can see wanting to do something with it.
Blue Plates came out in the 70's. A truck needed commercial plates but if you put a camper shell on it you could register it as an automobile instead of a commercial vehicle and get away from paying a weight fee. If you remove the camper shell you will have to register it as a commercial vehicle again or you can get pulled over and cited. Don't ask me how I know.

[hank scorpio]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

Blue Plates came out in the 70's. A truck needed commercial plates but if you put a camper shell on it you could register it as an automobile instead of a commercial vehicle and get away from paying a weight fee. If you remove the camper shell you will have to register it as a commercial vehicle again or you can get pulled over and cited. Don't ask me how I know.

The story goes that he got pulled over whilst holding a beer (shame shame) and the plates changed registered immediately.

[RDrancher]

That's as cool as can be...from the wagon wheels and whites to the rack. I'd upgrade the brakes like Ken said and leave it the way it is.