Project PartsRunner ('74 C10 pick-up)

[68byrd]

We just picked up another project. Its a '74 Chevy C10 2wd short box pick-up. Its has a 350 (not running) w/ a TH350. The body/frame are solid but need a little work. Right now were are debating on the power plant. I would like to install a 5.3 or 6.0 gm truck engine, but dont really know how much work is involved with getting one of those to work. I'm sure its not simple. The other option is to build a mild 350 so we can drive the truck and enjoy it. Plus it would be nice to have a vehicle that could haul something. I think we are going approach this thing with the "wheels and stance" strategy. Right now we are thinking a 3/5 drop with 18's. Any opinions, suggestions, or insight are welcome. Thanks for looking!

[subtlez28]

Get a junkyard 5.3 with a 2wd 4L80E hanging on it. Either get the harness with it or shell out the dough for an aftermarket.

Either way you should be able to do this on the cheap. It has been done many times before and lots of info is on the web.

Pics please!

[68byrd]

Also, if anyone knows of any good websites/forums for trucks like this, let know. Thanks again.

[Mr. Anderson]

www.fullsizechevy.com has a section for the square body trucks. Lots of information there! Nice score.

[larknut]

Have you tried http://67-72chevytrucks.com yet

[progoat]

I love square body chevy trucks ever thought of bigger wheels though? them trucks have big wheelwells I'd go with atleast 20's

[srh3trinity]

Nice find. I am probably going to pick up a truck too. My wife has a small car and I have a sport ute and I am always having to borrow a truck for lumber, car parts, moving stuff. I was going to do a car project first, but now I am going to buy a nice running truck to tinker with, make it my own and then get my car project. I like the idea of 20's too, the square bodies have a lot of wheel well.

[68byrd]

Thanks for the input! I would really like to do 18's. Leaning towards Coy's C-55 or Boss Motorsports 338 (gray). I think we can do 8's in the front and 9.5's in the rear. We are going to wait until the lowering is done, then measure.

[68byrd]

We have settled on the lowering kit. DJM 3" drop front lower control arms and a DJM 5" drop rear axle flip kit. Now we need to figure out the shocks. I can't believe how cheap chevy parts are compared to Pontiac. We also dropped the block off at the machine shop. Its a 75' 4 bolt main 350 w/ stock bore. If the crank is good we are going to reuse it, if it can't be saved, its getting a stroker kit. Our machine guy also hooked us up with a lightly used set of Edelbrock E-Tec aluminum heads and a Performer RPM intake.

[Mr. Anderson]

We have settled on the lowering kit. DJM 3" drop front lower control arms and a DJM 5" drop rear axle flip kit. Now we need to figure out the shocks. I can't believe how cheap chevy parts are compared to Pontiac. We also dropped the block off at the machine shop. Its a 75' 4 bolt main 350 w/ stock bore. If the crank is good we are going to reuse it, if it can't be saved, its getting a stroker kit. Our machine guy also hooked us up with a lightly used set of Edelbrock E-Tec aluminum heads and a Performer RPM intake.

Careful with those front control arms. I used a set of DJM's arms on my '98, and always had problems with the spring seating. They weld a super-wimpy little "L" piece to the bottom plate on the control arm that is supposed to hold the end of the spring. Whenever you jack the vehicle up in the air, unloading the suspension, the spring would always want to pop out of the arm. If not for the shock running through the center, that spring could tear up a lot of stuff! Never had this problem with the driver's side spring, but the passenger side would do it every time. A huge PITA to fix.

I'd personally stick with the dropped spindle and spring route. You may have to notch the stock lower control arm to fit a 15" wheel, but with an 18" no sweat. It's a far better trade off IMO.

Either way, going to look good with the altitude adjustment!

[srh3trinity]

Sounds like things are moving along nicely. The downside of hanging around this board too long is you start thinking every thing you build needs an LSX and full out brakes and suspension. Since I have decided to pick up an old truck, I have started to think about a simple small block setup and mild upgrades so I can enjoy it and use it for what it is designed for. Add nice wheels and a simple but effective brake upgrade and then use the truck to pick up the pro-touring parts for a car build.

[68byrd]

Thanks for the info. I like the concept of the drop lca's. Its gonna be awhile before we get the 18's, so until then we are going to run the stock 15x8's. From what i have read you have to remove alot of metal from the stock lca's with the 3" drop spindles. Also i really don't want to use drop springs. From past experience, they really make the ride stiff. If we have to modify the DJM lca's a little thats not a big deal. We'll see. Thanks again.

srh3trinity- I totaly agree with you, this project is not a high dollar build. Its something to enjoy driving, haul stuff, and look good.

[Mr. Anderson]

I did the arms for the same reason, wanted to run a 15" wheel. Beef up the spring retainer on the DJMs and it'll probably be fine. I did the 2" arms and 2" springs, then cut another coil off the springs. It was a bit stiff but not bad. With the 7" drop in the back, it didn't do much hauling though, haha.

[68byrd]

Update: The crank in the block is junk. Its going to be replace with a very lightly used 383 stroker crank. We hope to get the rotating assembly back soon so we can put the engine together and get it dyno tuned in the next couple months. Also, the suspension parts are going to get ordered soon. We scored a rebuilt series 3 Eaton posi unit and are going to install some new Motive Gear 3.73's. My brother found 2 OEM doors in very nice shape as well as 2 clean front fenders. The cab corners came about a week ago and we are waiting to hear about a box in AZ. We are picking up solid body panels when we can find nice pieces at a good price. That is about it so far. Its looks like the 18's are going to have to wait until next year. Oh well, we just sandblasted some nice stock wheels and painted them. They are going to look alot better than the black wagon wheels on the truck now. Hoping to start disassembly soon. Thanks for looking.

[796spdbu]

If you change the grille...I want dibs.Love the idea. If you go with the Boss 338 check out this link..

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...oss+338+wheels

There is much talk about those wheels. The 67-72 trucks are basicly the same suspension and these wheels are cheap.

If you have any issues with this truck I have owned over 12 of them in all shapes and forms.

Greg

[shortrack]

oh oh......another square owner.....the most inexpensive truck on earth to own...Im a member on 67-72 also....great site...IMO build yourself a nice carb 350 or 383 and a 700r4 lower it, some nice wheels and a budget paint job......keep it so you could actually use it as a truck......good luck with that bad boy.

[Tony_SS]

Running 3" DJM drop springs on mine.. the ride is nice, not too harsh. And I was able to get a decent alignment on it.. handles good for what it is. Go with Bilstein shocks.

[E.rodz]

looks to be in prety good shape. be careful on how low you go with it. the front crossmember hangs down so low if you go with a 3" drop spindle and cut the coils the stance looks awsome but puts your spine in full compression mode when you hit a big bump. theese are super easy to build your own air ride system for.I think the truck would look better wih 20" wheels it has some huge wheel wells to fill.also the front clip can be switched out to a 81 through 87.there are many different front grill styles availible. had 17's on mine first and just did not fill the wells up enough.but that just my opinion.

[68byrd]

Tony- Were did you find Bilsteins for a lowered truck? I've looked for them and can't find any. I would really like to use them, We have Bilsteins on the Byrd and love them. Thanks for the input.

[Tony_SS]

Tony- Were did you find Bilsteins for a lowered truck? I've looked for them and can't find any. I would really like to use them, We have Bilsteins on the Byrd and love them. Thanks for the input.

Summit. They are a heavy duty shock and should do fine with a 3/5 drop.

I went with Nitro Drop shocks to save a few buck.. and they arent bad.. but I got what I paid for.