1968 Chevrolet C10 Stepside Project Page
I have also relocated the fuel tank to beneath the bed and installed a new aluminum dash panel with VDO gauges.
I was not real fond of the orange and silver paint scheme, so the truck has been repainted satin black. This looks like primer, but will provide the protection of paint. It will make for a great parts chaser/shop truck. New weather stripping is being installed, with new bumpers (front and rear) and air conditioning soon to follow.
After looking at lots of possible taillights, I chose to go with HHR taillights mounted in the fenders. To see how this was done, go to http://www.hot-rod-garage.com/articles/flush-mounted-taillights.cfm.
Since I am in the midst of writing my 10th book for MBI Publishing AND that book is about automotive wiring, the truck is being re-wired. It isn't quite finished yet, but should be in much better condition electrically when it is done. Along with the re-wiring, I plan to install new gauges and dash panel, move the gas tank out of the cab and under the bed, and probably add some air conditioning.
OK, who in their right mind puts '38/'39 Ford taillights on a C10 pickup??? I mean really??? These have to go, because even the stock taillights would have looked better than this. The big question is whether to install a rolled pan and inset taillights in it, or to run a bumper and use stock taillights or mount something in the rear fender?
While that disc brake upgrade greatly improves the drivability of the C10, it necessitated a change in wheels and therefore tires. Gone (but for sale if your are interested) are the BF Goodrich G-Force 20 inch tires and Boss Motorsports wheels. More along my tastes are the 15 inch GM rally wheels and BFG T/A radials. I would have liked a little more rubber rake, but when the truck is lowered, it won't make as much difference. I don't have them yet, but I plan to install some stainless steel plain taxi/police hub caps. Yes, I know the dust cap is missing from the front wheel. It was on when I took it to the alignment shop, but was gone when I picked the truck up. Go figure...
Originally, these trucks had drum brakes on all four corners, which took me some getting used to. I think the last vehicle that I had driven that had four wheel drum brakes was my 1957 GMC, while in high school. Two articles in the July 2010 issue of CCT cover the installation of disc brakes on the front end and redrilling the rear axles to allow for matching wheels. This low-buck upgrade was done by swapping the stock drum spindles for disc-equipped spindles from a '73 Chevy truck and was completed at Morfab Customs. Rear axles were redrilled by Brian Elbert at B&D Fabrications.
I have always liked the look of the '67-'72 Chevrolet C10 pickups, with the '67 and '68's being my favorite. When my '27 Track T was finished, I took this '68 stepside in on a trade. This truck wasn't as slick as I had hoped, so I listed it for sale. When it didn't sell, I decided to make some improvements and use it as the basis for some how-to articles in Custom Classic Trucks magazine until it catches some buyer's eye. Lessons learned about buying a truck over the Internet were included in this truck's first magazine appearance in the February 2010 issue of CCT.
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