1969 Chevrolet C-10

Description

This 1969 Chevrolet C10 short-bed Fleetside pickup was acquired in 2020, and subsequent work consisted of a complete frame off restoration consisting of stripping and repainting the body and chassis, replacing damaged and rusted areas, refurbishing the transmission, performing engine upgrades, and replacing brake, suspension, interior, and exterior components.
The truck is powered by a replacement 350ci V8 mated with a three-speed automatic transmission and is finished in black and white over black cloth upholstery. Features include power-assisted steering, power front disc brakes, staggered 20″ American Racing wheels, a lowered suspension, an aluminum intake manifold, an Edelbrock AVS carburetor, an HEI billet distributor, a dual exhaust system, aftermarket kick panel speakers, and a Bluetooth-capable retro digital stereo.
The body was stripped and refinished in basecoat/clearcoat black and white. Work during restoration consisted of applying a coating to the bed, inner firewall, and inner floor as well as installing a replacement windshield, bed floor, exterior trim, front and rear wheel tubs, A-pillars, B-pillars, and outer rockers. The bumpers, cab corners, cab mounts, and left fender, bedside, and door skin were also replaced at that time. A 1971/72-style grille has been fitted along with all necessary brackets. The other items replaced include a rear electrical harness, antenna, lamp lenses and bulbs, tailgate hinges, side mirrors, emblems, seals, weather-strip and more.
The 20″ American Racing Torq Thrust wheels are mounted with Nitto NT555 G2 tires measuring 255/35 up front and 315/30 out back. The truck is fitted with power-assisted steering, a 4-inch front and 6-inch rear lowered suspension, aftermarket drop spindles and springs and rear blocks, a welded-in frame C-notch, and a five-lug hub conversion. Braking is handled by power-assisted front discs and rear drums. During restoration a new corvette style master cylinder, vacuum booster, a Panhard bar, brake lines, refurbished factory-style rear trailing arms with replacement bushings, and a rebuilt power steering box and power steering pump were installed.
The interior features a black and white theme with various levels of sheen. A bench seat reupholstered in black cloth joined by color-coordinated carpets. Molded kick-panels, aftermarket speakers, and a Bluetooth-capable digital stereo have been installed. Work also c
onsisted of repainting the steel inner doors mechanisms, refurbishing the heater core box and steering column, and replacing the dome light and wiring harness, dimmer switch, heater core, grommets, weather-stripping, seals, heater hoses, carpets, armrests, cranks and handles, pedals, door locks, and scuff plates.
The original style steering wheel in black frames the replacement factory-style instrumentation consisting of a 100-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel level, coolant temperature, battery voltage, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 67k miles but current millage is approximately less than 10000 miles where approximately 150 of which have been added after full restoration. The current gauge was removed from a different vehicle.  The truck does not have a horn which could be installed if acquired all wiring is present and the steering wheel has a hairline crack right around 12 o'clock.
The replacement 350ci V8 was rebuilt under previous ownership and features an aluminum intake manifold, an aftermarket camshaft (size unknown), an Edelbrock AVS carburetor, an HEI billet distributor, an aluminum radiator, and a finned air cleaner assembly and valve covers. Work under during restoration consisted of replacing the fuel pump, thermostat housing, thermostat, radiator hoses, fittings, gaskets, exhaust manifolds, spark plugs, and ignition wires.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a 12-bolt rear axle. The dust cover on the transmission is missing. The transmission was rebuilt under previous ownership. A custom dual exhaust system with Thrush mufflers has been installed. The
Engine and transmission were painted similar color to original truck.
Overall
Restoration Items
Model:
1969 Chevrolet C10
Body:
SWB 2WD 1/2 ton - real not cut down
Engine:
Replaced 350 cu SBC - recent rebuild - Engine Code: T0608CKD 1972 350
Transmission:
TH350 - recent rebuild - Original Trans was manual 3 on the tree
Original color:
503 Light Green
Vin:
CE149B857857 - Frame stamp matches Vin, Cab tag matches Vin
C=4x2, E= V-8 Gas, 1=1/2 Ton, 4= Pickup with Cab and Bed, 9= 1969 year, B=Baltimore Plant
Current Color:
Black and White two-tone
History:
Purchased vehicle from owner who did some upgrades and modifications to the truck such as engine/trans swap, 5 lug conversion with front disc, Lowering kit, etc. After purchase truck was completely tore down frame off resto, new metal, sandblasted, painted detailed.
Options:
Power Steering, Front Power Disc Brakes, 5 Lug, Lowered, V8 automatic
Sheet Metal
Overall:
Truck body was completely torn apart. Parts that were repairable sandblasted and metal repaired.
Bed:
All new steel bed floor
Driver side bed side
RH and LH wheel tubs
Good used GM tailgate
Cab:
New A-pillars
B-pillars
Cab Corners
Front and rear cab mounts
Driver floor patch
LH and RH outer floor
LH and RH outer rockers
Passenger door skin and inner door bottom
Front End:
Good original GM LH and RH inner wheel houses
Passenger Fender replaced
Paint & Body
Overall:
Was 503 solid green changed to two tone black and white with new trim
Primer and Paint:
Sheet Metal coated in Epoxy Black. 2k Primer used for blocking. Two tone black and white paint BC/CC
Bed Coating:
Used inside bed and on inside floor and inside firewall of cab
Inside:
Matte Black Dash and Inner Doors
Underside:
Matte Black
Frame:
Matte Black
Drivetrain, Frame, Engine Compartment
Overall:
Frame sandblasted to bare metal. Frame was in perfect shape no rust hole or repair. Epoxy black coated and then coated with semi-gloss black
Engine:
350 cu SBC - recent rebuild - Engine Code: T0608CKD 1972 350 (not original engine). Engine was recently rebuilt prior to ownership. Not sure mileage after install it was only driven one summer to some car shows he estimated under 10000. I cleaned and repainted to green to compliment original color of truck. Engine looked real clean inside and could see signs of assembly lube especially in oil pan. Engine appears to be rebuilt and runs well. Engine has mild cam not sure size or horsepower but nice driver
Engine Accessories:
Aluminum intake (painted engine color)
Aluminum Finned Valve Covers w/breathers
Air Cleaner
During repaint of engine new gaskets: Intake, Valve covers, Carburetor, Fuel Pump, Exhaust Manifolds also 1-piece Felpro oil pan gasket.
AVS Edelbrock Carburetor
Mini starter
Fuel Filter
Fuel Pump
Alternator
Power steering hoses
Power steering pump
Aluminum radiator and bushings
Hoses and Fittings
Ram horn style Exhaust manifolds (used)
Thrush Mufflers
HEI Billet Distributer
Dipstick tube for Transmission
R45T AC Delco Plugs
Plug wires
Thermostat housing, Thermostat and Temp switch
Upper and Lower Radiator Hoses
Overflow tank and Bracket
Heater core and hoses
Lokar transmission Shift Linkage
Optima Battery
Windshield washer reservoir and bracket and hoses
Rear Electrical harness for taillights
All new Fluids: Oil, Transmission Fluid, Anti-Freeze, Power Steering Fluid and Brake Fluid
Transmission:
TH350 - recent rebuild -have receipts
Brakes:
New Power Master Cylinder and Brake Lines
Rear:
Perfect set of used GM rear trailing arms - sandblasted and new bushings installed
Panhard
bar
:
New
Lowering kit
:
Front: Spindles and Lowered springs, Rear: Blocks and
C-Notch Kit welded into rear frame
Rear
:
Converted to 5 lug drum with new brakes
Front:
Converted to 5 Lug disc with new calipers and disc brakes. New rebuilt power steering box and pump.
U-joints:
updated
Exterior
Overall:
Most everything replaced. Was 69-70 grill but like the 71/72 grille better.
Chrome and Trim:
New Antenna
Grille Bowtie
1971/72 grille shell and brackets
Bumpers and brackets
Cab back panel molding
Door Handles
Side Mirrors
C/10 Fender Emblems
Lower Side Molding
Rear tailgate upper molding
Rear Tailgate Band (black)
Taillight molding
Tailgate Hinges
Gas Cap
Lights:
Back up Light Lenses
Taillight Lenses
License Plate Light
Parking lights side F&R
Parking/Turning Lights front bumper
Glass:
New Windshield all others original
Interior
Overall:
Was green interior Bench seat basic style.
Inside:
Cab was sandblasted and epoxy coated. Seam sealer applied. Bed coated on floor, behind gas tank and inner firewall before assembled.
Dash:
Dash Pad painted white
Used gauge set (original was warning lights), Gauges all work, LED 194 bulbs installed
Gauge Bezel new
Oil pressure line new
Original harness cleaned up and repined
Heater Box dismantled and sandblasted, painted and new seals installed with new heater core, defrost hoses and diverters on top of dash
Glove box inner
Dash and inner doors matte black
Steel door panels and armrests redone white
Window cranks and handles and Escutcheons
Brake pad and Gas pedal Pad and studs
Carpet new by previous owner with new dimmer switch and bezel
Bench seat reupholstered
E-Brake Handle (E-Brake Not attached)
Dome light wiring and dome light
Door lock set
Scuff Plates
Good used set of GM seatbelts
Good automatic steering column restored- black, new upper bearing, shift indicator pointer, restored steering wheel (no horn), shift lever and Neutral safety switch
Sun visor clips
Bluetooth capable retro radio with new molded kick panels with speakers
Doors:
All locks and window mechanisms removed, blasted rebuilt and painted before reinstall
Weatherstrip/Rubber
Overall:
All weatherstrip and rubber replaced
Firewall:
All new grommets for Oil pressure, Speedo cable, Washer Hoses, Fuel line in floor, Clutch rod plug, Fuse box gasket, Heater box gaskets, Wiper motor seals
Glass:
New Vent window Rubber, Glass removed and new setting rubber installed, window sashes, Rear Window gasket, Front windshield gasket, Vent window vertical rubber, Window track felts
Doors:
New door rubber bumpers, Door seals, Window track felts
Rubber Bumpers:
New hood, tailgate
Seals:
New Gas tank to body seal, parking light lense seals, taillight and back up light seals
Tires and Wheels
Wheels:
New 20" Torq thrust wheels with Grey centers
Tires
:
Rear - 315/30 ZR20 , Front - 255/35 ZR20
Problems/Issues/Needs
Overall Issues
:
Not much to speak of pretty thorough restoration. Does not have the Transmission dust cover.  Door rubber still tight but not horrible and getting better. Paint not perfect has a few chips and small scratches etc from driving, daily use and assembly but I would say 8 or 9 out of 10. I have fixed many of these as I see them but just want to be honest as possible.  Not a trailer queen. but pretty close.
For additional photos click here
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wl8jq2jsd2bb0oh/AAD5Bw9u7KMIXuIwlCTo3hPia?dl=0
For additional videos click here
https://youtu.be/_qE6a7lJQMI
https://youtu.be/uxksYF5WVJk
https://youtu.be/Q3ycRa5OnMQ