I was never really interested in classic cars or trucks. During the start of covid, I began looking for a new project. I already had an FBO WRX, but was looking for something that could take my building skills to a new level. I checked out a few different cars including a civic and NA Miata. While those looked like fun, I was wanting something more unique and challenging. That’s when a coworker told me that he had a C10 in his barn that he was never going to build since his backlog of cars to build was just too long. So I went to check it out and instantly fell in love with it. It had no engine, no transmission, no steering column… basically nothing. But I bought it anyways and accepted the challenge to build it.
I knew nothing about C10s, but very quickly educated myself and fell in love with the C10 community. I was already familiar with the WRX community, and found the C10 community to be just as supportive and engaging.
At first, I just got the truck back on the road with all of the essentials and a basic suspension. This allowed me to get to C10 nationals and was so incredibly rewarding to such a neglected vehicle back on the road. My ultimate goal became slamming the C10 and really create something that can’t be bought, and can only be built. At this point, there has been no bolt left untouched, and that is not an exaggeration. Every single detail has been addressed. Single piece windows to reduce wind noise. Slight adjustments to tire rod ends to reduce bump steer. An untold number of modifications to allow the truck to still roll when aired out. I’ve even built and programmed a fingerprint sensor door unlock utilizing my electronics engineering skills.
The mods I’m most proud of are the frame modifications and custom exhaust. Having never welded in my life, I learned to tig weld from scratch until I was proficient enough to confidently tackle the tasks at hand. This allowed me to fully slam the trick by completely chopping off the back half of the frame and welding in notches, shock mounts, watts link, etc.
I built this truck to be reliable enough for daily use, and it’s truly achieved that goal. I’m not afraid to drive it anywhere and it’s been one one of the most reliable vehicles I’ve owned. Several times a week it reliably takes my kid to school and he loves airing it out for his friends. Below is a summary of work/mods that have been done, but doesn’t come close to covering all the work done on this build.
C10 Modifications
- [ ] LS Swap (LM7 from 2001 Silverado)
- [ ] Custom tune with HP Tuners
- [ ] Air suspension with AccuAir air management, Slam Specialties bags and manifold, Ridetech aluminum 4-gallon tank
- [ ] Reworked engine harness with electric fans
- [ ] Vintage Air Gen IV A/C
- [ ] Drilled and slotted front disk brakes
- [ ] Wilwood master cylinder and adjustable proportioning valve
- [ ] Stainless steel brake lines
- [ ] Porterbuiltw front upper and lower control arms
- [ ] Sloshtubz inner fenders
- [ ] CPP rear sway bar
- [ ] Borgeson gear box with rag joint eliminator
- [ ] Rough Country steering stabilizer
- [ ] CPP aluminum rear gas tank
- [ ] Aeromotive Stealth fuel pump with Corvette fuel pressure regulator
- [ ] 22x9 Detroit steel wheels
- [ ] 265x35/R22 Toyo proxes ST III
- [ ] 3.73 rear OEM gears with Yukon limited slip differential
- [ ] CPP tilt steering column
- [ ] Cruise control from 2001 Silverado
- [ ] Forever Sharp steering wheel
- [ ] 3 layers of Interior sound deadening
- [ ] TMI bucket seats
- [ ] 4 kicker speakers with amp and sub
- [ ] Apple CarPlay head unit with backup camera
- [ ] Dakota Digital gauge cluster
- [ ] Speed Engineering shorty headers
- [ ] Custom stainless exhaust with Vibrant UltraQuiet resonators
- [ ] LED lights (Holley Retrobrite and United Pacific)
- [ ] Hella horns
- [ ] Painless Performance chassis harness and custom fuse box
- [ ] Keyless entry with finger print sensor
- [ ] Altman Easy Door Latches
- [ ] Simple C10 rear watts link with cross bridge
- [ ] Simple C10 rear shock relocators
- [ ] Velaworks rear step notch and blocks
- [ ] Tinman Fab rear cross brace
- [ ] Tinman Fab rear wheel tubs (custom fit)
- [ ] Custom raised tilt bed floor
- [ ] Battery relocated to rear frame with hood access cable
- [ ] Custom auto dimming interior lights
- [ ] Single piece window conversion
- [ ] Custom 5-speed windshield wiper updated (2 from factory)
