Table of contents for Summer 2019 in C10 Builder's Guide

WHEN YOUR CUSTOM VEHICLE resume is as impressive and extensive as Tony Leal’s roster, the problem generally becomes what to do next—and how do you top your previous builds? Leal’s shop, now known as Slammed64s, specializes in the lowest of the low and the baddest of the bad and just so happens to generally revolve around the year 1964. Why ’64? Tony’s answer came quick and easy: “Because pretty much everything built in 1964 was badass!” He has knocked out a handful of 1964 truck builds before (featured in these pages and others), including both Chevy and Ford versions. But for this build, there was quite a bit more on the line than just topping his previous personal builds. This one would be entirely different and mean much more, as…

I was raised around racing. I managed a small road course in Colorado where I was really able to focus on my growth as a driver. Having raced everything from BMX and go-karts to motorcycles and cars, I found myself being drawn to wheel-to-wheel road course racing. Without that upbringing, I don’t believe I would be the person I am today. IF YOU DON’T REALLY consider yourself to be a race fan or don’t necessarily feel a real need for speed, that’s OK. Sometimes, all it takes is the right experience with a truly capable vehicle to instill the love of true performance. That’s how it happened for Josh Schilling, anyway. Growing up with a family that was involved in nearly all things automotive, the seed was planted in him…

TRUCKS ARE FUN—I THINK WE ALL CAN agree to that. But imagine it’s the middle of the summer, the temps are sweltering, and the only way to get cool air is to crank the windows and pray you don’t hit traffic. The solution, of course, is A/C, and to do that in your truck, there’s one obvious place to go: Vintage Air. But this isn’t a typical Vintage Air install. The crew at OverPower Customs had this trick little ’71 shortbed that needed A/C but was running the venerable LS engine for a powerplant. How do you mate those two up and make it work? Well, we’ve got the answer, obviously. But you’re going to have to read on to find out. SOURCES Vintage Air18865 Goll St.San Antonio, TX 78266800-862-6658www.vintageair.com@vintageair_…

IT’S ANOTHER FIRST FOR THIS editor, and I can assure it won’t be the last. As we flew out to the West Coast of the United States from our home base in north central Florida, expectations were high for this yearly spectacle of trucks tucking rotors and chromed out motors. I’ll admit that my original goal was to shoot each and every custom truck that lined the halls in all eight individual buildings the filled the Fairplex in Pomona, California. But the moment we noticed hundreds of additional trucks piling in to set up in the outdoor portion of the event, our preconceived plan of attack was thrown out the window and a new game plan was set. Instead of documenting all the unbelievable builds that debuted over the weekend,…

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME, YOU ENJOY heading out to the garage, the driveway, the shady tree or the shop for some time to wrench. Whether you’re in the middle of a full-blown restoration or just a simple oil change on your daily driver, getting out to the shop is great for more than just obvious reason of finishing a project. Wrenching, sanding, grinding, cleaning and fixing is therapeutic. The shop is a great place to escape from the daily grind. It’s an opportunity to enjoy your current project, hang out with a few friends, listen to some tunes and a enjoy refreshment or two—OK, maybe three! Getting out there, moving forward, working and enjoying your time can be a de-stresser. It sounds funny, but slowing down to work on your…

’73-’87 Fender Tubz! 1973-87 MILD TUBZ FOR C10 TRUCKS are designed to simply bolt into the factory locations. Designed specifically for static dropped or mild airbag C10s, Slosh Tubz are approximately 2 inches taller than stock and 2 to 3 inches wider in the turning areas. The company offers Tubz that contour around the factory A/C or another version designed for a smooth firewall. Surrounding filler panels for firewall fender fillers and core support are also available. The Tubz are made of fiberglass and gel coated gloss black on the engine side. Slosh Tubzwww.sloshtubz.net479-599-9664 C10 Seal of Approval THIS FRONT DOOR VENT WINDOW weather-strip set is a four-piece set that contains the main vent window seals and division post seals. All of the pieces were designed from original parts for…

PART OF THE APPEAL OF having a truck is being able to use it to haul stuff in the bed. The problem is, a lot of us also like our trucks to be extremely low, which can definitely complicate things. If your ride is static, you may have to deal with little to no axle or ground clearance. If your truck is bagged or juiced, you may have a giant hole or step in your bed that makes it difficult to load anything. Coulter Manard of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was determined to have it all with his ’66 C10—a low, useful truck that would turn some heads! Coulter hadn’t seen too many done-up long beds around, and he wanted something to haul around his vicla (SoCal style lowrider Harley), so a…

IN ITS 8TH YEAR, DINO’S GIT-DOWN CONTINUES TO GROW and attract even more killer Chevy trucks from around the country. This event has very humble beginnings, as it was born in Dino Battilana’s own backyard. Even now in its most successful edition, the Git-Down maintains that downhome feel while hosting exponentially more show vehicles and attendance numbers than Dino had ever imagined. We sat down with the man behind one of the most buzzed-about classic Chevy truck shows out there for an inside look at how the highly anticipated Git-Down comes together. “The best part about planning the 2018 Git-Down was knowing that we were going to have to move the event to a larger venue to accommodate for more space for everyone to enjoy,” Dino says. “Now, we have…

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE like about vintage trucks: timeless styling, mechanical simplicity and mystic nostalgia. But braking performance isn’t one of them. Though they were fine for country road speeds and farm truck utility, the binders on these old trucks don’t meet the expectations of today’s enthusiasts. Luckily for us, Wilwood Engineering offers complete, high-end braking options for historic trucks. After discussing our goals with the company, Wilwood recommended its 2.5-inch drop ProSpindles (P/N 831-14202), AERO6 Big Brake Front kit (P/N 140-15305), and AERO4 Big Brake rear kit (P/N 140-10941) for our 1977 C10 pickup. Besides giving us upgraded braking ability, the big brake kits fill our 20-inch wheel package nicely. Like all of Wilwood’s components, the ProSpindles are works of art. The kit includes a pair…

BUILT NOT bought! Yeah, sure, we hear that phrase tossed around quite often especially in the automotive industry, but how often is it actually true? Would the phrase gain more credit if spoken directly from the mouth of a young 22-year-old gearhead? While he explained the story standing next to his 1967 C10 backyard build, it was easy to see how much he loved building this truck. Most truck enthusiasts catch themselves double-taking at commonly seen, modern-day lifted and powder-coated trucks on the streets. Yes, these glitter-flake suspensions and massive wheel-tire combos are definitely popular, though needing the oh-s**t handle to get in your sky-high off-the-lot show truck demands pretty deep pockets. Modern truck price tags are starting around $60,000 nowadays, resulting in very high truck payments, especially for the…

Sean Provost knows these challenges and benefits all too well. Juggling multiple businesses at once is both rewarding and stressful at times, which is why Sean has learned the importance of balancing his work life and personal life over the years. BEING SELF-EMPLOYED can definitely have its ups and downs. For one thing, you’re never truly off the clock and, in the end, you’re the one responsible for making sure your business is operating smoothly. On the plus side, however, being your own boss also gives you a certain amount of flexibility that just isn’t possible with a typical 9-5 gig. Sean Provost knows these challenges and benefits all too well. Juggling multiple businesses at once is both rewarding and stressful at times, which is why Sean has learned the…

TRANSFORMING THE interior of a C10 truck can be a huge undertaking, and it can also make a huge impact in a classic truck. Really, you have four options when it comes to the inside of the cab: You can leave it original and deal with worn-out seat springs and torn material, you can grab some factory replacement panels and covers from a number of suppliers, you can take your truck to an upholstery shop for a full custom interior, or you can do what we did and turn to TMI Products. The company has been around for more than 20 years and began offering products for street trucks several years ago. TMI Products is a name that is being heard more and more around the classic truck community. Enthusiasts…

WHEN YOU HAVE 44 PREVIOUS successful shows under your belt, it’s safe to say that you probably have all the details worked out. The team running the 45th annual Daytona Turkey Run doesn’t rest on their laurels however, adding exciting new elements to the event every year. Florida’s largest club-sponsored event is always a joint venture between the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District and the Daytona Beach Street Rods. Held over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, the fun begins with the car show displaying more than 5,000 vehicles inside the Daytona International Speedway. Eligibility includes all vehicles manufactured prior to 1980 as well as a long list of specialty vehicles, both foreign and domestic. There are no classes or awards. Pull in, park, give your ride a quick wipe…