Table of contents for Summer 2025 in C10 Builder's Guide

SERIOUSLY—THE days just seem to tick off faster and faster over here! As we pump out yet another action-packed C10 issue, we’re gearing up for what is already starting to shape up as one AWESOME show season!! After our annual candy store that is the SEMA show in the fall, the snow begins to thaw out a bit rounding out Dino’s, and then into the next spring/summer ramp up—if you can’t tell, we’re quite excited. We’ve already booked flights and are packing bags for LST (Lone Star Throwdown for those living in a cave). This annual season opener tends to bring out the best of the best from all over and help kickstart our favorite time of the year. Friends near and far, new builds, old builds, and everything in…

IT’S HARD TO USE THE term “truck show” for a show that’s not a show. We know what you’re thinking. How is a truck show, not a “truck show?” Well, that’s easy. When show promoter Dino Battilana first decided to have a truck gathering back in 2010, it was just him and some of his like-minded GM truck enthusiasts hanging out at his house, buddies hanging out with cold beverages talking about the stuff they’ve done to their classic Chevy and GMC trucks. It wasn’t long before this annual gathering at Dino’s house outgrew the space he had, so he moved it to the parking lot of his business, Dino’s Appliance Factory Service. That gave more room for more trucks and word spread like wildfire, and that location was quickly…

MOST KIDS growing up have dream projects and setups they’d love to have. As we get older, budgets change and our wants differ, and the chase for the next build becomes a high as we check off boxes on the list. There’s always that one project that you’d do anything to get, the one you secretly keep an eye out for and would drive a thousand miles to pick up. For Victor Carrillo, that vehicle found him. Well, his cousin found it first, but it was perfect—all the way down to the color. Life had a plan. Victor’s cousin didn’t like the color and offered it to Victor, which was an obvious no-brainer for a dream build. Life changes, and with a growing family, a Jimmy is the perfect truck…

The new Borgeson Street & Performance Quick Ratio Power Steering Box is perfect for the C10 owners who love to drive their rides. IF YOU’VE BEEN behind the wheel of a regularly driven Chevy C10, you probably know how loose the factory steering can get with a leaky steering box. The old Saginaw box in our 1978 C10 had seen better days, and the leak was just the start. It felt loose, unresponsive, and super sloppy, but lucky for us, Borgeson had the fix. The new Borgeson Street & Performance Quick Ratio Power Steering Box is perfect for the C10 owners who love to drive their rides. With a 12.7:1 quick ratio, it delivers a tighter, more modern steering feel while keeping the installation straightforward. This box bolts directly to…

Canyon Wheel FEATURING A CLASSIC FIVE-SLOT, TWO-STEP LIP, AND versatile fitments for both classic and modern trucks and SUVs, Mickey Thompson’s Canyon wheel offers a perfect fusion of classic appeal and contemporary functionality. This reimagined 1960s design is available in 15-, 16-, and 17-inch diameters with multiple width options for just the right fitment. Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels 330-928-9092 www.mickeythompsontires.com 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC Replacement Molding RESTORE YOUR TRUCK BACK TO ITS FACTORY LOOK WITH premium, USA-made replacement molding from All-Fit Automotive. Backed with 3M tape, this molding is easy to install and will outlast the original factory trim. Recapture that classic GM Squarebody truck styling you love in your home garage or driveway—you don’t need to be a professional to get professional results here! All-Fit Automotive 619-500-3669 www.allfitautomotive.com RetroLiner for…

WHY BUILD VENOM? FOR JASON VANNATTA, this truck wasn’t just a passion project. From the start, it was meant to be a rolling advertisement for what VanNatta Fabrication can do. Specializing in C10, square bodies, and Camaro parts, Jason’s shop handcrafts every part in-house. From custom bumpers to full suspension kits, VanNatta Fabrication is all about quality and attention to detail. And it’s not just the crew’s own parts. They offer in-house fabrication and stock products from more than 77 other companies. If you’re looking for killer components for your custom C10 build, VanNatta Fabrication has definitely got you covered. …with two years of hard work, a ton of R&D, and countless hours in the shop, the team transformed this gorgeous build into a satin blue masterpiece that shows just…

THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT MARKET Association (SEMA) started back in 1963 with intentions of bringing automotive manufactures together to show off all the latest and greatest trends and parts. They decided to put together a small automotive industry-only event four years later in 1967 at the LA Dodgers stadium to do just that. We are sure they had no idea how quickly the annual event would grow and how much of a huge impact it would have on the automotive world. Dubbed the largest automotive event in the world, the SEMA Show takes over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center the first week of November every year. Well, all but in 2020 when we had that little thing we call the pandemic. That was the only year they have skipped since…

IN A WORLD dominated by the iconic C10 truck, the second generation unquestionably stands out as one of the most revered. Its timeless design, with slick body lines and an unmistakable front end, has created a legacy that will never be replicated. One standout example of this is a 1964 GMC C25, meticulously built and owned by Austin Phipps from Hermiston, Oregon. This truck, affectionately named “KRUSTY,” is the embodiment of Austin’s passion for automotive craftsmanship. Austin’s journey began with an ambitious goal: to build a truck worthy of competing in the highly competitive SEMA “Battle of the Young Guns” category. This prestigious competition brings together some of the most talented young builders from around the globe, and Austin set his sights on creating a truck that would truly make…

USUALLY WHEN YOU BUILD A TRUCK, OR ANY CUSTOM VEHICLE FOR THAT MATTER, A TON OF PLANNING GOES INTO THE PROJECT. The first thing to do is to find that one perfect vehicle make and model that fits the look you want. Sometimes it’s a vehicle you had as a kid, one your parents had, or one that you simply always admired. Then it’s time to hit Marketplace, Craigslist, or your local auction to find a start to the project. Once you acquire the vehicle, you can start laying out plans with color combos, suspension setup, the perfect engine to fit your needs, and the right interior to tie it all together. At least that’s the route most people go, including myself. There’s usually a bunch of back-and-forth conversations with…

THE CLASSIC SQUAREBODY CHEVY C10 is a truck with timeless style, but its factory suspension can leave a lot to be desired in handling, comfort, and performance. That’s where Ridetech’s bolt-in coilover suspension kit comes in. It’s a complete system designed to turn a 1973-1987 C10 into a corner-carving, muscle-truck monster. We decided to test it out on our 1987 Chevy C10, and let’s just say the results speak for themselves. This kit is a one-stop solution with features that enhance handling, ride quality, and stance. The drop spindles improve negative camber gain for better cornering, while the upper and lower StrongArms ensure increased strength, alignment precision, and caster settings for improved steering feel. Add in the HQ Series coilovers with adjustable rebound tuning and a rear bolt-on 4-link, and…

WHEN DAVID Dekorver of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, got the call from his grandmother to build a truck and name it “Sweet Ellie,” he knew it wasn’t just about wrenching on another ride—this was about family. Fast forward seven years and $65K later, David’s 1987 Chevrolet R30 isn’t just a truck; it’s a rolling work of art that packs a punch and turns heads wherever it goes. First Impressions: A Bold Stance The first thing you notice about Sweet Ellie is its killer two-tone paint job. The red, dubbed “Ellie’s Passion Pearl,” was custom-mixed, and it pops against the Galaxy White Pearl accents. Sprayed to perfection by Nate Dixon out of Fort Walton Beach, this paint job could win awards on its own. James Ellis from Hybrid Images took it…

THERE ARE TONS OF TRUCK SHOW VARIETIES around the country. Everything from high-end, invite-only shows, to shows open to everything, to year or brand specific shows, cars and coffee events and even your plain old hang out gatherings—there are plenty to pick from. For the C10 Fall Revival, it’s almost a blend of all of them. This is not a standard show in any aspect. There are no trophies, no registration, and no judging. There’s also no show fees or spectator fees. As show organizers Benny Carelock, Kasey Harris, and Lu Perez like to say, “You don’t pay to go to a church revival, and you won’t pay to join us at the C10 Fall Revival. This show is a totally free, family-friendly event. But a lot like church, we…