C10 Builder's Guide Summer 2017

T HE C-10 SCENE is absolutely intense right now, and I’m extremely excited about it. Every time I go to a C-10-based event these days I’m reminded of my first truck show. I had an unmodified truck and was very interested in the options available to me. I did some digging on the Internet, but it was a different time, well before the current social media platforms that exist now. The magazine sections of convenience stores were my portal to the truck world. I was captivated by what I saw in photos and the glimpses I grabbed on the road when custom trucks would pass by. Obviously, I couldn’t get too close to these trucks, so my only shot at checking them out was at an event. When I went to…

Custom Counter THE AIRDRIVE SYSTEM from Auto Meter provides an advanced plug-and-play option that wirelessly transmits data from your vehicle’s computer to the company’s award-winning AirDrive gauges via OBDII WiFi module. Configurable colors, programmable warning points and peak recall functions through the accompanying smartphone app create a customizable solution. Lightning-fast performance coupled with Auto Meter’s accuracy and durability, as well as the system’s quick and easy installation, makes this the smart and simple DIY gauge solution. Auto Meter • 866.248.6356 Autometer.com “Braking” the Mold EDDIE MOTORSPORTS’ BILLET aluminum taillight bezels are the perfect touch to add clean class to your Chevy C-10 truck. Precision CNC-machined and available for purchase with LED taillights, its direct bolt-on installation and variety of custom finishes make it the easy choice for your ride. Eddie…

I T’S BEEN SAID that success is the product of preparedness combined with opportunity. Richard Horrill’s ’81 Gen III C-10 is a picturesque example of success that is firmly rooted in his career building all manner of custom trucks and vehicles in the great white north. Richard owns and operates Krazy Kustoms Auto Centre in Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. His shop deals with a broad spectrum of modifications and customization throughout many different genres. Equally broad is Richard’s appreciation for custom trucks, and he’s proud to house both lifted and slammed varieties in his personal garage. “... and since Richard was familiar with the truck, he’d already developed a full transformation in his mind’s eye, one that, of course, involved a laid-out stance.” After months of patiently waiting for his next victim…

A LTHOUGH C-10s are pretty damn cool-looking trucks, they don’t have all of the modern features we’re accustomed to, like top-notch audio systems. These classic GM haulers came with the basics, and that’s where the options ended. A radio and a single dash speaker were the standard audio equipment. It was a very minimal setup, but it was better than not having anything at all. Fortunately, we’re now in the 21st century, which means we can implement a lot of the conveniences that we enjoy in modern vehicles, including multi-channel speaker systems and Bluetooth connectivity. We can also stream tunes from modern digital files and play SiriusXM Radio. It’s also possible to hook up your phone and receive calls directly through your stereo system, just like in a modern car. Our…

PERFORMANCE gains come in many different forms, from drop-in crate engines to forced induction (supercharger and turbocharger) systems, or simply by switching to a different type of motor oil specifically designed for older engines. Naturally, the price tag attached to certain items is much heavier than others, but depending on what you need or want for your build, a little bit of saving and sacrificing could make a world of difference in how your truck performs on the track and on the streets. To help take your C-10 project from 0 to 60 and beyond (in a very literal sense), we’ve done some digging through the latest performance products that will be coming to market in 2017. To make it easier for you to sort through the piles of parts…

S OME THINGS are best left alone, like dark alleys, angry bees and anything in a pickle jar that is not immediately identifiable as a pickle. Some may argue that classic trucks should also be left alone, but of course, as a general rule we’d disagree. JD Arthurs, on the other hand, seems to have found the perfect balance of leaving well enough alone and creating an awesome custom truck. “To JD’s surprise, when he got the truck back home he discovered that it was rust-free, despite other clear signs of age. It was as perfect, and imperfect, as JD could hope.” JD has always been a muscle car kind of guy, specifically Camaros and Novas, but he wanted to build a truck that reminded him of his grandfather’s old C-10.…