Table of contents for Summer 2018 in C10 Builder's Guide

SOURCES BedWood and Parts 877.206.9663 Bedwoodandparts.com Rick’s Tanks 915.760.4388 Rickstanks.com TIME AND WEATHER HAVE A negative effect on older trucks, which necessitates repairs. Body panels tend to rust and wood bed floors rot with exposure to the elements. Though rust isn’t a big issue on our ’62 GMC, the wood bed floor was barely hanging on. Though the look of the older wood didn’t bother us on this patina-style truck, function was becoming a problem because the wood was disintegrating. We couldn’t put any substantial weight in the bed without fear of the floor giving out. We knew that replacing the floor would be involved, and we put it off for as long as we could. Eventually, not only was the floor completely in danger of giving out, but the…

BRAND LOYALTY EXISTS IN ITS most potent form in the automotive world. Think about it: How do you respond when you step out for lunch and order a Coke, only for the guy behind the counter to ask, “Is Pepsi ok?” Chances are you’re going to say sure and start sipping away. As long as there’s a cola in your hand, it really doesn’t matter. When it comes to guys who have had a lifetime relationship with a certain brand of truck, the plot thickens. How could it not? For most of us, our affection for a certain type of vehicle was passed down to us from our dads/gramps/uncles or whoever else influenced our hobbies when we were kids. This is most certainly the case for Travis Enoch, who grew…

HISTORY, IT SHAPES WHERE we’ve been and where we’re headed. In the world of custom trucks and hot rods, the history behind a particular vehicle and why an owner chose a certain body style is often the best part of the story. While we would never underestimate a perfect stance, big brakes and bold billets, it’s often the humble beginnings of these stunning haulers that make us truly appreciate the finished product. Often, if a truck is old enough, it’s accompanied by a family history of first dates, trips home from the hospital, drivers’ tests and title transfers that carry through the decades. For Preston Folkestad of Des Moines, Iowa, the ’73 Chevy C-10 spread across these pages has been a lifelong family member. The Chevy was purchased new by…

I THINK WE ALL can agree that attention to detail leads to success, and the earlier we understand this, the better. James Voit might be standing at the threshold of his 40s, but he’s been working on custom rides for as long as he can remember, and he’s been sweating the small stuff for that long too. “I’ve been messing with anything with wheels as far back as childhood, after watching my dad work on his own projects,” James recalls. But it wasn’t until he was out of high school that he started to take the lead on a variety of wheeled projects. “I started custom builds in my early 20s with ’bagged rides, rock crawlers and bikes, and I’ve been messing with one or the other since then.” One…

SOURCES Auto Meter 866.248.6356 Autometer.com Brothers Truck Parts 800.977.2767 Brotherstrucks.com Summit Racing 800.230.3030 Summitracing.com Tre 5 Customs 602.284.2466 Tre5customs.com LAST ISSUE, we featured a ’79 Chevy square-body C-10 that was completed in several stages. In a previous story, we covered the suspension, then brakes and steering. This time around we’ll show you how to monitor an engine with a fresh set of instruments. The gauges are probably the most important items inside a truck, at least for the driver, and there are a few factors to take into consideration when selecting a new set. Of course, they need to accurately monitor the basics, but they should also look good. When searching for the perfect balance between form and function, we discovered Auto Meter Products. Auto Meter recently released a new…

Enforcer JR Supercharger For SBC THIS UNIQUE, SINGLE-CARBURETOR UNIT DESIGN FOR SMALL-block Chevy applications contains an Eaton H122 rotor assembly, which is capable of pumping out 507 hp and 487 lbs-ft of torque on a 350-ci motor with a 9.5:1 compression. Edelbrock 310.781.2222 Edelbrock.com S80 Replacement Transmission Case for GM 4L80E REID RACING’S S80 replacement case is a 100% bolt-in replacement for GM 4L80E transmissions and features bolt-on bell housings for all popular engines, 360-degree internal lugs and oversize snap rings that correct the major weakness of GM bell cases. Reid Racing Inc. 925.935.3025 Reidracing.biz Billet Supercharger Lid for LT4 Applications THIS BILLET LT4 SUPERCHARGER LID REPLACES THE UPPER supercharger lid on GM LT4 superchargers for a quick and clean installation. Nitrous and fuel are injected into each cylinder from…

BRAND LOYALTY IS something that most auto buffs cling to. Whether it’s domestic or foreign vehicles, fans usually don’t stray from the badging they are familiar with. Using parts from other brands to finish a custom vehicle would be completely sacrilegious. Although Jody Holdren has his favorites, he isn’t a hardcore loyalist. When he was 17, he bought and sold a few different vehicles quickly. The one he was most fond of was a ’70 C-10 with a six-cylinder engine and a three-on-the-tree shifter. He sold it to a friend, and within a few days, the truck was wrecked beyond repair. When he heard about the truck’s fate, Jody was filled with regret. Around the same time, he also had a ’70 Plymouth Barracuda, a muscle car anyone would covet.…

DURING THIS PAST SEMA SHOW, WE NOTICED A certain ’67 C-10 that stood out from the rest. That truck was in Chevrolet’s booth, and its plaque noted that it was a concept truck. We started asking around and discovered that the truck was built by a team at Chevrolet for the sake of the company’s centennial celebration of constructing trucks. We thought it was unusual for Chevrolet to revisit a classic model, and we wanted to know more. We scheduled a call with the heads in charge of the truck, and they filled us in on this special celebration pickup. “That’s how the ZZ6 Connect and Cruise package ended up in there. Everyone got real excited about it from the very beginning, as it was a natural fit with the truck…

SOURCES Performance Distributors 901.396.5782 Performancedistributors.com CTP Concepts 818.621.2082 Facebook.com/Ctpconcepts THERE ARE VARIOUS REASONS TO ditch your existing distributor. Maybe you want more performance or efficiency, or you’ve experienced catastrophic failure. No matter the reason, if you’re working with a vintage engine running an old points-style setup, it generally makes sense to upgrade to an HEI (High Energy Ignition) distributor. First introduced in 1974 by GM, HEI distributors provided more voltage and greater spark compared to points distributors, and only required a hot lead for operation. Although larger than a traditional distributor, the integrated coil-on-cap design made operation simpler and cleaned up the engine compartment. Plenty of aftermarket manufacturers currently make HEI distributors, but only a few offer unique features that bear mentioning. Performance Distributors’ D.U.I. (Davis Uniform Ignition) distributors are…

THOSE WHO PAY CLOSE attention to the goings on in the world of C-10 pickups (1967-72 models particularly) have definitely stumbled across the Rtech Fabrications name before. Randall Robertson, the man behind the Rtech brand, has captured the classic Chevy truck market with his creation of a legit crew cab for second generation C-10s. Remember, these models were never produced from the factory with a crew cab option. Rtech’s cabs pretty much knocked the classic Chevy truck community on its ass. They can be had through one of Rtech’s complete package builds or à la carte, which is a viable option for capable builders. However, if you can manage to get your hands on one of Rtech’s custom crew cabs, we highly suggest making it happen if your pocketbook allows.…

THERE ARE lots of reasons that old trucks can hold strong sentimental value for people. For some, they just plain harken back to the good ol’ days when trucks and (depending on the era) gas were cheap. Others might remember that cool uncle or neighbor who had a flamed paint job and Cragars. You know, the dude who rolled around with the rear air shocks pumped up all the way. Reliving that kind of nostalgia can awaken all kinds of feelings about our younger years, but these feelings are usually the strongest when there is a direct personal connection involved. “As the years went on, the truck became an integral part of the budding family’s dynamic, serving as its primary mode of transportation to everything from the grocery store to…

SOURCES American Racing Wheels Americanracing.com Classic Performance Products (CPP) 800.522.5004 Classicperform.com Ridetech 812.481.4787 Ridetech.com RIDETECH IS A COMPANY that produces suspension components that help vehicles handle better and stick more power to the pavement. The company prides itself on its quality coil-over systems that boost the performance of classic cars and trucks. Ridetech has been on an autocross campaign in recent years, and many racers prefer to run its products to help shave time off the clock. Although we like slammed trucks, we really like to go fast in them. Unfortunately, most air suspension systems can’t handle high horsepower because they are too soft, which causes wheel hop when serious power is applied. If you want great handling in a lowered stance, you’ll need a good coilover system. To get…

IF YOU HAD TO BE REMEMBERED IN one build, what would it be? Would you pick a classic and make it modern, or would you try to take it back to its former glory? For Robin Greenhagen Jr. it all began with this ’70 Chevrolet C-10 that was purchased for his father, Robin Sr., as one of his retirement projects. The project has since taken on new meaning, to be admired as much for its classic and clean style as for the work that has gone into it. Robin and his father were forced to tackle some heavy questions during the build. With his father losing his battle with cancer before the project was finished, Robin Jr. took up the mantle to complete the Chevy as it stands today, turning…

EVERY NOVEMBER IN PHOENIX the leaves start to change, the weather finally cools off, and Chevy trucks fill the streets of central Phoenix, which can only mean one thing: It’s Git Down time! What started as a small gathering of friends at Dino Battilana’s Phoenix home back in 2011 has turned into the C-10 party of the year. In the beginning, Dino thought he would host a small backyard barbecue for some local friends and a few out-of-towners cruising in for the Goodguys Southwest Nationals. Late last year Dino and his team made the Git Down an official three-day event. A Pre-Git Down Mixer was held Thursday evening, Friday was the official Git Down and Saturday morning everyone headed out for the freeway cruise to the Goodguys show. Saturday night…

THIS YEAR’S SEMA SHOW WAS A literal C-10 takeover. The event validated the C-10 movement like nothing else. With more than 40 C-10-style builds scattered throughout the Las Vegas Convention Center, these trucks made a clear statement. A statement that most of you reading this already know: C-10s are rad; C-10s are timeless; and C-10s have a lot of life left in them—a lot. These legendary trucks offer a ton of variety, and just like GM did more than 50 years ago, the current crop of SEMA builders outdid themselves upping the creative ante. From River City Rod and Customs’ rad C-30 camper (saloon on wheels) to a ’66 C-10 saved and built by college kids from Western Iowa Tech to Randall Robertson of Rtech Fab (Hayden, Idaho) showing off…