SUN-BLEACHED PATINA STRAIGHT OFF THE FARM

 Resting comfortably in a North Carolina barn since the 80’s, this 1966 Chevrolet C10 was everything I hoped it would be. The sun-bleached patina paint still showed plenty of the life with the original blue peaking through. What started as a longbed with a little 283 three-on-the-tree, was now a full blown project. As my first frame off project ever, I became nervous as is saw the bare frame sitting in place of where my truck once sat. I questioned whether I would be able to actually put it back together and be drive able again. So I got started shortening the frame with some help from an old episode of Stacy David’s Trucks as a tutorial. Then came the bedsides. Cutting rust is easy, welding it is another story. Let’s just say it was completed. The bed received white oak boards with a dark walnut stain, holding it all together with flush mounted aluminum bed strips. QA1 supplied the suspension with upgraded factory style components capable of autocrossing on any track. Drop spindles from CPP complete the 4” front and 6” rear drop overall. The tubular trailing arms, carry a shortened Moser 9-inch with a Detroit Truetrac differential and 3.89 gears. The 13 inch drilled and slotted discs with 6-piston and 4-piston front and rear Wilwood calipers have no trouble stopping the 275/40ZR20 and 335/35ZR20 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on 20x9 and 20x12 matte black steelies. The little 283 three-on-the-tree was a great driver, but not exactly what I was hoping for in the horsepower department. I still had sitting in the corner of my garage a 496 cubic inch big block from a prostreet 67 Camaro that used to be the home of this beast. Built by Platinum Performance Engines this 700 horsepower rat should be more than enough to go back and forth to the grocery. With a Tremec TKX 600 5 speed behind it, this should be some fun. A Flowmaster exhaust system with Super 40 mufflers lets the engine rumble, but the electric exhaust cut-outs let it roar. The sound system is a retro style Bluetooth AM-FM stereo and Kenwood speakers. Quikwire makes sure the Stewart-Warner gauges and electronics work flawlessly.  Rounding out the simple interior is a diamond stitch seat in chocolate brown from Snowden. Alas, the transmission and interior are incomplete as of now, as life gets in the way. Maybe next summer, this labor of love will be terrorizing the streets. Until then keep the greasy side down and stay between the ditches.

Article by: Jason Mock            Photos by: Wendy Mock