Mods
250 I6 with a shitty old 3 on the tree that kept sticking in 1st, to a 305 with Holley 650 on a TH350 (eventually to some manual if my dumb ass can figure that out). Also welded some extra light weight racing spec chinesium floor pans, rockers and cab corners.
Build story
I wanted to start my first "project" and a friend was selling this old C10 for way too much, so I bought it. He told me that it was a Kentucky farm truck, and was brought up and "restored" around the 90s he thinks, where it continued life as a farm truck. It was in OK shape, and the frame looked solid. I really liked the mid 70s looks so it didnt take much convincing. I didn't and don't know what I'm doing, I vaguely knew that it would be a money pit, but I wanted to get started on ANYTHING and I could chip away at it over time either way. I also knew the truck was rusty, but I had no idea how bad it actually was. \r
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My old neighbor is a professional welder, and was able to help get me started on fixing the body. Once we got started, we had to use the lowest settings and still kept blowing holes in the original floor, which was a lot different than the minty racing floor we were using. There was so much rust that the plan was to just patch what I can, and then use fiberglass filler for whatever holes are left. When we went to go do the cab corners, we decided to take the box off, and unfortunately it collapsed under it's own weight, essentially. My buddy has a flat bed frame ready to go so all of my friends and I are just gonna have to use our combined 69 IQ to get that finished and mounted. The rockers weren't too bad going in, but again, the minty racing panels didnt actually line up properly, which I thought was hilarious. \r
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Moving on, the 250 I6 ran pretty well, and the 3-speed worked a little. I wanted to keep it at first but parts for both are hard to find and the gear linkages were all messed up. Someone smarter than me could probably work with them, so hopefully that's who I sold it to. I ended up getting a 305/TH350 and basically the whole front end of a 1980 truck for like 600 bucks (rest was junk, and everything got dropped in the driveway for me so idc) so I decided to just go for the swap. In hindsight, I might have been better off leaving the fact'ry drivetrain, but V8. I really have no idea what I'm doing at this point and have never done anything like this before. I have been making slow progress here and there, and hopefully should have this turd running again in a few months, but I've been winging it this whole time and probably making ALL the mistakes, but if I can even drive this thing for a summer I'll be happy with it. \r
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I'm super lucky to have all the help from my neighbor with the welding, because I've done more welding than wrenching on this thing so far, and surprise, I had no clue how to even start with it. Once I get the engine sorted and running good, I would like to try and get a 5-speed for it, and eventually get the paint cleaned up, as well as general fixes if I'm gonna have it long enough.\r
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TL;DR I paid way too much for this sacked out whoor of a truck and my half-retarded city kid brain thought it would be a good idea to hot rod it like all the guys on the lubetubes do, but I don't know what the fuck I'm doing so it's just a shit show whenever I go near it, and I think it'll do greasy skids when it's actually done as long as I don't fuck it up.\r
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Also I was stoned the while time.
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My old neighbor is a professional welder, and was able to help get me started on fixing the body. Once we got started, we had to use the lowest settings and still kept blowing holes in the original floor, which was a lot different than the minty racing floor we were using. There was so much rust that the plan was to just patch what I can, and then use fiberglass filler for whatever holes are left. When we went to go do the cab corners, we decided to take the box off, and unfortunately it collapsed under it's own weight, essentially. My buddy has a flat bed frame ready to go so all of my friends and I are just gonna have to use our combined 69 IQ to get that finished and mounted. The rockers weren't too bad going in, but again, the minty racing panels didnt actually line up properly, which I thought was hilarious. \r
\r
Moving on, the 250 I6 ran pretty well, and the 3-speed worked a little. I wanted to keep it at first but parts for both are hard to find and the gear linkages were all messed up. Someone smarter than me could probably work with them, so hopefully that's who I sold it to. I ended up getting a 305/TH350 and basically the whole front end of a 1980 truck for like 600 bucks (rest was junk, and everything got dropped in the driveway for me so idc) so I decided to just go for the swap. In hindsight, I might have been better off leaving the fact'ry drivetrain, but V8. I really have no idea what I'm doing at this point and have never done anything like this before. I have been making slow progress here and there, and hopefully should have this turd running again in a few months, but I've been winging it this whole time and probably making ALL the mistakes, but if I can even drive this thing for a summer I'll be happy with it. \r
\r
I'm super lucky to have all the help from my neighbor with the welding, because I've done more welding than wrenching on this thing so far, and surprise, I had no clue how to even start with it. Once I get the engine sorted and running good, I would like to try and get a 5-speed for it, and eventually get the paint cleaned up, as well as general fixes if I'm gonna have it long enough.\r
\r
TL;DR I paid way too much for this sacked out whoor of a truck and my half-retarded city kid brain thought it would be a good idea to hot rod it like all the guys on the lubetubes do, but I don't know what the fuck I'm doing so it's just a shit show whenever I go near it, and I think it'll do greasy skids when it's actually done as long as I don't fuck it up.\r
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Also I was stoned the while time.