LS1Tech Marketplace Find: ’79 Chevy C10 Is the Start of a Beautiful Sleeper
Clean classic Chevrolet pickup packs LS power, a beefed-up drivetrain and aftermarket suspension.
While scrolling through the newest listings in the LS1Tech Marketplace, we came across this 1979 Chevrolet C10 and immediately fell in love. The few pictures included don’t tell much of a story, but what looks like a clean, low-riding square body is a heavily-modified hot rod pickup that has worlds of potential. It could be driven and enjoyed how it sits today, but for someone who wanted more power or a flashier exterior, all of the building blocks are in place for a monster street sleeper.
The Introduction
When the “truckdoug” first listed his sweet 1979 Chevrolet C10 for sale back on Christmas day, he provided the following information and the pictures shown here. We have arranged it into bullet points for easier reading.
“-really nice 2 owner short wheelbase fleetside
-super solid body no holes in the rockers or cab corners
-5″ front drop, spindles and springs. Front suspension components all brand new quality stuff. Delco professional grade joints, poly bushings. Lower control arm modded for modern caster numbers. This thing drives like a new car
-5″ rear drop, axle flipped ford 8.8″ axle with a tru-trak posi and 3.73 gears
-fresh 5.3 ls motor, flat top pistons, big valve heads, mild cam. running the stock PCM on speed density, tuned with HP tuners
-fresh th350 trans, shifts nice and firm but not bone shattering
-sitting on 15×10 steelies in the back and 15×6 in the front
-overall it’s a great little driver as is. I had planned to add A/C, cruise and a turbo, but other projects are calling. This is a great start to your own “muscle truck”
While the pictures provide us with a look at several key aspects of the truck, they aren’t the best pictures in the world and we would guess that the few exterior shots don’t do this pickup much justice. That being said, the picture seem to be the worst thing about this listing, as the truck seems to be the result of a well-planned and well-executed project.
As time went on, the OP also included the short burnout video below.
Drive It or Build It
In its current form, we bet that this 1979 Chevrolet C10 is a blast to drive. Between the LS engine and the fully-built suspension setup, it probably rides and handles better than most square body pickups. The interior could use some love and the exterior appears to be relatively stock, but that is part of the allure of this classic Chevy.
If you walked past this truck in a parking lot, you wouldn’t think twice about what appears to be a lowered, stock-looking square body. Depending where you are in the United States, there are plenty of clean C10s from this era that sit low and look stock, because they are stock. This truck looks stock, but it is likely a whole lot quicker than any stock C10.
Better yet, the 5.3-liter LS engine provides a great basis for a big-power build, perhaps with a turbocharger, nitrous or both. Thanks to the transmission, differential and suspension upgrades, this truck could make good use of far more power than the stock 5.3 is capable of, so if you bought this and got bored with the current state, there is plenty of potential for improved performance.
First-Hand Input
Shortly after this 1979 Chevrolet C10 was listed for sale, forum member “happydaze” went to check it out in person and he had nothing but good things to say.
Just thought I would drop a quick note on this truck. I stopped by to view this truck and drive it. It is extremely well sorted and drives great. The body of the truck is in solid condition as well. My wife about had a coronary or I would have driven home in this bad boy. Doug knows his stuff and obviously takes pride in his work. If you want a c-10.. this is a damn solid deal!
This truck is still available and with a price of $7,000, we are pretty surprised that it hasn’t been snatched up.