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”

– link to the build thread“

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.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com