'65 C10 SWB Build
When I picked it up

Rebuilt the brake system, and scored a set of 22" smoothies

Painted them a cherry red. CPP 5" drop springs & shocks

Then my buddies at Painless told me they were looking for a 64-66 C10 SWB to use as a guinea pig to update their full body harness. So I towed it back up to Dallas.

4ish months later, the truck is wired with their brand new updated bus style fuse box/wiring harness. The truck was missing quite a few things like a turn signal stalk, horn, etc, they ordered all that stuff so everything works now.
And then Wrench a Part had a $150 engine sale last weekend, so I picked up the new power plant to replace the 250.
Bagging the truck, motor will be mostly stock minus cam/head gaskets/studs. Probably putting an NV3500/4500 behind it.

I'm driving up to Painless in the morning to pick up the truck and haul it back. Excited to get working on it again.
Anyway, I'll be swapping in a Ford 8.8 out of an Exploder. Why? Because they're cheap, 31 spline LSD rear ends with disc brakes. These old 12 bolts aren't anything fantastic anyway.
Onto the pics.
Motor is almost ready to go back together. I still need to order a shimmed ls6 pump and an ls2 timing chain, but I drove up to Texas Speed this morning and picked up a bunch of goodies.
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Anyway, I'll be swapping in a Ford 8.8 out of an Exploder. Why? Because they're cheap, 31 spline LSD rear ends with disc brakes. These old 12 bolts aren't anything fantastic anyway.
Onto the pics.
Motor is almost ready to go back together. I still need to order a shimmed ls6 pump and an ls2 timing chain, but I drove up to Texas Speed this morning and picked up a bunch of goodies.

I recognize that engine stand, harbor freight special?
subscribed to the thread looks like a cool build. If possible I would like to get some more info on your buddy at painless. I live in Dallas and didn't know they had a facility here.
$800. You technically can't buy them unless you know someone who works for a dealership that can somehow get them. They're factory GM transport wheels, and have a $1,500 core charge. All new SUV's are usually transported with them, then the dealers swap wheels and have to ship these back to the factory.
truck they needed and have a few buddies that worked there.
But since I'm doing a Porterbuilt rear end setup it doesn't matter, I can use anything that fits. 8.8 is superior in every aspect and at 2" narrower, I can fit some bigger tires

It's really my go to choice for axle swaps in older vehicles because it just makes sense, and I'm not a purist

Nearly 2 years making 500+ in the Volvo. Multiple 4-5k launches and my pinion bearings are just now starting to make noise (I didn't replace them when I swapped the rear end, and the JY slammed it on the ground with the forklift separating it from the Explorer.
Last edited by onetype; Sep 25, 2014 at 08:47 PM.
I had planned on putting a new pump and doing a lot of "piece of mind" stuff while I was open, but aside from the top end sludge, and some in the pan the motor looks spotless.
I want this build to be a driver, something I can drive across country on 87 octane and not care about. So it's going to stay as stock as possible.
It's a 3 speed Saginaw right now, debating on swapping an NV3500/NV4500 or going 4l60/4l80. I hate auto's, but for the sake of a cruiser I might go that route.
Last edited by onetype; Sep 25, 2014 at 11:50 AM.

Ditch the boat anchor of a 12 bolt just like you are planning.
Nice to have a new harness to work from. Are you going to be doing a MS3pro on the new motor or stick with GM PCM?
I am still dinking around with the 6.0 turbo setup in my f100 have yet to make any boost runs on it.
Keep up the build thread and Ill follow along.
Kind of glad you are ditching the 22's, I think they are too big and heavy.
Sean
I was thinking ms3pro for this one as I don't have a harness yet, but I have a nice shiny 0411 pcm. I just don't know much about the MS stuff to be honest, but the less wires the better it will "blend" in I think.
I actually really like the 22's, the truck just needs to be a lot lower for them to look right. The problem with keeping them is that:
1) I would have to keep the factory 12 bolt which isn't happening
2) I would have to actually want to spend an absurd amount of money on a disc brake setup retaining one the least common bolt patterns ever made, which would severely limit my wheel options.
I had original planned on keeping the truck stock inline 6, and doing a t5 or similar swap and just bagging it which is why I initially bought the 22's.
Plans have changed quite a bit...
I probably won't work on the body much for a bit, aside from some small patch panels. I want to roll it around rusty with the swap for a bit lol. Then I'll probably go to a flat cream or something semi retro.
I finally found the cause of my front end vibration on the Volvo after a year and a half, so I drove it up to Texas Speed and bought a bunch of goodies.
Ordered bolt in mounts from Early Classic. At $240 shipped I probably should have made my own, but now I have some time to focus on other stuff.
Going to grab an 8.8 tomorrow, and hopefully pull the motor/trans this weekend if I have some time.
Waiting for ECE mounts, also picking up an immaculate 4l80 for dirt cheap (hopefully today).
Last edited by onetype; Sep 28, 2014 at 12:34 PM.
We use that stuff on big old boilers on tear down, and its the Bee's Knees.
Truck looks good, you are going to love that 4l80E. You going to do a descent converter in it?
Sean
I'm going to have to try Kroil. Only thing holding the front clip on now are the bottom fender bolts which are seized pretty good.
VA finally payed me so I have enough play money to pretty much finish the truck. Hope to have it done in a few weeks.
Now I can pull the motor/trans, which is already sold. I'm -$75 into the swap at this point.











