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Working on this 68 C10 and doing some BIG Updates!
Originally a long bed, we are shortening the frame for a short bed, adding modern suspension and drivetrain.
We will be installing a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 LT4 engine with 650 hp @ 6400 rpm 650 lb⋅ft @ 3600 rpm paired with an 8 speed 8L90 transmission.
All suspension components are being supplied by QA1 (control arms, sway bars, links, coilovers, etc.)
The truck will be stripped all the way down, and all components replaced, upgraded, or restored to like new condition.
We are shooting for Pro-Touring styling, but this truck will be a driver and probably even see some track time.
Keep checking back as it progresses as I will be updating this thread every week or so. I will be trying to list all the parts we are installing and also any tips or tricks we come up with on each individual picture.
If you have any questions or are interested in having us work on your truck feel free to ask!
The day it arrived at the shop
Out with the old!
Starting to disassemble
Looking less like a truck!
Invisible Cab
Thats all I have for now, but big things are to come! This thing is going to be a show stopper that handles and has the power of a C7!
Last edited by Strictly Performance; 12-05-2018 at 02:15 PM.
With the truck down to the frame, we can begin the first big step. Making this long bed a short bed.
Here the template is bolted on the frame for cutting.
New frame reinforcement bolted up, prior to welding
Prepping for welding
Protecting the bare metal from rust before epoxy.
One side finished (green primer) other side freshly welded. Our goal is to make it impossible to tell it was cut/welded while looking at the frame from the outside.
Smooth frame and cant tell it was ever modified.
Tearing the cab apart to prepare for blasting.
We built a cart to make the cab easier to make around the shop
Dash removal
New rear suspension setup from QA1, comes with everything to swap the coil springs to a true adjustable coilover setup.
new front suspension from QA1 and knuckles from Wilwood.
Got the rear setup all mocked up
ilovers are compression and rebound adjustable. Beautiful Pieces.
Installing the front control arms.
All mocked up...
Installing the new Muscle Rods transmission cross member for mock up.
Flaming river rack and pinion
Muscle Rods also supplied us with the headers and oil pan
8L90 showed up from GM Performance!
Muscle Rods engine mounts
New bed kit from Carolina Classic Trucks
Last edited by Strictly Performance; 12-04-2018 at 02:42 PM.
Reason: adding content
Before installing the new LT4 into the C10, we slid it into the R8 in the background for fun (its getting a built V10, trans and twin turbos) and made a bunch of euro guys very mad. Check out our facebook to read all the hilarious comments from people being actually angry...
Got The LT4 Bolted to the transmission and set into the chassis for mock up and because we were excited to see how it looked.
It is officially mounted.
The 8L90 ransmission is bolted to the mount, we had to make some adjustments to the mount to get it to fit properly.
Test fitting the headers.
The headers look nice sitting in the chassis.
We started to run some wiring just to see what we were up against as far as tucking the harness. we want the engine bay to look as clean as it can. Also note where the driver's header is pointing, we had to "Massage" it about 15 degrees down.
The ecu will most likely be mounted under the seat, but a final location won'tbe known until we get the cab back from epoxy tomorrow.
Last edited by Strictly Performance; 12-17-2018 at 09:42 AM.
Reason: adding content
We just got the cab back from being media blasted and epoxied, and it was in sorry shape. We were told this was a southern truck but judging by all the rust it was from the salt belt. Although we were pretty overwhelmed buy the amount of work that was ahead of us, we dove right in and started sourcing as much reproduction sheet metal as possible. Unfortunately, every layer is not available for these trucks, so we had to custom make a lot. We are also shaving a lot of the excess holes and smoothing everything out that we can on the firewall. This update is almost exclusively body and metal fab related.
This hole is in one of the sections ofcab that don't have a reproduction part.
Rear window seal must have been leaking...
Under the rockers was in really rough shape. the rockers had been replaced before and looked like they were welded on by a3 year old.
The floor pan and inner firewall were in bad shape, so we are replacing them
This is the lower a pillar where it meets the floor pan. there is a lot of work needed in this area...
Cab corner gone, and thesee thru floor pan
The passenger side floor pan was repaired at one point, notice all the rivets... we will be replacing the whole corner.
The inside of thedrivers footwell was really bad. All the thin metal is being cut out and all new metal going in.
Test fitting the new floor pan on the frame before we mount it to the cab.
Why work at a performance shop if youcant have fun??
We braced the structure with tubing and the old rockers. Our tech, Daryl said it was his masterpiece "Roll cage"
Floor pan going in!
We had an interesting way to lift the cab, but it worked great and was totally safe.
Once the floor pan was mounted, we set the cab on the frame to take a look and make measurements to ensure everything was square.
This was our first glance at what it was going to look like.
Last edited by Strictly Performance; 01-25-2019 at 09:35 AM.
Reason: updating
11-09-2018, 10:44 AM
LT4/8L90 '68 C10 Project 
