BetsyRed63
Well-Known Member
I guess this can kind of be my build thread. It may go stale a lot and take 10 years to finish...
I've got a rusty 61 c10 short bed big window that is on a 63 frame. I always just say it's a 63.
The truck was used in the movie "My All American" with Aaron Eckhart. I don't believe it's been released. I bought the truck from a set designer.
So, I've learned a lot from this site in my short time here. Turns out I know way less than I thought I did...
I dropped the 383 in my truck for the time being just to have something fun to drive around while I practice my welding skills and many other skills, and read up on everything I can here. It was a fresh build I got for $1200 but if I had to do it again I probably wouldn't go the same route.
Breakdown of my 383 with the crappy heads.
Cylinder Heads are GM Cast Iron 72cc Chamber
1.940 In valves
1.500 Ex valves
3/8 rocker studs
7 degree keepers
1.25 valve springs
Block was line honed
Block was honed with honing plates
Lifter bores are honed
Keith Black .030 coated pistons
.030 Filt Fit Moly Rings
Scat 5140 Cast steel crank
Engine is balanced to a 400 wt
Stock rods 5.7 long
Stock style oil pan
Clev 77 large radius Main and rod bearings
Seal Power cam bearings
Brass Freeze Plugs
Set of Hyd. Lifters
Stock Rocker arms
Mell oil pump and drive
Mell oil pump pickup
ARP head & main bolts
Double Roller timing set
A mild street cam 480 lift 112 cen 224 dur at 50 (I hate that I don't have more info or a brand on this)
Rpm air gap, edelbrock 650 vac sec. elec. choke (First edelbrock carb, not sure I like it)
TH350
12 bolt with 3.55 gears, 26" diameter tires.
The body has some pretty bad rust which I plan to fix myself once I get confident with my welds. I'm really confident I can handle it. The frame however has no rust at all which is nice.
It's a junker but I love it!
Replaced the ball joints, shocks and springs, brakes, new wiring harness, all new door and window mechanics. New glove box, windshield wiper motor and arms... a lot of little stuff here and there.
I will be doing my own interior since I do upholstery in my furniture business, and my own unique wood bed floor.
I've realized I really should upgrade my suspension and maybe get some power steering.
I've read it's a fairly easy task to swap in a front clip from a later model truck, (72-84 maybe). Seems like an affordable way to get disk brakes going on this thing. Seems like I would have a better variety of spindles and rotors etc...
I'm not positive if the rear end would be as easy, I haven't looked into it quiet yet. I do like the trailing arms on it now and I assume it may require relocating those brackets to the newer rear end, IF I can't simply switch the axles to have disk brakes all around.
Everything I am doing now will be in plans to support a mildly built big block in the future. I miss the big block. My first car was a 71 gmc sprint with a 454. Had big plans for it, stripped it to the frame and had to move out of town so I had to get rid of it.
Built an 85 chevy short bed after it and with help built a 468 for it. I still regret selling it, but I bought a new truck and a fishing boat and started a construction business... Fishing and work is all I made time for.
I guess my big question is this...
Would it be worth it to buy a later model truck with a big block. That way I can use the front clip and the motor? I believe I could use some of the accessories as well and brackets or fabricate my own ( I would rather fabricate things than buy one when possible and reasonable within my skill set)
Then maybe part the rest of the truck out to cover some of the cost.
I don't have thousands of dollars to dump in my truck in a short time so it will take me some time.
Have a lot of back issues I've been dealing with for the last 8-10 years. Back pain doesn't just kill your body, kills your bank account too ha.
I'll tell you what though, working on this truck really relaxes me and gets my mind off the pain for a bit.
I've got a rusty 61 c10 short bed big window that is on a 63 frame. I always just say it's a 63.
The truck was used in the movie "My All American" with Aaron Eckhart. I don't believe it's been released. I bought the truck from a set designer.
So, I've learned a lot from this site in my short time here. Turns out I know way less than I thought I did...
I dropped the 383 in my truck for the time being just to have something fun to drive around while I practice my welding skills and many other skills, and read up on everything I can here. It was a fresh build I got for $1200 but if I had to do it again I probably wouldn't go the same route.
Breakdown of my 383 with the crappy heads.
Cylinder Heads are GM Cast Iron 72cc Chamber
1.940 In valves
1.500 Ex valves
3/8 rocker studs
7 degree keepers
1.25 valve springs
Block was line honed
Block was honed with honing plates
Lifter bores are honed
Keith Black .030 coated pistons
.030 Filt Fit Moly Rings
Scat 5140 Cast steel crank
Engine is balanced to a 400 wt
Stock rods 5.7 long
Stock style oil pan
Clev 77 large radius Main and rod bearings
Seal Power cam bearings
Brass Freeze Plugs
Set of Hyd. Lifters
Stock Rocker arms
Mell oil pump and drive
Mell oil pump pickup
ARP head & main bolts
Double Roller timing set
A mild street cam 480 lift 112 cen 224 dur at 50 (I hate that I don't have more info or a brand on this)
Rpm air gap, edelbrock 650 vac sec. elec. choke (First edelbrock carb, not sure I like it)
TH350
12 bolt with 3.55 gears, 26" diameter tires.
The body has some pretty bad rust which I plan to fix myself once I get confident with my welds. I'm really confident I can handle it. The frame however has no rust at all which is nice.
It's a junker but I love it!
Replaced the ball joints, shocks and springs, brakes, new wiring harness, all new door and window mechanics. New glove box, windshield wiper motor and arms... a lot of little stuff here and there.
I will be doing my own interior since I do upholstery in my furniture business, and my own unique wood bed floor.
I've realized I really should upgrade my suspension and maybe get some power steering.
I've read it's a fairly easy task to swap in a front clip from a later model truck, (72-84 maybe). Seems like an affordable way to get disk brakes going on this thing. Seems like I would have a better variety of spindles and rotors etc...
I'm not positive if the rear end would be as easy, I haven't looked into it quiet yet. I do like the trailing arms on it now and I assume it may require relocating those brackets to the newer rear end, IF I can't simply switch the axles to have disk brakes all around.
Everything I am doing now will be in plans to support a mildly built big block in the future. I miss the big block. My first car was a 71 gmc sprint with a 454. Had big plans for it, stripped it to the frame and had to move out of town so I had to get rid of it.
Built an 85 chevy short bed after it and with help built a 468 for it. I still regret selling it, but I bought a new truck and a fishing boat and started a construction business... Fishing and work is all I made time for.
I guess my big question is this...
Would it be worth it to buy a later model truck with a big block. That way I can use the front clip and the motor? I believe I could use some of the accessories as well and brackets or fabricate my own ( I would rather fabricate things than buy one when possible and reasonable within my skill set)
Then maybe part the rest of the truck out to cover some of the cost.
I don't have thousands of dollars to dump in my truck in a short time so it will take me some time.
Have a lot of back issues I've been dealing with for the last 8-10 years. Back pain doesn't just kill your body, kills your bank account too ha.
I'll tell you what though, working on this truck really relaxes me and gets my mind off the pain for a bit.
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