Table of contents for Fall 2019 in C10 Builder's Guide

HONESTLY, HOW many times have you seen a close buddy or online acquaintance commit to a fully custom truck build knowing full well they’re never going to complete it? You can inspire them as much as possible with problem-solving suggestions or even a daily motivational quote you found online, but at the end of the day, you and I both know they don’t have the fortitude to see it through to the end. Some guys just have it, and some guys don’t. Which one are you? No matter how much planning, preparation and parts you have ready ahead of schedule, there’s going to be barriers along the way that have to be overcome, whether they’re financial miscalculations, family matters or health concerns. These trucks won’t finish themselves and they really…

AS THE OWNER OF PRO Performance, Travis Dulgerian deals with a lot of awesome rides on a daily basis. Because of this, his standards are pretty high when it comes to building his own vehicles. Case in point: His ’64 Chevy Suburban is likely one of the most detailed you’re ever going to see, even if you don’t notice all of the intricacies right off the bat. And make no mistake—this Sub gets driven! Not only does it serve as the family taxi to shows and cruise nights, but it also serves double duty as a marketing billboard for Pro Performance’s new line of React Suspension components, so getting it out in the public eye is a priority. Subtle tricks by Matador Rods & Customs include improvements like filled hood…

MY DAD ONCE TOLD ME, “Son, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it till it is.” That comment came after he saw me customizing a car, and he didn’t really understand why you would take apart and modify something when it was working just fine. I learned a lot of life lessons from my dad’s common-sense thought process—but I never quite succumbed to this theory. Back in 2003, I bought this 1977 Chevy Cheyenne. It had been restored to showroom condition by a previous owner. Ignoring my dad’s “leave it alone” philosophy, I immediately delivered it to Roger Lynsky of RPL Custom fame and commissioned him to install a RideTech air suspension system. We added a set of 20-inch billet wheels along with a few details to the stock motor.…

“Not taking anything away from the first guy, of course, or calling Trevor the “old guy” on the block, but when you hear just how many great trucks Trevor has owned over the years and learn just how invested he is in the current C10 scene you’ll know exactly why we’re making a big deal about him.” ALONG COMES a guy with a nice C10—maybe it’s his first classic Chevy truck that he bought because, well, it’s just the thing to do these days. And then a gent like Trevor Wilkinson comes motoring around the corner, a guy who has been into old pickups since the late ’60s when he was 8 or 9 years old (the math gets a little fuzzy at times). Heads turn. Not taking anything away…

IN PREVIOUS ISSUES OF C10 Builder’s Guide, we have gone over many different tech topics, including air conditioning, brakes and even shortening your bed’s length. But what about for the guys who want to build a nice daily driver from an old classic truck that they have in their backyard? Well, that’s where we turn our attention to in this issue. We follow along as Sean from A1 Tires and Suspension in Ocala, Florida, bolts a new BDS 8-inch lift kit underneath his 1987 Chevy square body. With this project, he was looking to have a nice daily driver that’s reliable, tough but also super cool looking. As a dealer for BDS, he knows how simple it is to order a kit and bolt it on in less than a…

Chevy LT Victory Pulley System CONCEPT ONE INTRODUCES AN ALL-NEW PULLEY SYSTEM FOR THE CHEVY LT family of engines. The LT Victory Series pulley system’s clean and simple design can be tailored with a variety of custom options and finishes for great appearance and function. Every Concept One pulley system incorporates top-quality components and a compact design—for ample clearance in both original and aftermarket chassis. Concept One Pulley Systems www.c1pulleys.com 1-877-337-0688 Rod Bolt Stretch Gauge APPLYING THE PROPER AMOUNT OF CLAMP LOAD TO A rod bolt is perhaps the most crucial operation in assembling an engine. Too much or too little torque can lead to engine failure. Measuring bolt stretch provides a 100 percent reliable method of getting the correct clamping load. Industry-leading fastener manufacturer ARP has taken accuracy to…

AS END-OF-THE YEAR HOLIDAYS wrap up, many people look toward the new year with fitness or work resolutions—and then there are other people↶ our people, the people who know that come February one of the biggest truck shows in the nation happens in Conroe, Texas. The Lone Star Throwdown has been the shining star of Texas on the same weekend each February, year after year. LST 2019 started with a little rain, but honestly, aside from a little mud, the weather stayed pretty pleasant the entire weekend. With brews flowing and BBQ on the grill, the weekend kicked off in full stride. From lifted to lowered and new to old, you could find any type of build that you are into strewn across the fairgrounds all weekend long. More than…

MORE THAN LIKELY, you’re familiar with Billetproof hot rod and classic street rod truck shows. If not, let us introduce you to these fun, rockabilly-style family events. They have been around for a while—so if you haven’t been to one, plan to, because they’re something that’ll make you fall in love with the unique culture they bring. Billetproof events are held all over the country, which makes it possible to potentially find one in your area. Lucky for us, this most recent show just happened to be right in our backyard at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala, Florida—and he himself was there. Yes, that’s right. The world famous “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. As if I need to even tell you about his legacy, but for those…

CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING involved with the first K5 Blazer design and build? Or the release of 1973 Chevrolet C-Series trucks? My friend Mr. Paul Hitch was the chief engineer for Chevrolet Trucks from 1965 to 1976—and he gave us the lowdown. I had the honor of interviewing him about his tenure with Chevrolet (1935-1978) and the time he spent engineering Chevrolet trucks during the C10 era, and he said one of his biggest accomplishments was the completely redesigned 1973 C10. The truck was to be originally released to the world in 1972, but because of time delays they pushed the “Squarebody,” as we know it now, back until 1973. Think about that. The 1972 Squarebody. Or the ’67-’71 era. They just don’t sound right at all, do they? Nope,…

WITH THE hunt for good project trucks getting tighter these days, it must be nice to finally catch a break. Deals are still to be had out there, but definitely not like before. Expecting a little less while paying a little more seems to be the way things are headed when looking for an old truck to rip into, but every now and then, the universe has a way of rewarding a few lucky guys who deserve a bit of good fortune. Robert Crowley can definitely place himself in the category of guys who lucked out in a major way. The ’68 C10 he has now was handed down to him 18 years ago before the whole Chevy frenzy began. If he had the extra cash lying around back then,…

“For the past three years a group of truck enthusiasts gather along a trail with a common goal of ending up in Conroe, Texas, for one of the biggest and best shows in the South: The Lone Star Throwdown.” YOU MAY HAVE heard that the journey is the story and the destination is the result. Eastbound and Down to the Throwdown 3 did not disappoint. For the past three years a group of truck enthusiasts gather along a trail with a common goal of ending up in Conroe, Texas, for one of the biggest and best shows in the South: The Lone Star Throwdown. Some show up driving their classics, some are towing, and some are just rollin’ in their daily—but the group has gotten bigger and bigger, which means…

ANY TIME YOU ask a custom truck owner why they decided to choose a particular make and model for their build, an interesting story always follows. That’s precisely what makes this industry so great, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s a truck previously owned by their father or close family member, and sometimes it’s the first ride they owned when they were 16. It’s no doubt that emotional, heartfelt truck stories are a dime a dozen—but what if you just like the way it looks when it’s laid out on big polished wheels? Dustin Ford of Knoxville, Tennessee, needed no sappy love stories or meaningful memories to choose this 1987 Chevy C30 dually. All he needed was a natural attraction to the truck’s straight-from-the-factory body lines, especially when it’s aired out and…

DONALD GLENN “DON” GARLITS (born Jan. 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. He is considered the father of drag racing. He is known as “Big Daddy” to drag racing fans around the world. Always a pioneer in the field of drag racing, he perfected the rear-engine top fuel dragster, an innovation motivated by the loss of part of his foot in a dragster accident. This design was notably safer since it put most of the fuel processing and rotating parts of the dragster behind the driver. The driver was placed in front of nearly all the mechanical components, thus protecting the driver and allowing him to activate a variety of safety equipment in the event of catastrophic mechanical failure or a fire. Garlits…

FOR MOST enthusiasts, creating a custom truck is a special event, something that might only happen a few times during a lifetime. Building one of your own often takes years to complete, but it’s generally followed by years of enjoyment. When you’re in the automotive repair and restoration business, however, sometimes good things happen with surprising regularity. John Orbe owns Laidback Garage and Customs in Middleburg, Florida, specializing in auto repair and restoration. John builds his own custom rods, estimating that he’s created more than 120 vehicles in the last 25 years. Every now and then however, when he finds a high-quality vehicle, he uses a different approach. “I’m picky about what I take in on trade,” he told us. But the build quality of this 1969 Chevrolet C10 Stepside…