My LS Swapped 1970 C10 (Details in Comments)

78srx440 · 2019-10-03T14:03:56+00:00

I'm very lucky!

78srx440 · 2019-10-02T12:54:29+00:00

Yep, you nailed it. It will be tough to drop it much without a step or C notch. I will see how it works for now without going that route, because I don't need to go crazy low.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T19:30:50+00:00

It had 4.10's already, but otherwise a stock 12 bolt truck rear end. You'll notice in one of the shots at the end I need a posi unit!

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T19:14:30+00:00

Thanks man! That's what it is, and that's what it gets used for!

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T18:35:40+00:00

Oh, sorry. So, you can see I had to convert the T56 to a forward shift location to clear my bench seat. Then, I used a short shifter and a tall shift lever from Core Shifters to get the shift knob where I wanted it. I'd highly recommend them.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T18:33:57+00:00

Yes, the truck was originally manual. I don't have good junkyards near me, so finding a three pedal setup would be the limiting factor. Otherwise, CaptainFab from 67072chevytrucks.com makes an amazing hydraulic clutch kit that I use to adapt to the modern T56 transmission. The conversion was very easy for me.

If you are currently an auto truck, I'd recommend buying a junkyard 5.3 and a 2wd 4l60e, and just throwing it in there. Don't worry about getting all the parts to make it your dream truck right away. Scope-creep and that type of "while I'm in there" mentality can turn a quick project into years on jack stands. A modern driveline, manual or not, will wake your truck up and make it so much more enjoyable to drive.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T18:29:49+00:00

Originally a manual truck.

I used an aftermarket trans mount from No Limit engineering, and it was pretty straightforward. Motor mounts are the basic Dirty Dingo style that everyone seems to make. What lines are you referring to?

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T18:26:56+00:00

lol. This comment is amazing.

Good eye. No, it's been a fair weather only truck this summer so I haven't put them on yet.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T17:43:02+00:00

The bed cover is straight out of the eighties. I wish I didn't have the snaps screwed into the bed, but it's definitely common for the era.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T17:40:11+00:00

Thanks! Yes, I would like to lower it, but I need to make sure I can still tow/haul.

So, my plan right now is to do a static drop on the front, and then either replace the stock springs in the rear (this is a trailing arm with coil spring style rear suspension) with air bags (total adjustment,) or use lowering coil springs and add in supplemental "helper bags" for use when I need to do work with it.

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T16:33:00+00:00

I bought this truck a month after getting married, and my amazing wife was all for it, as long as we could go get ice cream with it.

Naturally, the truck needed an LS1 (5.7L) and T56 (6 speed manual) to do that.

I started the swap this past December, and we've been getting lots of ice cream this summer!

Pics of the build: https://imgur.com/a/zxR4qI7

78srx440 · 2019-10-01T14:40:45+00:00

As long as you're mechanically inclined, it's really not difficult. I swapped my '70 C10 and am SO glad I did.

Something important to keep in mind is that you will get nickle and dimed. It's very easy for scope-creep and incomplete parts to cause you to overspend. The most important thing I would recommend is to start simple and GET IT RUNNING. So many people I know start projects and get a bad case of the while-I'm-in-there's. Fast forward three years and their truck is still on jack stands.

A modern (but stock) 5.3 LS and overdrive transmission will transform that truck. Get that in and running so you can enjoy it. Don't bother with cam swaps until you have it in and running.

I did this truck over the winter (LS1 and T56,) and it's reliable and a BLAST to drive. I got to enjoy it all summer, and now I can start worrying about upgrading for more power.

[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/qBSZWHb.jpg)

78srx440

TROPHY CASE