Once the C10 was disassembled, it was time to focus on updating the chassis. After the factory spine was blasted clean, it revealed a clean bill of health, making it a perfect base to build from with Perry’s Mobile Welding of Gilbertville, starting by boxing the ’rails. From there, the team updated the frame with Classic Performance Products’ (CPP) Deluxe Chassis Upgrade Kit, including their exclusive Drop Center Crossmember (for C10s getting a 4-inch plus drop), transmission crossmember, rear tubular shock crossmember and shock relocation kit, rear coil spring retainer kit, and C-notch kit. Out back you’ll find the refreshed original 12-bolt rear packed with a Detroit Truetrac and 3.73 gears spinning 30-spline axles. It’s suspended in place by a combination of CPP’s Totally Tubular trailing arms matched to 5-inch drop coil springs and shocks, 1-inch lowering blocks, Deluxe Trac Bar, and 1-1/8-inch sway bar.

To nail the stance and add razor-sharp handling, the front suspension was updated with CPP’s Totally Tubular upper and lower control arms deftly matched to their 2-1/2-inch modular drop spindles combined with 3-inch drop coil springs, shocks, and 1-1/4-inch sway bar. It all carves a course through a CPP 500-Series power steering box with a 14:1 ratio, mounted with their matching steering linkage kit. When it’s time to shave speed, a CPP dual power master moves fluid through stainless lines to a CPP Big Brake kit featuring zinc-washed 13-inch front and 12-inch rear, drilled-and-slotted rotors, matched to PBR C15 dual 52mm piston front calipers and single-piston rear calipers. Linking it all to the street with a dash of style you’ll find a set of U.S. Mags Rambler-Series wheels sized 20×8 front and 20×10.5 rear, capped with Nitto NT555 rubber, sized P245/45ZR20 and P315/35ZR20 respectively.

Wanting to add plenty of thunder between the ’rails, Adam went straight to Chevrolet Performance for one of their stout HT383ci small-block crate V-8 engines. The fresh iron block with four-bolt mains was packed with a 4340 forged steel crank linked to heavy-duty forged steel rods capped by hypereutectic aluminum pistons getting bumped by an upgraded Howards Rattler stick installed by Kevin Labonte. For even more power, Labonte added a set of Air Flow Research (AFR) Enforcer aluminum heads matched to a Weiand Speed Warrior intake crowned by a Holley Sniper EFI system. Cool bits include Billet Specialties Streamline-Series air cleaner with Chevrolet script valve covers and Edelbrock aluminum water pump. An MSD DIS Direct ignition lights the fire with exhaust roaring through a set of Sanderson headers to a custom 2-1/2-inch stainless exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers all by Countryside Customs. To move the goods, a TREMEC TKX five-speed trans with a RAM clutch links to a custom driveshaft by Mitchell Differential of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

There’s nothing like restoring vintage steel that’s been tortured for decades. Once the cab and related parts returned from blasting, the Countryside team got busy, first tending to corrosion damage by replacing the complete floorpan assembly and rockers with freshly struck steel from LMC Truck. From there it was time to fuse plenty of subtle updates while working with Jeff Ryder of Ryder Fabrications. They commenced with the roof by removing the skin to delete the rain gutters while also widening it and flanging it back to the ’jambs to match a stock appearance. From there they crafted new B-pillars to mirror the shape and sweep of the door and bedside while also adding Delmo Speed door handles. A one-piece cowl panel was fabricated with a smooth center complemented by all factory seams welded smooth from front to rear, lengthened headlight buckets, shaved light bezels, and frenched turn signals. A shaved and tucked front bumper and vent glass delete with one-piece rear glass from One Piece Products wraps up the cab.

Underhood, the firewall was smoothed and complemented by a custom radiator support and filler panels, hidden fender fasteners, redesigned hood latch system, and Ringbrothers hood hinges. Out back, a fresh bed from LMC Truck was widened to flush meet the cab for perfect panel match while the lower pinch welds were shaved. A custom roll pan and smooth tailgate with hidden latch features a custom free-floating cam-style support system, making it strap-free. Once all the custom work was completed, everything was metal finished and gapped to prepare it for paint. To add just the right amount of allure, Maio laid down a mile-deep coating of Axalta Porsche Gentian Blue, bringing the vibe, complemented by an LMC Truck oak wood bed stained in satin black.

To bring the interior to the next level, the restored factory dash was packed with a direct-fit gauge cluster from Classic Instruments to monitor the vitals, complete with an integrated tachometer and quartz clock while a 14-inch Billet Muscle-Series steering wheel from Forever Sharp carves a course through an ididit tilt column. Gears pull through a Hurst stick while cool breezes are compliments of Vintage Air, with tunes from Rockford Fosgate. It all comes to life through a Painless Performance Products wiring system installed by Ron Phelps of Old School Services. For plenty of comfort on the long haul, the factory bench was redesigned by Atomic Autoworks of Middlefield, Connecticut, utilizing Relicate leather and their own special custom stitching complemented by black loop carpeting. This is one C10 that will see plenty of miles on the road as the future generation of Adam’s family take the wheel of their granddad’s truck, and to us that’s as good as it gets!