lassic trucks have a way of making simple upgrades feel like dominoes. Fixing one problem often sets up the next one to follow.

On this 1966 Chevrolet C10, the first problem was obvious: the factory fuel tank behind the seat. It was normal for the era, but it is not exactly the setup most of us would choose today.

That is where Auto Metal Direct’s (AMD) 17-gallon top-fill tank relocation kit comes in. The AMD kit relocates the tank between the rear framerails, cleaning up the cab and providing a more modern, safer, and better-packaged fuel system foundation. The tank is similar to a Suburban-style tank, but not exactly the same. Luckily, the framerails already have holes and mounting areas that make the kit a simple bolt-in installation.

But once the tank moves, the fuel system plan changes with it.

This C10 is powered by a Chevrolet Performance LS3 crate engine using the factory GM controller, so it needs steady EFI fuel pressure, clean fuel delivery, and an electric pump that can keep up without making the rest of the system overly complicated. For this project, we are installing Holley’s Sniper 19-360 universal returnless fuel pump module in the relocation tank.

hen it comes to batteries most of us don’t think about them until you jump in your truck, turn the key, and nothing happens for the umpteenth time. So it’s at this point you decide it’s time to replace that old battery, but that’s not the simple chore it once was. At one time the choice was simple enough: you bought a battery that fit. However, today there are far more considerations, and with the help of a pair of experts, Daryl Brockman from OPTIMA and Brady Basner from XS Power, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know when it comes to choosing a battery.

In simple terms, a battery is an electrochemical device for storing the electrons we know and love as electricity. A battery has anodes (negative plates), cathodes (positive plates), and an electrolyte that allows electrons to move between the plates. In a lead-acid battery the plates are made up of a lead grid covered with lead oxide paste to carry the current. In use (supplying an electrical load), electrons travel from the anode where they’re “stored” to the cathode and on to the device using power. During the charging process the electrons are moved in reverse direction from cathode to anode. While there are several reasons for batteries to fail, when the lead oxide paste eventually “wears out” the battery can no longer function.

e’re going to take a look at a recent 1967 C10 project built by BBT Fabrications in Mahomet, Illinois. While the body of this truck has been left mostly stock, the detail work done under the skin is truly special, with plenty to draw inspiration from.

The condition of the truck was about as good as could be expected for something nearly 70 years old, but as you’ll see, rust had taken its toll on the cab floor and several other panels. BBT excels in sheet metal fabrication, and you’ll see them work their magic in bringing this truck back to top form.

he bed of a classic pickup truck is a substantial feature of the vehicle as a whole, so it makes sense that it should be treated with as much attention to detail as the paint, interior, or engine compartment. But that wasn’t the case originally, as these haulers were built for work, so it was more a matter of function over form. As these old trucks were resurrected, however, they received a new lease on life; a more laid-back life as it commonly turns out. Thus, the treatment of the wooden surface was viewed from a different perspective.

As custom builds became more popular, exotic woods like Flamed Birch, Bird’s Eye Maple, and Black Walnut replaced the more common Pine or Oak, thanks to companies like BedWood & Parts, who specialize in custom bed wood kits. Additionally, BedWood developed a number of custom finishes and sealers, from satin to glossy, giving the end user a plethora of options when it came time to accent the centerpiece of their classic truck.

hen you’re a member of the truck community, you build out your show schedule months in advance—and if you’re like us, you have a few non-negotiables. Some events are skippable, while others, like the Grand National F-100 Show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, are written in ink, underlined, and circled as a must-see event. Even if you’ve been to all of them, you’ll want to be at the next one, and that’s part of the formula for a successful event. The Grand National F-100 Show has that staying power and proves to draw a crowd year after year.

The three-day event is held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge. This facility hosts several car and truck events throughout the year, and it’s designed for indoor and outdoor use. The Grand National F-100 Show uses every square inch of available space, as it crams more than 1,000 vintage Ford trucks into the convention center, as well as the adjoining parking lots. There is also a huge swap meet as well as a great selection of new parts vendors, restoration shops, and specialists on display.