Chip brought his 1967 GMC to last year’s C10 Shindig in Independence, Missouri. Chip fixed it up for his father Vern after losing his previous truck in a severe wreck.
“We took everything from whatever was left from that and bought this one,” Chip said. “We bought it as a nice truck we were just going to drivetrain swap. The more I took it apart the more I didn’t like. By the time I got done, there were four bolts left holding the cab on the frame, so it’s been completely apart to the frame.”
The truck now has a 5.3L and a 4L60e from a 2006 Silverado, DeadEnd Garage shock relocators, long travel shocks from an OBS, three-quarter mod on the a-arms, TMI seats, Dakota Digital THX gauges, modified dash with a double din DVD player, No Limit Engineering wide rear, rear sway bar from a WS6 Firebird, 1-ton sway bar in the front, and long travel shocks.
Chip built this truck for his father and now dedicates it to him. Vern got to drive it and enjoy it before passing away last Christmas.
“He was one of my best friends and we’ve talked almost every day,” Chip said.
“A lady hit him going 70 in a 35 and moved the front end over about a foot, killed his dog, and gave him a severe close hit brain injury.”
“One of the After Effects was that once he focused on something that was all he would focus on, and once we got him back on his feet, all he would focus on was getting another truck.” Chip stated about his father.
When asked about what was the hardest part of the restoration, Chip said it was the cab.
“There’s a lot of work in the cab. The firewall has been cut, I cut half the firewall off. It’s actually a ‘67 air truck, believe it or not. He didn’t want it. He wanted this smooth firewall and all of it hidden because that’s what it was on our last truck.”
“The first thing I tell people is literally don’t tear it apart if you don’t have to. So many people have no idea what they’re doing. It’s not an insult. It’s a lot to learn. I am 50 years old. I’ve been doing this since I was 15 and there’s still stuff I don’t know how to do. It’s a great way to learn, but what happens is people buy them, they take them home, they rip them apart stem to stern and then they’re completely overwhelmed.”
Chip said it’s best to break the build into chunks and take it one section at a time.
“Then what you find out is if you watch videos on YouTube, you can get with Classic Parts and you can buy the Seat Cover Kit and the foam kit,” Chip said. “Look at a couple of YouTube videos and go to harbor freight and buy some hog ring pliers and do a passable job of making an interior you can live with on your own for three $400.”
Chip’s favorite part of the restoration is paint. He felt like paint is what really brought the truck together. He enjoys seeing how great it looks after paint.
“That’s my favorite part,” Chip said. “It’s like unwrapping a Christmas present.”
Chip also said another one of his favorite parts is being with friends and family.
“I come to these places (C10 Shindig) and I run around like crazy because I see that dude, I know that dude, I know that dude,” Chip said. “It’s like being at a wedding.”
Chip ended the interview by saying “I just told my wife I don’t know what regular people do.
Do you golf? What? I don’t know, because it’s the only thing I do.”
It’s all I care about too 😉
1955 3100 project. Paint color in honor of my Dad Lee R.I.P(1965 Corvette Nassau Blue). He put that color on a 1940 Ford 1/2 ton pickup in the late 1960’s. Wish I could post a pic here.
Dan
This man is smart! Not every truck has to be a show piece. Make it your own in your own way. I have a 1982 GMC Sierra Classic fully loaded with original paint. It was my wife’s truck when I met her and she used to tow around a little 2-horse trailer to rodeos. She bought it in 1990. We didn’t baby the truck, we used it. It was the nicest vehicle we had when I met her.
I put a new crate 350 Mr Goodwrench motor in it 25 years ago for $1,300 (I think they’re now over $3k), but then didn’t drive it much because we upgraded to newer trucks through the years. It became my “yard truck.” Recently, I decided to start restoring it, just like this man said, one chunk at a time, as I had free time.
Did the interior first, a reseal on the motor next, then replaced the cooling system, radiator, water pump, etc. The motor only has 30K miles on it but it sat for most of the last 20 years. I’m now working on the exhaust, still has all the CA smog equipment that doesn’t function properly.
It’s been a blast and it gets me out from in front of the computer, my regular job. I learned to work on cars in my youth because every car I had back then was a piece of crap. So I had to work on them so I could surf in the AM and go on a date in the PM.
I encourage everyone who has an old truck to just get out there and start turning wrenches. Forget about making it show quality, unless that’s your goal.
I like driving my newer truck, but I plan on making this my daily driver again. When I climb into the cab it takes me back to simpler times. And I love the way the old school exhaust sounds. I’m always surprised when some dude walks by me when I’m getting out of the truck and says, “Cool truck, Man.” They’re right, old my yard truck is cool, and it ain’t no show truck. Just have fun.