’64 Chevy C10 Longbed | RALPH RESURRECTED

Stephen Williams’ 1964 Chevy C10 Barn Find.

True barnyard finds just don’t happen very often anymore. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult to find those tucked-away gems that have been hiding away for many years. Stephen Williams of Allardt, Tennessee, got lucky. He came across a pretty unique barn find in December 2018. 

Stephen has always liked older trucks and vehicles.

“I would have to attribute that to my dad and my papa Clyde,” Stephen says. “I actually have a couple of Polaroid photos of the trucks they used to have. They were ’64-’66 body styles. They were always trading them and always had one around.”

Fortunately, Stephen was fortunate enough to save this ’64 Chevy C10 from being destroyed.

He had been searching for a truck to build for quite some time. He attended Dino’s Git Down in November 2018, which motivated him to build an old truck. One day, Stephen came across a ’64 Chevy C10 when he was scrolling through the Kansas Craigslist, and it was the perfect barn find. The truck had been stored untouched for several years, and the owners were ready to get rid of it. Stephen immediately got a plan together to pick up the C10, and before he knew it, a car hauler was headed to Kansas to bring the truck home.

As soon as Stephen got the truck in his garage, they hit the ground running.

“We took our time on this build,” he says. “We blew it completely apart all the way down to the frame and built it back up from there.”

Fortunately, Stephen was able to save the factory ’64 frame. However, he had a few tricks up his sleeve for changing up the entire look of the truck. He decided to cut the C10 down from a longbed to a shortbed. Stephen and his best friend, Elliott Broyles, modified the original frame and added a GSI front drop member and GSI complete back half. The frame was then sent off to Volunteer Coatings in Knoxville, Tennessee, where it received a high-quality powdercoat.

Once Stephen received the frame back from the shop, he moved on to the suspension. Stephen and Elliot installed the Accuair Endo CVT setup with e-level to give the truck pristine ride quality. They also put Airlift Dominator airbags in the front and Firestone airbags in the rear. The original fuel tank was removed and replaced by a GSI tank. With the chassis modifications and suspension complete, it was time for body work.

Stephen started on the exterior of the truck by fabbing up some custom inner fenders. He then installed Hart Fab firewall panels and bed tubs. Since the frame had already been cut down, they then had to shorten the bed. This required a lot of patience and precision.

“The most difficult part of the build for us was the bed subframe,” Stephen says. “This was only our second truck that we had built.”

Once the bed had been cut down and the subframe was complete, he was able to start on the top of the bed. Stephen added sassafras wood panels for the bed floor that he purchased from a local friend, Dexter Wright. In order for everything to match up perfectly, they custom made a metal plate that was then dimple dyed and painted black. They were then able to mount it directly inside the bed in front of the tailgate.

Many long hours were spent in the garage creating this one-of-a-kind C10. Although the build was difficult, Stephen continued to push forward. Luckily, his wife, Kristen, and his kids were there to support him throughout the entire process. His son even helped name the truck.

“While I was building the truck, my son Jakob had been watching the movie ‘Wreck it Ralph,’” Stephen says. “One day I asked him what I should name the truck. Jakob said Ralph, and since that day it has stuck.”

Stephen decided to keep the original grille and bumpers since they would go along with the theme of the truck. He already had his mind set on what to do for paint.

“I love patina,” he says. “I have since I’ve been messing with these trucks. That is what draws me to them. The more original paint and patina it has, the more I love it.”

Since the truck was shortened, it did need some touch up to the paint on the bed. Russell Cunningham of Allardt, Tennessee, was able to fake the scars back into the bed of the truck. Richard Voiles of Knoxville, Tennessee, then laid down a fresh coat of paint on a few of the truck panels. The only non-original paint on the entire truck is the lowers on the front fenders and the bed scars.

Stephen then grabbed a set of 22-inch Budnik Knife wheels that would be tuckin’ hard when he lays out the truck!

Once the body work and paint were complete, Stephen moved on to the engine. Stephen knew he would either go big or go home. He would be installing a ’05 Chevy 6.0 LS V-8 under the hood of this Chevy C10. To make this engine swap happen, he purchased a BP Automotive wiring harness. Installed an LS2 intake and Holley mid-mount accessory system. Next he decided to do a little upgrading to the motor before getting it bolted up. He added a BTR stage-3 cam and 799 heads to really give ol’ Ralph some extra horsepower. Stephen then installed brand new Holley LS3 exhaust manifolds to finish out the motor. He was then able to get rid of the existing exhaust and install a full 2.5-inch stainless Magnaflow system. They routed the exhaust down the truck and then created a custom bedside exit exhaust.

After the engine was mounted under the hood, Stephen continued on to the drivetrain. With his lead foot, he knew he would need a beefy transmission. He purchased and installed a ’05 Chevy 4L80 transmission along with a Circle D 3200 torque converter. In order for the new transmission to fit, he installed the GSI trans crossmember.

“Everything bolted right up underneath the truck,” Stephen says.

Luckily, the transmission cooler was included in the Champion Radiator he installed. The truck was going to be putting out some series power, so Stephen decided it was time for a brake upgrade. He added a Wilwood master cylinder along with Wilwood brakes in both the front and back. Stephen was starting to see the finish line as the build was finally coming together.

As the build continued, Stephen started on the interior. The original seats were removed, and a set of brown leather Snowden custom seats were installed. He wanted to keep the dash original but give it a little taste of some modern technology, so Stephen installed a Dakota Digital RTX instrument cluster and gauges. He also added a Custom Autosound stereo to match the overall theme of the truck.

“One of the most unique parts of the interior is the Old Air Products heat and air system we installed,” Stephen says.

Custom door panels were also installed to match the seats and really finish off the interior. Through all of the challenges Stephen faced in this build, he never lost sight of his goal.

“I learned a lot while building this truck,” he says. “I realized how much I love building vehicles. Take your time and don’t take any shortcuts.”

In the end Stephen’s hard work and determination kept this barn yard find from being sent to the crusher.

TRUCK SPECS

 Owner 

Stephen Williams

’64 Chevy C10 Longbed
Allardt, Tennessee
Build Cost: $40,000
Club Affiliation: C10 Club Tennessee

Chassis

GSI front drop member
GSI complete back half
Shortened frame and bed
GSI trans cossmember
Accuair Endo CVT setup with e-level
Airlift Dominator airbags
22-inch Budnik Knife wheels
Wilwood master cylinder
Wilwood brakes front and back

Engine

’05 Chevy 6.0 LS V-8
BP Automotive wiring harness
LS2 intake
BTR Stage 3 cam
Holley mid-mount accessory system
Holley LS3 exhaust manifolds
2.5-inch stainless Magnaflow system
2005 Chevy 4L80 transmission
Circle D 3200 torque converter
Champion Radiator
GSI fuel tank

Body Mods

Custom inner fenders
Custom firewall panels
Hart Fab bed wheel tubs
Custom bedside exhaust cutouts
Factory Fawn paint
Sassafras bed floor wood panels

Interior

Snowden custom seats
Dakota Digital RTX
Custom Autosound stereo
Old Air Products A/C system