Mmmdrop, a Laid-out Long-bed ’67 C-10

It was 1995, and David Scade of Alberta, Canada was 18 years old and fresh out of high school with his eyes set on a classic Chevrolet C-10 pickup truck to customize and make his own. He soon located a ’67 long-bed version, and the near 20-year journey David has had with the truck began. Since David’s tenure of ownership has spanned nearly two decades, the truck has seen several different paint jobs, numerous wheel and tire combinations, a handful of different powertrain configurations, and a host of suspension systems. In the fender wells, where the 22- and 24-inch billet smoothies now rest, once spun a set of mismatched 15s, a set of billet 15s, and even a set of chrome 17-inch wires all had their day. The truck has gone from primer to paint and back to primer several times. Two shiny maroon paint jobs have coated the metal followed by a stint in purple primer due to an accident, and then there was flat black finish just before the classic two-tone it wears today. It was even used to haul shopping carts for David’s work and lug around snowmobiles and quads on the weekends all while serving as his daily driver. David and his C-10 have a long history together.

“THE TRUCK HAS GONE FROM PRIMER TO PAINT AND BACK TO PRIMER SEVERAL TIMES. ”

To bring the C-10 up to current custom code, David tore it down in his home garage and went to work. The chassis was modified with a Thorbeck Bros. rear frame notch and rear wishbone 3-link setup. Up front a Porterbuilt Fabrications Drop Member and Belltech drop spindles with RideTech Strong Arm tubular upper and lower control arms nail the suspension geometry, while Slam Specialties RE7 airbags, front and rear, set the rockers where they belong. A 12-bolt rearend stuffed with Moser axles and 3.73 gears was narrowed 3 inches and gets the rear 24s tucked and spinning appropriately. A 20-gallon aluminum fuel cell under the bed floor provides for convenient fillups and extended range, while a Tuff Stuff Power Booster and master cylinder combined with SSBC rotors and Hawk brake pads create safe and reliable stopping power. Buried in the fenders are 22×8-inch and 24×10-inch Centerline smoothie billet wheels mounted on Toyo Proxes 265/30R22 front and 275/30R24 rear rubber.

For the powertrain, David opted for a 1985 Chevrolet small-block machined by Alberta Engine Rebuilders. David assembled the mill himself using .30 over flat top pistons, a Comp Cams bump stick, GM ported heads with 194 valves all topped with an Edelbrock RPM manifold and 600-cfm carburetor. Flowtech block-hugger headers send the exhausted gasses packing through a custom 2.5-inch aluminized exhaust and Flowtech mufflers. A Powermaster high-output alternator keeps the juice flowing, while a Summit Racing four-core aluminum radiator and dual electric fans in a custom shroud keep operating temps in check. March Performance pulleys keep the 325-hp small-block spinning smoothly. Power is delivered to a built TH-350 transmission fit with a B&M stage II shift kit and upgraded clutch packs all prepped and assembled by Superior Automatic Transmission.

When it came to bodywork and paint, David kept it simple and retained most of the OEM heritage, save for the shaved door handles, locks, gas filler and tailgate handle. The cab was restored with new floors and cab corners by RJ Groot of Johnny K’s Customs, and the bed floor was raised to clear all of the insane suspension trickery. For the fresh color blanket, David opted for SEM Hot Rod Black complemented by DuPont White topped with Crystal White Pearl. Bright silver was used for the lace pattern on the roof with silver strips done in One Shot on the grille. To complete the blend of restored and custom looks, fresh 1967 replacement body molding and chrome trim were installed for a homerun finish.

Between the doors, the interior was upgraded with black marine-grade vinyl and red houndstooth inserts. David, Mike and Steve Armstrong worked together to install the GM 1967 bench seat cover. A molded black carpet kit conforms to the replaced floors, and an upholstered headliner with black marine-grade vinyl was custom made. For cruising jams, a Sony head unit was joined with Phoenix Gold wiring, Rockford Fosgate 6×9 door speakers and Pioneer 12-inch subwoofers backed by Phoenix Gold amplifiers were installed. A layer of Dynamat in the cab keeps things tight and quiet for a thoroughly pleasant cruising experience.

David Scade has enjoyed his ’67 long-bed C-10 for 20 years through various stages and styles of customizing. He claims that he just wants to drive it in its current “finished” stage. Here’s to another 20 years of camshaft-thumping, exhaust-cackling, low-rolling and rim-tucking good times in Mmmdrop. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

David Scade
1967 Chevrolet C-10
Alberta, Canada
Freaks of Nature

ENGINE/TRANS

• Shop: Alberta Engine Rebuilders/Owner
• 1985 Chevrolet 350
• 325 hp and 380 ft-lbs torque
• .30 over flat-top pistons
• Comp Cams camshaft
• Edelbrock RPM intake manifold
• Edelbrock 600-cfm four- barrel carburetor
• Flowtech Block-hugger headers
• Custom 2.5-inch Flowtech exhaust
• MSD ignition
• March Performance pulleys
• Summit Racing four-core aluminum radiator
• Ron Francis wiring

SUSPENSION

• Porterbuilt Gen 1 Drop Member
• Bell Tech drop spindles
• Ridetech Strong Arm tubular control arms
• Slam Specialties RE7 air springs
• Thorbeck Bros. rear frame notch and rear wishbone 3-link
• GM 12-bolt rearend narrowed 3 inches
• Moser axles

WHEELS & TIRES

• 22×8 and 24×10-inch Centerline smoothies
• 265/30R22 and 275/30R24 Toyo Proxes

BODY AND PAINT

• Shop: Johnny K’s Customs
• Shaved door handles, tailgate, gas filler and locks
• Raised bed floor
• SEM Hot Rod Black/DuPont Crystal White Pearl
• Custom lace pattern
• Silver pinstriping

INTERIOR

• Black marine-grade vinyl with red houndstooth inserts
• Molded black carpet kit
• Custom headliner
• Restored ’67 C-10 steering wheel
• Chrome gauge panel
• Sony head unit
• Phoenix Gold audio wiring
• Rockford Fosgate 6x9s
• 4.5-inch dash speaker
• Pioneer 12-inch subwoofers
• Phoenix Gold amplifiers
• Dynamat

Special Thanks: Mom and Dad, Ryan Donaldson, Steve and Mike Armstrong, RJ Groot, Mike Turn, Robbie Rice, Jacob Reimer, Byron Larson and Robin McCaghtery

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