Simple Green, a True Do-It-Yourself 1963 C10

Here at Street Trucks, we truly believe in and encourage the do-it-yourself builder. The pride and possible frustration that come with building and working on your own truck are experiences that will last a lifetime. The end result of years’ worth of work in your own garage, with help from some friends, is a great story to be told. With Jesse Barnett’s retro-inspired flat green 1963 C10, he has built a clean ride on his own. His talents extend to photography, too, and his images are what you see here. It’s only fitting to finish things off by having him tell his story in his own words. — Jason Mulligan

The first truck I had was when I was 15 years old. It was a Chevy that I worked on in my driveway after school. I saved up some cash and put some custom rims and tires on it, lowered it and painted it all by myself.

Custom trucks kept me busy and out of trouble. I have had dozens of custom cars and trucks since. Everyone always asks me, “Whatcha building?” followed by, “When are you going to sell it?” I can’t stop it; it’s definitely an addiction.

Step 1: Source the Truck

This truck came about one day while I was out to lunch with my wife and daughter. I have always loved the 1963 C10 short bed fleetside big window. And while searching on my Craigslist app on my iPhone I found one, and it was local. Right away I gave them a call, and within hours I was negotiating a price. The truck was in decent shape, but I knew what I had in store for it so it didn’t matter that it wasn’t perfect.

Step 2: Plan the Suspension

Within a week I was on the phone with Nathan at Porterbuilt going over my plan. A few weeks later— BAM—full Porterbuilt front Dropmember with upper and lower control arms, sway bar and a rear trailing Porterbuilt kit at my door. Then things got going quickly. Working on the truck around my full-time job, I tore the frame down, cleaned it up and got all of the suspension installed.

Step 3: Build the Drivetrain

Then I moved on to the drivetrain. I wanted to keep it simple, so I ordered a GM crate 350 motor topped off with an Edelbrock manifold and carburetor. Then I put some finned valve covers and an air cleaner on it to keep the old school look.

Finally, I added some Flowtech headers. Next, I had Lodi Transmissions rebuild a TH350 for me. I had Boyd’s driveline service make me a custom two-piece driveline. The stock 12-bolt rear was completely overhauled by West Coast Differential in Sacramento with new axles, posi and 3.08 gears.

Step 4: Install Air Ride

I went through Jason at AVS to get my air ride needs taken care of, with an Accuair VU4 valve manifold with mufflers and a VIAIR compressor, 5-gallon tank and Slam Specialties ’bags in the front, with 3/8-inch line all around.

Step 5: Clean and Reassemble Sheet Metal

Next, I started cleaning up the sheet metal and putting the truck back together. I didn’t want to shave any of the truck’s handles or tailgate chains because I think it adds to the character of this truck to keep it simple.

Another beautifully built classic truck is this 1964 Chevy C10 feature.

Step6:  Mix and Apply Custom Paint

I wanted to go back to my childhood roots growing up in San Diego and make it a beach-style surf truck: smooth color, soft lines and a laidback stance.

Someone once told me that the truck is soothing to look at. When it was time to pick a color I wanted a satin, tropical look. I got a few different paint toners and a gallon of epoxy sealer and started tinting till I liked what I saw. Then it was time to paint.

If you’re keeping the original look, these tips on preserving patina are worth checking out.

Step 7: Complete the Interior

For the interior I picked up a bench seat from a 1994 Silverado and had it recovered by Mike’s Upholstery in Lodi, California, to a nice white, pleated, old-school style. For wheels and tires, I went with Coker 205/75-15s on 15 x 6 chrome smoothies with bullet caps.

I didn’t want chrome bumpers, so I took them over to Precision Powder Coating in Lodi and had the crew there sand them down and add a satin white powder-coat finish.

Step 8: Build the Bamboo Bed Floor

Then I built a custom raised bed floor, and in keeping with the tiki/surf-style, I went with a custom bamboo floor built by hand from 2- inch slats that took hours to finish. I think it fits the theme for sure.

With my wife and daughter behind me, I got to build one of my childhood dream trucks by myself in my cookie-cutter, two-car garage on a reasonable budget. ST

See another take on a 1963 C10 with modern muscle.

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1963 Chevrolet C-10 Build Specifications

JESSE BARNETT
1963 Chevrolet C-10
Lodi, CA

Category	Component	Details
Engine	GM Crate 350 V8	350 cubic inches
Intake	Edelbrock Manifold + Carburetor	Performer series
Headers	Flowtech	Long-tube style
Transmission	TH350	Rebuilt by Lodi Transmissions, Lodi, CA
Driveline	Custom two-piece	Built by Boyd’s Driveline Service
Rear End	GM 12-bolt	Rebuilt by West Coast Differential, Sacramento, CA
Rear Gears	3.08 ratio	Posi-traction unit
Front Suspension	Porterbuilt Front Dropmember	Upper/lower control arms + sway bar
Rear Suspension	Porterbuilt Trailing Arm Kit	Full four-link style
Air Management	Accuair VU4 Valve Manifold	With mufflers
Compressor	VIAIR	Model TBD
Air Tank	5-gallon	Brand TBD
Air Bags (Front)	Slam Specialties	Model TBD
Air Line	3/8-inch	Full vehicle
Air System Sourced	AVS (Jason)	Full system package
Wheels	15×6 Chrome Smoothies	Bullet caps
Tires	Coker	205/75-15
Brakes	Stock (not modified)
Seat	1994 Silverado Bench	Recovered by Mike’s Upholstery, Lodi, CA
Upholstery	White pleated vinyl	Old-school style
Paint	Custom-mixed satin flat green	Epoxy sealer base with custom tint
Bumpers	Factory steel	Satin white powder coat by Precision Powder Coating, Lodi, CA
Bed Floor	Custom handbuilt bamboo	2-inch slats, assembled by builder

 

Build Vendors and Resources

Vendor	Service Provided
Porterbuilt Fabrication	Front dropmember kit, rear trailing arm kit
AVS (Air & Vacuum Systems) — Jason	Full air ride system supply
Accuair	VU4 valve manifold with mufflers
VIAIR	Air compressor
Slam Specialties	Air bags (front)
Lodi Transmissions	TH350 rebuild
Boyd’s Driveline Service	Custom two-piece driveshaft
West Coast Differential	12-bolt rear end rebuild, axles, posi, gears
Mike’s Upholstery	Bench seat recovery, white pleated vinyl
Precision Powder Coating	Bumper satin white powder coat
Coker Tire	205/75-15 vintage tires

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What suspension kit did Jesse Barnett use on his 1963 C-10?

Jesse used a full Porterbuilt front dropmember kit with upper and lower control arms and a sway bar for the front, paired with a Porterbuilt rear trailing arm kit. The system was paired with Slam Specialties air bags and an Accuair VU4 valve manifold for air ride control.

 

What engine is in Jesse Barnett’s 1963 C-10?

The truck runs a GM crate 350 V8 engine topped with an Edelbrock manifold and carburetor. Finned valve covers and a matching finned air cleaner maintain the old-school aesthetic, while Flowtech headers handle exhaust.

 

How was the bamboo bed floor made on this C-10?

Jesse handbuilt the raised bed floor using 2-inch slats of real bamboo, assembling them piece by piece. The process took many hours and was inspired by a tiki and California surf aesthetic.

 

What paint was used on Jesse’s 1963 C-10?

Jesse mixed his own custom satin flat green by blending multiple paint toners into a gallon of epoxy sealer until he achieved the look he wanted a satin, tropical tone inspired by his San Diego beach upbringing.

 

What wheels and tires does the 1963 C-10 run?

The truck rides on 15×6 inch chrome smoothies with bullet caps, wrapped in Coker 205/75-15 tires a classic, period-correct combination that suits the truck’s vintage surf style.

 

Can a 1963 C-10 be built at home in a two-car garage?

Yes. Jesse Barnett built this truck entirely in his two-car garage in Lodi, California, working around a full-time job. The build demonstrates that a clean, air-ride-equipped, restomod C-10 is achievable without a professional shop.

 

What rear end was used in this C-10 build?

The truck retains its stock GM 12-bolt rear end, which was fully rebuilt by West Coast Differential in Sacramento, California, with new axles, a posi-traction unit, and 3.08 gears.