Tearing into the C10

The real work on my 1971 C10 started with tearing out the old drivetrain and suspension so I could get the truck ready for the direction I want to take the build.

The truck was running a 350 small-block Chevy with a Turbo 400 automatic transmission, but I knew from the beginning that I wanted to change things up. Since the plan is to use parts from the 1996 Corvette donor, the first step was getting the old engine, transmission, and suspension out of the way.

Pulling everything apart gave me a better look at what I was working with and what would need to be changed before the Corvette drivetrain and suspension could go in. It also gave me a chance to start cleaning up the frame and figuring out how everything will need to be mounted.

This part of the build was mostly about starting fresh. Removing the old setup meant I could begin planning around the LT4 engine, 6-speed manual transmission, Corvette suspension, and brakes that will eventually make their way into the truck.

There’s still a lot of fabrication, measuring, and figuring things out ahead, but getting the old engine and suspension out was a big first step.

The C10 is officially coming apart, and now the real build can begin.