Up next F100 Parts Buyer’s Guide – Updated! Published on April 07, 2022 Author GINA REYNOLDS Tags 1968 Chevy C-10, 6L80E, accuair, belltech, Billet Specialties, COMP Cams, Dakota Digital, Eaton TruTrac, forged, Ididit, jl audio, LMC, Lokar, LS3, RideTech, Scott’s Hotrods, US Mags, Share article Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Mail 0 Airbagged 1968 Chevy C-10 – California Rod and Custom Built one Piece at a Time When you see a truck like this, you imagine that the owner picked up an old vehicle and simply customized it. That’s what makes the most sense in our minds. Start with a vehicle that runs, add some custom touches and presto, you have a custom pickup. Sure, there are situations like that, but it’s not usually the case.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter People who build full-custom vehicles from the ground up usually disassemble the whole thing to start with a good foundation, which is usually the frame. In the case of Kyle Williams’ ’68 C-10, his foundation was the cab. He’s loved C-10s for a very long time, even before they were all the rage. He often discussed his build plans and dreams with family members and friends to get reactions and opinions. The feedback he received helped him move forward when his friend, Derrick Fletcher, ended up giving him the cab to begin the project. A well-dressed Chevy LS3 engine surrounded by custom metalwork delivers the gumption that powers the truck. Building a custom truck like this can be complicated. If you want to do things right and achieve top quality, you need to break the truck down and build it back up. This may sound complicated but it’s not. These classic trucks are very basic and simple to work on. Taking them apart and reassembling them isn’t as difficult as it might seem, but it does take time to do the job right. In a way, Kyle was lucky to start off with just the cab because he didn’t have to spend a lot of time taking everything apart. Like a model kit, this truck was constructed piece by piece. The only difference was that Kyle didn’t start off with all of the pieces; he had to collect them from different sources to create his truck. After receiving the cab, Kyle was able to track down a short-bed frame. With help from Geoff Paloposki, the frame was boxed, and a Scott’s Hotrods and Customs Super Slam front kit was installed. A rear frame notch was used in combination with Ridetech StrongArms and a custom Watts-link system. The chassis was equipped with Slam Specialties RE-8 airbags that are controlled via AccuAir e-Level system. From there, he ordered as many parts as he could from LMC Truck’s extensive catalog, including the majority of the body panels and necessary pieces to make the truck functional. To power the truck, Kyle ordered a stout Chevy LS3 engine backed by a 6L80E transmission and a narrowed 12-bolt rearend with Eaton TruTrac. Harold Hopnik and his team at California Rod and Custom helped along the way and even performed a few custom touches. Underneath the hood you’ll find a shaved firewall and sheet metal that was formed to cover up the wheels. Moving back, the wiper cowl was shaved and the rear window was replaced with another that is 2 ½ inches taller so that it matches the height of the sides. In the rear, the bed floor was raised, and bead-rolled pieces of sheet metal were welded to the inner bed sides for a cleaner appearance. On the inside, Derek Frieson of Custom Creations Upholstery handled the interior, and the stereo was installed by Brett Halbert of Creationz Speed and Sound. The inner bed was customized with a raised floor, bead-rolled walls and widened tubs. Managing the air ride is an AccuAir e-Level system with touchpad mounted in a modified ashtray. When it came to styling the exterior, Kyle had no problem choosing the right rolling stock. He happens to work at MHT Wheel’s Western Canadian distribution center. Familiar with the catalog, Kyle chose a set of US Mags three-piece forged M-One concave wheels and had the brushed centers powder-coated Lollypop Red. Then he shod the new wheels with a set of Pirelli tires. Finalizing the exterior, Metal Craft Fab and Paint Shop gave the C-10 a two-tone paint job with BMW Space Gray and Alpine White II. This truck is living proof that you can actually build a C-10 with practically nothing. Kyle started off with only a cab, and with the current generous output of parts from aftermarket manufacturers, that’s all you need to start a project these days. We’re not saying it’s easy, but it can be done. This truck is an example of what can be accomplished if you have the time and patience to create a truck, one part at a time. Though it may have taken Kyle 13 years to finish, the result is worth the wait. [divider]Truck Specs[/divider] Owner Kyle Williams 1968 Chevy C-10 Abbotsford, BC, Canada Engine Chevy LS3 COMP Cams XFI series XR265HR camshaft Small-block script valve covers mounted with Delmo’s Speed & Kustom adapters Billet Specialties accessory drive Sanderson headers Custom exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers Custom-made air intake by California Rod and Custom PRC custom radiator SPAL dual electric fans Doc’s Custom rear tank 6L80E transmission 12-bolt rearend narrowed a total of 4 inches Dutchman axles Eaton TruTrac Chassis & Suspension Shop: Geoff Paloposki, California Rod and Custom Original short-bed frame boxed and smoothed Scott’s Hotrods & Customs Super Slam front end kit Belltech spindles Ridetech rear StrongArms Custom Watts-link in rear Rear frame notch Slam Specialties RE-8 airbags Ridetech adjustable shocks AccuAir e-Level 13-inch Baer brakes ABS electric high Power brake booster Wheels & Tires 22×9 and 22×10.5 US Mags three-piece forged M-One concave wheels 255/30ZR22 and 305/30ZR22 Pirelli PZero Nero Body & Paint Shop: California Rod and Custom and Metal Craft Paint Shop LMC Truck bumpers, grille, front fenders, doors, bedside and tailgate Shaved antenna, gas cap, door locks, emblems, stake pockets, firewall and wiper cowl Custom front inner fenders 8-inch headlights from Toyota FJ Cruiser One Piece Products side glass Rear glass extended down 2 ½ inches Chrome-plated GSI door handles Custom bead-rolled inner bed walls Rear wheel tubs widened Raised bed floor with black stained oak Fesler taillights Matrix paints BMW Space Gray Metal and Alpine White II Interior & Stereo Shop: Custom Creations Upholstery, Metal Craft Paint Shop and Creationz Speed and Sound Glide engineering seat frame Volvo perforated leather Custom center console Custom door panels Shaved dash pad and radio AccuAir touchpad in custom ashtray Extra glove box used for dash gauge bezel Dakota Digital VHX gauges Hidden control switches Lokar Performance Product pedals Ididit steering column US Mags M-One 14-inch steering wheel Daytona weave carpet Vintage Air SureFit kit JL Audio MBT-RX Bluetooth audio controller JL Audio ZR 650 CS7 speakers in kick panels JL Audio HD900/5 amplifier Two JL Audio 10TW3-D4 subwoofers in custom box Special Thanks From the Owner: “Derrick Fletcher (guy who’s ‘free’ cab cost me a ton of money); Alana Williams (wife who looked the other way as I drained the bank account); Jesse Williams (son who will one day inherit it); Harold Hopink, Derek Paton and Clint Mochinski from California Rod and Custom, Aldergrove, BC, Canada who took this thing to the next level the past five years); Adam Egborg (Metal Craft Paint Shop); Derek Frieson (Custom Creations Upholstery); Brett Halbert (Creationz Speed and Sound for the Audio) and MHT Luxury Alloys for the job that allows me to be in the automotive industry.”