AutaBuild - Repair And Save. Logo

News & Reviews

Private Party Sellers
Click here to place your ad now!

Fixer-Upper 1970 Chevrolet C10 Transformed into a High-Performance Trophy Magnet

Everyone whos ever wanted a custom vehicle but was uncertain about their ability to complete the project has to start by finding a reputable shop manned by trustworthy folks who have the talent to turn dreams into reality. Since horror stories abound, the selection process becomes a critical first step. Ron Arrowood from Apopka, Florida, has been a devoted Chevy fan all of his life, with the C10 platform a special favorite. A circle track racer in the past and currently enjoying his hobby of building race engines in his shop, Ron had some very specific ideas of how his next ride would be configured, although he didnt want to tackle the job himself. Fortunately, word of mouth recommendations from friends led him to Don Endonino and Zip Simons, owners of Street Metal Concepts (SMC) in Sanford, Florida. Their high-end restoration and custom build shop was established in 2013 but their history together goes back a couple of decades. Good friends since the high school, Endonino and Simons participated in the autobody program at school and worked on their own custom rides along the way. After Endonino graduated in 1993 and Simons in 1994, they went their separate ways, employed by local collision shops, restoration shops, and classic muscle car shops, each gaining valuable experience in every phase of mechanical upgrades and customizing. Fast-forward two decades and the two good friends realized it was time to join forces. Both men had built several award-winning customs of their own and applied that same level of personal detail to customer vehicles, making them fun, safe, and reliable. Rons C10 was built during the first year the shop opened and is a testament to their talent and attention to detail. Everything begins with a plan and the SMC pair met with Ron to work out the details. The C10 was initially slated to be a test mule for the engines that Ron built but the body was a little too rough to meet the goal. The plan was just to fix it up a bit, but as you can see sophistication somehow crept in at every level! In order to meet the objectives of high-performance and modern handling, the first step immediately set the tone for the rest of the build. The new chassis from No Limit Engineering uses mandrel-bent rectangular steel tubing, and just for fun was powdercoated in a showstopping bright orange. It came with a parallel four-link and Panhard bar supporting a Ford 9-inch Posi rear, fitted with 3:73 gears and 31-spline Moser axles. No Limits tubular A-arm frontend and AGR Performances power rack-and-pinion steering teamed up with SMCs one-off, three-piece sway bar to guarantee autocross-level handling. RideTech ShockWaves provided adjustable altitude and the Wilwood 13-inch, four-piston disc brake package activates with a Hydratech hydraulic brake assist system to ensure modern stopping power. SMC positioned an 18-gallon tank between the rear framerails and fabricated modified belly pans to house all the air-ride and Hydratech components. With everything polished, painted, or powdercoated underneath, the chassis could win trophies by itself! Transforming the frame into a roller is the set of American Racing Rally wheels, 2010 up front and 2012 in the rear, wrapped in 35-series Michelin Pilot rubber. The heart of every custom truck beats under the hood and this rumbling C10 sports an adrenalin-producing Chevrolet Performance 383 stroker crate motor, sporting Chevrolet Performance aluminum heads, Chevrolet accessory drive pulleys, and a Powermaster 175-amp alternator. On top, the FiTech Go EFI 4 Self Tuning Fuel Injection (rated for engines up to 600 hp) sits on an Edelbrock manifold and is protected by a K&N filter. An MSD Billet Pro distributor and Blaster 2 coil provide strong voltage throughout the power curve while Sanderson shorty headers expel spent gases through a 2.5-inch ceramic-coated exhaust system. The pair of Powerstick mufflers from Classic Chambered Exhaust give it a NASCAR-like roar. Showcasing the V-8, the engine room sports a custom-molded firewall and unique inner fender panels with everything underneath polished to a gleaming show finish. Keeping all the indicators in the safe zone begins with the Griffin radiator with dual electric fans, the Derale engine oil cooler, and the Griffin trans cooler, all connected with braided steel hoses and AN fittings. The package sends an impressive 435 hp to the CPT four-speed automatic with a 2,200-rpm stall speed. When it came time for upgrades to the body, every panel was massaged to better-than-new standards. A long list of subtle mods followed, beginning with the clean front end, now bumperless and with the pan reshaped. Sidelights were eliminated and the one-of-a-kind custom grille was a three-part collaborative effort beginning with BH Custom Design doing the fabwork, Kirco Precision Tool using their water jet to create the CHEVROLET logo, and Rodworx for the LED parking lights and turn signals. The steel cowl induction hood adds to the trucks aggressive look. In the rear, the set of Marquez Design taillight bezels and lenses were fitted with bright Rodworx LEDs. The bumper was deleted, the pan smoothed, and the bed floor raised 7.5 inches, now accented with stained Mar-K Oak planks. Hand-fabricated low profile tubs completed the bed and smoked upgrades replaced all the original glass. SMCs Endonino sprayed the flawless PPG Pure Black to complete the exterior. Moving inside, the elegant interior was another team effort with Maitland Auto Upholstery in Maitland, Florida, called in to work their magic, combining black leather and Classic Chevy Orange Hounds-tooth fabric on the reupholstered Chevrolet bench seat, headliner, and door panels. After carefully routing all the wires and lining the cab with Dynamat, SMC added the Auto Meter gauge package to the dash along with a Billet Specialties steering wheel to the ididit column. The RideTech air suspension controller is hidden in a slide-out drawer located under the seat. Finally, Vintage Air keeps the cabin cool while the Retrosound stereo keeps everyone entertained. Owner Ron Arrowood was delighted with the finished creation and wanted to make the truck available to SMC for promotional purposes. The guys took it to its first show at the Southeast NSRA Street Rod Nationals and took home the Classic Instruments Pros Pick. They were happy to learn later that it was also nominated for their Pros Pick of the year! It was an impressive first-time outing. The C10 has set the tone for dozens of cool custom vehicles to follow from SMC! Facts & Figures Ron Arrowood 1970 Chevrolet C10 CHASSIS Frame: No Limit Engineering Rearend / Ratio: Ford 9-inch, 3:73 Posi, 31-spline Moser axles Rear Suspension: No Limit Engineering parallel four-link with Panhard bar, RideTech ShockWaves, custom three-piece SMC sway bar Rear Brakes: Wilwood 13-inch, four-piston calipers, No Limit ABS power brakes with Hydratech hydraulic brake-assist system Front Suspension: No Limit Engineering tubular A-arms, RideTech ShockWaves Front Brakes: Wilwood 13-inch, four-piston calipers, No Limit ABS power brakes with Hydratech hydraulic brake-assist system Steering Box: AGR rack and pinion power steering Front Wheels: 2010 American Racing Rally Rear Wheels: 2012 American Racing Rally Front Tires: 275/35ZR20/Michelin Pilot Super Sport Rear Tires: 325/35ZR20/Michelin Pilot Super Sport Gas Tank: No Limit Engineering 18-gallon rear frame rail mount DRIVETRAIN Engine: Chevrolet Performance 383 stroker, 435 hp Heads: Chevrolet Performance aluminum Valve Covers: Satin Black GM Performance Manifold / Induction: Edelbrock intake, FiTech EFI 4, K&N filter Ignition: MSD Billet Pro distributor with MSD Blaster 2 coil Headers: Sanderson shorty headers Exhaust / Mufflers: Ceramic-coated 2.5-inch exhaust, Classic Chambered Powerstick mufflers Transmission: CPT TH-200-4R four-speed automatic with 2,200-rpm stall speed Shifter: ididit column BODY Style: C10 Modifications: Smoked glass throughout, shaved door handles Fenders front / rear: Shaved side marker lights Hood: Steel cowl induction Grille: One-off SMC design with Chevrolet logo and Rodworx LED parking lights and turn signals Bed: Bed floor raised 7.5 inches, low-profile rectangular tubs, gas filler in bed floor, Mar-K oak wood planks Bodywork and Paint by: Donald Endonino, Street Metal Concepts, Sanford, FL Paint Type / Color: PPG Pure Black toner Headlights / Taillights: Marquez Design bezels and lenses with Rodworx LEDs Outside mirrors: Aftermarket Bumpers: Deleted INTERIOR Dashboard: Painted to match the exterior Gauges: Auto Meter Phantom II Air Conditioning: Vintage Air Gen III Stereo: Retrosound Long Beach system with bluetooth and subwoofer Steering Wheel: Billet Specialties Steering Column: ididit Seats: Chevy bench seat Upholstery by: Maitland Auto Upholstery in Maitland, FL Material / Color: Black leather and Orange Hounds-tooth fabric with orange stitching Carpet: Black The post Fixer-Upper 1970 Chevrolet C10 Transformed into a High-Performance Trophy Magnet appeared first on Hot Rod Network .

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/1970-chevrolet-c10-transformed-high-performance-trophy-magnet/

 

Share this Article

 

Top