Restoring a first- or second-generation GM C/K pickup is like reviving a bruiser from the golden era of GM haulers. But too many builds stall out - or worse, miss the mark - because folks overlook the details. Here’s a countdown of the biggest mistakes people make when wrenching on these rigs, so you don’t wind up with a money pit instead of a street legend.
1. Ignoring Frame Rot and Cab Mounts
The drop-center frame that gave these trucks their slick stance is also notorious for rust in all the wrong places - especially under the cab mounts. If you don’t crawl under with a flashlight and poke around, you could end up dropping thousands into shiny paint sitting on Swiss cheese steel.
Above: Here's a 1966 Chevy C10 fleetside that's listed for sale on an online site. One would need to do a thorough inspection for rust and Swiss cheese before purchasing this baby. The lead photo is of a 1972 Chevy C10 Cheyenne gorgeous restomod.
2. Going Too Wild with Suspension Mods
Coil springs gave the C-trucks their silky ride, but some guys yank ‘em out for bag setups or hacked drop kits without thinking about geometry. The result? A truck that looks mean in the driveway but handles like a shopping cart at 50 mph. Slam it smart, not sloppy.
Above and below: Without the aid of airbags or any sort of hydraulics, this 1965 Chevy C10 shortbed fleetside sports the perfect road burner, canyon carving stance and is equipped with the proper suspension and drivetrain bits to make that promise a reality. The details are below (photos courtesy of CI's friends at Mecum Auctions):
- Pro Touring Resto Mod build completed by The Roadster Shop in Mundelein, Illinois
- Featured at the 2017 SEMA show
- 454 CI LSX engine with methanol injection
- Holley EFI
- Kenne Bell 4.7L supercharger
- Bowler T56 Magnum 6-speed manual transmission
- Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis with C6 Corvette spindles
- Strange Engineering 9 inch rear end
- Baer disc brakes
- Patina finish
- Custom leather interior with plaid inserts
- Air conditioning
- Custom stereo with Pioneer touchscreen head unit
- Hurst Schlitz handle shifter
- Corbeau racing harnesses
- Forgeline OE1 3-piece Heritage series wheels with chrome hubcaps
- Michelin Pilot Sport tires, 305/30 ZR19 front and 345/30 ZR20 rear
Video:1960-1966 First Generation Chevy C10 Details
3. Skipping the Brake Upgrade
If you’re keeping it stock, fine - but if you’re dropping in a small-block or, God forbid, a big-block bruiser like the 454, you’d better give those drums the boot. Disc swaps are easy on ’71–’72 rigs, and aftermarket kits are everywhere. Nothing’s worse than a truck that hauls but won’t stop.
Above and below: Four wheel disc brakes allow this sweet 1970 Chevy C10 to stop sure and short (photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions):
- Professional frame-off nut and bolt restoration
- Fresh build with test miles only
- Built 366 CI LS V-8 engine
- Brian Tooley Racing stage III kit
- Built 4L60 automatic transmission
- Vintage Air
- Porterbuilt extreme front and rear chassis kit with powdercoated chassis and suspension components
- Airlift 3P auto-leveling air ride
- Dual Viair compressors
- 22 inch Intro 2-piece billet wheels
- Dakota Digital VHX gauges
- Narrowed rear end with Moser axles and 3.73 gearing
- Kore3 C5 Corvette front and rear brake kit
- Wilwood master cylinder
- Power rack and pinion steering
- Retrosound AM-FM radio with Bluetooth
- Boyds aluminum fuel tank
- New glass
- New bumpers
- New interior
- Cerakote custom exhaust with headers
- Ididit tilt steering column
- Smokey Road Rod Shop custom bed floor with polished stainless strips
- Slosh raised inner fender wells
- Hart Fab raised and widened bed tubs
- Aluminum radiator with electric fans
- Protect-O-Plate and original dealership paperwork
4. Mis-Matched Drivetrain Combos
Throwing a big-block in front of a tired three-speed manual or a peg-leg rear end is like bolting slicks on a tricycle. If you’re upgrading power, beef the trans, driveshaft, and rear axle to match. The 12-bolt rear is your friend here - don’t skimp.
Above and below: This larger than life 1965 Chevy C10 4x4 actually has a well-matched powertrain. One wonders whether the pickup includes a stepladder for climbing inside - or perhaps a retractable drawbridge (photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions):
- No-expense-spared build
- Lifted ('ya think?)
- Duramax twin-turbocharged diesel V-8 engine
- Allison Transmission automatic transmission
- White exterior
- Brown interior
- Chrome wheels
5. Overlooking Wiring Nightmares
Half a century of farmer fixes, trailer light splices, and duct-tape “engineering” can turn a harness into a fire hazard. Don’t cheap out with a roll of electrical tape - spring for a new harness. Clean wiring isn’t just safe; it makes troubleshooting way easier down the line.
Above: Not where you'd want to roast some marshmallows - photo found online
6. Cutting Up Rare Trim or Bodylines
Those CST badges, Cheyenne trim pieces, or even original grill inserts? They’re worth their weight in chrome these days. Too many folks ditch the factory jewelry for billet or plastic. Don’t hack up what you can’t easily replace - restore it, polish it, or stash it for the next guy.
7. Neglecting Weatherstripping and Glass
Nothing kills a resto vibe faster than a leaky windshield or whistling door seals. These trucks are notorious for rusty cab corners and soggy floor pans, and most of that starts with bad weatherstripping. Replace every seal - your cab (and your feet) will thank you.
8. Forgetting the Bed Floor
Above: What do you choose, wood or steel for your bed floor?
You can have flawless sheetmetal and a thumping V8, but if your bed floor looks like it hauled gravel last week, the truck’s gonna feel unfinished. Wood floor kits are available for the ’60–’66 fleetsides and the later models too. Lay it down right, and your bed becomes a showpiece.
9. Slapping on the Wrong Wheels and Tires
The right rolling stock makes or breaks these haulers. Too big, and you kill the ride. Too small, and it looks like your truck skipped leg day. Stick with period-correct rallys, slots, or steels if you want the classic look—or go custom but keep your stance tight. Don’t let $200 wheels ruin a $20k build.
Above and below: 1968 Chevy C10 shortbed fleetside with American Racing wheels - sublime (photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions):
- 6.0L LS V-8 engine
- 4L80E automatic transmission with overdrive
- Frame-off restoration with 124 miles since completion
- Wood bed
- Vintage Air
- Dakota Digital dash
- Holley mid-mount accessory drive kit
- Fi-Tech fuel injection Ultimate LS system
- Derale electric fan
- CPP steering column
- Wilwood front and rear disc brakes
- CPP suspension A-arms and tubular trailing arms
- Strange Ford 9 inch rear end with nodular iron case and 4.10 gears
- 31 Eaton Truetrac
- American Racing wheels
- Continental 245/40ZR20 front, 315/35ZR20 rear tires
- Boyd Welding EFI tank with Aeromotive stealth 340 in-tank fuel pump
- American Autowire wiring kit
10. Half-Baked Interior Work
These trucks were pioneers of the “personal pickup,” which means the interior matters just as much as the paint. Too many builds stop at new carpet and a bench cover, leaving cracked dashes, sun-faded knobs, and busted gauges. Go the extra mile—rebuild your dash, polish the trim, maybe even drop in some period-correct buckets. That’s what separates a driver from a showstopper.
Above and below: This is the interior of an exceedingly well restomodded 1968 Chevy C10. Stunning!
The Bottom Line
The first two gens of GM’s C/K trucks are some of the most rewarding classics you can bring back to life. But if you cut corners—or worse, ignore the common pitfalls—you’ll end up with a rig that looks tough but drives like junk. Do it right, and you’ll have a hauler that turns heads at cruise night, pulls its weight at the swap meet, and still rides smoother than the competition.
Classic Industries - Your Source for GM Truck Parts
Regardless of whether you're renewing a short bed Stepside GMC or Chevrolet pickup, it's a fleetside long bed, or any other sort of configuration, Classic Industries has a great supply of GM pickup components. GM truck owners can shop online for Chevrolet pickups here. Your online shopping for GMC is here.
GM truck owners can supplement the online shopping experience by ordering a free printed Chevrolet/GMC Truck Parts and Accessories Catalog by clicking on the button below.
Above and below: The 1972 Chevy C10 Cheyenne that is the lead photo for this article is so sweet, there's a huge chance that you'd like to see more photos and get the specifics. Here you go (photos and details provided courtesy of Mecum Auctions):
- 2024 C10 Nationals "1970-72 Truck of the Year"
- 2-year frame-off restoration completed in September 2024 by Bronson Patterson and Anthony Cain
- 350 CI V-8 engine by Huntsville Engine & Performance
- Automatic transmission
- March Performance pulley system
- MagnaFlow Exhaust
- Holley Sniper 2 EFI
- CPP and QA1 Suspension
- Wilwood disc brakes
- MAR-K Red Oak satin finish wood bed
- Cadillac Radiant Red and Crystal White tint coat
- paint by David Ray Performance Custom Paint and Body
- Gtechniq Ceramic Coating by AutoworkZ Huntsville
