OVERBOARD

It might not look it, but this 1963 Chevy C10 was built by someone who used to be fully vested in the tuner scene. Not that it really matters, but it’s always interesting to see what builders from different backgrounds bring to the table when it comes to fabricating a custom classic pickup. Back in 1999, Paul Armstrong of Logan, Ohio owned a ‘bagged 1993 Honda Civic—his first car ever. As he progressed within the scene and becoming more in-tune with his automotive know-how, Paul eventually built another 1993 Civic—a 1,000hp SFWD drag car that he raced for a while before giving all that up to focus on other things.

“Back when I was a kid in school, I used to grab any car/truck magazine I could”, Paul says. “I loved reading through the articles and seeing everyone’s different automotive visions. I remember telling the kid behind me on the school bus (who is now a good friend of mine) that I would build a vehicle that would be on the cover of a magazine one day. I still really haven’t lost that fire.” 

When Paul took a break from drag racing, he had his heart set on building an older Chevy pickup of some sort with a souped-up engine, a patina finish, and slammed to the ground. Luckily, his wife Kristy was onboard with the idea, and even helped him sift through truck listings locally and in locations much further out. “After a few deals fell though, I ended up finding a 1963 C10 short bed 3 hours away in Northern Ohio”, he adds. “The truck was rough, but I couldn’t pass it up for $1500. Once I saw its condition though, I realized it would be a much more difficult project than I first realized but I was pumped to get it home and start tearing apart.” 

Things progressed rather quickly once the C10 was on Paul’s home turf. One of his largest targets for the project was to complete as much of the job as possible in his garage, which is more of a mini shop than it is a storage space for Christmas decorations. Paul used to work in a space like that on his property, but the money he saved from previous restoration work allowed him to invest in creating a place to feed his addiction of building custom vehicles.

The first step in the project was to tear the truck down and get every piece sandblasted inside and out and replacing and/or repairing all the rusted panels. The metalwork phase came and went, and the factory frame was soon prepped for further customization. The next big step Paul was looking to get started on was finding a worthy LS engine and 4L80E trans to rebuild and reuse on the C10, which he did in no time. He bought a 2003 Chevy Silverado with a 5.3L that was pulled and sent to Slowmotion Motorsports in nearby Sunbury to handle all the machine work and installation of new Brian Tooley Racing internals. “Once I got the engine back, I sent all the parts I could to Shane Marshall at PCT Coatings in Anderson, Indiana for gloss black powdercoating”, Paul mentions. “I then reached out to Procharger to see what options would be best for the truck and what I had planned for it. I eventually purchased components meant for a C5 Corvette that would work perfectly.” 

With the engine well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with, Paul began finishing off the original chassis, which was soon C-notched, stiffened and coated before it was topped off with the best in suspension and air ride components. From Choppin’ Block front suspension, a custom rear 4-link, Firestone bags, Accuair air management, fresh CPP brake kits and 20-inch Detroit Steel wheels, the 60+-year-old platform was soon riding in modernized style. 

Paul had previous experience in the paint and body field and was fine doing what he was comfortable with along with venturing out into methods he was going to have to learn how to apply as he went. A great deal of factory features were shaved cleanly off the C10’s surface, and a custom carbon fiber grille shell, headlight bezels and bumpers were ordered to give the classic Chevy an updated twist. A full custom bed floor and engine compartment were also fabricated to meet the magazine-cover-worthy finish that Paul has had in the back of his mind for decades. While only those with a keen eye may pick up on it, there is one portion of the exterior overhaul that serves as a homage to Paul’s glory days in the tuner scene. “After spraying some test panels, I ended up going back to my roots and picked an early 90’s Honda color for the truck”, he adds. “We also used the same color on the frame but did it with tinted Raptor Liner since we planned to drive the truck as much as possible.” 

The C10’s interior was then outfitted with a custom bench seat and center console that have been wrapped in elegant Relicate NappaTek synthetic leather and Alcantara material by Spotlight Customs in Akron, Ohio. Corbeau harnesses were added to the seats, and the harness bar was built inside of the carbon fiber subwoofer box and tied into the body/frame. A full arsenal of Rockford Fosgate audio components and a Retro Sound stereo were added to the C10’s list of desirable amenities. A Budnik steering wheel, Dakota Digital RTX gauges, and carbon fiber door panels have also made their way onto that exclusive lineup. 

“The truck was originally supposed to be a very basic build that we could take the dogs out for a cruise in, but I couldn’t stop myself from going overboard once I started”, Paul admits. “In fact, I tend to go too far on things, and my wife confirms that ‘overboard’ is the correct term for it, hence the name of the truck.”

While this build pushed Paul to get a tad bit uncomfortable with the level of work he constantly found himself starting, he can honestly claim that 90% of the build was completed at home with the help of friend Josh Kunkler. The guys found that limited funds and access to certain tools did make the process slightly more challenging, but the situation only boosted their level of creativity and problem-solving skills along the way.