TURE - Project C-10

CONTENTS
Truck Challenge
The Big Three are put
through real-world off-road
testing at the Iron Wood
facility in Ontario...pg 12
NEW WHEELS
OFF-ROADING
STREET PERFORMANCE
The second-gen Porsche Cayenne is a
perfect combination of bark and bite..pg 18
If you like to camp, have a 4X4 and like
isolation, we have the perfect solution...pg 32
Project C10 gets closer to completion after a
trip to the bodyshop...pg 51
POWERSPORTS
HISTORY
We take the new John Deere Gator XUV
825i for a spin in the backwoods...pg 41
The Power Wagon, spawned from miltary vehicles,
is Dodge’s meanest truck to date..pg 46
DISTRIBUTION
PARTNERS
L-ROVER
Also Inside
Fresh Tracks--------------------------------- 4
Road Test: Dodge Durango--------------- 22
First Drive: Kia Sorento SX--------------- 24
Road Test: Infiniti QX56------------------ 26
Road Test: Toyota FJ Cruiser------------- 28
Feature: Driving with Sleep Apnea------- 30
Truck Tech: Jeep Alarm Install----------- 36
RVing: Prolite Mini------------------------ 44
Gearing Up--------------------------------- 57
Stuck Trucks------------------------------- 62
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JAN / FEB 2011
Trucks Plus STREET PERFORMANCE
Classic Styling with a Modern Twist
By Tim Baillie
S
ince Project C-10 has started, we have mostly focused on the
drivetrain and suspension. We now finally get to focus on something totally new. Now that everything to do with the frame (drivetrain,
suspension etc) is completed and is a rolling chassis, we need a body
to be able to drop onto the frame.
We carefully started by removing and labeling all of the trim and its
mounting clips, and stripped the cab down to a bare shell to see
what we had to work with. There was a small rust issue in the lower
front corner of a fender and some surface scale rust hidden under
the paint in areas, but other then that, it was perfect. We started by
welding up the old camper mirror holes and dual gas filler doors, and
then shaved the entire firewall of all holes and openings that were not
going to be used, including everything to do with the HVAC system.
We basically left the wiper motor opening, steering column opening
and the wiring bulk head opening. Before we were done welding this
up, we wanted to make sure we didn’t have any future issues, so we
used Duplicolor weld through primer on all of the patch holes.
Once this was completed, we sprayed Duplicolor Self Etching primer
on the whole inner firewall and floor boards, and used Rust Fix on
any areas that we couldn’t get into to grind out the rust. It turns any
surface rust metal into primered metal. Once the interior metal was
sealed, we moved to the back of the truck. Using the Sir Michaels
tailgate handle relocation kit, the handle was moved to the inside of
the new tailgate that Cross Canada Parts provided. Once this was
moved, then the Sir Michaels smooth tailgate panel was attached
to the stock tailgate to cover up the handle opening and the indent
that is common on all Chevy trucks from 73-87. We used SEM panel
adhesive to bond the panel to the tailgate and SEM metal glaze to
fill any slight imperfections on the tailgate before using Duplicolor
High Build primer on it to seal it.
At this point, it was time for the professionals to take over the body-
work. We took the C-10 over to Rodz Customs in Maple Ridge (you
might remember them as being the shop that painted Project Shovelle). Once there, all the parts from Cross Canada that we had for the
truck were brought over. Cross Canada had already supplied a new
tailgate, but they also provided lower bed corners since we had those
two damaged corners when we got the truck. They also supplied us
with a bunch of bumper brackets, new tailgate handle and a new
front chrome bumper. Cross Canada sells body replacement panels
at outlets all across Canada, including Lordco Auto Parts.
We also took over the primer and paint stripper that Duplicolor had
supplied, along with all of the PPG supplies that Lordco Autoparts
sent. PPG supplied Project C-10 with the epoxy and surfacer primers,
the PPG Deltron 2000 Red and White Basecoat and the Urethane
Clear. Rodz used the Duplicolor Paint Stripper to take the truck
right down to metal, since we already had some surface rust and, of
course, the famous GM paint peel happening. Once the truck was
stripped and put in epoxy primer, the minor body work that had to
be done began. Once that was done it was time to get the parts into
the paint booth for a coat of primer and then the actual two-tone
red-and-white paint. The PPG white basecoat was applied first, even
sprayed in and through the door jambs. Then the white was masked
off and the PPG red was applied, followed by the clear.
With the truck painted and back at the shop, the daunting and tedious
task of assembly was begun. We started by placing the cab and bed
onto the already completed frame, began to hang the sheet metal,
and started fastening it all with the Totally Stainless body fastener kit.
The kits are individually bagged and labeled for every single piece of
the truck that bolts or screws on, so there is no making a mistake. To
keep with that fresh-off-the-lot look we wanted, we had gone to LMC
Truck to get everything we needed to keep Project C-10 as stock as
possible. If you’re building a truck, LMC Truck is the first place you
need to look for all of your restoration and custom parts. They had
every piece that we needed to bring our truck back to stock.
Sources
Al’s Liner
www.alsliner.com
One Piece Products
www.onepieceproducts.com
Bed Wood & Parts
www.bedwoodandparts.com
Rodz Customs
www.rodzcustom.com
Cross Canada Parts
www.crosscanadaparts.com
SEM
www.semproducts.com
Duplicolor
www.duplicolor.com
Sir Michaels
www.sirmichaels.com
LMC Truck
www.lmctruck.com
Lordco (PPG Paint)
www.lordco.com
Moe’s Auto Service
(778) 571-2991
Speedway Motors
www.speedwaymotors.com
Totally Stainless
www.totallystainless.com
JAN / FEB 2011
Trucks Plus 51
STREET PERFORMANCE
We started with the LMC Rubber kit which included every piece of rubber trim, seals and weatherstripping on the truck. LMC also had
every piece of exterior chrome trim, like the side wraparound body moldings, wheelwell trim, drip rail trim and mirrors. With a roll of tape
in hand, we started carefully applying all of the molding and trim.
Once this was completed, Moe’s Auto Service installed the front and rear glass with LMC rubber seals. We wanted that sleek modern look
to the truck, so we eliminated the stock vent windows and went with a one piece window kit from One Piece Products. The kit literally bolts
in (well, with a bit of work) so that it mounts and rolls up just like the stock window would whether you have manual or power windows. It
comes with replacement window felts and window channels. (An upcoming how-to will show more detail of this kit). We then started installing the final things like the LMC Euro Clear light lenses for the park lights, turn signals, headlights and cargo light, along with the LMC
billet grille insert to bolt in where the stock grille centre section would mount. As our pile of parts got smaller, the rendering was becoming
reality and I am man enough to say I had a perma grin for a day or so when we put the last few pieces on the body.
Please check out www.projectc10.com for expanded coverage, including more photos of the project and more information on our parts
sources.
Tim Baillie is owner of Hot Rod Garage in Surrey B.C. and serves as Project Manager for this publication. You can reach Tim at 604-8886568 or tim@rpmmediaprojects.com with any questions regarding Project C-10.
1. The firewall
is now shaved
and needs
some filler
work before
PPG primer is
applied.
5. Stripping
down the old
original paint
and using some
filler to fill in
some of the
imperfections
in the smoothed
firewall.
2. With the
firewall
shaved, we
need to seal all
of the welding done from
inside the cab
with primers
from Duplicolor.
6. Doing all of
the body work
on the cab.
Removing the
original paint,
since we had the
old “Factory GM
Flake” happening to the paint
in places.
3. Cleaning all
the surfaces
inside of the cab
before we apply
a coat of Duplicolor primer on
the entire sheet
metal surface in
the cab.
7. More body work
on the bed, especially where the gas
filler doors were on
either side of the
bed. Also replaced
the lower corners
that were damaged
with the patch
panels from Cross
Canada Parts.
4. The cab and
bed arriving at
Rodz Customs
in Maple Ridge
for its paint and
body work to
begin.
52 Trucks Plus
8. Using Duplicolor paint stripper to remove
the factory paint
from the badly
faded and flaking
factory paint.
JAN / FEB 2011
STREET PERFORMANCE
9. Putting the
bed in PPG
primer with
some SEM guide
coat for final
sanding.
14. Everything is
wet sanded and
polished on the
cab and doors.
10. The cab in
final PPG primer
before laying
down the red
base coat on the
door jambs and
inner doors.
15. Ready to
head back to the
shop.
11. Masking off
the white centre
section and
laying down the
first coat of PPG
red base coat.
16. Strapped
down to the
trailer for
Project Budget
Hauler to take it
back to the shop
for final assembly.
12. Doing the
final sand before
applying the
clearcoat to the
truck.
17. Starting with
all of the exterior chrome and
weatherstripping
items that we
got from LMC
Truck.
13. The final
coat of PPG
clear has been
applied to the
cab and door
jambs.
54 Trucks Plus
18. Installing
the glass and
trim from LMC
Truck and getting ready to
remove the cab
from its dolly
and sitting it on
the frame for
the first time.
JAN / FEB 2011
STREET PERFORMANCE
19-21. Assembly
of the front of
the truck with
lighting and trim
parts from LMC
Truck.
24. Fitting the wood
bed kit from Bed Wood
and Parts. The whole
floor can be literally
removed as one piece.
We still have to cut a
hole for the Billet rectangle fuel door from
Speedway Motors. The
quality of the wood is
amazing and all of the
fasteners are stainless
steel, so there will be
no rust issues.
25. We welded
in a Sir Michaels
roll pan with a
sunken license
plate box. The
plate flips down
to expose the Sir
Michaels Class 3
“Hidden Hitch”
that is bolted to
the frame.
26. This is the
Sir Michaels tailgate handle flip
kit which allowed
us to smooth out
the replacement
tailgate that we
got from Cross
Canada Parts,
with a smoothed
tailgate filler
panel also from
Sir Michaels.
22. All of the
chrome trim
from LMC Truck
is installed on
our cab, even
the hard-to-find
rear window rubber chrome trim.
23. We wanted
the bed to be durable, so using
some of the PPG
base coat, we
tinted our Al’s
Liner bedliner
and sprayed the
bed and tailgate.
We cut a hole
in the floor to
access the fuel
tank for filling.
27. The first thing
to get beat up on
a truck is the
bed and tailgate,
and the second
is the tailgate
hardware, so we
replaced everything right down
to the rubber
bump stops from
LMC Truck.
28. A full side
shot of the
body side molding kit from
LMC Truck.
The outside of
Project C-10 is
almost complete!
JAN / FEB 2011
Trucks Plus 55