1970 Chevrolet C10- Caught by Surprise

The snowball effect is something that all gearheads can relate to, whether or not they are classic truck enthusiasts. You take something apart for a repair, and before you know it, the entire truck is scattered on the garage floor, and you're essentially starting from scratch. Calvin Andrews knows this routine all too well, as his 1970 Chevrolet C10 is a recently finished project that turned out much nicer than he originally intended. That's obviously a good problem to have, and Calvin is very grateful for all the help he received along the way.

It all started several years ago, when Calvin bought the truck at the age of 15. That $150 investment was a big deal, even though it was just a cab sitting on top of a long-wheelbase frame. Calvin had enough parts to put the truck back together, so he did just that and drove it through high school. It certainly wasn't finished to this level of detail, but it provided plenty of good times and a great baseline for the eventual restoration. And when the truck went under the knife for cab corner rust repair, that's when the real snowball effect took place. From there, the build evolved into a custom chassis with Corvette suspension, many subtle body modifications, a beautiful leather interior, and thousands of hours' worth of detail work.

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Calvin performed a great deal of the work inside his home garage, but received help from James Ames, and lots of help and support from friends and family to complete the build. Calvin played a major role in the three-year rebuild of his C10, but he admits that he never thought it would turn into a high-end show truck by the time it was complete. James Ames was a tremendous help, when it came time to build the chassis, and perform the initial bodywork on the truck. The level of fabrication on Calvin's truck is off the charts, and it's finished off in a beautiful coat of Mediterranean Blue paint, applied by Steve Newell. Countless hours of sanding, buffing, and polishing resulted in a superbly slick finish inside and out. More subtle and slick details can be found inside the cab, thanks to leather and suede interior by D.J.'s Upholstery.

The truck debuted at the 2014 Goodguys Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, where it was selected as a finalist for the coveted Truck of the Year Late ('53-'72) award. A couple months later, Calvin entered the truck in the Holley LS Fest Show and Shine, where it won Best Classic Truck and also took home the Best in Show award. It was a huge honor for any truck guy, as it was entered alongside a sea of high-end Pro Touring Camaros.

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The truck gets a lot of attention because of its level of detail, including the wooden bed floor, which lifts to reveal one of the most intricate custom frames you've ever seen. It also provides a great view of the Corvette rear suspension, which offers great performance for the low-slung pickup. Calvin plans to get involved in some of the Goodguys autocross racing, and his truck should be a natural with LS power, Corvette suspension, and grippy tires. We're sure the first few rock chips will sting, but there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes when you slide behind the wheel and nail the throttle in something you've built from the ground up.

For now, Calvin will continue the car show circuit, and we're sure he'll continue to bring home the hardware from each and every event he attends. Maybe he's just being modest, but Calvin admits that he's still surprised every time he looks at the truck, knowing its condition just a few short years ago. It's certainly a beautiful truck, and very deserving of the praise it has received so far.

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Facts & Figures
1970 Chevy C10
Calvin Andrews

Chassis
Frame: Round tube, dual framerail, 1¾- and 1½-inch tubing
Rearend / Ratio: Corvette C4 Dana 36 independent, 3.73
Rear suspension: Corvette C4 transverse leaf spring with QA1 shocks
Rear brakes: Corvette C4 disc
Front suspension: Corvette C4 transverse leaf spring with QA1 shocks
Front brakes: Corvette C4 disc
Steering box: Corvette C4 rack and pinion
Front wheels: Raceline Burst 5, 18x9-inch
Rear wheels: Raceline Burst 5, 18x12-inch
Front tires: Nitto NT555, 265/40R18
Rear tires: BFGoodrich KDW, 335/30R18
Gas tank: Custom aluminum, 18-gallon

Drivetrain
Engine: LS2
Camshaft: Engine Power Systems, 224/230 duration, .604/.604-inch lift
Heads: Stock LS2, 1.7 roller rockers, titanium valvesprings
Valve covers: Custom sheetmetal
Manifold / Induction: Edelbrock Pro-Flo intake with 90mm throttle body
Ignition: Stock LS2 coil packs
Headers: Custom long-tube 1¾-inch primaries
Exhaust / Mufflers: 2½-inch piping with Borla XR-1 mufflers
Transmission: Tremec T-56 six-speed manual
Shifter: Custom
Body
Style: C10, short fleetside
Modifications: Trimmed driprails, custom hood hinges, tilt wooden bed floor, recessed firewall
Fenders front / rear: Stock with recessed marker lights, custom inner fenders
Hood: Stock, with custom hinges
Grille: Stock, chrome-plated
Bodywork and paint by: Bodywork by James Ames, paint by Steve Newell
Paint type / Color: Sikkens Urethane, Mediterranean Blue
Headlights / Taillights: Stock
Outside mirrors: None
Bumpers: Tucked, re-chromed

Interior
Dashboard: Stock
Gauges: Auto Meter Diamond Presitge in custom insert, built from glovebox door
Air conditioning: None
Stereo: AM radio
Wiring: American Autowire
Steering wheel: Billet Specialties
Steering column: ididit painted
Seats: Reshaped Toyota Camry buckets
Upholstery by: D.J.'s Auto Upholstery
Material / Color: Leather and Suede, Bone
Carpet: Tan

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