1976 Chevy C10 – Randy D.

When my son Easton was 14 he told me he wanted to buy an old truck and fix it up. He did not want a show truck, just an old truck to drive around and fix up. He had saved a lot of money and was determined even though his mom and I tried to talk him out of it, thinking about how much work it would be, how dependable could it be, and how much money would he really have to spend to get it where he wanted…
Well, he would not leave it alone and we started looking. It did not go well at first. Made many trips to look at prospective trucks but they were either not as advertised or way out of what he wanted to spend. Several were too far along in the fix it up stage and he was not interested because it was “almost done”. By chance we ended up finding a 1976 C10 LWB 350 SBC and T350 transmission just 8 miles from our home. We looked at it, drove it and he was sure it was the one he wanted. Remember, he was 14, this is his truck and project and his money. He made an offer and we drove it home.
It had so many issues. Engine was leaking everywhere, the electrical system looked like spaghetti everywhere and half of the systems did not work, but off we went. The motor was first, so we fixed all the main issues and made it a dependable driver. We started working on the electrical system and he told him mom and me that he wanted to paint it white and fully restore it! I was floored and in disbelief, but off we went. He took it apart, sandblasted the entire truck and got it ready for paint. After it was painted, he rebuilt it, he did this over the summer when he was 15. After it was back together, he had his permit so now he could drive it. Everywhere we went people were alway asking about the truck, thinking it was mine. When they found out it was my son’s AND that he did the work, that was an entirely different conversation. Slowly but surely, we fixed things. He finally turned 16 and was driving it all the time. We gave him Vintage Air for his birthday and he installed that last Thanksgiving. The stereo went in, new interior piece by piece and now, I would say its finished. There always seems to be something to tinker with, but he has gained so much knowledge dealing with his truck. I tell people when they ask me about the truck, I say in hindsight it was really never about the truck, it was about all the life skills Easton has learned on the journey. Easton and I have spent so much time together working on this truck, I pray when he shows it to his kids one day it will bring back great memories of our time together, his accomplishments, and the understanding that hard work does pay off which is the fabric of this country and there is nothing more fitting that his Chevy truck to symbolize that. On his instagram account, he posted a picture of himself on his truck but the caption read “ I have a bunch of problems in my life, but my Chevy truck is not one of them” I was so touched when I read that. LMC has been part of this journey from the beginning and we could not have done this without their products and support.