My Custom 1964 C10 Project

I learned to drive in this truck, on a hill, in the snow, with a three-on-the-tree. 

I am not exploiting a cliche... this really happened in early 1984 when I was 13.

While Brent was home on leave from the Air Force in late 84 or early 85, Ol Blu 2 got upgraded to a TH400 transmission, power steering with tilt steering wheel, power brakes, HEI ignition and a modest lowering job. In the mid-late 80s, the Imron paint got covered with PPG Bahama Blue, which was a popular color on GM trucks at the time. He and Brent then made a custom hydraulic-tilt utility trailer. He stored A LOT of tools in the bed (arranged like Tetris, everything had its place), and the trailer allowed him to haul materials without emptying the pickup bed. When I was lucky enough to know when the bed would be empty, I would camp under the tonneau cover in the driveway or back yard.

In case it's not clear by now... I loved this truck. I had since the moment I saw it in the driveway walking home from school.

By the early 90s, Ol Blu 2 had a couple of physical run-ins and was in need of body work and a paint job. My parents had taken their 1982 Eldorado on a trip to Minnesota and Brent was going to paint it while they were gone. Much to my dismay, Dad wanted it painted the same color as the Eldo. After it was painted, Brent and I realized how drab it looked and needed some spice, so some simple flames were to be added. The flames took longer than expected and they came home as we were painting them. Dad didn't baulk at the idea but wanted more color. As it turns out, he wanted ALL of the colors! I have made it no secret that I never cared for this paint job.

Dad started snowbirding in the Southwest in the late 90s and while he could afford an old camper travel in, he could not afford a new truck to tow it. What's one to do...? Tow a 34-foot 5th wheel with a 35-year-old 1/2-ton short-box pickup! The cab had dents in both corners from the nose cap of his trailer when he turned too tight.

After he was able to buy a worthwhile tow rig, he needed somebody to 'truck sit' during the winters while he was in Yuma. I made it clear to Dad over the years that when he was done with Ol Blu (yes, I still called it Ol Blu but dropped the "2" because I didn't care about Ol Blu 1), I wanted it. In fact, my quote was, "if you sell that truck, and not to me, you lost a son" (jokingly, of course, or was it...?). I took care of it for the next 2-3 years and then he decided to sell it and the trailer to me.

During my tenure as Ol Blu's steward, I realized the truck had gotten long in the tooth and was in desperate need of some serious love. This became painfully apparent when I was driving down Main Street towing the trailer and the steering column started smoking. Dad was a world-class carpenter. Automotive technician, especially in regard to wiring? Not so much.

We had recently bought a house and had 2 kids, so aside from repairing a seized oil pump in 2004... (Seized oil pump!!! When was the last time you heard about a seized oil pump in a small block Chevy?!?!) ... any significant improvement efforts would need to wait.