CPP Presents: United Pacific Industries
Week to Wicked 1971 Chevy C10
by Classic Trucks Magazine
Transforming a tired truck into a true hot rod in five days is not the way most builds go, but the staff of Classic Trucks is did just that!
Starting with a solid ’71 Chevy, we blasted through the suspension, brakes, and drivetrain, upgrading the stock components with performance-minded equipment. Big brakes, power steering, and improved suspension components will came first, courtesy of Classic Performance Products. A ZZ6 small block Chevy long block crate engine from Gandrud Chevrolet is the foundation for power, fed by a pair of Holley Terminator Stealth throttle bodies and cooled by a Frostbite radiator. The power is put to the pavement via a Gearstar transmission mated to a bolt-in Strange 9-inch rearend, planted through American Legend Racer wheels.
Inside the cab, a wiring harness from American Autowire powered by an Odyssey battery feeds all the electrical components, including a full array of LED lighting from United Pacific. A gauge cluster from Dakota Digital monitors all things under the hood, while a climate control system from Old Air Products keeps the occupants of the cab comfortable. A pair of Procar bucket seats from Scat keep said occupants firmly planted while tunes from a Custom Autosound stereo system keeps their toes tappin’. A Covercraft car cover ensures the truck looks as good five years from now as it does on day five! – Classic Trucks Magazine
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Check-in with American Legend from July 22-26, to follow the build process. You can also search #weektowicked for additional build coverage.
Classic Trucks Week to Wicked – Day 1
Day 1 started off as usual—wrenches and sparks flying as the 1971 Chevy C10 was stripped of its stock underpinnings in preparation for the installation of all the Classic Performance Products upgrades it’s about to receive. That list includes CPP’s Totally Tubular Control Arms and Trailing Arms with fully adjustable Coil-over system, front and rear Performance Big Brakes, and a complete power steering system featuring a 14:1 sport-ratio 500 Series power steering gearbox.
Classic Trucks Week to Wicked – Day 2
Day 2 ends with the majority of the CPP components installed— nearly an entire chassis upgrade in less than 48 hours. The C10 is now fully equipped with CPP’s all-new Pro-Series Performance Big Brake package (6-piston 14-inch front/4-piston 13-inch rear) with HydraStop Street Beast hydraulic-assist, 500 Series C10 power steering box, New X10 Extreme Modular 2.5″ drop spindles, New high-clearance pro-touring sway bars, and a complete 4-corner Dual-Adjustable Coil-Over conversion system featuring Totally Tubular Control Arms and Trailing arms.
Classic Trucks Week to Wicked – Day 3
Day 3 presented miscellaneous to-do’s needed to be tackled simultaneously. With the ZZ6 350 small-block and 700-R4 transmission mated up to the 9-inch Posi-rearend previously installed on Day 1 (courtesy of CPP’s Totally Tubular Trailing Arm & Crossmember kit), progress on completing the drivetrain veered off track a bit. The build team focused on other areas such as wiring, bed floor fuel filler, incorporating a cargo light tripling as a courtesy and third brake light, digital gauge instrumentation, A/C and radiator installation, and continued plumbing/ bleeding for the CPP Pro-Series Performance Big Brakes and HydraStop Hydraulic Assist Systems.
Classic Trucks Week to Wicked – Day 4
Day 4 motors along with attention to the engine bay as the ZZ6 350 ci small-block and 700-R4 transmission install in place using CPP Engine Mounts and a Totally Tubular Transmission Crossmember. The engine is fitted with a dual-quad throttle body EFI system connected to the fuel lines that run past the cab to the new CPP Aluminum Fuel Tank relocated under the bed. While the crew continues to find the right mixture of fuel, spark, and air, connections are made to the wiring, headers get mounted, and a full-length exhaust is welded and hung.
Classic Trucks Week to Wicked – Day 5
Day 5 began with 90-percent of the build crossed of the list, and the most important task of all was next — the firing and subsequent tuning of the C10’s ZZ6 small-block. The engine came to life on first crank with a round of applause early on, leaving the day to finish up the rest of the truck’s odds and ends. LED lighting components got installed while the interior was treated to some fresh carpet, door panels, bucket seats, and a blue-tooth optioned stereo system. 18-inch Racers from American Legend Wheels were dropped off with tires already mounted so we could get the C10 down on all fours in preparation of its first test drive later in the day. Stay tuned while the crew finds an appropriate time and place to fulfill the obligatory burnout!