1978 Chevrolet C-10 Big 10 Cheyenne Short Bed Fleetside Hawaiian Blue.

1978 Chevrolet C-10 Cheyenne

1978 Chevy Short Box

I bought the truck from the east coast of Florida in 2015 showing 65 000 miles. I’ve put on about 12 500 miles since. My understanding is that the truck was titled in Texas and South Dakota before that. I found part of a build sheet under the gas tank strap that shows it was originally delivered in Washington State.This is an original Cheyenne Big 10 model but came from the factory with a 350 small block.

Paint & Body

The truck had been redone sometime prior to my purchase and still presented well but was beginning to show some rust spots and the paint was getting chalky. The bed and cab was repainted in 2017 and the hood, fenders and doors in 2019 all using PPG Concept single stage paint in the original solid Hawaiian blue color. The only original paint left is on the firewall. New tinted bed liner was sprayed in last year. Small rust bubbles are now beginning to reappear on the cab corners and behind the left rear wheel where the side moulding bolts on, as shown in the photos.

The doors are older aftermarket shells and the hood is an aftermarket ’79-’80 style, like most out there. Front inner fenders and battery tray were replaced in 2019. The rest of the sheet metal appears to be original. The fenders have been repaired with patch panels and there are patches in the bed and cab corners. There is some rust in the inner rocker panels, but they are still solid. One dime-sized hole was repaired on the driver’s side floor board and some rust in the cab mount extensions was repaired. Otherwise the floors are solid. The truck body was undercoated prior to my ownership and has only been touched-up as repairs have been made.

The bed side and tail gate mouldings have been replaced with aftermarket.The originals are still decent and will go with the truck. The "Chevrolet" tail gate inset is an original. Weatherstripping was all new in 2019 along with the windshield. It already has one stone chip, but no cracks.

Interior

New carpets and Lloyd's mats about a year ago. Dash pad is original with only cracking in the speaker area (see photo). Door panels are original and have been resprayed in the correct 1978 Medium blue along with most of the other interior trim parts. Dash bezel is aftermarket but textured and painted correctly for a Cheyenne.Headliner is aftermarket cloth style in good shape. Passenger sun visor has a few small tears. Seat belts are very good originals with minimal fraying and fading. Seat is an older recover with original style fabric.It’s heavily faded but still looks good.Has some tears in vinyl on driver’s side, shown in photo.

Steering wheel has been replaced with NK4 style (my preference) but the original comes with the truck. Original AM/FM radio works. Full gauge package with LMC reproduction factory tach kit. Ashtray conceals AEM digital AFR gauge. Ashtray insert and lighter included. Sniper EFI LCD screen is mounted to the left of the wiper switch where the a/c outlet would be. No a/c.Vent windows have had the seals replaced but still whistle a little when the windows are closed.

Engine

1979 vintage 454 big block with standard bore 2 bolt main stock bottom end. Engine was out in 2017 at 70 000 miles and torn down to the short block for a cam and head swap. Bearings and cylinder bores looked good. Cylinders showed about .005" wear and were left alone. Reassembled with new rear main seal and standard volume oil pump, 8 quart Moroso deep sump oil pan with windage screen. It will use a little oil if pushed on the interstate but doesn't smoke at all.

Heads are late model Vortec 279 casting 100cc large ovals that give about 9.2:1 compression with the stock flat top pistons. Heads were resurfaced, slightly bowl ported, and given a 3 angle valve job with new stainless swirl polished undercut valves and umbrella seals. The heads were purchased already converted for adjustable valve train with good springs, retainers, rocker studs, and rotator eliminators that were reused.

Very mild Howards cam (.476” lift, 208° @ 0.050” duration, 111 LSA) "cam saver" grooved lifters, double roller timing set, Comp Cams Magnum roller tip rockers. Idles at 600 rpm. Cam is a little small for the compression ratio, so it needs 93 octane gas or you'll have to back off on the timing.

The Holley Sniper EFI complete system with new fuel tank and Hyperspark ignition and MSD wires was all new last year along with a Speedmaster dual plane air-gap intake manifold with ½” open wood spacer. It's fed by a custom dual snorkel factory looking cold air intake.

Exhaust

Doug’s Ceramic coated Tri-Y headers with 1 ¾” primaries and 2½” collectors. 2 ½” pipe into Cherry Bomb Vortex Classic mufflers, 2 ¼” out over axle. O2 sensors in both pipes, one for the Sniper EFI, one for AFR gauge in the ash tray. Exhaust is very quiet but opens up with the throttle.

Drivetrain

Turbo 400 3 speed automatic with stock torque converter and deep pan. Has mild Trans Go shift kit, adjustable vacuum modulator, modified governor for 4500 rpm full throttle shifts. Hayden plate type trans cooler. Drive shaft safety loop. 12 bolt rear has 3.07:1 gears with Power Trax No-Slip locker. (These can be annoying as they randomly click, pop, or bang when negotiating parking lots. I've gotten used to it.) New axles and all bearings and seals installed last year. Axle tubes have been pinned to the housing with hardened pipe plugs to prevent rotation should you ever want to up the power or run sticky tires.

Steering/Suspension/Brakes

Front end and steering box are tight and solid, steers,stops, rides nice. Still has riveted upper ball joints. New front wheel bearings and seals last year. Brake pads/shoes are about 50% worn. I’ve replaced the rear wheel cylinders. Rear springs have had the overload leafs removed and some of the leafs reversed for more bias towards the front. Front of the leafs are clamped together (poor man’s traction bars), 7 regular leafs per side vs the factory 8. Front leaf spring eye bushings are polyurethane. Monroe Gas-Matic rear shocks were new in 2016.

Wheels are Cragar S/S five spokes, 15 x 10 rear with Mastercraft Avenger GT 295/50s and 15 x 8 front with 245/60s. Tires have an average of about 5/32” tread depth and are dated 2017. Truck will come with one original 1978 dated 15 x 8 Rally wheel with unused ‘90s vintage spare.

Everything works except the windshield wipers don’t park automatically at the bottom. I don’t believe the washers work either; I’ve never filled the bottle. I’ve tried to be transparent and show all the negatives, but the truck as a whole is very nice. It can still be used as a truck or enjoyed as a hot rod toy. The big block is super docile and it’s reasonable on fuel. No need for overdrive in this application; torque gets it moving and the gearing keeps it happy cruising at 2400 rpm at 60 mph. Big factory 4 core radiator keeps the temperature at the thermostat rating in the Florida heat.

Please message me through eBay with any questions. I’ll be happy to send additional photos. Little hard for me to get good photos of the underneath as I don’t have access to a lift. I can assist with shipping if required.Thanks!

• Condition: Used
• Make: Chevrolet
• Model: C-10
• SubModel: Big 10
• Type: Standard Cab Pickup
• Trim: Cheyenne
• Year: 1978
• Mileage: 76500
• VIN: CCL448Z198106
• Color: Blue
• Engine size: 454
• Number of cylinders: 8
• Power options: power steeting & brakes
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive type: RWD
• Interior color: Blue
• Drive side: Left-hand drive
• Safety options: Seat belts and brakes!
• Options: AM/FM, sliding rear window
• Vehicle Title: Clean
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