Victor Sedillo's 1966 Chevy C-10 Panel

14 July 2005 Update
#1058

From Victor: 

      I had the pleasure of having Hugh Hamilton photograph my truck for a project he's doing on people who have owned their cars for a long time. His original intent was to photograph people who have owned the same car for 20 years or more, but he made an exception for me after he saw my truck. (I've owned mine for more than 14 years).

      The photo session took place this past Labor Day (I've included some photos from the session, including a neat black and white). Since then, I've already changed the hubcaps!

      Aside from the cosmetics, my truck is still basically the same. Enclosed are the various progressions since my last update. If anyone is interested in Hugh's work, check out his website.

Victor Sedillo
San Pedro, California

14 July 2005
#1058

From Victor: 

      Finally got that new (for me, that is) digital camera. So here's some pix!

      Since the last update, I switched rims (again!) over to black OEM steelies, 15 x 6 in the front (courtesy of my Dad and the local Hubcap Palace), and 15 x 8 in the back (courtesy eBay), along with original painted hubcaps (also eBay). I hit eBay for a second set of original '66 Nova dog dish hubcaps, for variety's sake (it's easier to switch hubcaps than rims for a new look).

      Anyway, enough of my spiel. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Victor Sedillo
San Pedro, CA

      (I've put some of the pictures in the June update since they apply to what Vic is talking about! ~~ Editor)

01 June 2005
#1058

From Victor: 

      Sorry, I don't have pics right now. Hoping to get one for Father's Day ... so I'll send some pics then. I've changed over my wheels and hubcaps since the last pics. I finally replaced my old radiator with a brand spankin' new one, along with a Coolflex hose to replace the lower one. I got the radiator from Bay Cities Radiator in Gardena, CA. Perfect fit. It just dropped in. Next up: a matching Coolflex to replace the upper hose (they ain't cheap, but they last forever).

      I also replaced the starter and ignition switch (San Pedro Auto Parts-no messing around!) and the battery (from Sears -- it was overdue). I also removed the power brake booster, since it went out. Since CPP has a lifetime replacement guarantee, I'll be sending it back for replacement as soon as I find that original invoice. Until then, I'll just live with the non-power brakes. With the high price of gas, I temporarily replaced the wide 60 series T/As with taller skinnier 75 series whitewalls (Michelins). They roll easier than the T/As, as I've noticed an increase in gas mileage.

Victor Sedillo
San Pedro, California

01 April 2005

From Victor: 

      Hi. I just stumbled onto your website by accident. After checking out your gallery, I thought you might like to see my daily driver. It's a '66 C-10 panel I bought from a dry cleaners back in 1992.

      It was originally painted Chevy red-orange with painted bumpers, no options except the HD rear springs and passenger seat. Not even a heater.

      When I first saw it, it was leaning badly to one side (combination of sagging springs/low tires), had rust and primer added to the original patina, and a nasty ding just behind the passenger door. The odometer read 25000, but the owner's assistant told me I probably had to add a "1" in front of it. The funny thing is, it ran (and still does) like a champ.

      After a week's worth of thinking, I decided to take the plunge. The owner was asking $900 for it, I bought it for $700. When my wife took me to pick it up, she laid eyes on it and laughed. She stopped laughing when she saw that the truck ran and the brakes and all the lights worked.

      A week after I bought the truck, I went out to the monthly car swap meet in Long Beach and bought a set of 15 X 8 Chevy rallys for $80. That Father's Day, my wife got me a Classic Autosounds cassette deck for the truck.

      Over the years, I've thrown an Earl Scheib paint job on it (my wife wanted the truck all one color), installed a chrome front bumper and aluminum grill (Recycler), had the back bumper chromed (Bumper Boyz), installed stainless mirrors (Auto Obsession and Golden State Pickup Parts), installed a split bench seat from a '92 Chevy pickup and jump seats from a Nissan King Cab (Recycler), installed 3"/4" lowering springs (California Performance Parts), added power steering (REZ Engineering), a power brake booster (Golden State), trailing arm polyurethane bushings (Energy Suspension), and front and rear Hellwig sway bars (J.C. Whitney). Tires are 15" BFG T/As, 235 60s in front and 275-60s in back.

      In the engine bay, I installed an aluminum valve cover that I found at the swap meet for $40, a NOS Carter carb and aluminum air cleaner from Langdon's Stovebolt Engine Co., and a TH350 with a B&M Quicksilver shifter (with a cool cast aluminum knob from So-Cal Speed Shop). I'm still running the same, un-rebuilt 250 straight six. Nothing weak about it, why change?

      My plans are to eventually get all the bodywork done and maybe a nice suede paint job, finish the interior (I've got it insulated, though), new exhaust system (maybe duals), but most importantly, a new radiator. It'll never be totally finished, but that's what makes it fun.

Victor Sedillo
San Pedro, CA