When you think back to your adolescent years, you either loved your parents or hated them (especially in the teen years). Emotions, hormones, and pimples all play a part in your life at that time and, as a parent myself, we try to keep our kids out of trouble, right?
Well, Jim Richey, Steve’s dad, decided that it would be a grand idea to provide his 14-year-old child (Steve) with a ’68 Chevy truck and a small Craftsman handheld toolbox filled with wrenches. This occupied Steve’s time because the truck was in good shape but needed some elbow grease to get it street worthy, besides, what a cool project for the then 14-year-old Steve to work on with his father.
Steve drove the C10 until he was out of high school and one day, as like most of us, Steve ran out of money and was forced to sell his truck. Skipping forward to 1994, Steve was back on his feet financially and was able to afford a sweet ’57 Chevy truck similar to a ’56 pickup his dad once owned. In the meantime, Jim had picked up a ’68 long bed that was similar to the truck he and his son built many years prior. It’s unclear who started the conversation but it went something like this, “I’ll trade you my truck for your truck, Dad,” Steve Richey said to his father. “OK,” replied Jim. The trade was made and the father and son set off to build fond memories once again.
Yes, it was a long bed but Steve cut the frame down along with the bed to make it short. He started by removing the bed completely and chopping the frame off behind the cab, that way grafting several frame pieces together was not needed. Steve simply made his own rear framerails that were then narrowed and modified to the existing bed. He then shaved the door handles, trim, gas cap, stake pockets, and front bumper, along with a lot of other hidden mods Steve has forgotten. The truck was then lowered using a CPP 2-inch drop spindle and Ride Tech coilovers. A Ford 9-inch rearend replaced the factory unit and a set of 4.56 gears with mini spool was put in. Thus, allowing full power of the massive 20x17 Billet Specialties wheels and Mickey Thompson package to manage the torque of the motor. With a tight bond brought together by the Richey family’s trucks, hopefully, we can all learn from them and start our own family memories.
Steve & Tammy Richey
Royse City, TX
1968 Chevy C10Chassis
Frame: Stock
Modifications: Back half
Rearend / Ratio: Ford 9-inch / 4.56
Rear suspension: Four-bar
Rear brakes: CPP disc
Front suspension: CPP with Ride Tech coilovers
Front brakes: CPP
Steering box: CPP
Front wheels: Billet Specialties Legacy 18x8
Rear wheels: Billet Specialties Legacy 20x17
Front tires: Mickey Thompson Sportsman
Rear tires: Mickey Thompson Sportsman
Gas tank: Rock Valley in bed
Drivetrain
Engine: ZZ3 350
Heads: GM Aluminum
Valve covers: Edelbrock
Manifold: Edelbrock Performance
Ignition: Pertronix
Headers: Sanderson
Exhaust / Mufflers: 3-inch / Flowmaster
Transmission: 700R4
Modifications: Shift kit
Shifter: ididit Billet
Body
Style: Stock
Fenders front: Stock
Hood: Stock
Grille: Stock
Bed: Oak / stainless
Bodywork and paint by: Owner / Paint by Greg McSwain
Paint type / Color: PPG / Black
Headlights / Taillights: Stock
Outside mirrors: Stock
Bumpers: Brothers Truck and Sir Michaels roll pan
Interior
Dashboard: Stock
Gauges: Dakota Digital
Air conditioning: Vintage Air
Stereo: none
Steering wheel: Billet Specialties
Steering column: ididit
Seats: Bench seat cut down
Upholstery by: Kyle Hix Design of Norman, OK
Material / Color: Leather / Red
Carpet: ACC red loop