By Scotty Lachenauer – Images by the Author
Nick Riesett, of Aberdeen, Maryland, wasn’t looking for a long-term project when he spied this ’65 C10 on an Internet “want ad” site back in 2014. What he wanted was a cool truck that he could turn a few wrenches on and quickly get out on the road. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way; but, in the end, he ultimately built the truck that he always dreamt he’d own.
It can be said that longbeds just don’t get the love and affection that their shorter counterparts do. Whether it’s a maneuverability issue, the ability to fit in smaller parking spots at your local speed shop, or just aesthetic preference, the longbeds usually get pushed aside by the builder crowd for the much more popular shortbed variety.
However, these lengthy bedded hot rods certainly do have their place in today’s trucking world. Luckily for us, Nick is one of those guys who has taken the high road and sought out a longbed of his very own and then built it up with the original “extended” dimensions it was born with at the GM factory.
Fun by the Foot
This C10 project started about seven years ago. “Having been into hot rods for as long as I can remember, but without a project at the time, in 2014 I started searching for something new. When my buddy began restoring his dad’s old C10 we grew up around, I knew that’s what I wanted to build as well,” Nick states. He found what he was looking for online, just about an hour from his house. “The guy said it was in ‘running’ condition. All that meant was it started, moved forward, and stopped. But it looked like a good starting point for my build,” Nick says.
Read More: Walker Zeigler’s First-Gen 1965 Chevy C10
Well, since this was Nick’s first foray into a “restoration” he wasn’t ready for what he was in for. “I soon found out that the floor had huge holes in it. They were covered by street signs rivetted to the floor. The rockers were held together with spray foam of all things. This ride was a complete mess. When I started the project, I figured I’d buy a running truck, clean it up a bit, and cruise it, but that all changed when I realized how rough the cab and everything else was.”
Knowing this ride needed some major work, Nick started looking at builds online to get some ideas. “I came across a cool ’66 C10 build online. I liked the look of this particular bagged longbed with big whites at the corners. I figured that would be my goal.” So, first things first. The bed came off and Nick dug into the suspension. The initial modification was adding a C-notch out back for more suspension travel. AccuAir’s E-Level air ride kit was the next big installation and the foundation for the C10’s stance and ride height. Drop spindles and a front disc brake kit from Classic Performance Products (CPP) finished off his early mods.
Long Game
Unfortunately, the truck sat for a few years while Nick attended to family matters, like moving and working on some mandatory home projects. However, in 2017, Nick made time to send the C10 to good friend Ryan Keaton’s Hand Formed Hotrods in nearby Cambridge, Maryland. There the longbed grabbed up some sorely needed shop time. “He got the cab solid for me, replacing sections of the floor, both rocker panels, cab corners, cab mounts, and some other areas that needed attention.”
Once finished Nick brought the beast home where he jumped in on the bodywork. The addition of a new member to the Riesett clan (daughter Cecilia) actually gave Nick some needed time off from his day job, which in return gave him more free time to work on the truck. During this period the bodywork was finished and the truck was prepped for paint. He then laid out a fresh skin of Hot Rod Flatz Mint Green on its flanks, doing it right there in the home garage. “The wife may not have been super happy about the extra time spent on the C10, but I was finally able to get it done,” Nick admits.
Read More: Josh Bentley’s Vini’s Hot Rods 1983 Chevy Squarebody C10
As for the interior, Nick wanted the truck’s cockpit to look basically stock with a few modern add-ons. “I painted the interior with Champagne Metallic paint and redid the bench with a kit from Classic Industries. I reused the original wheel and most of the interior’s hardware for the build. An assortment of Auto Meter gauges keep track of the truck’s vitals,” Nick states.
By the fall of 2019 the truck was back on the road, still running the 350/TH350 combo he had bought it with. Nick realized after redoing the truck he needed to upgrade its powertrain. “In the winter that year I started collecting parts; a 6.0 LY6 from an ’09 Suburban 2500 was the basis for the build, along with a junkyard 4L80E. I found everything I need for the swap and then decided it needed some more power,” Nick states. That would come in the form of a VS Racing 76mm turbo and a Mishimoto intercooler. A set of Hooker turbo manifolds get rid of the spent gases and help plumb the boost setup. A Holley Terminator X Max setup handles the engine management with ease.
Going to Any Length …
The swap was finished in time to take it to the 2020 Endless Summer Cruisin’ Show in Ocean City, Maryland. “It wasn’t tuned yet, and we were just running an open downpipe but we made it there and back without a problem.” In the spring Nick was back at it and brought the truck over to Mike Sweeney at Kinetic Autoworks in Millersville, Maryland, for some needed dyno time and tuning. The truck pulled 517 rear wheel horsepower along with 555 rear wheel torque on 93-octane pump gas. “That’s more than enough for a bagged vintage ride on bias-plies,” Nick states.
Once the truck was back home, the owner finished off the exhaust, adding a bedside exit, which is loud, but not too loud for Nick’s now 2-year-old daughter to handle. “I wanted to keep it vocal, but I like to bring Cecilia out on cruises so she’s got to be happy with the volume,” Nick admits.
Read More: 1982 Chevy Squarebody C1500 Custom C10
Future plans and upgrades? “I’ll be building a new 12-bolt rear for the truck, using the one that’s in there. I’ll freshen it up and narrow it a bit so I can fit 12-inch steelies out back and much bigger meats. I have a pair of Coker/Firestone cheater slicks ready to go. Then a good cleaning and this longbed will be back for the long haul.”
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Nick Riesett’s 1965 Chevy C10.
