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Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update – Bringing Him Home and First Wash

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Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

I was very fortunate to have two trucks at the same time which enabled me to bring Swede home from the farm.

With very fortunate timing of testing both a Ram Power Wagon and a Nissan Titan PRO-4X, I was able to load the 1962 Chevy C10 Swede on a flat bed and bring him home. Then, it was time to power wash him down and start making a list of things to be done.

Bringing Swede Home

Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

Up until this point, I had never used a winch and, fortunately, a Ram rep and good instructions made it really easy.

Loading Swede on the flat bed was a really great experience with the Ram Power Wagon’s 12,000 lb Warn winch. I hooked up the front of Swede to the winch hook and then jack knifed the Titan with the trailer. This way if the trailer slipped with Swede’s weight, the Titan would be spared the damage.

The Power Wagon’s winch is electronically controlled with a corded remote allowing me to safely stand away from the action. Also, I put a towel over the winch line in case it snapped to help avoid line flying into the air. Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about and the winch pulled the 3,100 lb Chevy easily onto the trailer.

While we could have used one of the many tractors at the farm to the job, it was really a big benefit to have the Ram’s Warn winch at our disposal and it really made the whole job quite easy. Talk about having the right tool for the job.

Cleaning Swede Up

Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

Power washing Swede from top to bottom, revealed a beautiful patina color.

With years of sitting in a barn and having multiple cat litters inside the cabin, Swede was really in rough shape. Grabbing the power washer and a pair of gloves, I went to work.

Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

After a power wash, the interior looks like it might turn out pretty well after a more thorough cleaning and some repair.

First, I removed three seat covers to get down to the original seat which had the driver’s side completely worn out. Then, I removed 4 layers of floor mats on the driver’s side to reveal some holes in the floor pan.

Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

The grille and bumper look a lot better with a quick power wash.

Next, I power washed the exterior and engine bay which brought out all the “character” dents. Also, I was able to really see what shape the engine was in.

This power washing not only helped clean Swede up, it also gave me the idea on how I planned on working on the exterior. Standing back, it was obvious, the wetness on the patina really looked great. This really made it quite easy to decide on what to do with it – clear coat. I plan on cleaning up the body and then just clear coating the entire truck to keep that wet patina look.

Project 1962 Chevy C10 Swede Update - Bringing Him Home and First Wash

The big question remains: will he turn over?

Next up, the engine gets new plugs, battery and oil.  Will it turn over?

 

Tim Esterdahl

Automotive Journalist Tim Esterdahl has been a lover of trucks and SUVs for years. He has covered the industry since 2011 and has pieces in many national magazines and newspapers. In his spare time, he is often found tinkering on his '62 C10 pickup, playing golf, going hunting and hanging out with his wife and kids in Nebraska.

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