1971 Chevy C-10 Truck Cummins Turbo Diesel Named C-Tane Custom One-Off 630HP
I am pleased to offer this one-of-a-kind custom 1971 C-10 custom truck affectionately known as “C-Tane”. One-of-a-kind is a term that’s thrown around quite liberally but in this case, it really applies. This truck is unique, high quality and simply incredible. It was built by expert car and truck builder Kevin Tetz for his show “Hands-On Cars” with Kevin Tetz (can be seen on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Digital Lug TV app). It was going to be displayed at SEMA but unfortunately, SEMA was cancelled. VIN # is GS1411638952 and mileage is approx. 450.
Concept:
Digital Lug Media executive producer Ian Johnson mentioned the Cummins XD 5.0 V8 Diesel engine from a 2017 Nissan Titan XD truck that he had kicking around his shop, and it made perfect sense to stuff the enormous engine into a vintage C-10. The V8 turbo diesel was intended for an off-road project, but plans changed and the engine collected dust. As octane is to gasoline, Cetane is to diesel fuel; so the project C-Tane/C-10 was born. The stock Cummins 5.0 makes a respectable 310 HP and 555 Ft/Lbs. We’ve recalibrated this truck to make 630 HP and 900 Ft/Lbs or torque, all easily managed through an Aisin 6 speed automatic transmission with factory traction control. The sleek design of a 67 C10 was the inspiration for the custom bodywork, and the combination is unique, interesting, and potent.
Foundation/Chassis:
The “Schwartz Performance” chassis is powder-coated, and features a triangulated four link rear suspension, front SLA system with bearings and heim joints rather than bushings. Ridetech adjustable shocks control the ride and a Flaming River power rack & pinion steers it. The 2 X 6 frame rails and structural steel tubing reinforcements create a very strong and fully adjustable system that’s still smooth on the street. We used stock Titan engine and transmission mounts attached to the chassis. Due to the accessory configuration we had to set the engine back 24 inches from a stock C-10, which resulted in a weight bias of nearly 50/50 on the bare chassis.
Drivetrain:
Our ISV Turbo diesel is a DOHC 5.0 Litre 90 degree V8. The common rail design is surprisingly quiet, partly due to the valley-turbo that’s shrouded by a deep runner intake manifold. Stock power levels are around 310 HP, and 555 Ft lbs, ( flywheel) but our CFT Performance single 72 mm turbo upgrade and tune strategy nets us close to 600 wheel HP and just under 1000 Ft Lbs. That kind of muscle in a 3843 lb. truck makes it very responsive. Fuel delivery starts with a Ricks Tanks baffled stainless cell with passive hat and dual returns. Lift pump is a 125 GPH FASS titanium system designed for a Cummins 5.9, which feeds the Nissan pressure pump. The Aisin 6 speed electronic transmission has tight gear spacing and double overdrive allowing for consistent torque, keeping the engine in the sweet spot of RPM range. Heatshield Products thermal insulation is everywhere. Out back is a Moser 9 inch full floating rear axle with 35 spline axles. A hybrid driveshaft mates the fixed yoke flange of the transmission to a 3.5 inch steel slip-tube and billet-steel 1350 series U-joint on the Yukon third member. The diff. is a True Track LSD with 3:05 gears. A Painless Wiring harness from Summit Racing replaced the 50 year old electrical system, and the Nissan Titan ECU and TCU control engine and transmission communication. AN Optima D35 yellow top feeds power.
Body:
Every exterior panel besides the roof is from Brothers Truck Parts, giving us the ability to re-skin the ’71 longbed into a sleek ’67 shape. A fiberglass cowl eliminates wipers which were sacrificed for engine clearance. We logged hundreds of hours in bodywork, including the Axalta paint topcoats. Body mods include one-piece door glass, drilled stock door handles, Mike Billet mirrors, integrated grill & roll pan, and shaved center bar. The custom cut stainless steel grill by TriWorks Hotrods sits in a custom frame. Headlights are candy-tinted United Pacific LED units with integrated turn signals. The roll pan features tunneled LED driving lights . Underhood features include Sloshtubz Wheelhouses and firewall metal, and CFT fabricated air delivery finished in Cerakote. We fabricated a tilted radiator support for efficient cooling, which houses a Cold Case radiator and dual fan. Hinges are All American Billet. Functional prototype carbon fiber heat extractors come from Munnsey Speed. Short bedsides are stock with stake pockets filled. The obtuse passenger side exhaust is Magnaflow Challenger tips and Magnaflow 4 inch pipe. Smoked taillights use Brothers billet frames, and the extra wide wheel houses are coated in SEM Products Rockit bed liner. The bed is raised 3 inches to accommodate the chassis and the custom aluminum floor is from Smokey Road Rod Shop. C-Tane graphic by Steve longacre. Also included is a custom Covercraft car cover.
Wheels, Tires, Brakes:
Baer 14 inch rotors with Schwartz Branded 6P calipers are actuated by a Baer Remaster manual master cylinder kit. It’s mounted to a second tandem pedal-box in the cab that gives safe and correct pedal geometry and maintains the stock steering wheel location.
The G-Machine chassis allows bind free steering with 335/30/18 BF Goodrich Rival S rubber giving a very aggressive look. Rival S has excellent wet & dry traction with a 200 UTQG. Rocket Racing Attack wheels are semi-forged, which offers affordability, light weight, and excellent strength. We chose the 12 X 18 inch with 5 .5 inch backspacing in machined titanium finish.
Interior:
TMI Sport R seats sit aside the enormous transmission tunnel. Upholstery by Jan Van Kooten of Stitch By Stitch designs completes the interior design. We fabricated custom fiberglass panels, then upholstered them and the stock door panels with contrasting red stitching in a diamond pattern. Billet inner door handles come from Brothers. The driver-side information panel is made from the stock bezel modified to house The Racepak IQ3 logger dash & Dakota Digital gauges. Engine data comes through the OBDII port, and speedometer is GPS. The Painless Wiring switch panel gives a race-car feel to the cabin and controls ignition, cooling fans, and fog lights. The center dash houses an Alpine head unit with GPS. Vintage Air controls the HVAC system tucked under the passenger side dash. AC blows cold. With the huge engine cover, Driver pedals are offset to the left two inches.
Finish:
Axalta Products coat the sheet metal. An epoxy foundation followed by Evercoat fillers and Spies-Hecker polyester primer-filler (in three blocking sessions) smooth any waves. The “Desert Khaki” color is from a 2018 Toyota Tundra, and is sprayed in Cromax EZ waterborne basecoat, followed by 7900S clear. Clearcoats were cut and polished to a high gloss.
The mixed media combo of wrap and custom paint give C-Tane a layered look. Jamie “wrapArtist” Mullican of WrapArtist.com in Nashville TN laid the flawless matte & satin wrap against the high gloss panels.
C-Tane Components:
Summit Racing
Crown Performance brake lines
Brothers Truck parts Body Panels
Axalta Refinish Products
Schwartz Performance Chassis
Baer Brakes
Ridetech Shocks
Rick’s Tanks Fuel cell
Fass Fuel Systems
Yukon Gear And Axle Differential
CFT Performance engine components
WrapArtist.com vinyl wrap graphic
Painless Wiring
Summit Racing/Misc
SEM Products Bedliner
Holley Performance Products Dash
Vintage Air HVAC
Heatshield Products
Dakota Digital
Munnsey Speed carbon Fiber
Smoky Road Rod Shop Bed Floor
Nine Lives Racing spoiler
Cold Case Radiators
BF Goodrich Tires
Rocket Racing Wheels
TMI Products seats/dsh
E-Stopp brake systems
United Pacific lighting
Covercraft custom cover
Mike Billet Mirrors
Stitch By Stitch Designs Interior
* To watch a great video highlighting this custom truck, click here
* To watch another great video highlighting this custom truck, click here
* Don’t forget this video – watch it go down the street, click here
* To watch an early shakedown run with C-Tane, click here
This is really a unique opportunity to own something special. Imagine this truck in your collection. Imagine showing up at the local cars and coffee with this one-off beauty.
Truck is located in Columbia, TN (about 40 miles south of Nashville).
Price: $180,000
Terms & Conditions
This item is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied unless there is a warranty in effect from the factory. The seller shall not be responsible for the correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no warranty in connection therewith. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected this item, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgement solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects associated with this vehicle at the buyer’s request prior to the close of sale. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any oral statements about the item.
Buyer is responsible for cost of shipping but seller may be able to assist in arranging shipping. I can be reached at (630) 567-0066 to discuss the item.
Good luck!