TCI Hits The Purpose Built Pro-Touring Market With A C10 Chassis

Total Cost Involved (TCI)  is no stranger to the pro-touring way of building C10 trucks or manufacturing purpose-built chassis for all rides. In the company’s 47 years of design and engineering, they have built an extensive body of work and expertise in all of these areas. The company’s latest release, designed specifically for the pro-touring market, is a 1967-1972 C10 Pickup Pro-Touring chassis.  

The chassis needs a firm structure to start with, and the process begins with eight laser-cut frame pieces that are fixture welded to make a smooth set of frame rails. These frame rails are put into a TCI-designed chassis fixture where front and rear crossmembers and a center section are added. 

Factory Chevy C10 frame rails offered very little by way of performance, but the TCI C10 frame rails are designed with widened rails ahead of the cab which narrows behind the cab. This allows more room for headers and steering components, upfront. 

This design also allows TCI to mount the rear shocks outside the frame rails which maximizes roll stiffness, yet allows plenty of room for wider tires. The center section is comprised of 14 pieces of 1×2-inch .120-inch-thick steel, adding even more rigidity. This combats chassis flex, which is well documented as a power-robber. 

The center section design allows for a 3-inch round tube exhaust to fit with plenty of room to spare. The rear frame rails have been stepped 8 inches to provide an extremely aggressive ride height and low center of gravity. With 335/30R18 tires on all four corners, the frame rails will be 4 to 4 1/2 inches off the ground. 

Front Suspension

As one would imagine, an independent front suspension (IFS) is standard on this chassis, which TCI promises to provide the best in handling, weight savings, and strength. The front suspension is based on TCI’s Custom Modular truck spindle and bolt-on steering arms. The spindles come with 12-inch rotors and calipers and can be upgraded to 13- or 14-inch Wilwood six-piston brakes.

The front crossmember is raised so it is above the bottom of the frame rails to provide extra ground clearance with a significant ride-height drop. The crossmember has also been moved forward to center the front wheels in the wheel wells, maintaining appearance. 

The upper control arm mounts are engineered to provide easy camber and caster adjustments. Ridetech‘s 1,000,001-mile warranty adjustable coilovers also come standard on the front suspension. Combine these features with proprietary steering geometry and you have superb comfort and performance. 

Rear Suspension 

C10 truck rear suspensions using stock conventional leaf spring suspension and aftermarket four-links encounter suspension bind under spirited cornering. To eliminate that bind, TCI designed its rear suspension with a torque arm. 

The torque arm features a telescoping slider at the front of the arm that rotates as the car goes through suspension travel and articulation. This allows the vehicle’s handling to be controlled by the coilovers and the rear sway bar with no suspension binding. 

This design allows for a lowered stance, greater rear axle control, and dramatically improved handling. As an added bonus, there are three height adjustments on the axle brackets in 1-inch increments. These height adjustments along with the adjustable coilovers allow enthusiasts to fine-tune the ride even further.

Adjustable link bars allow tuning of wheelbase and provide excellent axle control for today’s modern high-performance engines. The link bars and adjustable coilovers are mounted outside of the narrowed rear frame rails for better roll control. Once again, rebound-adjustable Ridetech coilovers are provided for performance and reliability.

Features and Benefits 

  • The chassis design is engineered for excellent ride quality yet retain the utility of a pickup
  • Six-inch tall, fully-boxed frame rails that offer exceptional strength and rigidity
  • The fourteen-piece center section adds strength while still allowing exhaust clearance
  • Suspension design provides a lowered stance while gaining ground clearance
  • Custom spindles use common late model C10 brakes but improve geometry to provide excellent handling
  • Bolt-on steering arms provide a tight turning radius and proper Ackerman angle
  • Vertical upper control arm mount plates make alignment & suspension tuning a snap
  • 3/16-inch Heavy-duty cross-member provides superior strength
  • Heavy-duty upper and lower screw-in ball joints for additional strength and durability
  • Heavy-duty upper and lower control arms provide added strength & safety
  • Vented front rotors and big bore calipers provide excellent braking capabilities
  • Energy suspension bushings throughout the chassis provide long-lasting performance
  • Lightweight 1-inch performance front anti-roll bar provides superior handling characteristics
  • Fully adjustable Torque Arm rear suspension provides flexibility between performance & comfort
  • Brand new 9″-inch Currie rearend with a six-year/60,000-mile warranty offers peace of mind for years to come
  • Corrected wheelbase centers the front wheels in the well
  • Modern performance car handling and comfort in a 50-year-old pickup
  • Fully plumbed brake lines shorten fabrication time
  • Engine and transmission mounts are pre-installed allowing your drivetrain combo to drop right in
  • All pieces are heliarc welded for the highest quality and strength 

All complete chassis comes standard with:

  • Small block engine and automatic transmission mounts
  • 31-spline axles and 11-inch drum brakes
  • Complete frame with a center section
  • Complete front suspension with disc brakes
  • Complete rear suspension
  • Custom steel brake lines terminated just under the cab
  • Wilwood proportioning & check valves
  • All cab, bed, bumper, core support mounts

TCI Engineering calls this the most well thought out 1967-1972 C10 Pro-Touring Chassis available today. You’d be hard-pressed to argue with that. For more information, visit them online at totalcostinvolved.com. 

Article Sources

About the author

Bobby Kimbrough

Bobby grew up in the heart of Illinois, becoming an avid dirt track race fan which has developed into a life long passion. Taking a break from the Midwest dirt tracks to fight evil doers in the world, he completed a full 21 year career in the Marine Corps.
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading