I am getting ready to start working on this truck but I want some input on where to start. I was think of just tearing it apart and send the frame and body to get sand blasted and primered. But I'm also having trouble looking for a local place in the San diego area that I can take it to. Any help will be appreciated.  

Okay, but right off-the-top you will need a good sheltered area like at least a two-car garage to tear your C-10 down. Or get ready to buy every blue tarp Harbor Freight sells because a lot of rain and weather damage can happen while the C-10 is apart. Another thing that comes to mind is what is your skill-level, or do you have the coin to pay a shop to handle the trickey stuff?

There's a couple of good sandblasting and powder coat places up here in Orange County that I would trust to do the job without destroying your C-10.

Let me know and I'll dig out their contact info.  

This is my first project, but I have a friend that is going to help me that can weld. I would like to do most of the work myself but lack the experiance. I can do some body work, but its been years so there will be alot of trial and error which I think is good to bring my skill level up. The only thing that worries me is I want to make it a short bed and niether of us have the skill level for that, I think I will have a shop do that.

If you can get me that info, that would be great so I can get started on that. My goal is to get as much done before I leave on another deployment late next year.

Thanks for the help.  

I'm on a deadline right now, but I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  

Yeah, shortening the frame should be done by someone with experience. There's shops out there that can handle the job. You really need to see some of their work and make sure that you didn't find a butcher shop.

If you want a short Fleetside you will need to find a used bed. If you want a short stepside you can buy a complete new bed from just about anyone like Brothers or Classic Industries, etc.  

I know you wanted info on what shop to take your truck to, but I learned a long time ago that as soon I refer someone to take their truck to a chrome shop, custom painter, or something like frame work it always backfires on me.

There's truck forums with a lot more activity than this one. I'd put a lot of time into research before I let someone cut my truck in half.