Re: 61K10 build
 

What do you think was the issue, besides the mechanic!
Air in system?

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Checked the GM Heritage Center, vehicle kits for '61, '64. and '66, about how many leafs the front and rear springs have, if my review is complete.

Front- all years have 5 leafs.

Rear- '61 K10 has 6 leafs: K20 has 8 leafs; '64 and '66 have 6 leafs for both
K10 and K20, with multiple different spring ratings.

I would say this is close but not absolute, would need to review the vehicle kits in more detail. Their are a lot of different models and options. They due list standard and HD spring ratings for the rear, all 6 leafs,'64 and '66. Also optional rear HD shocks too, did not see any optional front HD shock. Different models had different shocks.

Would say this is general information, with different models and options things may be different.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Les --no air in the system. read the book wrong awhile ago. never looked at it this time around) my return spring on the clutch t/o bearing arm was pretty week. added a 2nd spring) the manual says 5/32" clearance between the arm and the slave push rod with the t/o bearing just touching the p/plate fingers) i had way more. I adj. like the manual said and it works great, and what a difference between my old brake set-up and the power-disc set-up.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Finally got the tk back on the road. The new disc brakes are night and day from the power/drums set-up i had. It was worth the $$$ and time spent adding them to the closed knuckle axle. Now about the steering with the 4deg shims added to the ft axle. It has much more feel and not wanting to wander as it did before. Another plus! Need to drive it some more of course. also need to run it in 4h to get the ft ring & pinion broke in some. I actually used it as a tk, went to ACE and got some dirt/potting soil for my garden. It still makes a nice gear wine going down the road under power and deceleration, but free wheeling it's quiet. old sm420 and a 221 i guess!

A pic for you TJ---a working tk lol.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Awesome Kimble! I'm glad your hard work paid off. And that your putting it to work like you should be!

Re: 61K10 build
 

Hey hey! lol! Don't scratch the paint now!

Re: 61K10 build
 

Looking good Kimble I like how you added back those reflectors below your tail-lites...
sumthin bout a truck...these truck were work horses back in the day...

Re: 61K10 build
 

Randy--when i was in high school i had a 58 chevy sfb pu and took it to school in the 10th grade (just got my lic). the hwy patrol inspected my tk for safety. they said i had to add reflectors as the tail lights did not reflect. I have seen a lot of them on old tk's of all makes.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Thanks Jason--I still need to make my headache rack, some more under coating and sound deadening and maybe air down the road. When i win the lotto i will buy a new bed lol! What have you been doing with your two?

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Did adding the disk brakes increase you Dana 44 front axle WMS to WMS width?

My '64 WMS width is 65 1/2" and the '79 disk brake Dana 44 is 67 1/2". Just for information will measure the spare '69 K20 Dana to see its WMS width.

Trying to determine the front wheel/tire track that looks original/ good. Will likely put the core support and one fender on the frame to see how it looks currently.

Thanks,
Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Les--will set my old stock spindles next to my new spindle set-up and measure. will post up a pic.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Les--looks like 9/16" wider than stock. (disregard caliper bracket just floating). the open knuckle hubs are shorter also. My rear axle is narrower than the front at 62". I bought the 1 1/2 wheel spacers for the rear, but they looked funny looking under the tk at the wheel. Don't know why they built the front and rear axles that way.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Thanks for the photos, they are helpful. Gives more information on front track, for different options when adding disk brakes.

Thanks,
Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Looks like I need to change out the seals on my Rockwell T221. Just sitting their and spinning it makes it leak some. Did you change your out? Getting the seal from a person who has a lot of parts for the T221. Planning to double up on shaft seals per his suggestion. Also, will epoxy two magnets to the bottom cover to collect small metal wear parts. He reports these guys generate some metal as they wear. Also " we are much better of having the divorced 221 as they do not have the imput shaft issues the married ones have".

Did you get to find the van brake hose part numbers you are using.

Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

as i said earlier the brake lines are from i think a 75 p30 and are 23"+ long. (rockauto lists most specs) sense you are using a different axle, measure what length you need. I have very limited travel in my ft axle due to my pto drive-shaft.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Thanks, will check out Rockauto.

Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

A question on your rear wheel location PLEASE!

Have a plan for my front wheels now. Going to move each wheel in one inch from where they are now.
Currently have 3" BS on 16x6", will change them to 4" BS, because I have the '79 axle.

Working on rear wheel position now. Current setup has most outer lip of wheel, 7" from outside of spring pack. Photo of how I measured mine. If you have time, can you measure yours please.

All your photos/information showing your trk wheels/tires is a big help, in getting the stock look. Mine came with 10" wheels.

thanks,
Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Mine are about 6" but i have an HO-33 eaton rear axle. at 62" wms to wms.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Thanks for the measurement on your trk. Mine measures around 63.5 WMS to WMS, ( 63.5 is what CaptainFeb says for "C" trucks with newer 12 bolts, later '70 and up). So it is .75" per side wider then yours. Originally thought it was a '65 axle because the gears were dated '65, however, fooled me as it is a newer axle.

Do you think the .75 wider axle each side, and 16x6 wheels, same as yours, will fit nicely in the rear wheel wells? You said earlier you tried some wheel spacer, however, did not like how they looked, from under the truck. My wheels are like yours with centered BS. If needed, to move wheel and tire in more, I can increase my BS from the centered 3" to 3 1/2 or 3 3/4 " easily.

Also, the 235x85x16s are about 0.3"s wider each side, then the 215s. So in total my wheels/tire will be about 1" wider in the wheel well.

Thanks,
Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Les--should be just fine with that axle and wheels, and should look good also.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Thanks, sounds good.

Been trying to rebuild my front calipers that came with my '79 Dana 44, just could not get the pucks out, after hours of trying. Feel they are to corroded to reuse if I could get them out. Going with rebuilt A/C Delco fully loaded ones for about $50 ea.

Once they are installed, will measure what length brake hoses needed, and then off to "Rock ...." To find them.

Thanks,
Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Les-- here is a pic again of mine. They have a bend just after they bolt to the calipers. disregard the tubing on the other end. I have used compressed air to remove the pucks, just be careful lol.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Great details, you guys are going to save me so much time...eventually. Glad to follow both of your builds.

Re: 61K10 build
 

_mg what are you building?

Re: 61K10 build
 

I have a '64 K10 LWB like Les'. Not actually doing much with it at the moment, hoping to get some time this summer. In the meantime, learn, learn and more learn!

Mike

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Got my new ACDelco fully loaded calipers for '79 Dana axle and they seem to not fit, maybe to tight. Need to do more research, and get my cores back, and see any difference. They looked generally the same, next will do some measurements, to find differences. First will check to see that they are correct for the DB5 brake option. It has the thicker rotors at 1.25" vs standard at 1". All '79 K10s should have the 1.25" front rotors. These calipers may be for the standard rotors, the box part number is correct for '79 to '80 K10. The caliper piston is also bigger diameter with the DB5 option too.

Checked out the caliper hoses on Rockauto, found P10 and 20 hoses in the range of 20 to 23" long. The stock '79s are 18" long. The end hose fitting to the hard brake line is a little bigger then the stock '64s. Not sure how to accommodate this yet. All the brake lines are undecided, as going to dual MC and disks up front, requires changes. May just make them.

Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Had a new front driveshaft built as my old one was bent. had a wobble to it. also a new lis-plate with the correct numbers. You 4x4 guy's need to post up on your builds.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Lookin good Kimble as always, I've just been driving mine more and more I attended a flea market last Sat and Sun and got to keep my truck in there behind me I must have had 20-30 people ask if it was for sale, I said shoot no, had some people say they used to have one and sold them and wished they had them back....The truck drew more attention than the stuff I was trying to sell...I kinda want to experiment before it gets too cold..I think I'm gonna go with a patina look for now...

Re: 61K10 build
 

Awesome plates, K!

I have amassed a lot of parts and plan to start working on Big Ugly again in January. Can't wait.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Kimble,

Very nice, I am starting back on 64 K10, been cleaning bolts and other small parts. Will be posting soon too. We just sold our home this week, and that will free up, a lot of time. Had been keeping up two homes. Now just a little unpacking, smile. Need to run a 240 volt line to the garage, for air compressor and welder. Still waiting for painter to be ready for body.

Got a bad bug today - looking at another 60-66 truck, SB, fleet.

Les

Re: 61K10 build
 

Looks great Kimble!

Well, summer has passed and no work on the truck in over a year. I too have moved. Les, there is no such thing as a little unpacking! Good thing is I now have a good place to work on the truck. Been gathering parts too, hope to get more than daydreaming-about-it time with it soon.

Mike

Re: 61K10 build
 

Thanks guy's for checking in here. Funny how life can change priorities. Still have to build my headache rack. will be a winter project.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Well i decided to build my headache rack. I know the c10 guy's probably won't care for it, but i don't think i could of modded the tk to lay frame lol. It's going to be painted satin black or black bed liner. a few pics of the build. will add a couple of more pics when finished.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Yer truck, your money, you do whatever the heck you want.

By the way, I think it'll look neat. :chevy:

Re: 61K10 build
 

thanks TJ--there is a tool box that will be across the bed also.

Re: 61K10 build
 

Like the "headache" rack, and fully understand the toolbox. Did you find one the correct width, or are you fabing up mounts for a standard tool box?

Re: 61K10 build
 

like the tape on the bedrails...

Re: 61K10 build
 

DoD--the tool box is a little short but still sits on the bed sides.

Mr.P--the tape was free lol. Don't know what i am going to put under the side mounts yet. Maybe some rubber under coat? We will see.

Re: 61K10 build
 

gotta protect the nice paint, i hope it goesnt lift the paint. duct tape is a beast at sticking as long as its not ducts!!!

Re: 61K10 build
 

Mr.p tape hasn't been on there long, and it NOS also.