Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

While i was waiting for some paint to dry I figured I would poke around the donor c10. Oh what's this a little rust around the fender. poke poke.... crunch.
SERIOUSLY....

Take the wire wheel too it and disintegrate some fiberglass over top of what looks to be expanding foam..

Oh well.... we shall get some proper metal for that soon.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Axle looks great!

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

I think I may have made the mistake of priming first. The paint seemed to stick better to bare metal than with the primer coat first.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

clean, rust treatment, paint. repeat. such is my life these days. Got one leaf pack painted up. Did the rust blast this time and will go back and do rust blast on the other. I just wasn't happy with the spray paint on it.

Also did up the back drive shaft in the two piece system. Punched out the U joints and got some replacements ready to go.

Leaf spring bushings were supposed to be here last week, delayed until the 24th. Lame. Oh well mangled up the shackles trying to get the outer shell for the bushing out this will give me time to get some replacements. I guess with the shackle O being welded shut vs the leafs having some spring due to being open made the difference in getting them out.

Once the bushings and new shackles get here I can throw the rear half of the truck back together, install the new master, bleed the brakes. Then it should be drivable.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Good news, finally got in my new shackles and picked up some new 9/16" X 4.5" grade 8 bolts for the leafs and shackles. Back from a work trip to Banff can finally get some "real" work done.

Also looking at some houses this weekend, may finally get myself a garage for the winter.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Ahh finally back at it... Leafs back together, installed rear brakes and new master.. Now to bleed.

For some reason was having a heck of a time with one spring on the self adjusting arm, came back to it the next day on in two minutes vs 3 hrs of cursing the day before..

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Combination / proportioning valve ...... What a Pain. When the rear drums destroyed themselves before it caused the valve to trip to the Forward position. I could not get the stupid thing to reset for the life of me.

Swore at it for about a week trying all kinds of tricks from the interweb.

Including
- Open the front bleeders - Hammer on the brakes. No Go multiple times.
- Bleed rears while holding pin on the valve in, should reset once back side has pressure. - NO GO.
- Take CAP off sensor sending unit and manually move pin back. - NO GO stuck.

Anyways I gave in and bought a new one. This one came in Brass instead of cast iron. So at least I know this one won't rust.

Stupid thing is in such a pain of a position as well, right under the fan shroud on the Frame cross member.

Done and have brakes again... Even took it for a rip around the block.

Some nice magnetic trailer lights hooked up for the back and she is good to go for the move to the new place. At least I don't have to trailer it.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

You are one patient man. That is a virtue. I don't know if could've waited 14 years. Glad to see your progress.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Well, it has been a while since I last updated. Sorry folks. I got the truck to a point where I was able to drive it under it's own power as we bought a house and needed to move. Unfortunately for progress it meant I was stuck doing household stuff.... Until now. Spend the day removing front clip, engine and transmission so I can make the frame look as pretty on the front as it is on the back.

As well plan to remove the cab and fix up the rust holes.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Didn't see this build back in '15 since I wasn't on here yet. You are doing nice work. Really like the truck and paint combo. Good to see your perseverance. That motor sounds like it will be a beast.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Cab is coming off tomorrow. Wish me luck!!

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Success, that was one heck of a long day. Both with some good news, and some bad news....

First the floor looks to be not to bad of shape so one less thing to weld in. Still need cab corners, rockers, ect.

Bad one of the body bolts broke a nut off, how do you get in there to weld it back please tell me there is some trick without having to perform major surgery.

If the weather holds I should be able to get the front of the frame prepped and painted.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

What fun! You are exactly where I am at on my '77. sure is fun getting in there. I don't know anything about your cab mounting nut though. Hopefully not a big deal!

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

It was a productive weekend, Removed the steering components and finished cleaning the frame. Even was nice enough out to get the rust seal on. Another hour or so and I should be able to top coat.

Still need to clean and paint the steering components and install new bushings, ball joints, tie rods ect. But progress. YAY

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Wow, you're getting me motivated! I'm in the same spot you were as far as removing the cab and stripping the front end. I need to pick up the progress!

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Don't feel to bad, this has been a multi year expedition for me.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

What was your procedure on the frame? It looks great BTW.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

I did the frame in two steps, previous posts show me doing the back end with the box removed. I did the front half once I got the cab/clip off. Pretty straight forward wire wheeled off the old undercoating, dirt, grime and loose paint. I used a hobby sandblaster in areas that were tough to get at with the wire wheel that I picked up at princess auto $40 (kind of like harbor freight in the US).
Once cleaned I used a product called KBS rust seal, it's very similar to POR15 and other rust type paints. I followed the instructions they provide so clean with De-greaser, use metal prep product (this is phosphoric acid and some other stuff), and finally apply the coating.

I Top coated with princess auto flat black anti rust paint just to provide some UV protection and I preferred the flat black look.

Seems to be holding up well as I have had wrenches slip on me, kid run into it with his bike, outside in the elements for over a year.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Next Steps

I have ordered new steering components, wheel bearings, brake hoses, and finally my sheet metal for fixing the cab.

I figure the order of operations will be

- Clean and paint the Control Arms, springs, front steering stuff ect following the same process as the frame.
- Install the new steering components, brake stuff, and mount the wheels
- Get the motor and transmission put back, ensure the drive train is all lined up.
- Paint the cab floor with the rust seal up to the area where the rockers will be cut out.
- Install cab on frame before repairing cab corners and rockers - Cab floor looks good. (thoughts on doing it this way vs repairing while off frame?)
- Get box transferred from donor
- Get front fenders ect. transferred from donor.

All of this is good news on the progress front.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Looks like its coming right along.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Looking good! I live in Lethbridge too and I got a lot of my parts from Gary's Auto Wreckers in Raymond. He has a lot of C10's there and most are in pretty decent shape.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Ill have to check them out thanks.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Today's project... it took way to long to get this thing cleaned. So many cavities that were a paint to get to. During painting i managed to get a nice glob of rust seal on my forehead...whoops.

Anyways I'll finish painting this puppy tomorrow and the A arms. Need to get the bushings out... I have a feeling that won't be a fun job either.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Clean, Prep, Paint repeat. Such is my life these days

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

I hate bushings... That is all. Totally wrecked a control arm trying to get one out. Luckily I can steal one from the donor. It just had to be the last one that needed to come out to be a pain.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

looks great! keep the pics coming. i didn't dig as deep as you have but i wire wheeled and painted a lot of my front end as well. if you are replacing control arm bushings good luck! that was by far the biggest pain in the ass for me.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Yeah control arm bushings suck.. I managed to get the uppers stripped today. Used an air chisel on the bushings and it worked not bad. On account of my damaging one of my lower control arms trying to get the bushing out I need to go and strip one from my donor. Tomorrow comes some more cleaning and painting and then I can throw it back together.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Oh what's this, more truck surgery.

But why tear that engine down when you have so much else to do?

Well I ordered some full rollers and needed to get the roller tipped ones off so I could sell them.
I also wanted to get a better suited head gasket to get the quench in line.
Originally I had used a fel-pro 1003 squish size 0.041
Flat tops in the hole 0.014
A little on the large size for ideal quench.

New head gaskets 0.026 resulting in an ideal final endearment of 0.040.
Once the gaskets come I'll get it all put back together.

I still have a control arm to pull off the donor and all the control arms need to be painted.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

That's the story of my life! My truck has turned into the same project, so I love this thread.

I wanted to just replace the old Quadra jet on my 454...then maybe manifold....then, why not just pull the motor and freshen it up....

that turned into a full block up rebuild after boring .030 over....

THEN Well I have the motor out maybe I should do rust repair...

Now I have a fully disassembled Cab in my garage on a cab stand...

THEN well, this is a 2WB and my buddy has a lifted 4x4 frame from a '66 he wants to get rid of...

So, a full restore swapping a '77 cab to a '66 frame all started from a carb swap...:metal:

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Ohhhhhh.. New Hardware FANCY FANCY.

Some new grade 8 bolts for the cross members.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Clean, prep, paint, repeat. Yeah more of that.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Got the front cross member installed and put back together one of the upper control arms, 3 more to go.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

New goodies arrived today.... Scored a smoking deal summit price matched to Advance auto with a 30% off coupon. It shipped from within Canada which is a first for me with summit.
I'm still waiting on my thinner head gaskets which I ordered to get the quench right and once they come in I can put the motor back together.

All the control arms are painted and ready to go back on so next steps are.

Install bushings, ball joints, Tie Rod assembly, and put it back on the truck.

Then clean up the motor mounts and paint.
Clean up transmission and transmission mount.
Install motor and transmission link driveshaft.
Start body work (this should be interesting)

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

any reason they shipped from Can. would be nice if they started doing that with some stuff

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Looking good man i hope to start on mine this summer ive had the truck since 2015 saving money takes a while since im in college. Look forward to seeing more of your progress

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Can't be sure but I have noticed some stuff from Rock auto shipping from Ontario as well.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Got some more goodies, head gaskets to be specific so I got the heads installed again.
The new gaskets did not have all the same coolant holes as the old fel pro. Victor reiz/clevite 5746. So after searching the interweb I had 2 options, cut the gasket up and add the holes or run it as is. I chose to leave it as I felt I would bugger it up worse if I attempted to make new holes.

Made a nice home made thread chaser to get the head bolt holes cleaned out.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Progress.. but need some new castle Nuts.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Ordered some new parts as well, decided I will be going with a Fitech fuel injection setup and ditching the carb so I ordered up the fuel tank and such.

The plan is to get the wheels on and place the engine and fire it up where it sits to set the timing. Once the timing is set I will sell my Summit carb I bought a LONG time ago and get the EFI setup going. Also Intend to hit the wreckers and look for

A) Serpentine belt setup
B) Electric Fan

Darn project creep.

Re: Restoring 1980 C10 big ten.
 

Ill have spending doubling my budget if I'm not careful...