Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Very funny. I'm guessing you wife is trying to tell you something???

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Hahaha :lol: nice job on the dash repair for the radio opening.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

I like her sense of humor!!!! :haha:
I did this a couple of years ago with my '48 Farm Truck ....think mine is a distant, dusty cousin of yours(skeleton, that is) :lol::lol::lol:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks dudes, it was a fun surprise.

@rustytruck: I like what you did there. I always thought it would be fun to use the truck for a hayride, or maybe stuff a dead dummy underneath as though the suspension a had collapsed on it. Maybe next year...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

That would be cool...I'm trying to get the brakes fixed on the '72 in time for a Trunk-or-Treat this weekend

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Well, the new axles arrived in short order (next day from Summit for most things here), but the dimensions are not exactly the same as the stockers that I removed. It’s only a few thou here and there, but enough to require a trip to the machine shop. If I’d known, I would have just ordered a set of Mosers and been done with it. Oh well...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

So while the axles are at the machine shop, I figured I’d tear into the little five-three for some freshening and upgrades. So far I’ve got it all torn down and have cleaned the carbon deposits from the pistons and combustion chambers. It’s now sitting at #1 TDC awaiting installation of the BTR truck cam.

While it’s apart, it will also get new lifters, hardened pushrods, valve springs, oil pump, timing chain, and gaskets. This was a good running motor, so I’m not rebuilding the bottom end, just freshening her up a bit. Hope that doesn’t come back to bite me like every other time I try to cheap out (see axles above)...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

:lol: That was a good helper at one point...

I guess your wife is tired of waiting on this one. We're glad you're back on it too though.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

I've done something similar to the 5.3 that is in my '65. When my son upgraded his short block on his turbo truck, I got the old set up. When he pulled the cam out to swap to the new set up, 2 of the cam bearings fell out of the block. I got the whole package in pieces, I mean everything was apart. I cleaned it all and reassembled using the factory 240k mile bearings on the rods and crank and used new cam bearings (and an old stock cam & lifters) and all new gaskets, I even reused the factory torque to yield bolts...I have more time and elbow grease value in the engine than actual money. Most expensive thing was the gasket kit with MLS head gaskets. Think all told in parts I bought, I have about $175 in a running 5.3.

So far it has held good oil pressure and runs smooth...:ito:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Good to know, Aggie, these are pretty astounding little engines. Fingers crossed...

New cam, timing chain, oil pump, and f-body oil pan are installed :D Next up is valve springs, then bolt the heads back on and she’ll be ready for a coat of chevy engine orange :chevy:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

You’ll be good to go with your engine upgrades. I did the same with my 6.0 in the GMC and had zero issues. Actually contemplating doing the same thing to my 5.3 for the Burb. What kind of gains are you looking to make with the upgrades?? Keep up the great work!

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks, fingers crossed! From what I’ve seen, I’m guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 at the crank. Should be plenty of fun with the Muncie and 3:73s. Reminds me, I need to start looking for an Eaton carrier... :burnout:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Welp, the long block is completely reassembled with the new cam, lifters, hardened pushrods, valve springs, valve seals, oil pump, timing chain, and head gaskets/bolts. Nothing pic worthy to write home about, but a significant step nonetheless. She’s now ready for final scrubdown and a coat of chevy engine orange before stabbing for (hopefully) the last time.

Also did some work on the radio opening in the dash. Turns out I mis-measured one of the holes, so out came the cutoff wheel to reaccomplish what I thought was complete work. Ah well, it’s now all squared-away in primer, ready for final sanding and paint. Starting to feel some momentum, wonder what will go wrong next :lol:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

More progress with the dash final sanded, in color, and cleared. Color match is pretty good and the clear laid out nicely. I got some trash in the ashtray lid that I hope to wet sand out, but overall I’m pretty happy with how this turned out :chevy:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Nice work, Chris. Nothing like a factory unmolested dash. I thought you had a blemish in your paint, but it was my dirty screen

Great work so far!!!

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks! It’s not perfect, but nothing on this truck is, so it blends right in :lol:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Nice job Chris!!! Love that color!! :cool: :cool:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Looks better than I could have done! I have runs in the paint on my engine block... But nobody will see that unless they want to change the oil for me, which I don't think will ever happen.:lol:

I can't wait to see this truck on the road.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Really looks nice man. Is that a factory color? Medium blue? What kind of spray gun did you use?;)

Brian

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks a lot! I like it, too and it’s on the list of potentials if I ever decide to make this a shiny truck.
Trust me, it’s not perfect, but I’m learning to accept flaws as character :lol: Engine will likely be the next thing painted—hoping for no runs, but I’m ok with hiding them, too.

It may be driving soon-ish? I feel like it’s gaining momentum and most of the big stuff is either bought or planned for. Just gotta stay focused...
Thanks! The color is a very near match to the original medium blue poly, but in modern base/clear.

Believe it or not, this was a rattle can job; the base I had custom mixed at my local paint shop and the clear is a 2K hardened product from SprayMax. The clear is excellent and rivals the quality you get from “normal” 2-part paints. The can has a special nozzle that fans the spray pattern which makes the paint lay really nicely. Not a cheap spray bomb, but perfect for this small job. I’ll have to break out the HVLP when it’s time to squirt the firewall.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

With the paint cured, I started sticking things in holes. The way Retrosound has you install the radio, the knobs stick out from the dash too far and look funny, IMO. I used a set of factory AM radio mounting cups instead of their supplied washers/spacers along with modifying the faceplate and brackets to tuck the knobs in as close as possible to the dash. Much better, now :D

Still not sure on how I feel about the faux dial screen protector. I’ll leave it stuck on there for a while and see if it grows on me...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Hmmm, maybe I’ll order one of these screen protectors instead; it looks a bit more appropriate for this era truck:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Looks way better than a single DIN radio in there. How does it sound?

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Unknown at this point, and probably for a while. It’s just mounted, not yet wired. Lots to do before I get to hear any sound outta this thing. Currently no battery, wiring harness, or fuse box installed.

First up, finish body work and paint firewall and engine, then install drivetrain for the last(?) time :chevy:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Very nice work on the dash repair and the engine Chris!

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Nice work so far Chris! The dash is looking good.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks dudes! Moved on to final clean, prep, and paint on the engine. Gotta say, I’m digging it :D

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Mmmmmmmm, love me some Chevy Orange!

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Beautiful! Hope mine looks that good some day soon! What kind of paint did you use to spray the engine?

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks guys, I’m diggin it. It’s sprayed with Seymour EN-48 which layed out really nicely

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

The engine looks great! Should be running by Christmas huh :)

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Ha! If I’m lucky, by summer. Time to start block sanding this firewall...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Welp, the firewall fooled me into thinking it was pretty flat, until I started block sanding it. I get the feeling there will be quite a few more rounds of making filler dust before this thing is ready for color...

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

I recently had a flashback to a few moths ago at HRPT with smbrouss70 and 65StreetCruiser. As we walked around checking out trucks, a comment was made regarding the “unfinished” look when the firewall isn’t properly capped where the blower motor used to be. I knew at that moment that I had work to do before this firewall could be declared officially complete. Thanks for unintentionally bringing this to my attention, Steven. This one’s for you :lol:

I welded in two strips of 18ga to closely replicate the look of the cowl panel edge and set them in at the same depth as the rest of the gutter. The whole business will get self-leveling sealer and should blend in seamlessly. Should... This is one of those mods you only notice if it’s not done, but I’m glad I took the time to make it look “right”.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Looks good, you will be glad you did it. Its probably one of my favorite things Ive done to my truck.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Hey, if that's the worst thing I get blamed for, I'll take it! It does look much better when it's "finished" though. Good job.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Well done, Chris! Those subtle mods are the best because they make you take a second look:cool:

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Killer work Chris, firewall and engine look great! I love the Chevy orange.

Re: How to: Ruin a perfectly good C10
 

Thanks dudes. Lotsa blocking going on to get this thing acceptable. Arms (and everything else) are sore :waah: