Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

So a board Craigslist search turned into a score for me a few weeks ago. I was visiting my folks down east NC and saw a free NP203 for who ever comes and takes it off my hands ad. Super awesome dude who is on here in fact. Very nice shop and a few sweet rigs to boot! We loaded up the t-case and home I went. I drained the oil and opened it up last night to find the Mile-Marker part time kit installed! Heck yeah! Ill be rebuilding and swapping it in.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Nice score on the 203! The 10 bolt is coming along nicely, way to use the proper tools on it (I just use whatever I got laying in the garage that will work lol)

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Dave when you put the new carrier bearings on and dropped it back in the 10 bolt, was it super over the top tight? I can barley spin mine and its concerning. How loose should this be. I know the pinion is like 25lb per inch or something but thats before you drop the diff in I believe..

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

If you have the pinion in it to it will feel really tight

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

NO I don't have it in and its super tight. The pics show the pinion in but I took it out due to how tight it was. I had to hammer in and it back out with the dead blow and I mean hard.. I have to use both hands to spin it. I'm using the factory shims and National bearings from the kit. Its just in for fitment first then ill put and lock down the pinion.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

The bearings on mine looked good, so I did not replace them. I used a mallet to drive my carrier in, it wasn't overly tight but did spin freely. If the bearings spin freely on the carrier before installation, maybe they are not pressed onto the carrier enough. That's all I can think of.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

They are def pressed on all the way. I think ill grind down the factory shims a bit to loosen it up. Its way too tight period.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Pressed in some fresh Spicers last night.

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Fresh u joints are always a nice feeling.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Awesome build.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Way to get after it! Any luck with the carrier?

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Well I've been distracted taking apart the front end to pluck this motor. Its getting a rebuild this winter. I needed to get it out anyway so I can clean and paint the frame. Also makes it way easier to run the new brake and gas lines.

But as far as the diff, Im having a friend help me when he gets a free weekend to do a proper setup and it. He has all the tool to check lash and so forth. Don't wont to burn up the bearings prematurely because I'm being impatient. :ito:

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Hm that reminds me of mine lol, worth the time and effort to pull the core support.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Sounds smart, amazing how many bolts hold on the core support on the older trucks!

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Haven't got a lot accomplished due to other family things going in this last week. Did get this in yesterday so I know what ill be doing this weekend.

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Had some parts blasted and Chassis coated them this week. Mainly parts to get this front axle completed. I will be pulling the motor this weekend and getting after the frame next. Still having trouble getting the diff/pinion setup. I'm having a friend come over soon to help me. He used to work for Richard Childress Racing so he def knows way more than me on this stuff.


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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Sweet! I'll have to look into the chassis saver stuff.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Great product man. As any of that type stuff, prep is key!

I'll paint over it with some rattle epoxy gloss when it dries.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Just looked through the whole thread, Mike. Great stuff. Sometimes I ask why I keep "wasting time" working on my old rig if I'm not looking to build a show queen. I just love spending time under the hood. Takes me away from everything else going on in my life. Keep up the great work.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Thanks bud! This project will take off again strong after Christmas as I seem to come up on extra cash at around this time of year. Was kinda stalled with the front end as i'm having trouble rebuilding it. I'm going to take it to a shop as i'm tired of messing with it and need to move forward. Still trying to decide on factory front spring replacement or 2" lift...???

Stay tuned!!

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Glad to see you clicking along on the build. I vote for the 2" lift purely based on the experience I had putting the Tuff Country EZ ride springs and Bilstien 5100's on my K10. It rode like a Caddy.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

SCREW WINTER!!!!!!!!!!!



I'm back in action! Couple of new things. Got a promotion which came with a new city so we've headed to Richmond, VA. Any square friends out here please reach out. I need some good contacts for shops, powder coaters, etc..

So in the last 2 months I have striped down the front all the way to the frame. No coming back now! Pull the cab, tore the motor down and sent to an engine shop for machine work, sold the tranny and 203, and started ordering parts galore. Along with the parts, I put on some new leaf packs in the front. Went with the 3 vs the stock 2. Also added the Offroad Design shackles up front.

Picked up a NP205 with a slip yoke and 27 spline input for an auto. My goal is to have a 700r4 w/ the np205 Twin sticked and the factory rebuilt 350. Stock suspension for now. Have a look an stay tuned!!



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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

More
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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

and more..

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

and the dirty NP205. Ill clean her up and re-paint tomorrow.

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Congrats on the promotion, and great job on the truck!

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Looks real good, and amen on the winter sentiment.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

It was snowing here in NW PA yesterday and will be again by Friday. I wish I could agree with the "winter is over" comment.

The truck is coming along nicely. You gotta love a freshly painted frame.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Wow, I haven't checked in on your thread in a while, winter or not you've got a snowball on your hands! Nice work though, I don't blame you for digging on into it.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Looking good dude. Congrats on the promotion.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can keep the thread going a little better than the last 6 months.

Talked to the engine shop today and they had the block on the machine to bore. Should be ready by Friday to start building up the short block.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Very nice work! Made a ton of progres!

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Thanks! More pics coming later today.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Looking forward to more pictures. You're doing what I wanted to due, but I don't have the space to do so.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Got the front 10 bolt hung and sway bar up. Used Energy Suspension Poly bushings on the bar. Should firm things up a bit. I also installed new spiders in the fr carrier to tighten up the factory slop. That was suggested by the guy who set up my front ring & pinion. Yukon Gears on that!

Pressing in the ball joints today and should have those and the hubs mounted by tomorrow.

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Awesome man, looks great. Time for some fun!

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

Nice work man. Really like the stock blue and somehow the added 2nd blue really works for me. Can understand if you go back to white in the center but Im a big fan of the mustard yellow stripe in the trim with that color of blue. I'm in the same process of getting what I can out of the existing paint, even though there are rust spots etc to be fixed. Somehow these rigs just look great anyway, despite it all. I enjoy seeing the progress.

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

sweet truck man keep up the good work

Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

More progress on the truck. Trying to quickly get it back together before I sell the house back in NC. Starting rebuilding the 205 and engine. New Speed Pro pistons and ARP rod bolts to start. .30 over and had the crank turned. Got the front end all together with the new lockers, ball joints, brakes, etc.

Wheew im beat!!!

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Re: 1977 K10 Silverado Longbox
 

More pics to see!

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