Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Pat, Was your '71 K/10 Stepside originally an Air Force truck? The darker metallic blue suggests that to me. But internet colors get distorted.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Unfortunately I know next to nothing about the history of this truck. The original paint was dark olive, and now it's covered in gray primer. One bed fender and the interior are still green.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Quick reply! I was about to edit, since I backtracked and pulled up the SPID. While the OEM color was Olive, the SPID looks commercial, as Gov't trucks had a government property placque riveted inside the Glove Box and often no SPID.
And the Air Force never ''borrows'' trucks from the Army.
[Only the Marine Corps has a 'tradition' of assimilating vehicles from other branches -- usually when they ain't looking.]

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Interesting stuff. I've seen a few retired military 67-72 trucks for sale on eBay. Mime is definitely commercial.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I disassembled the front hubs today with the intention of replacing the bearings and seals. Unfortunately, one of the hubs needs to be replaced because at some point a bearing spun in it and wore a groove. I have a lead on a replacement.

I did go ahead with installation of the axle shafts, spindles and dust shields. I also installed new axle vent hoses and vent caps. Filled the differentials with fluid. Also worked on a large crease in the passenger side front fender and adjusted the hood so that it latches now.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Here's the hub that got damaged by a spun bearing.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

More photos

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Hey Patrick, there are 2 different style hubs & spindles . Large bearing and small bearing. I believe yours look to be small bearing. You can use either but they have to be used as pairs, ( spindle & hub ) both large or both small. The outer bearings are the same, the inner bearing ( the one you spun ) is the difference. So keep that in mind when your sourcing parts.
If you run into trouble l have some small bearing hubs & spindles.
Gary

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Thank you for the heads up!

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

The spindle measures 1.779" at the inner bearing location.

The inner bearing O.D. is 3.063".

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Here is info right from the parts book:

Note: 1971 & 1972 would be the same as 1973-77 1st design.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Thank you. So a 2" spindle diameter would indicate 2nd design

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Go by the measurements, you never know what may have been swapped in there by a previous owner. I have also seen left over prior year parts use on the next year.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

1970cstblazer is correct on the bearing years, it was the axle shaft size that changed in 72.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Did some rust repair on the passenger side inner fender. The driver side inner fender had been mutilated to make room for the misaligned steering column because of the body lift, so I bought a replacement for that side. I chopped a piece off of the mutilated one and welded it into the passenger side. It isn't pretty, but it is functional, and it will be hidden behind the battery.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Nice save!

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I keep thinking about this issue of the swapped drag link tie rod ends. One thing I just noticed is that Moog lists the longer one as the rear and the shorter as the front.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Thank you. One odd thing is that the three screw holes on the front lip of the inner fender are not evenly spaced, so I will have to redrill the center hole.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Odd..

I would trust GM's guidance on this versus Moog. Moog USED to be the gold standard of the aftermarket suspension parts realm, but I have experienced some QC issues with their parts and therefore refuse to use them. This is why I spent the longer dollar on all NOS GM suspension parts for the Blazer. The fit and metallurgy are known and proven.

Case in point, the original ball joints and tie rod ends on my 70 Blazer were still tight after 53 years and 93k miles of borderline abuse. Unfortunately, they suffered pitting and corrosion, making them look like crap. Mom and dad have lived on the same substandard dirt roads since 1970, so it had to endure all of that.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I got up at 4am this morning and spent a total of about six hours driving today, so I felt like just sitting around when I got home. I wanted to get at least some time in on the truck though, so I wire wheeled the inner fender and painted it. I sprayed the bottom of it with rubberized undercoating.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Should last a long time and resist sulphuric acid corrosion.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I hope so.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

I measured the thickness of my rotors. One measures 1.250 and the other measures 1.230. Seems odd that they are that much different. Anyway, the minimum is 1.215, and new they were 1.285, so one is down to 50% and the other is at 21%. I'm just going to replace both of the rotors. I pressed out the studs and freed my one good hub from the rotor. I should be getting the replacement hub for the other side early next week.

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

When I replaced the rotors on my 1970, I was able to source the 12 studs on Ebay. I did not want to use the currently available Dorman pieces.

Raysbestos 5020b, GM 3995841, Wagner BD60908

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M~IAA...M/s-l1600.webp

Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy
 

Thank you for the part numbers. I ordered 12 of the Wagner units off eBay. The studs I removed are all slightly tweaked from being pressed out, so they definitely need to be replaced.