85 White Whale
 

Couldn't really come up with a catchy project name, but I figured it took so long to find a decent K10 for sale that I would just call it my white whale.

Took me about a year of casually browsing craigslist and the such. Found a 1985 K10, 350 engine, 700R4, maintenance records, automatic...almost exactly what I was looking for.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Nice find!

Re: 85 White Whale
 

It did have some rust in the cab corners. After calling around for paint quotes...I realized I would either have to do it myself, or pay a fortune.

Time to buy some tools. Angle grinder, die grinder, 60 gallon compressor, and lots of stripping discs!

Re: 85 White Whale
 

I cut out the rust, sprayed it with a rust converter and cut a patch panel to size. I had the welding done locally as my flux core was just too hot.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Cab panels repaired. Tie down holes welded up. Stripping of the truck has began!

Re: 85 White Whale
 

The front fender dent was just too big for me to mess with. The local pick and pull had a dent free fender that I grabbed. Took a solid hour to strip though. It must have had 7 layers of paint/primer on it.

New grille arrived too.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Using aircraft remover for the bed, along with a wire wheel and stripping discs. The aircraft remover is messy stuff, but works well.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Pulled the front and rear bumper today, as well as the tailgate. Going to order some new hardware for the tailgate.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

I also bought some flush mount reverse lights for the rear bumper. I'm planning on stripping the entire bumper and painting it argent silver (including the lights).

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Any updates? Don't feel bad about the rusty cab corners, I had one fixed as well.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

I'll update this weekend with pictures. It's literally been sitting in my garage collecting dust for the past 2 years, until today. Pulled it out, put in a new battery and got it running. Pulled both front and rear windows. Pulled the taillights, front and rear bumper, grille, side mirrors and am prepping for Primer.

Hoping to have it in epoxy primer this Saturday.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Great revival! Quiet for two years and BAM. I have the exact same backup lights for my crew and plow truck but haven't installed either set yet. Put a pair in my dad's 2500HD and they are BRIGHT. On his truck I have them wired to come on with the backup lights and ability to disable with a switch. I would consider doing this with any install or risk blinding everybody backing out of the grocery store parking spot.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

So I was able to get the truck into epoxy primer today. Two coats laid down without much issue. I think if my base and clear lay down that well I'll have my work cut out for me.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Looks good. Nice work! :metal:

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Sounds like just the thing to discourage tailgaters :)

JK, the truck and and primer are looking good. Glad you are able to get back to it.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Onto the body filler...

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Looking good! You going to keep it white?

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Yeah I'm going to stick with the factory frost white. Dealing with door jambs is too much for me. Also white will help cover all my bodywork errors.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Nice work.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Epoxy primed the door jambs, tailgate, and made the cutouts for the reverse lights.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

More body work this weekend. Hoping to have it in high build primer by tomorrow.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

More sanding, sanding, and then a little sanding. Followed by two heavy coats of urethane primer.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Painted it today. Went with SPI pure clean white single stage.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Looks good! I bet you're excited to get it put back together.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Nice job!.....gotta be happy with that!

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Awesome progress. Can't wait to see it out in the sunshine.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Thanks guys. Waiting on new taillights, side markers, weather stripping, grill trim, light bezels, and a whole lot more from lmc. Hopefully I can start piecing it back together this weekend.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Got the new tail lights in. Really enjoying the difference from when I first got the truck.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Nice build John. Love the build. I miss my square bodies, my first two trucks. You happen to live In Chula Vista?
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Re: 85 White Whale
 

Thanks! Nope I'm up in northern CA.

Painting the tailgate, cowl screen and lower grill panel tomorrow. Looking forward to getting the tailgate band on. Found one at the local pick and pull for ~$7!

Re: 85 White Whale
 

I just put down the first coat of paint. So far so good...

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Polished up the mirrors, sprayed the front radiator support, got the cowl screen in and am getting ready to put the bumper and grille on.

I'm unable to get the small round gaskets around the arm of the mirrors. Anyone have any tips???

Re: 85 White Whale
 

All that's left are the bumpers and glass...

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Total cost goes as follows:

Truck $2400
Grill $40
LMC misc parts $364
Primer $288
Body Filler $70
Sand paper $150
Paint $250
Misc spraypaint $10
Battery $50
patch panels $27
welding job for said patch $100
stripping discs/aircraft remover $120
front/rear windshield estimate $250
pick and pull tailgate band, fender and seat cover $64
misc parts I can't think to list $100

Total $4283...and more time than I want to even think about :(

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Hopefully the enjoyment of "drive time" starts to pay you back for the hours expended getting it to this point. Looks great!

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Thanks. I'm sure the drive time with be plenty of fun. I'm dying to get this thing registered and on the road.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Awesome work and a heck of a value. Time tools and patience. Well done. Enjoy the drive.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Owning a beautiful Square....priceless

The truck turned out real nice. I can't wait to get mine to that point.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

Hit the pick and pull today. Found a front and rear bumper. Front one cleaned up well. I'm waiting on my rattle can job to dry on the rear...should have it mounted soon.

Re: 85 White Whale
 

The rear bumper cleaned up well. I do have to remove it tomorrow and drill 4 mounting bolts. The bumper is currently attached with the four outside bolts, which really don't provide much impact protection.

Surprisingly both license plates lights work.