Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

This is a project that I started a few months ago. It is a 1986 Short wheelbase 4X4. It came into my shop with a 6 inch suspension lift and a 4 inch body lift ( yes 4 inch, custom 4X4 square tubing). It has some bald 38 TSLs on it and no motor or trans. Unfortunately I don't have many pics of the start of the build but have been slowly getting more pics and will post when I have some time.
It started as a simple build a motor, clean everything, get it going, and get it out. It has turned into a build that will be slow to finish.

What we have done so far.
1. Pull cab and bed off of frame
2. Clean and paint frame (now red)
3. Build a mild 350 that includes. Not quite done with it but we are working on it.
.040 over flat tops
New bearings
Vortec heads
Comp Mutha Thumper cam
Vortec inake
Holley carb
headers and flowmasters.
Rebuilt trans with 3000 stall

4. The owner came to me and asked what we had to do to get 46's under it. So in addition to the 6 inch lift we did a custom rear shackle flip and a spring hanger lift in the front with custom shackles. I will post some pics of the lift also. So as it sits no we have right at 14 inches of lift. The steering was a challenge but the truck already had a dropped pitman arm and a raised steering arm. I am going to add a 4 inch dropped drag link arm to get it steering right.

5. Dropped all suspension components and painted them all.

6. all new ball joints in the front end.

7. The plan is to paint it all black with a tiny lime green stripe down the side.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND-- Yes we are using stock D44 and 12 bolt axles that have 4.11 and open. I know they aren't going to hold up to 46's on 20's. I have tried and tried to talk him into finding a 14 bolt/ D60 combo, but he says it will only be driven on the street around our small town and won't ever see mud. Same discussion on the brakes, but my students are getting time turning wrenches so ew will do what we are asked I guess.
If anyone has any suggestions, comments, questions, or gripes post 'em up.
I'll get some pics up soon.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Got any pictures?

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

all this work and it will never see mud?

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Get rid of the stock steering and all that junk,raised steering arm,steering block,dropped draglink and pitman arm!!Go with ORU cross over steering and you will be able to relax wile you drive!!And it will turn like a jeep!! JMO!!!!

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Show your pics...show your pics...

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

That is exactly what I want to do. Yet I have an owner that has suddenly gotten cheap on me. If I wasn't so far along I wouldn't consider finishing this as now I am having to do stuff I don't like.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Here are some pics. Sorry some are blurry.
I will have more pics as we go. we have done a lot of the lift but I don't have any pics of that yet. But I will soon


Lifting off the cab
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...2-IMG00143.jpg

Cab in the air
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...9-IMG00144.jpg

Next
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...8-IMG00145.jpg

The Bed
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...2-IMG00154.jpg

Stripped bed bolt
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...4-IMG00157.jpg

Bare Frame
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...9-IMG00162.jpg

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Frame in primer
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...5-IMG00201.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...4-IMG00200.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...5-IMG00199.jpg

Putting on the color
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7-IMG00202.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...1-IMG00203.jpg

The cab waiting to be sanded.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...9-IMG00164.jpg
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...7-IMG00163.jpg

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Is that a school project?

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Yes it is.. High school 10th through 12th graders.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

So I take it you are leaving the 4" body lift on it?

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Yes why?

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Please get those kids wearing PPE!!!!!!!!! (Personal Protective Equipment) Things like respirators, glasses, gloves, etc. That should not even need to be mentioned. Teach them the importance of wearing them all the time. Have them do some research about isocyanate poisoning. That should help them see why they need to wear it. Sorry, just plain ignorant not to have them protecting themselves all the time. Here is a link to a conversation we had in the paint & body section on here about the topic. I tell you this in hopes of teaching these kids RIGHT while they are young enough to start good practices to take care of the only body they get.

As far as the build...looks like they should have plenty of chances to learn plenty. Good thing there for sure.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

I can assure you we are doing the best we can with a public school budget, which is minimal. We do wear respirators while painting. That kid was just doing a little touch up spot. Glasses are always worn when any work is being done. We don't have a legitimate spray booth, so we made our own. There is tons of ventilation in the shop with suction from the floor and the roof plus fans blowing at all times when painting anything. 95% of all work done is mechanical and we only painted this frame and thats the extent of it. PPE and safety is the utmost importance in my shop and I stand by my safety practices.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

those kids can do that work as a school project, very cool.

How many kids are in the class. is it kind of like a hobby shop? Im asking cuz when they graduate are they gonna say "All we did in High school as build a chevy truck"

keep up the good work, More kids need experience doing work

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Oh no. We have a normal state class curriculum that must be followed. They have been learning brake systems. What better way to show they where a combination valve is than to have a body off the frame and to be able to show it to them. Doing a rear disk brake conversion will show them the differences between a disc/drum system and a disc/disc system, and the different valving that applies to each system. So you see its not just about working on an old chevy. Doesn't matter if it is an old mazda or toyota except that most of these country kids like chevy trucks, and many own them or will be inheriting them. Besides its not like we get too many modern cars in to have high school kids work on them.

I currently have 31 kids in my class this year. 12 second year students and 19 first year students. I teach 3- 2 hour classes each day.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

Glad to hear. Sorry to go off like I did, but that is a no excuses area in my book. Glad to see the kids getting the exposure to building vehicles. And glad to know you are watching out for them. Keep us updated on how the kids are doing on this build.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

No problem man. I am passionate about my work. I definetly don't do it for the money. LOL Mechanics already get such a bad rap for the old ways of doing things. I like to think they will all go out and be great mechanics and hobbyists. But in reality, only a few go on and further their education.

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

True but the industry/hobby needs all the up and comers we can get. Thank you for what you do!

Re: Rav's 1986 K10 Mini-Monster
 

a;ll

cool, it realy helps to have real vehicle to show them. I know they are learing alot

So approx 10 kids in each class? thats not too bad, some of our programs here have 20-30 kids per instructor. Its real hard to get all the proper training done with that many kids.....and even that, some kids are just wasting space, and need to find another carrer path, we dont need any more turds in this industry, once again, thanks for taking the time to teach these kids, It takes some real patence