It's been a while...
 

I've been largely absent for several years. Had to sell my old crew cab dually when we sold our house and moved to the country. It took a few years, but Saturday I picked up a 1986 K10. It's in decent shape. Has some issues, but nothing I didnt expect. Came with a spare small block that had been torn down already. Engine in the truck has a lifter that's collapsed, or a loose rocker. The engine that's tore apart is a roller motor. So I will go ahead and get the roller rebuilt at my local engine shop. Then swap them and decide what to do to fix the current engine. Which may well end up in my 1993 S10.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Great that you got back into it and found your truck , should make a nice ride by what I see of it.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Thanks! It has some rust above the rear wheel wells, light rust on the corners of the doors, and the normal rocker rot. But it really is a solid truck. I drove 6 hours south to Nashville, TN to pick it up. At least the weather was good coming back!

Re: It's been a while...
 

Nice looking truck. Glad you got back into the stuff again.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Yes it is good to see you're keeping the hobby alive. And it's always good to see members here who have been on board for a while. We get a lot of new members but it's the ones who've been around a while that keep things going. Keep us posted on your progress.

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Thanks guys! Last time I was working on a square body, my son was 4 years old. Now, hes 13 and getting very interested in how these trucks work. So this is a great opportunity to show him, and have fun working on this square as we go. As mentioned before, if the second 350 works out. I will transplant one into my 1993 S10. Which is high on my sons list to help with too.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Welcome back, that's a good looking rig!

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Thanks everyone for the welcome back! I started taking a more in depth look at the truck yesterday morning. I have found that I cannot shift the transfer case out of 2wd, meaning the shift lever will not move out of it. I am hoping its out of adjustment, but will find out as I go through it.
I am pulling the valve cover this morning and visually confirming if it is a bad lifter or just a bad/loose rocker. Best case is its a loose rocker, worst case is a worn off lobe on the cam. Going to make it work either way.
Last night I ordered a bunch of parts from LMC. Im taking the body lift off, going to fix the partially dismantled shift indicator, install door lock cylinders, and put in a new switch on the drivers door lock. Once I can secure the truck, I will start really diving into it.
I live in the middle of nowhere now, yet I had at least 15 people stop and check my truck out today. The best was when my neighbors 14 year old made his dad stop their truck so he could look at mine.

Re: It's been a while...
 

It's crazy that you had that many people stop by. It's a pretty eye-catching truck though.

You may be interested in reading this thread on the subject:
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=820053

Re: It's been a while...
 

It's a good looking truck for sure, maybe I'm biased a little!

I rarely get people stopping at my house. So this was cool, odd, but cool. I really enjoyed the kids checking it out. That's what makes it really fun for me. My 13 year old boy is all about helping me so he can learn what makes these beasts tick.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Welcome back and keep those pics coming!

Re: It's been a while...
 

Are you exchanging the body lift for a suspension lift? The stance looks really good as-is, and is probably the only way you'll run those 35" tires. Personally, I think a four inch lift is perfect for 35" rubber.

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I'm swapping tires with a friend who is building a K5 as a trail rig. He has 31 inch tires in about the same condition. Then I'm taking the body down to stock height. I will leave the suspension lift on it for now, it does have a couple inches in that.

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Took the drivers side valve cover off yesterday morning to make sure the rockers were tight. They looked good. In fact, I see no evidence of a collapsed lifter. In the morning I will do a compression check since i have to stay up anyway. From what I saw, all rockers were moving as normal. Oil was pumping up through the pushrods, and the engine smoothed out. I am leaning toward bad spark plugs or wires, and just needing a basic tune up.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Bit of an update after a very busy summer. As I go through the truck, I have found several things that the PO did where it is evident he was trying to learn. Kudos to him. That said, there isnt any one major thing, but several little issues, and several of those are out of the realm control.
I will be accelerating my plans to do a rear mount gas tank. I pulled the plastic shroud on the 16 gallon saddle tank, and found the straps and brackets rusted beyond repair. My plan is to put a 31 gallon tank in the rear due to cost. Keeping her original isnt my priority, just want functional.
The dash pad will have to be replaced due to a 5.25" speaker that was cut in. Not a huge deal, just aesthetically not pretty.
The glasspacks that had been installed literally fell out. I replaced those with some super turbo mufflers, and moving forward will be rebuilding the entire exhaust. Ironically, the mpg went up slightly after installing the super turbo mufflers. Considering I drive 80 miles per day, every little bit helps.
I have a friend making a new leather seat cover for the truck. the current cover is ripped and shredded pretty badly.
On a very happy note, the 4wd shifter freed up at some point. Im guessing something wasnt meshed properly, or it was starting to freeze up and driving it broke it free. I hadnt even got to that yet, but it shifts fine now. No expensive noises, no metal in the transmission fluid, and everything seems functional.
I gave the truck a tune up. Changed all the plugs, wires, and the distributor. The engine runs wonderfully! Honestly, I couldnt be happier with it so far.

Re: It's been a while...
 

I have a new dilemma, the brakes went out on the 86. The reservoir is half empty on both sides of it, and the pedal wont rebound off the floor when the pedal is pushed. I'm kind of leaning toward a bad master cylinder or vacuum booster. At some point, the master cylinder leaked between the booster and cylinder. If anyone has any thought on it, feel free to chime in.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Inside of the booster failed. Replace both. Most auto part stores should have them in stock or a local source for rebuilding.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Thanks for the tip.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Good strong built nice truck .. put a little weight in that and climb any hill.. good to see ya back ,,Wyatt

Re: It's been a while...
 

Yes they are! I love the old squares for several reasons. Luckily, I'm able to pass it on to my 14 year old son. After riding in my 2012 Silverado and then comparing to the 86, he knows why I like the 86 better. Sure it's not as comfortable, doesnt have the bells and whistles, and it doesnt ride as smooth. But it's better off road, it's cool, and it's just plain pretty for a truck.

Re: It's been a while...
 

Got the exhaust rebuilt since the last time I posted. Found a set of Hooker Super Comp shorty headers for $50 brand new, I love garage sales. Ran dual 2.25" pipe all the way back, may do a balance pipe later.
Rebuilt the drums. Found that the PO had removed all the parking brake components at some point. LMC to the rescue. Ran a new main brake line from prop valve to rear axle. New lines on the rear axle. New master cylinder and vacuum booster as well.
Definitely been busy.
The crates come from where I work. They give these away to employees who want the lumber. The trailer is 20 foot for a size reference. Going to build some box blinds to hunt out of this fall.
New seat cover is going to be here soon. A friend in Utah is making it for me. That's been a project as well, but it will be worth it.