Rockdrillers '63 K1000 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

A.T. RockDriller · 03-15-2011, 02:16 PM

I'll try to assemble this in some sort of organized fashion....but while I was working on my '59 3800 (soon to be a 3804).....I ran into a deal on a daily 'driver'....and got a little distracted....
I'll throw in some pic's in chronological order with some brief comments.
Any questions, just ask.

So....I was workin' on the '59 that I pulled out of the black-berries (for a hundred bucks)

A.T. RockDriller · 03-15-2011, 02:30 PM

And thats when I ran into the '63.
I'm not quite up-to-speed on adding captions.....but I'll figure this out.

Anyway, this is how she looked once I bolted on the swampers.....No clearance problems, and as it was ordered from the dealer, except for a few goofy add-ons.....like the AM mirrors.
I'll copy the history posted on another thread...:

Thanks for the welcome....
I am the second owner....actually the third titled owner.
The history was easy to get....as I bought this a month ago from the original fella's son-in-law.
The story goes like this...or so I was told.
In '63 this guy, who worked for a Government entity and was in charge of a communication tower in the state of Nevada, ordered this truck.... basically as it is today.He drove it up the hill in the morning....manned the tower all day and then drove down the hill in the pm. Every few years he was sent a request form for a new rig, but turned down the offer.....in favor of this one.
In '84 he retired and bought it from the Motor Pool....drove it for a couple of years and then passed away. His wife kept it in the barn 'till a year ago when his son-in-law got his hands on it....Thank God he lost interest before he did anything silly to it.
I'll post more recent pic's pretty quick, as I spent the last week putting Hydra-Boost and a Dana 44 & 12 bolt under it. I know its a shame to alter something so purely stock, but this rig will never see a show.....and I'll drive it daily......so it also got some seats......just to sooth my old bones.
BTW: It drives like a new pick-up.....and rides pretty nice too.

A.T. RockDriller · 03-15-2011, 03:02 PM

So I spent the last month taking care of a few upgrades.
Dana 44 w/big brakes, HD Sway Bar....4:11 gears
Corp 12 Bolt Posi, Strapped w/4:11's
O-Hauled the SM420
Hydro-Boost (see pic. of pump bracket engineering)
Saginaw P-Steering Box (see pic)
100 amp 1-wire Delco Alt.
Aircraft Landing Lights (off-road)
Relay Box with Relays for the Off-Road's & Back-up Lights....so far
Tahoe Buckets
Dash Mods
Split Master Cyl....only used 1/2....had to have something to power my clutch, so until I find the right clutch master cyl., with the right bore & stroke....I had to get crafty. These are the last pic's.....no laughing, now.
BTW, Clyde65....The Grill Guard is a GMC product.
I'll take a picture of the I.D. tag, complete with GMC logo and part#

**Clyde65** · 03-15-2011, 02:56 PM

I like it, it is odd, but way cool. Love the grill guard too!

**aerotruk63** · 03-15-2011, 03:32 PM

From the 1964 GMC Custom Accessories book

If your interested in seeing more accessories:
https://picasaweb.google.com/normanm...eat=directlink

61_FL_Apache · 03-15-2011, 03:32 PM

I like the half master cyl. Very creative!! The rest of the engineering looks great too!!

A.T. RockDriller · 03-15-2011, 09:14 PM

Now that is really neat.
I love the whole book.....That explains the auxiliary brake unit that was on the inner-fender.
I love it.
Thanks for the props.

creep · 03-15-2011, 09:39 PM

Very cool! You can put a Holley 500 on the 305 V6 and get a little more power and tunability out of it. Very easy to do.

A.T. RockDriller · 04-08-2011, 02:18 PM

So I never have really liked these wagon-wheel white spoked wheels, but these swampers were already mounted & balanced on them....

So I picked up some older 3/4 ton GMC hub-caps and with a little creative engineering, I got them painted up and mounted.

Old pic's first.

A.T. RockDriller · 04-08-2011, 02:26 PM

Forgot the pic's

**Clyde65** · 04-08-2011, 03:11 PM

Those look much better IMO A.T.!

CVA59 · 04-08-2011, 03:19 PM

Only thing i can say is:

1. I am very jealous, LOL. J/K
2. You are one lucky guy to find that 59 and the added bonus of the 63.

Great score on both trucks!

likaroc13 · 04-08-2011, 05:17 PM

very cool & different truck...and i really like what you did with the wheels...looks much better!

A.T. RockDriller · 04-08-2011, 07:36 PM

Thanks Fellas'

LeftCoast32 · 04-08-2011, 08:02 PM

I am really liking that utility bed!! Your 63 is a great truck!!

What is the wheelbase on the 63, looks like a short bed?

Who made the utility bed?

NWGreaser · 04-09-2011, 02:00 AM

Looking better every time I see it.

A.T. RockDriller · 04-09-2011, 03:55 AM

Thanks, Grease

Dinos63 · 04-09-2011, 06:06 AM

Very cool very cool!!! Dig the stocker wheel look and that grille guard sic!!!

badblu97 · 04-09-2011, 08:08 AM

Those hub caps look waaaayyyyy better!

LeftCoast32 · 04-10-2011, 10:08 AM

That Utility Body is too cool, it flows with the truck perfectly!! My 1966 4X4 had a Utility Body on it from the California Park Service. The owner before me pulled it off and sold it along with the PTO, Generator, Welder and Winches. I wish I could have purchased it before he sold everything off.

I would like to find a long bed version of the same one you have. Mine was a Special Order K15 Cab and Chassis for the California Park Service. When I ran the numbers it appears that 80 trucks were made like mine and all were special order builds.

Check this old advertisement out for the Utility Body!

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/mcca...abe_powers.htm

http://www.coachbuilt.com/

**Corts60** · 04-10-2011, 11:38 AM

Great truck! Isn't it a good feeling to have all that history behind it? And I agree with everyone above, the hub caps are way better!! How did you make them fit the wagon wheels?

RockTonka · 04-10-2011, 02:08 PM

Super cool truck...one on my favorites on this site! I dig the balance, just looks right.

A.T. RockDriller · 04-10-2011, 03:04 PM

Tonka', Cort & LeftCoast..

I sat here for the last hour readin' the 'Powers" History & going over some of the attached sites. What a cool history lesson.
All of these rigs that we love so much, from the Cameos & Short/Fleet's to Tonka's Task-Master were all basically glorified "tool-boxes" or buckboards.
Some folks' tools are just cleaner than others.

I can't thank you enough for the info LC...I actually know the guys at ABC (American Body Company) here in Portland. They haven't seen the '63 yet.
I'll enjoy showing it to them.
I'll take a few minutes later to shoot some pic's of the hubcap ordeal....
The rears were simple....as you might figure...but the front's included some sort of magic.....Ya' know..like when you need that one real special piece of hardware to make it all come together, and then you find TWO of them on the top shelf in the shop.

Late.

A.T. RockDriller · 04-10-2011, 03:13 PM

LeftCoast...
I saw on the sales flyer that in '63, Powers celebrated their 100,000th serial #, kicking off a major expansion for the company.
Kinda' neat ...my serial # reflects that.
That's a great link.
No kidding about you wishing that PO hadn't parted out that equipment before sellin' it.
Now that I know what you're lookin' for...I'll keep an eye out.

**62 Longbed** · 04-20-2011, 03:38 PM

The truck is looking Great !!! Like the new wheels also ...

I see you constintly in Gresham running around , but your usually going the wrong way ... We'll a catch up or get together soon I'm sure .. Summer is around the corner ... Take Care , Keep us updated ...

03-15-2011, 02:16 PM	#1
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Rockdrillers '63 K1000 I'll try to assemble this in some sort of organized fashion....but while I was working on my '59 3800 (soon to be a 3804).....I ran into a deal on a daily 'driver'....and got a little distracted.... I'll throw in some pic's in chronological order with some brief comments. Any questions, just ask. So....I was workin' on the '59 that I pulled out of the black-berries (for a hundred bucks) Attached Images

03-15-2011, 02:30 PM	#2
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 And thats when I ran into the '63. I'm not quite up-to-speed on adding captions.....but I'll figure this out. Anyway, this is how she looked once I bolted on the swampers.....No clearance problems, and as it was ordered from the dealer, except for a few goofy add-ons.....like the AM mirrors. I'll copy the history posted on another thread...: Thanks for the welcome.... I am the second owner....actually the third titled owner. The history was easy to get....as I bought this a month ago from the original fella's son-in-law. The story goes like this...or so I was told. In '63 this guy, who worked for a Government entity and was in charge of a communication tower in the state of Nevada, ordered this truck.... basically as it is today.He drove it up the hill in the morning....manned the tower all day and then drove down the hill in the pm. Every few years he was sent a request form for a new rig, but turned down the offer.....in favor of this one. In '84 he retired and bought it from the Motor Pool....drove it for a couple of years and then passed away. His wife kept it in the barn 'till a year ago when his son-in-law got his hands on it....Thank God he lost interest before he did anything silly to it. I'll post more recent pic's pretty quick, as I spent the last week putting Hydra-Boost and a Dana 44 & 12 bolt under it. I know its a shame to alter something so purely stock, but this rig will never see a show.....and I'll drive it daily......so it also got some seats......just to sooth my old bones. BTW: It drives like a new pick-up.....and rides pretty nice too. Attached Images

03-15-2011, 03:02 PM	#3
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 So I spent the last month taking care of a few upgrades. Dana 44 w/big brakes, HD Sway Bar....4:11 gears Corp 12 Bolt Posi, Strapped w/4:11's O-Hauled the SM420 Hydro-Boost (see pic. of pump bracket engineering) Saginaw P-Steering Box (see pic) 100 amp 1-wire Delco Alt. Aircraft Landing Lights (off-road) Relay Box with Relays for the Off-Road's & Back-up Lights....so far Tahoe Buckets Dash Mods Split Master Cyl....only used 1/2....had to have something to power my clutch, so until I find the right clutch master cyl., with the right bore & stroke....I had to get crafty. These are the last pic's.....no laughing, now. BTW, Clyde65....The Grill Guard is a GMC product. I'll take a picture of the I.D. tag, complete with GMC logo and part# Attached Images

03-15-2011, 02:56 PM	#4
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,546	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 I like it, it is odd, but way cool. Love the grill guard too! __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*

03-15-2011, 03:32 PM	#5
aerotruk63 Check The Champ, Demonstrator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Montreal,Quebec Posts: 6,627	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 From the 1964 GMC Custom Accessories book If your interested in seeing more accessories: https://picasaweb.google.com/normanm...eat=directlink Attached Images __________________ 1963 *Chevrolet Truck* Literature LINK: https://picasaweb.google.com/113840717762774560215 YouTube Channel with 20+ Original *Chevrolet Truck* Salesmen, Mechanics & Service Department Training Slideshows. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...otruk63&page=1 Last edited by aerotruk63; 03-15-2011 at 03:34 PM.

03-15-2011, 03:32 PM	#6
61_FL_Apache Who Me? Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 4,067	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 I like the half master cyl. Very creative!! The rest of the engineering looks great too!! __________________ Steve 1997 Tahoe LT 4D 2WD (DD) 2001 Blazer 4D 2WD 1961 Apache 10 (sold) 1965 C10 Stepper (sold)

03-15-2011, 09:14 PM	#7
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Now that is really neat. I love the whole book.....That explains the auxiliary brake unit that was on the inner-fender. I love it. Thanks for the props. Attached Images

03-15-2011, 09:39 PM	#8
creep Registered Loser Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Elyria, OH Posts: 1,523	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Very cool! You can put a Holley 500 on the 305 V6 and get a little more power and tunability out of it. Very easy to do. __________________ ((..)) ((0)) '63 GMC lwb, 383, th350, lays frame, genuine patina. The Build Thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=374267 '88 Astro cargo bagged, shaved, phantom grille. SOLD '50 Chevy 2 door sedan awaiting attention. 2014 Silverado Ext cab, 5.3, daily driver.

04-08-2011, 02:18 PM	#9
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 So I never have really liked these wagon-wheel white spoked wheels, but these swampers were already mounted & balanced on them.... So I picked up some older 3/4 ton GMC hub-caps and with a little creative engineering, I got them painted up and mounted. Old pic's first. __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2 Last edited by A.T. RockDriller; 04-08-2011 at 02:19 PM.

04-08-2011, 02:26 PM	#10
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Forgot the pic's Attached Images __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2

04-08-2011, 03:11 PM	#11
Clyde65 1965 Chevy C10, 2005 4.8L/4l60 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 8,546	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Those look much better IMO A.T.! __________________ Clyde65 Rebuild of Clyde http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post8338184 69 Aristocrat Lo Liner build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...84#post7561684 *support our troops!*

04-08-2011, 03:19 PM	#12
CVA59 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Longview, Texas Posts: 775	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Only thing i can say is: 1. I am very jealous, LOL. J/K 2. You are one lucky guy to find that 59 and the added bonus of the 63. Great score on both trucks! __________________ Zack www.23t.weebly.com _________________________________ Last edited by CVA59; 04-08-2011 at 03:19 PM.

04-08-2011, 05:17 PM	#13
likaroc13 Rollin' Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 5,371	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 very cool & different truck...and i really like what you did with the wheels...looks much better!

04-08-2011, 07:36 PM	#14
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Thanks Fellas' __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2

04-08-2011, 08:02 PM	#15
LeftCoast32 Custom Builder Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Carlsbad, California Posts: 908	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 I am really liking that utility bed!! Your 63 is a great truck!! What is the wheelbase on the 63, looks like a short bed? Who made the utility bed? __________________ 1932 Chevy Roadster Car and Pick-Up - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=465709 1966 K20 Factory 4X4 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=455484 (Sold) 1972 K5 Blazer (Sold) - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=87530 2007 TrailBlazer SS - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post4706534 Last edited by LeftCoast32; 04-08-2011 at 11:15 PM.



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04-09-2011, 02:00 AM	#16
NWGreaser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Boring, Oregon Posts: 29	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Looking better every time I see it.

04-09-2011, 03:55 AM	#17
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Thanks, Grease __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2

04-09-2011, 06:06 AM	#18
Dinos63 chevy only Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,619	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Very cool very cool!!! Dig the stocker wheel look and that grille guard sic!!! __________________ CHEVY ONLY... Nothin Else !

04-09-2011, 08:08 AM	#19
badblu97 Double 6's Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Winter Haven, FL Posts: 349	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Those hub caps look waaaayyyyy better! __________________ Street Glidin! 1966 LWB Custom Cab (sold) 1982 Short Fleet (under the knife) 1998 S10 2wd Fleet 2007 Chevy Silverado Crew 2007 Harley Davidson Street Glide

04-10-2011, 10:08 AM	#20
LeftCoast32 Custom Builder Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Carlsbad, California Posts: 908	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 That Utility Body is too cool, it flows with the truck perfectly!! My 1966 4X4 had a Utility Body on it from the California Park Service. The owner before me pulled it off and sold it along with the PTO, Generator, Welder and Winches. I wish I could have purchased it before he sold everything off. I would like to find a long bed version of the same one you have. Mine was a Special Order K15 Cab and Chassis for the California Park Service. When I ran the numbers it appears that 80 trucks were made like mine and all were special order builds. Check this old advertisement out for the Utility Body! http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/m/mcca...abe_powers.htm http://www.coachbuilt.com/ __________________ 1932 Chevy Roadster Car and Pick-Up - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=465709 1966 K20 Factory 4X4 - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=455484 (Sold) 1972 K5 Blazer (Sold) - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=87530 2007 TrailBlazer SS - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post4706534 Last edited by LeftCoast32; 04-10-2011 at 10:48 AM.

04-10-2011, 11:38 AM	#21
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Great truck! Isn't it a good feeling to have all that history behind it? And I agree with everyone above, the hub caps are way better!! How did you make them fit the wagon wheels? __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

04-10-2011, 02:08 PM	#22
RockTonka Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 1,524	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Super cool truck...one on my favorites on this site! I dig the balance, just looks right. __________________ 1958 Chevy 1 ton dually 4X4 dump/flat bed My build thread 1966 "Not-So-Original" Chevy Custom Trim Suburban My Time-Killing Project Truck 1966 GMC Extended cab 1 1/4 ton 4X4 My Son's build thread

04-10-2011, 03:04 PM	#23
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 Tonka', Cort & LeftCoast.. I sat here for the last hour readin' the 'Powers" History & going over some of the attached sites. What a cool history lesson. All of these rigs that we love so much, from the Cameos & Short/Fleet's to Tonka's Task-Master were all basically glorified "tool-boxes" or buckboards. Some folks' tools are just cleaner than others. I can't thank you enough for the info LC...I actually know the guys at ABC (American Body Company) here in Portland. They haven't seen the '63 yet. I'll enjoy showing it to them. I'll take a few minutes later to shoot some pic's of the hubcap ordeal.... The rears were simple....as you might figure...but the front's included some sort of magic.....Ya' know..like when you need that one real special piece of hardware to make it all come together, and then you find TWO of them on the top shelf in the shop. Late. __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2

04-10-2011, 03:13 PM	#24
A.T. RockDriller Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Orient, Oregon Posts: 722	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 LeftCoast... I saw on the sales flyer that in '63, Powers celebrated their 100,000th serial #, kicking off a major expansion for the company. Kinda' neat ...my serial # reflects that. That's a great link. No kidding about you wishing that PO hadn't parted out that equipment before sellin' it. Now that I know what you're lookin' for...I'll keep an eye out. __________________ Les Hunter '59 3803 someday to be 3853 '63 GMC K1000...351E, TH400 Daily '66 GMC 4000...351C, 5&2

04-20-2011, 03:38 PM	#25
62 Longbed Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gresham , Oregon Posts: 588	Re: Rockdrillers '63 K1000 The truck is looking Great !!! Like the new wheels also ... I see you constintly in Gresham running around , but your usually going the wrong way ... We'll a catch up or get together soon I'm sure .. Summer is around the corner ... Take Care , Keep us updated ...

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