77 k10 short box winter beater build

[Jaysonb]

This is going to be a fun, use extra parts, make a good winter driver build. No restoration, nothing fancy, doesn't have to be perfect. It's been sitting here for about a month, and all I've done so far is start gathering parts. It's pretty rusty to say the least. The interior is in pretty good shape. Someone along the line stuffed a 402 in it, and it has a th350, and np203, and 3.73 gears. Plans are to pull the cab to start fixing the floor rust. It needs full floor pans, the short cab supports that go down to the inner rockers, and the long floor supports as well. I have all of those pieces, and also inner, and outer rockers, cab corners, and kick panels. I have a spare set of inner, and outer front fenders as well. My round trip to work is 150 miles, 3 times a week, so the 402 is coming out. I have a good running 250 that will take its place. I have a spare th350 np203 combo sitting here, so I have rounded up all the tools to rebuild the transmission, and reseal the transfer case . I'm looking forward to being able to to my own transmissions from now on. Not sure if I will do anything with the rust on the box. I think the 250 will work good with the 3.73 gears. I hope this will make a nice winter beater.

[jott_06]

looking forward to watching this. When things dont have to be perfect it always makes the build more fun.

[dragonball98312]

God id love to get that woodgrain interior. So your swapping the 250 in? Sounds pretty cool

[MTCK]

Cool truck and I like the plan. I bet it will work great with a 250 and 3.73's. How fast do you have to go on your commute?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Cool truck and I like the plan. I bet it will work great with a 250 and 3.73's. How fast do you have to go on your commute?

Most of the commute is 55 mph, there is about a 10 mile stretch of 70. I think it will work pretty good.

[Little Flo 77]

I too am looking forward to watching this build. I have a 77' C10 Stepside and it sounds like my cab is in as good of shape as yours. Got the truck a month or so ago, in the process of collecting parts and coming up with a plan for the winter months. Would like to make a nice daily driver not a show truck. I have lots to learn and that's why I joined the club.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Little Flo 77

I too am looking forward to watching this build. I have a 77' C10 Stepside and it sounds like my cab is in as good of shape as yours. Got the truck a month or so ago, in the process of collecting parts and coming up with a plan for the winter months. Would like to make a nice daily driver not a show truck. I have lots to learn and that's why I joined the club.

Welcome to the forum! Stepsides are fun, let's see some pictures of what your starting with. Your in the right place if you want to learn about our trucks, this forum is full of knowledgeable, helpful people.

[Jaysonb]

I think I have gathered up most of what I need to get started on this project, a few more honey-doooos and I should be all set. My plan is to get the 250 cleaned up and ready to go in, clean up and reseal the np203, and rebuild the transmission, then pull the truck in and start the swap/rust repair. Today I power washed the tranny, and transfer case, split them, and built a transmission holding fixture for a engine stand. I'm hoping to get a good start on the transmission tomorrow night

[MTCK]

Tranny looks good. I've seen way worse on the body. Going to do anything to try to save it from the salt going forward? It will see a lot of it I assume since it's a winter beater

[daddyjeep]

That cab was pretty rough. Looks like you are doing a good job of putting it back together.

[Jaysonb]

Drivers side metal work is done. The fit was good enough for a winter beater. I goofed up and the inner rocker was a little high in the rear, and made a bunch of extra work for myself. Door fits pretty well.

[NewType72]

Oh rust repair why mist there be so much.. Some guy probably said a million times lol

[Jaysonb]

Even here where everything has rust, I think most would have junked this one. The parts were pretty cheap to fix it, it will just take a bunch of time. It will be fun to bring it back into a serviceable truck.

[Jaysonb]

Floors, rockers, cab corners, and kick panels are done. Both doors fit pretty good. Now I flipped it on its back again, got the bottom cleaned up, and I have to finish the inner cab corners, and patch the rear cab support. Then it's prime and undercoating.

[JohnKimble]

Looking good! What's your timeline for it? Gonna be on the road for this winter?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by JohnKimble

Looking good! What's your timeline for it? Gonna be on the road for this winter?

I hope so, after I get the cab done the pace should pick up quite a bit. I have a set of aftermarket fenders to put on it, and the hood is in good shape. I'm not sure how much work I'm going to do on the box, it's in pretty rough shape.

[MTCK]

Great work you are really flying!

[Matt Man]

Looking good! Are you going to be keeping the 77 yellow trim?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

Looking good! Are you going to be keeping the 77 yellow trim?

I'm going back and forth on keeping the trim. It's in pretty good shape, and I'm only missing 1 piece. I think that will most likely keep it. I'm pretty sure that I will be throwing a cheap white paint job on it, it would look nice with the trim.

[Jaysonb]

Well, I got the bottom of the cab all patched up, then I went over all of the welds and seams with seam sealer, then shot a couple of heavy coats of primer. After the primer dries I'll put a couple of coats of undercoating on it.

[Greenlee]

Nice work!

[MTCK]

Awesome progress. You are moving right along. What kind of undercoating did you use?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Awesome progress. You are moving right along. What kind of undercoating did you use?

I have tried a few diffrent brands, but the $3 a can rustolieum from Walmart is what I like the best. It seems to hold up nice, it has good coverage, and goes on with a nice smooth texture. 4 cans was enough to give the bottom of the cab 2 good coats, and a 3rd coat on the inner rockers, and inner cab corners.

[Jaysonb]

Body work on the cab is about 3/4 done, hoping to get some primer on it in the next couple of days. This is alot more than I intended to do on this truck, but it's hard to stop once you get started. I'm having fun though. I'm trying to do everything as dirt cheap as I can. I decided to paint it light blue and white.

[JohnKimble]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

Body work on the cab is about 3/4 done, hoping to get some primer on it in the next couple of days. This is alot more than I intended to do on this truck, but it's hard to stop once you get started. I'm having fun though. I'm trying to do everything as dirt cheap as I can. I decided to paint it light blue and white.

Looking good! That's exactly how my winter beater went. It snowballed from "good enough for my commute in the snow" to a full paint job, rust repair, new fender, bumpers, dent repair, new glass, etc.

Now my winter beater is cleaner than my primary truck. How the hell did that happen...