68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!

[msgross]

Wasn't able to get the cab mounted today. Needed a 1.5" hole saw to cut out the front cab mount. I reinforced it last year because it looked a little thin from rot. Was easy to just plate the underside and worry about it later, now it's later...

Decided to make the low hump cab a no hump cab!

I'll get the cab mounted this week when I can get some buddies over to help out...

[Palf70Step]

Very nice Mike. And yes, those pliers are VERY handy.

[sourkraut]

Wow looks like you have gotten a lot done thi weekend. Looks really good! I had worked on my frame and finally got it squared away am I am pleased with the body lines. I have some more welding to do and clean up. Then I am onto the exhaust and the 5 speed I picked up. Thanks again for the measurements and help. Your truck is really coming together and will be excited to see it finished!

[Rust Buster]

Mike,
Looks great! Paint it yourself and save some money! That's what I am doing, and I am scared to death, but we'll see...

[sdailey]

Dang Buddy you've been busy. It looks real good. Plus it reminds me that I need to work on mine.

Keep up the good work.

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Rust Buster

Mike,
Looks great! Paint it yourself and save some money! That's what I am doing, and I am scared to death, but we'll see...

I'll wait for you to do yours then you can bring that fancy HVLP up this way and do mine...or sell it to me if it works!

Originally Posted by sdailey

Dang Buddy you've been busy. It looks real good. Plus it reminds me that I need to work on mine.

Keep up the good work.

Wife hasn't given me any crap this weekend since she wants to park in the garage! I'm dying to see it look like a truck again even though it will have to come apart for undercoating and paint...

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by msgross

I'll wait for you to do yours then you can bring that fancy HVLP up this way and do mine...or sell it to me if it works!

Wife hasn't given me any crap this weekend since she wants to park in the garage! I'm dying to see it look like a truck again even though it will have to come apart for undercoating and paint...

The truck is coming along nicely Mike. Make it the way you want since you're going to be the one driving it. I made my wife sign a prenup, the inside of the house is "hers" and the garage is mine.........

[msgross]

Well, with winter coming the wifey is ready to park her Tahoe in my shop, errr I mean the two car garage.

So with that being said the cab found its way back on the frame today. I had to get two neighbors and a buddy to come over so that we could lift it on safely. Really no issue for four guys to handle a stripped cab.

I must say that this floor is AWESOME!!! It fit on the frame perfectly, and the mounts lined up like factory... That and the LMC cab kit is very nice. I might swap the bolts out for nyloc nuts and Grade8 bolts but that's just to stick with the theme...

I might start to like the black once it's all back together for fitment....we'll see..

This isn't the last time that the cab will be off though, I still need to weld nuts on the floor for the highhump and spray the undercoating on (next summer!)

Oh yeah, the distributer cap fits a little tighter now???? I can spin it but it's touching..... Maybe I need to modify the firewall a little... What bolts to that part inside the cab?

[msgross]

High hump worked out great as well....

[msgross]

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

The truck is coming along nicely Mike. Make it the way you want since you're going to be the one driving it. I made my wife sign a prenup, the inside of the house is "hers" and the garage is mine.........

Thanks, The garage does belong to the kids and I but she's not into scraping ice on the windows... We don't all live in warm climates ya'know!

[glimmertwin01]

looks awesome Mike!
hey do you still have an extra tailgate?? I need one for my latest project a 70 K5 very solid cept the rotten tailgate...
decided to bag the bent 67 Cab and buy a 72 K10 LWB its crispy but not bent.... and i have all the parts ... and the 67 will make a good donor...
let me know

[msgross]

I still have my original tailgate, it pretty solid but has a good bow to it... I was going to attempt to straighten it and document the outcome... Let me know if interested... I sold the last straight one that I had...

[glimmertwin01]

yeah i have one with a bow in it too but yours might not bee as bad as the extra one i have.. i am interested f the price is right.... let me know
you inspire me to get welding
D

[msgross]

Originally Posted by glimmertwin01

yeah i have one with a bow in it too but yours might not bee as bad as the extra one i have.. i am interested f the price is right.... let me know
you inspire me to get welding
D

The only thing that my welding should inspire is that "welding lessons are worth the money"!!!!! I'm slowly getting better

Wish I would have taken voTech in high school now... I figure that it's only metal and if it doesn't work I can try again... I'll PM the pics of my tailgate, see what you think.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Looking good! It's starting to look like a truck again! I see what you mean about the distributor cap being tight up against the firewall. I have to wonder that since you went to an HEI setup if that is the reason, since the HEI is a lot bigger in diameter than the point setup that it originally came with.

I know that the HEI conversion has been done lots of times on these trucks but I'm not sure how the clearance issue has been dealt with. Good luck getting it all to fit. I'm enjoying your build! Are you going to keep plugging away at it through the winter, or are you done now for the time being? ...Joe

[msgross]

I'm gonna keep plugging away at the cab and body over winter...

That HEI is a big one as well... I know it barely fits so I might run a smaller one or change back to electronic with external coil..

[ChaseDale3and8]

Great! Looking forward to watching your progress! ...Joe

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by msgross

I'm gonna keep plugging away at the cab and body over winter...

That HEI is a big one as well... I know it barely fits so I might run a smaller one or change back to electronic with external coil..

I think I have the same HEI. Are your motor mounts in the forward or rear position? Hey, I just sent you a PM about the floor.

[msgross]

PM returned, I don't know the difference in forward or back positions on the cab mounts? I just put it back where it was,

Before the floor install the HEI was very close, now it's just a little closer... Not bad for having the entire floor ripped out and being back within 1/8" I bet...

[jaros44sr]

Nice job Mike, glad it went well for you. I liked the factory green for a work truck, but black would be cool too! I think what Laird was saying is the location of the motor mount bolts, you can move them forward 2"...

[ChaseDale3and8]

Mike I was wondering what you are going to be using for nuts on your cab floor center section. I bought a 2wd low hump for mine and will have to change it into a bolt in high hump 4x4 center. ...Joe

[67ChevyRedneck]

Are your cab mounts a "lift kit" or did GM raise the 4x4 body's off the frame more from the factory (I've never owned a 4x4)? My 2wd cab mounts are half that height or less.

I'll bet it felt real good to have the baby back on the frame!

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

Nice job Mike, glad it went well for you. I liked the factory green for a work truck, but black would be cool too! I think what Laird was saying is the location of the motor mount bolts, you can move them forward 2"...

correct, motor mount position, not cab mount.

[71cadc10]

great looking build going man. I'm located in Harrisburg just south of the turnpike. We should get together sometime. I have a genIII motor being machined at Trim's over in Lebanon right now, should be picking up soon. I'm going to start my build thread to summarize what I been doing the last 2 years.

I had the same issues with the lower Apillar pieces. Bolt holes don't line up.....the one set of rockers I had didn't fit for crap (won't name names). The ones I bought from GMC pauls fit like a glove.

Keep up the good work.

Andy

[msgross]

Originally Posted by ChaseDale3and8

Mike I was wondering what you are going to be using for nuts on your cab floor center section. I bought a 2wd low hump for mine and will have to change it into a bolt in high hump 4x4 center. ...Joe

The original floor had a metal strip with nuts welded to it, and I think it was all tacked to the floor. I'm just gonna tack weld some nuts on the bottom of the holes. Probably get some non-coated square ones.. The entire bottom will get primed and undercoated anyway. Also have to run a piece of foam/rubber weatherstrip under the hump.

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Are your cab mounts a "lift kit" or did GM raise the 4x4 body's off the frame more from the factory (I've never owned a 4x4)? My 2wd cab mounts are half that height or less.

I'll bet it felt real good to have the baby back on the frame!

These are the $150 LMC full truck kit that they sell (anyone need bed mounting bolts?) Should be original height, I know the 4WD rubber mounts are different than 2WD.

Originally Posted by 71cadc10

great looking build going man. I'm located in Harrisburg just south of the turnpike. We should get together sometime. I have a genIII motor being machined at Trim's over in Lebanon right now, should be picking up soon. I'm going to start my build thread to summarize what I been doing the last 2 years.

I had the same issues with the lower Apillar pieces. Bolt holes don't line up.....the one set of rockers I had didn't fit for crap (won't name names). The ones I bought from GMC pauls fit like a glove.

Keep up the good work.

Andy

Cool, give me a buzz if you are coming in town then, i'll PM you my number. I have a fridge full of Yuengling in the garage.

Originally Posted by jlaird

correct, motor mount position, not cab mount.

Then i'll have to change the tranny and T-Case mounts.. I'll make a hump in the firewall or just get a smaller distributer.