64' K10 Project Long Bed

[pimpston65]

better angle of the longbed!!!

[aotte1]

Pimpston,

Very nice looking truck. What front axle are you using.
Les

[aotte1]

Wiring harness, figuring it out. Doing research to find out if I need additional rear harness. I do not have front harness showing. Will be doing a little repair on the fuse block.
Photo of main harness, not yet determined completeness and where it all goes.

[pimpston65]

Originally Posted by aotte1

Pimpston,

Very nice looking truck. What front axle are you using.
Les

not mine, it was at the dream cruise the other day. I have a 65 BBW 1/2ton step and a 66 4x4 burban

[aotte1]

Started to change out the front axle to a newer one, to add power steering, disk brakes, and tighter turning radius. Using a 1983 K10, 10 bolt axle and gear box, setting up power steering gear box location with Captain Fabs adapter. Plans are to use a Dana 44 with disk brakes from a 70s truck soon, as it looks more correct.

Removed the original Dana 44 front axle, and the 83' 10 bolt axle fits the 64 springs and will bolt up the same. The u-bolts will need to be changed out/replaced. Believe one of the originals can be reused, the others need to be longer or a little wider. The original 1964 U-bolt top cast bracket can be used, the 83 one from the 10 bolts looks a little different.

Did a temporary set-up of parts and alignment looks good. If anything maybe the newer gear box output shaft alignment to the steering shaft could be an 1/8" to 1/4" further outboard from the frame. The first photo show the temporary set-up, with new axle and gear box from the 1983 K10 truck. I will get some better photos these seem a little out of focus.

Photos of work so far are below.

Les

[_mg]

Hi Les, I have a '64 K10 LWB also. I too have a 1980s 3.73 front axle I am putting new bearings and seals into and will be swapping for disc brakes.

Problem is getting the time to work on it. Priorities, I know!

I will be following your progress. Good luck!

[aotte1]

MG,

Do you have a build on your truck too? Good luck with yours. Look forward to more talking about our 64s.

Les

[aotte1]

Some better photos of progress to date.

Next steps are to install steering column, to make sure the alignment of the gear box along adapter plat from Captainfab are correct. The template provided with the adapter plate makes installation a lot easier.



Les

[aotte1]

Some photos of the original Dana 44 front axle along with steering gear box that was removed and will be saved.

Les

[_mg]

Originally Posted by aotte1

MG,

Do you have a build on your truck too? Good luck with yours. Look forward to more talking about our 64s.

Les

No build yet, maybe one day. I look at it a lot though.

-Mike

[aotte1]

A few more photos of setting up the power steering gear box from the 1983 K10, kind of general photos for now.. Will get more detailed photos with reference once it is all connect to steering column. Captainfab has been a big help in explaining what needs to be done.


Les

[_mg]

Originally Posted by aotte1

A few more photos of setting up the power steering gear box from the 1983 K10, kind of general photos for now.. Will get more detailed photos with reference once it is all connect to steering column. Captainfab has been a big help in explaining what needs to be done.


Les

Watching as I have a '87 PS box to install, any tricks along the way will help. Can't wait to see how it turns out. Thanks for sharing!

[aotte1]

FYI
Information on the 1983, K10 10 bolt front axle I am swapping in, gear box ratio, this one is 3.3 turns lock to lock. This axle came in a truck with 4 spd auto and has gear ratio of 3.42.

[aotte1]

More mark-up of the 1983 4x4 power steering gear box.

To be able to adjust the gear box and CaptainFabs adapter plate against the frame, cut bolts that stick out the thickness of the adapter plate from the gear box. This allows you to move the gear box/adapter plate as one unit while positioning it.

Continueing to work on determining where to locate the gear box with adapter, now that I can position it on the frame and aligned it with the steering column. Below are some photos where I have it located today. The gear box/pitman arm is located center ( wheels straight), the pitman arm is pretty much straight out from the frame. The drag link/steering linkage has a slight angle up to the pitman arm. The photo showing reference distance 12.75" could be shortened by about 3/4" by adjusting ( shorting) drag link/steering linkage.

Note: Adding power steering to 1964 K10, using CaptainFab adapter plate. Using a Corp. 10 bolt out of a 1983 K10, along with steering linkage and gear box

[aotte1]

The photos of the reference distance and a few more.

Les

[aotte1]

I received some help/information from Franken, CaptainFab, and 63GENIII on the power steering gear box position shown in the photos above.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for all the help,
1). I have changed my plans, and will add a "Borgeson steering column set-up", for safety, and better steering.
2). The pitman arm is in the center of it travel left to right, and that is what is shown in the photos.
3). Can raise the front up a little, especially with the new steering set-up. Steering column is in line with gear box shaft, however, the steering column is more to outside of truck and not centered in firewall hole. This another reason why will go to Borgeson steering shaft set-up in engine compartment. Then will be able to center column in factory location.
4). 63GenIII, provided the same measurement I did above and had the same 12.75" for his conversion to PS, he said his drives well with the new set-up, without any bump steer or other bad habits. He has done some addition mods to his truck.


I will do additional photos of progress as it is welded to frame. Next step is to mark the adjusted position per above comments on frame, remove to clean frame for welding, tack weld adapter plate to frame, and drill frame holes. The plate will be stich welded all the way around later, when frame is ready to go to get cleaned.

[aotte1]

As part of installing PS on the truck, plan to use the newer steering gear box from the 1983 K10, which has the O-ring style hoses. The pump will be an original 1964 style pump which has flare style fittings. From another member, (Mathew21), learn that the original "flow control valve" with the flare fitting in the pump can be changed out to a newer "flow control valve" (FCV) with O-ring style fitting. Not sure how long the exchangeable FCV was used but maybe into the 90's. I just unscrewed the original and replaced it with the newer one. The orifice in the newer one is a little larger, so it will flow a little more fluid, however, it makes whole the PS system from one year, except for the pump. Using 83' hoses too.
The original FCV is the upper one in the photos, and has the flare fitting.

Les

[_mg]

Thanks for the pictures!

[aotte1]

MG you are welcome.

Additional info on the FCV.
The photo of the internal part of the FCV, show's the diameter a lot larger, however, the oriface opening inside is just a little larger then the original flare 64' one. They should function pretty much the same.

Les

[_mg]

Originally Posted by aotte1

MG you are welcome.

Additional info on the FCV.
The photo of the internal part of the FCV, show's the diameter a lot larger, however, the oriface opening inside is just a little larger then the original flare 64' one. They should function pretty much the same.

Les

The more info the better, thank you Les.

[aotte1]

The photo below shows the four studs made from bolts, the thickness of CaptainFab's adapter plate and additional length to screw into the steering gear box. With the studs screwed into the steering gear box and extending the thickness of the adapter plate. Next it is slid onto the extending studs and there by aligned with the steering box bolt holes. Now with the two pieces together, it can be positioned on the frame in the alignment you select.

The last photo shows the gear box w/ adapter plate positioned in alignment with the steering column and the pitman arm steering link.

Les

[aotte1]

Today got the steering box and adapter plate (AP) in the position that looks correct, next scribed the outline of the AP on frame to show where to clean before welding. Cleaned the frame and tack welded the adapter to the frame.

Photos of adapter tack welded to frame are below.

Will take more photos of adapter plate only, tacked to frame with detailed measurements when disassembling for frame cleaning and painting.

Les

[aotte1]

More photos of tacked adapter plate. The steering gear box is now bolted to the frame through adapter plate. Will fully weld AP to frame later. The last photo in this set shows the position well relative to the frame.

Note: Have rust free AZ steering box and linkage that will be used in final set-up, however, used this all from one truck stuff to see how it all fits together for alignment, as it was a working driving truck.

Les

[aotte1]

This photo of the pitman arm show the outer end where steering linkage connects to be level. Tried to make level the area on the pitman arm where the steering linkage shaft castle nut screws on.

Notes from above: the pitman arm is positioned in the center of right/left travel, e.g. wheels straight; the pitman arm, steering linkage appears to be in good alignment; and center line/ shaft of gear box is in alignment with steering column.

Again the axle, gear box and steering linkage is all from one 1983 K10.

Les

[aotte1]

One reference measurement with gear box attached to adapter is 12.75 inches from centerline of top rear bolt to front edge of frame bracket in photo below.

Will provide more measurement later with gear box off.

Les