Someone save this truck

[rockyrivermark]

That is a steal deal! Way way better than what I started with.
Man. Nice!

[Thundarr]

Finally getting back to Big Blue.

I decided to repaint the frame in sections as I get it all apart. I used the Duplicolor degreaser and it actually revealed some of the original black frame paint. Not real rust in sight, amazing! The Duplicolor Rust Barrier paint is easy to work with and came out really nice.


I masked off the mufflers and the rear axle, but painted everything else. This picture doesn't do it justice, because the garage has been dusty the last few days. It is really a nice coating.


The interior on this truck is almost as clean and straight as it was when it came of the assembly line. It really is amazing to behold compared to my GMC. Aside from some dust, the gas tank is shiny and like new. But that doesn't deter me. It still has to go to free up that storage space in the cab. If someone wants it, PM me. The seat belts still even had the plastic wrap on them, but someone just bunched it up down the belt tucked behind the crease in the seat.

[70cst]

This is a great thread

[57taskforce]

I know a good one when I see it
Updates are looking great!!! Keep em coming.

[Thundarr]

I got the front fenders and rad support off.



The front cross member was bent and ripped out of the rivets to the frame when someone pulled the motor. I'm going to have to grind off the rivets and re-bolt it, but I don't really have the equipment to straighten the bent metal piece. I can either make due with a bench vice and some hammers or I could order the $100 reproduction crossmember from Classic Industries. What would you guys do?

[Grumpy old man]

Place a "want to buy ad" in the parts section and bolt it in ,

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Place a "want to buy ad" in the parts section and bolt it in ,

100% agree I bought one for my K10 last year because it was missing completely. A little tip is to drill the holes out to 7/16 and use 7/16 grade 8’s to put it back together. 3/8 will be a little loose in the factory holes after the rivers are removed.

[chev-obsession]

I’m glad to see this truck go to a great home and not be parted out. Looks like it is a fun project!!!

[Thundarr]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Place a "want to buy ad" in the parts section and bolt it in ,

This may be my only option because Classic Industries is backordered anyway. Ad placed, Thanks.

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

100% agree I bought one for my K10 last year because it was missing completely. A little tip is to drill the holes out to 7/16 and use 7/16 grade 8’s to put it back together. 3/8 will be a little loose in the factory holes after the rivers are removed.

Thanks for the detailed info! I definitely want this truck to be solid, because I plan to haul and tow with it.

Originally Posted by chev-obsession

I’m glad to see this truck go to a great home and not be parted out. Looks like it is a fun project!!!

Thanks, chev. It's slow going because I can only make time for it a few hours each week.

[Thundarr]

The PO must have used a forklift to take out the motor because they ripped of the front crossmember and I just noticed that they bent the steering Center Link.



Had to run chains up to the steel truss to lift the cab high enough.



Other than the bent center link, no surprises with the frame. I'll get her stripped, cleaned up and coated with Rust Barrier in the next few weeks. This forum is soooo clutch. Thank you 57taskforce for the tip on the 7/16 Grade 8 Bolts and 1rippen6 for the quick shipping on the cross member. I've got another WTB post to find a centerlink.

[57taskforce]

Good stuff! That thing has come a long long way since I saw it. Nice work! I’m so happy to see it has ended up in an excellent new home.

[Thundarr]

Last remnants of the old bent parts:


Solid, freshly painted and installed. Newly firmed up underneath, Big Blue should track straight again. Going to get the rest of the frame painted in the next few weeks.

[Dieselwrencher]

What a cool find by Tyler and very cool a board member scooped this up! What such a clean truck. I'm not going to lie, I was hoping as I was reading this thread that it was going to get the swb treatment so the tool box would be available for sale. But, I'm glad you're keeping it as is and already working on it!

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

What a cool find by Tyler and very cool a board member scooped this up! What such a clean truck. I'm not going to lie, I was hoping as I was reading this thread that it was going to get the swb treatment so the tool box would be available for sale. But, I'm glad you're keeping it as is and already working on it!

Ohh trust me Ryan, I tried real hard to buy the whole body. They wouldn’t part any thing off of it at that time as it had just come in. I was hoping to hoard some stuff and sell the rest but they wanted more than I wanted to pay for the whole truck. There price was a bargain for some of the more rust plagued parts of the country.

[Thundarr]

You guys wouldn't believe the 50 year old grease boots on the center link pivots. The caked-on dirt mixed with oozed out grease must be a perfect preservative. They were still rubbery and completely intact. Crazy, but I just put them back on. This thing continues to amaze.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Thundarr

You guys wouldn't believe the 50 year old grease boots on the center link pivots. The caked-on dirt mixed with oozed out grease must be a perfect preservative. They were still rubbery and completely intact. Crazy, but I just put them back on. This thing continues to amaze.

I’m not totally surprised with as clean as it is, still very remarkable. I was thinking about that crossmember and center link, I’m wondering if they unloaded it at the salvage yard with a forklift. I know that particular yard has a couple of great big forklifts they use to move their inventory around. I’ve watched them unload and move them around, they aren’t very gentle most of the time.

Anyway, it’s looking AWESOME!

[Thundarr]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I’m not totally surprised with as clean as it is, still very remarkable. I was thinking about that crossmember and center link, I’m wondering if they unloaded it at the salvage yard with a forklift. I know that particular yard has a couple of great big forklifts they use to move their inventory around. I’ve watched them unload and move them around, they aren’t very gentle most of the time.

Anyway, it’s looking AWESOME!

The crossmember must have been when the engine was pulled, but I don't think the Centerlink was.

The the front wheels are worn as if the alignment was out for a good while. It makes sense with the bondo I found up front under the bad respray. They fixed the damage, ignored the centerlink and never bothered with an alignment.

[Thundarr]

The Boyd Tank came in and got it bolted up. It went in a lot easier than I was prepared for.

Now I have to get it all put back together to get it over to Paint and Body. Hope to have that done by the end of Feb. I keep reading that it takes a lot longer to put back together, but we'll see.

[Ol Blue K20]

I hope the paint goes well. Too many tales of "paint prison ".

[Chevy Fan Always]

That's a great story and the build is looking very nice. So many of those trucks have ended up as scrap!.

[57taskforce]

Awesome!!!

[Thundarr]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I hope the paint goes well. Too many tales of "paint prison ".

Ha. Thankfully, I have a friend who owns a shop and has worked on a number of cars for me in the past.

I'm more concerned about finding a shop that can drop in the powertrain. The ones that actually called me back have said they have too much work right now and can't even give me an estimate for when they could get to it.

[Greasey Harley]

This thread is extremely satisfying.
Very cool.

[kev2809]

what an amazing find for that price. it's going to look good with that 2 tone back on it

[Thundarr]

I finally spoke with someone at Robinson Restoration Services (RRS). They still have more business than they can attend to and even doubled their staff. They said it would be 9 months minimum before they could even think getting my truck on their lot. They must be really good.

The good news is that their backup is all in the paint and body department. They do have time to drop in the motor and tranny though. So, if I can get my buddy's shop to do the paint and body, RRS can get my truck in for mechanical with a one month notice.

So it looks like I might actually get this baby running under its own power in 2022. We'll see.