Project Lazarus bringing a 72 SWB K10 back to life

[Vintage Windmills]

Jealous of the 8.1! I would love that setup in my K20 get driveable build thread truck but they aren't easy to find. This K10 will be a fun truck for sure. Did you end up boxing the frame or are you going to run it and see how it does first? You don't need to be as strong as the 2500hd (1 ton frame) but maybe stonger than a stock swb K10 frame? Not towing heavy loads will be one thing that is to your advantage.

[Mr Chevorlet]

Nice build you have done. It is one badass truck.

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Jealous of the 8.1! I would love that setup in my K20 get driveable build thread truck but they aren't easy to find. This K10 will be a fun truck for sure. Did you end up boxing the frame or are you going to run it and see how it does first? You don't need to be as strong as the 2500hd (1 ton frame) but maybe stonger than a stock swb K10 frame? Not towing heavy loads will be one thing that is to your advantage.

I have not boxed the frame yet, I will more than likely do something when I pull it back down for paint, I know for some guys that sounds backwards but I want to get all of the mechanicals figured out first, to date nothing has been extensively modified beyond stock except the radiator mount and the trans tunnel cover, and I can use off the shelf parts for the drivetrain if needed, anyway thanks for looking guys I appreciate it and Merry Christmas!

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by Mr Chevorlet

Nice build you have done. It is one badass truck.

Thanks Larry, I checked out your build, super nice work great job!

[swamp rat]

Sweet build! Subscribed!

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Sweet build! Subscribed!

Thanks Swamp Rat, I will try to get some updates in a few days, been collecting parts, haven't had much time in the shop lately

[heathbirkendahl]

Awesome build!! Mad respect for guys like you. Ill be watching your progress. Please keep the pics coming.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Rust_phoenix

haven't had much time in the shop lately

I know the feeling, sick again and mass OT are keeping me from my project.

[sdwolff98]

Hey Rust a quick questions did you have to raise the cab any to clear the allison? or did it slide in like it was made for her? I am looking at my ramjet 454 ala l18 controlled engine and thinking about the ally 6 behind it in my 2wd gathering onfo on it now . Looking at this info and also how to drop the block down ifn needs be to clear my body lines in my truck .

Thanks
Sean Wolff

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by sdwolff98

Hey Rust a quick questions did you have to raise the cab any to clear the allison? or did it slide in like it was made for her? I am looking at my ramjet 454 ala l18 controlled engine and thinking about the ally 6 behind it in my 2wd gathering onfo on it now . Looking at this info and also how to drop the block down ifn needs be to clear my body lines in my truck .

Thanks
Sean Wolff

Hi sdwolf
The Allison will clear without lifting the cab, but you will need to use a high hump cover, as the low one will not work, I raised my cab and body 2" and modified my core support to enable the use of the 2003 radiator and coolers, take a look at page 4 post#78 those photos are before I lifted my cab

[edgooch]

Rusty
I am just across the Cascades in Carnation, about to start a similar project. It's a 72 Custom Camper 4WD 3/4T. It was restored 10 years ago and still looks good. I have gathered a 2004 8.1 liter from an '04 Suburban along with the transmission (4L85), complete wiring harness and ECM, gas pedal, radiator, cross member, gas tank (1972 Suburban) and many other parts. I plan to start the swap this summer. I am retired, so it will be a full time job once I launch.

I hope you are available to bounce questions and ideas off of. To start, what did you do about the fuel tank? Also, what did you do about the alternator and power steering brackets?

I look forward to seeing your truck at a local meet one of these days.

Thanks.

[sdwolff98]

Hi Rust,
Sweet mine is a 64 hig hump truck so I should be good then piecing and looking at things before I dump money into it lol as I had been known to do in the past lol .

Awesome gives me something to think about that plus finding 69-72 big block frame mounts that is lol
Ed when you are ready to do the harness let me Know I have started doing them in my spare time and I am not that far away from ya in Tacoma

Thanks
Sean Wolff

[Rust_phoenix]

[QUOTE=edgooch;6658155]
I hope you are available to bounce questions and ideas off of. To start, what did you do about the fuel tank? Also, what did you do about the alternator and power steering brackets?
QUOTE]

Ed, I guess I better start checking in more often. 1st about the fuel system I did a blazer tank conversion using a new poly tank and incorporated the 03 fuel pump into it, I did epoxy the 03 pump receiver on the new tank, go back a couple pages on my build and you can see what I did. 2nd as far as the alternator and power steering brackets, they are from the 03 also, they will fit your frame, I used a steering box from a 91 suburban that is a direct bolt on, just be sure you grab the rag joint as it has a smaller shaft size on the input shaft you will get a little faster ratio, less turns on the steering wheel, and you can use the newer hoses and pump from the donor 8.1. the only bracket that would not work was for the AC compressor it mounts down low on the passenger side of the engine and will not clear, if you have or want AC, Dirty Larry has said that the Workhorse motorhome or GMC Topkick / Kodiaks that use the 8.1 have a different set of brackets that will enable the AC pump to be mounted to the top Drivers side of the engine. hope this helps!

[Rust_phoenix]

I almost forgot, Nice truck Ed, that thing will be cool with the 8.1 you will love it!

[PortalAxls]

Nice truck! What issues did you have with the DIY4x crossmember? I am putting the same motor in my 67 K2500 and was hoping to use the DIY crossmember. I will fab my own if need be.

[edgooch]

I need to check the forum more often as well. I haven't made as much progress as I hoped. The new fuel tank is now ready to install with an Airtex fuel pump installed. I just need a body shop who can do the gas filler doors. In the next couple of weeks I will remove the bed and start the swap, starting from the tank in the rear and moving forward to the engine.

I had not seen the DIY crossmember. WOW! It looks excellent. I was planning to use the Off Road Design (ORD) crossmember. Now I will have to rethink that.

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by PortalAxls

Nice truck! What issues did you have with the DIY4x crossmember? I am putting the same motor in my 67 K2500 and was hoping to use the DIY crossmember. I will fab my own if need be.

The issue you will find with the DIY4X cross member is that when using it with the 8.1, the oil pan will hit because the center piece needs to be dropped slightly more coming off the mounts, what I did was lower the engine into the frame without the center piece, (still attached to the hoist mind you) placed it gingerly onto the mounts lining up the bolt holes, and made a cardboard template out of an old box lid, when I was satisfied with the clearance, I cut two pieces out of 1/4" steel plate plus some gussets and welded them to the cross member mounting plates, it will now clear nicely and is removable as well, hope this helps.

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by edgooch

I need to check the forum more often as well. I haven't made as much progress as I hoped. The new fuel tank is now ready to install with an Airtex fuel pump installed. I just need a body shop who can do the gas filler doors. In the next couple of weeks I will remove the bed and start the swap, starting from the tank in the rear and moving forward to the engine.

I had not seen the DIY crossmember. WOW! It looks excellent. I was planning to use the Off Road Design (ORD) crossmember. Now I will have to rethink that.

Ed the ORD cross member looks to me like it will more than likely not clear the oil pan or the cooling lines that run next to it on the 8.1, I think you will need a deeper drop in the center.

[Rust_phoenix]

It has been a little while since I last posted any progress, so here is a mini update, I took a week off from work and pulled the cab, fenders, doors and hood off and began final body work and prep for paint, I put another two coats of epoxy primer over the bodywork, I let that dry, and sanded with 180 grit and then applied 2 coats of Evercoat featherfill G2, I will block sand that tomorrow with 400-600 grit and hopefully prepare for paint, you might notice that I have decided to go ahead with the upper and lower trim molding, I am going to paint it Hugger Orange and White, here are a few pics of the progress

[Rust_phoenix]

A few more

[swamp rat]

Nice progress! Im still in the learning stages of bondo and primer.

[Rust_phoenix]

Thanks Swamp Rat, I am learning as I go too, for me body work has been the hardest part of this project so far, I have learned so much from others on this website, it is a wonderful resource for information on so many things, I am glad I joined.

[Rust_phoenix]

Significant milestone today, the truck finally has paint! turned out not too bad for a first attempt, I still need to shoot clear coat and will need to wet sand, here are a few pics.

[swamp rat]

You can be proud to say the least, real nice work!

[Rust_phoenix]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

You can be proud to say the least, real nice work!

Thanks Swamp Rat, I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an oncoming train