1970 swb K10 Resurrection (AKA "The Chum Bucket") "Photos"

[115-K10]

Ok, I am going to attempt to resurrect a 1970 115” wb K10 from the dead. Either I am a glutton for punishment or I just like a challenge. This truck is not a truck but a bunch of parts. Sort of like a fisherman’s chum bucket that contains a bunch of parts. However, the DNA of the original truck is still there. Original drive train, frame and glove box w/ build sticker is what I am starting with from the original truck. Having restored a few GM muscle cars in the past I am not new to the restoration game and know the challenges that await.

I just picked up this truck (bucket of parts) out of the Springfield Mass. area where it spent its life. Being from NY State it is only fitting that the truck was originally assembled in the Tarrytown assembly plant in downstate NY (yes, living in the Capital District Tarrytown is downstate). The gentleman I got it from received it from his uncle and started to restore it about 10 years ago. He stripped it down to the bare frame and rebuilt the tranny and transfer case. He also sourced a cab out of Arizona and a virtually rust free bed. Everything else needs rebuilding or replacement.

The goal for this project is to end up with a nice driver that I can use like a truck and yes plow my driveway with it in the winter. Although I love a clean show quality restoration, they are a lot of work to maintain at a high level. I am always concerned about taking out my ‘71 SS454 Monte in crappy weather and/or getting door dings. That takes some of the joy out of it. I plan on retaining most of the factory options on the build sticker like the red color but the red trim option will most likely be changed to black.

Since this is my first 67-72 K10 build I need some advice from the guys who have need to get parts for these trucks. I will need a few patches in the floor of the donor Arizona cab. See the photos below. Which suppliers have the best quality (thickness, fit ....) sheet metal out there. Specifically I need the outer floor section, lower kick panel and rockers. I do not plan to replace these areas in their entirety since the rust areas are concentrated in one area. The rest of the cab is rock solid including the corners and supports.

I am thinking about running 33” with a 4” spring lift. Any recommendations on the lift brand to get?

I am lucky enough to have a complete donor truck. It’s a ‘72 115” wb K15 that I found locally and saved it from the crusher. The truck is in real rough shape but has not been altered. I will be getting all the missing parts (the usable ones anyway) from it. Some of the items are the Meyers plow, front disc brake set up, gauges, glass exhaust manifolds....... If anyone is interested in the remains of this truck let me know. I have a good transferable registration, protect-o-plate and glove box build sticker for it. Short wheel base 4x4’s are tough to come by these days. If you have a 2wd chassis this could be a way of making it a matching #’s 4x4 with papers.

More to come.

[115-K10]

Here is the 1972 GMC K15 donor truck.

[115-K10]

I started to assess the areas of repair needed on the donor AZ cab. For us guys in the north east this cab will be an easy fix. I ran the DA over the passenger cab corner and it is rock solid.

[115-K10]

Here is the glove box option sticker. Does anyone know what D89 Paint Stripe would look like. I assume it is a pin stripe.

[115-K10]

I worked on the frame today a removed a bunch of brackets. Also did some repairs to the driver side front horn, passenger radiator support mount and passenger side rail behind the rear shock mount.

[115-K10]

Frame repairs.

[115-K10]

I ran out of welding wire just as I went to weld the back side. Will pick some up this week.

[115-K10]

Repaired radiator support frame mount.

[115-K10]

Here are the brackets I need to replace. Cross support beneath the bed. Its 32” center to center of rivet hole. The flat bed mount, rear upper shock mounts and parking brake cable mounts. Anyone out there have any of these parts?

[jlaird]

hi from johnstown!

[115-K10]

llaird,
I Checked out your build. Very nice! Love the craftsmanship you are putting into it. A custom 2wd c10 is on my must build list.
Jeff

[67_C-30]

Great work on your project so far, and I'll keep checking back on it.
I really commend and admire the work you guys up north have to do to those frames. That is just unheard of here. The three in these pic have been without beds for years, and they all still have alot of the factory paint. When I was younger, I was under the impression that if a frame wasn't bent, it couldn't be damaged. I used to fuss when I had to sand the surface off like the last pic.

[115-K10]

Thanks for the encouragement. You guys in dry regions of the country got it good when it comes to restoration projects. Took a trip to Utah (Bonneville) last year and was amazed at how many of these trucks are still around. I see about 5 a year around here and that is in the summer. The last three muscle cars I’ve owned have been out of New Mexico, Colorado and Oregon for a reason. Rust repair sucks. I would not have even considered this project without having a good cab and bed to start with.
If you know of anyone who is willing to cut up and sell some of the frame components I need let me know.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by 115-K10

Thanks for the encouragement. You guys in dry regions of the country got it good when it comes to restoration projects. Took a trip to Utah (Bonneville) last year and was amazed at how many of these trucks are still around. I see about 5 a year around here and that is in the summer. The last three muscle cars I’ve owned have been out of New Mexico, Colorado and Oregon for a reason. Rust repair sucks. I would not have even considered this project without having a good cab and bed to start with.
If you know of anyone who is willing to cut up and sell some of the frame components I need let me know.

Would that X member and shock mounts be the same as a leaf spring 2WD?

[115-K10]

I think so. If it measures 32” from center of rivet to center of rivet between the rails it will work.

[orange72blazer]

Originally Posted by 115-K10

Here are the brackets I need to replace. Cross support beneath the bed. Its 32” center to center of rivet hole. The flat bed mount, rear upper shock mounts and parking brake cable mounts. Anyone out there have any of these parts?

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=329859 This guy has some frame parts for sale.

[115-K10]

Thanks, I will check it out.

[115-K10]

Got some welding and grinding time in today. Repaired the driver side rear tail where some one got after it with a cutting torch. I used a piece of frame that was attached to one of the donor cab mounts out of AZ. Still need to drill out the bed bolt hole.

[Landon]

Originally Posted by 115-K10

Here are the brackets I need to replace. Cross support beneath the bed. Its 32” center to center of rivet hole. The flat bed mount, rear upper shock mounts and parking brake cable mounts. Anyone out there have any of these parts?

Good evening
I just registered tonight and this is my first post. I remenber looking at this truck on ebay in MA if I remember correctly. I was interested in the frame only for my project an have since found another one in even better shape. However, I have another frame in fair shape that still has that cross member in good shape from what I can remember. I will check tomorrow. I am in Higganum CT.
Landon

[115-K10]

I have only been on this site for about 5 days myself. There are some cool projects being posted on this site. The truck (or should I say parts) were posted on ebay about a month back. I needed see what condition everything was in before I committed so I went and looked at it after the auction. If it weren’t for the cab, doors and bed being in such good condition I would have passed. As you know, it’s tough to find solid sheet metal in the north east. Let me know what condition the brackets are in.

[115-K10]

Originally Posted by 115-K10

I have only been on this site for about 5 days myself. There are some cool projects being posted on this site. The truck (or should I say parts) were posted on ebay about a month back. I needed see what condition everything was in before I committed so I went and looked at it after the auction. If it weren’t for the cab, doors and bed being in such good condition I would have passed. As you know, it’s tough to find solid sheet metal in the north east. Let me know what condition the brackets are in.

vv

[nuke1]

Welcome fropm the great white north, although you are not all that far from us, that frame definetly has some rust issues i see, but you have a good start on it, i would love to find a s/b 4x4 around here, but that will never happen, oh well, keep up the great work and lets see some pics of that monte.

[115-K10]

Originally Posted by nuke1

Welcome fropm the great white north, although you are not all that far from us, that frame definetly has some rust issues i see, but you have a good start on it, i would love to find a s/b 4x4 around here, but that will never happen, oh well, keep up the great work and lets see some pics of that monte.

Yes, northern trucks do develop rust issues. That’s why I usually start with projects from out west. Its well worth the transportation cost. Here is some photos of the ss454 monte. It was out of New Mexico and required no rust repair. It’s restoration was features in the November ’08 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines . Here is a Link http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/...feature14.html

[Landon]

This site is great. I don't know if these are any better than yours. Take a look. I know you've done alot of work to yours already but maybe you want the whole thing? I just bought a really nice frame to repalce the one under my truck and really don't need this one. It came with the axles trans and trans case.
See what you think.

[msgross]

interesting project...