1964 C10 fleet side swb

[Justin71105]

Bought my truck Dec 26 2019, been slowly working towards getting it ready for a powertrain.

I got it with lots of rust, missing most of the interior and a motor with a cracked block.

Have since replaced/patches all the rust save for drivers door bottom and the hood around turn signal. I am a novice welder and not at all a body repair man so my welds/bodywork dont look good....but happy to not have holes in the floors and roof anymore.

Converted to power disc front brakes and rebuilt rears. All new brake lines front to rear, 2.5" drop spindles and 5" rear drop coils, will likely put in 2" front coils as well. Swapped front steering/suspension for the 73-87 C10s all new parts including a power steering gearbox using Captanfabs bracket.

Going next week to get a 5.3L LM7 engine for it and will be working on that this fall, as well as fuel system, cooling system, body wiring harness install (have a new one) since my truck had no harness/fuse box in it.

Here is the link to my google photos album for my truck, already had almost 300 pictures before I was able to post here.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SbquYtDFiPTw88X48

[65truckowner]

Dang looks like you are doing a great job to me.

[bsarts]

I feel your pain dude. We're like, brothers in rust....

[Justin71105]

Originally Posted by bsarts

I feel your pain dude. We're like, brothers in rust....

Plenty of rust for everyone lol, down to the last bit now though. Driver door and section of hood to repair for it to be back to ok shape. Repairs aint great but got rid of the holes that were everywhere I guess.

Just hope everything keeps lining up pretty well after I do my welds and patches lol.

[Justin71105]

Got my motor today, time to get it cleaned up and ready for some new seals and such.

[Justin71105]

Trying to verify vin on it, came off a pallet so didnt have the car to see it. Said its a 2004 LM7 from a suburban, thought the pcm had vin printed on it but didn't. Thought it was the kne printed but thats only 16 digits.

[Justin71105]

I got the manifold broken bolts out today, not too difficult. Two were flush to heads so welded nuts on them after heating and shooting with pb blaster. Third one I got out after also using pb blaster/heat and a stud extractor I have.

Started taking the motor apart as well to see what shape it was in, looks to be in pretty good shape from what I can tell....although I have little experience with this lol.

Only plans are to replace the seals I need and go ahead and do rear main seal and oil pickup tube gasket. Will also clean out the oil pan while I have it off and the pickup tube screen, although its pretty clean.

[Justin71105]

More pics from today, have ordered all the gaskets/seals I need to get motor back together after cleaning it up some more. Then will put my adapter plates on and see what it looks like sitting in truck. Oil pan looks worse in picks than it is, just a little build up in drain plug area but nothing bad at all after looking online at some.

[Justin71105]

Oil pan cleaned out and pickup tub as well, cam wear looks good and spark plugs are all looking good.

Now just waiting on seals to come in before I can reassemble, get off stand and do the rear main seal. Then will be picking up some adapter plates and sitting it down in my truck.

[Justin71105]

Looks like the engine isn't quite what I was told going off the injectors and pcm.

Doing a little research all the injectors are 25326903 which comes back for a 5.3L L59 Vin Z, flex fuel and the pcm is: 12576106 for 2003 Vortec Truck.

Now time to find a stand alone harness that will work with it.

[Justin71105]

Rear main seal, its cover gasket, pickup tube o-ring and oil pan gasket replaced with new ones today. Still need to do intake gasket, ordered some adapter plates and hope to be dropping it in for a test fit after the weekend.

The will order headers and probably order everything for fuel system.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Justin71105

Looks like the engine isn't quite what I was told going off the injectors and pcm.

Doing a little research all the injectors are 25326903 which comes back for a 5.3L L59 Vin Z, flex fuel and the pcm is: 12576106 for 2003 Vortec Truck.

Now time to find a stand alone harness that will work with it.

Looks like you will need a harness with EV6 connectors for the injectors. Your PCM should be a Red/Blue connector and work with a DBC set up. If you are running a 4l60e trans, this harness will work for you, use just need to message them for the EV6 connectors:
https://www.amazon.com/1997-2006-STA...1672947&sr=8-9

If you are using a 4l80e this one will work for your application, again will need to message them about the EV6 connectors:
https://www.amazon.com/1997-2006-STA...1673274&sr=8-6

[Justin71105]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Looks like you will need a harness with EV6 connectors for the injectors. Your PCM should be a Red/Blue connector and work with a DBC set up. If you are running a 4l60e trans, this harness will work for you, use just need to message them for the EV6 connectors:
https://www.amazon.com/1997-2006-STA...1672947&sr=8-9

If you are using a 4l80e this one will work for your application, again will need to message them about the EV6 connectors:
https://www.amazon.com/1997-2006-STA...1673274&sr=8-6

It does have ev6 injectors but with blue/green connectors and has dbw and pedal that I will use. Plan to run a 4l60e trans.

[Justin71105]

Might swap the truck pedal for a camero pedal and use the animal speed shop brackets. Or try to cut the truck pedal I got with the motor to work, camero pedal is pretty cheqp though.

[Justin71105]

....

[Justin71105]

Pulled diff cover today to see what gears I had for my pcm tune.

Numbers on ring gear:

3817778 1141gm 1163 2 27

Comes back as a 3.73 built 11/1963, don't know the last designation.

May pull axles later on and verify they are the 17 spline, happy with gearing but want to find a mini spool to run or maybe even a posi unit. Looking now for a compatible one of each.

Found the fill plug under some sludge buildup, definitely have to clean out and refill.

[Justin71105]

Found fill that other one must be a capped off vent...

[cwcarpenter98]

Yeah, that top one is for a vent. There's no drain plug unless it's been added. If getting new axles, you might have to get some that are specific to the 63-64 axle because of the axle bearings. My 63 already had a 65-70 axle swapped in, so I'm not exactly sure

[Justin71105]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Yeah, that top one is for a vent. There's no drain plug unless it's been added. If getting new axles, you might have to get some that are specific to the 63-64 axle because of the axle bearings. My 63 already had a 65-70 axle swapped in, so I'm not exactly sure

If mine are the 17 spline I will be swapping in the 30 spline conversion eventually. However happy with the gearing so going to keep these until the truck is on the road and I have an issue or get tired of smoking just one tire.

Might come accross a newer carrier and gears for the 30 spline on marketplace and then just purchase new 30 spline axles.

[cwcarpenter98]

Yours should be the 17 spline unless they've already been swapped out

[Justin71105]

With the ring gear having the 11/63 probably be the 17 spline. Looking for some cheap 65-69 axles and 65-82 carrie/gears to replace them with as I finish up more stuff on my truck.

Found a set of 69 30 spline axles on our local truck page for free if he still has them, fingers crossed. Then just need a carrier/gear set and I can swap everything out with new bearing and seals pretty cheap. There is a 77 at the local pull a part I can check the gearing on, hoping its 3.73s and I can get carrier and ring/pinion. If not can atleast get the carrier out of it and buy a new set of gears later on when I'm ready to install everything.

Edit:. Need to research a little more and see if I can use the ring/pinion/bearings/seals already in mine with the 69 axles and 65-82 carrier. If so that will save me a good bit.

From what I am finding 65-69 axles and 65-82 spider gears are the minimum needed to convert.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by Justin71105

From what I am finding 65-69 axles and 65-82 spider gears are the minimum needed to convert.

That's correct. When buying new seals for your axle, make sure they are for the 63-64 axle. The 65-70 has a different seal on the axle tubes. Not sure if there's a difference on the pinion seal though

[Justin71105]

Axles are 17 spline, axle tubes looked pretty bad on inside. Cleaned them both out and will have it completely rebuilt with 30 spline eventually.

Will do a posi carrier, 30 spline axles, all new bearings and seals and cleaned out better. Guy at work has 3 of his done by a guy who charges $200 for complete rebuild if you supply parts and pull out rear end and bring it. Says he does a really good job and he hasn't had an issue on any of his old cars.

[Justin71105]

Heck yeah, local guy in the chevy truck club says he has some 30 spline axles and a posi carrier oit of his 66 c10 I can have. Just need to replace bearing/seals and have the ring/pinion set up.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Justin71105

Heck yeah, local guy in the chevy truck club says he has some 30 spline axles and a posi carrier oit of his 66 c10 I can have. Just need to replace bearing/seals and have the ring/pinion set up.

That's nice of him!