1969 K10 CST Full Restoration

[IronCanine]

OK Pete...Here are some different angles (I was jacked up and took like 50 at the gas station). I'll get some more this weekend. First pic is really a bad photo, but I love how reflective the paint is.

Not to be an OE tire size apologist, but I think the thing that's the real issue visually for some folks is how narrow the rear axle is. I know the engineering logic behind staggered axles, but if the rear tires were on the same lateral plane as the front tires, the feeling of 'I need to fill the wheel well up' might be less.

The last pic really shows the exhaust tip angle and bevel well. We worked hard to replicate the factory anatomy here.

[DeadheadNM]

It’s a lot of effort to catalog a build to this degree and share with others. Thanks for taking the time and hats off for upholding a sense of community that keeps many of us here on the forum. You guys have left yet another amazing legacy that others can benefit from for many years to follow.

I’ve struggled with some fasteners as regards the correct plating with some I’ve literally sorted based upon personal preference. Maybe I would benefit from pouring over corvette restorations to glean more insight. I’m glad the Zip Corvette tip worked well. The brass caps sure are cool.

[IronCanine]

I know you and I have had this conversation and I think this is as good a place as any for a group discussion....but I do think there is a lot to learn from Corvette, Camaro and Chevelle guys. Fasteners and construction methods carried over...and they were building these cars at the same plants that made our trucks. I know this type of restoration may not be as fashionable right now, but I do see value in getting this info nailed down. Those car guys got serious sooner when a greater number of the assembly line workers who knew (and original unmolested cars) were still around. I love watching Patrick Glenn Nichols on YouTube break down a Chevelle based on originality and plant specific methods. Tell me you wouldn't love it if there was a ChevyLand YouTube channel, or JoesJunk, or Jocko, or Mel, or Wes, or fill in the blank.

[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Tell me you wouldn't love it if there was a ChevyLand YouTube channel, or JoesJunk, or Jocko, or Mel, or Wes, or fill in the blank.

Are you listening Discovery Channel? I’d like to see Jocko do an interview with of all the above mentioned experts.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

Are you listening Discovery Channel? I’d like to see Jocko do an interview with of all the above mentioned experts.

X2, it would be a great show!

[IronCanine]

Here's a step I omitted from the build thread, that I thought I'd throw in now--mainly because I haven't seen this issue discussed on the board. On both the Blazer and this truck, the reproduction door jamb switches were longer than OE and in fact too long for the doors to close properly. I shortened the switches on this truck as I did on the Blazer. It's not too much trouble to deconstruct the switch. The plunger, the sleeve and the spring all require shortening. You lose the ringed part of the plunger shank that engages the plastic stopper in this process, so I added some new grooves for retention. I glued the plastic stopper on after shortening and reassembly, using a clamp to hold it closed and keep pressure off the glue while it dried. Our donor cab was a '69 A/C version, but it was a base trim level...so we had to drill and tap the hole (I don't guess I had to tap the hole, but I did). The final pic is during fitment (after shortening) before the fenders went on.

[IronCanine]

We installed the horn and new A/C vacuum canister that I got from Roger last week. As you know I had to replace the horn because our original one didn't work and our original vacuum canister got dinged by the hood. When I was thinking about how we were going to deal with the clearance issue on the canister, I took a look at pics of my 70 K20. The angle of the bracket was much flatter than our bracket...and also flatter than the pics of other KE A/C trucks that I've collected. Unfortunately it was the only pic I had of a 69/70 KE A/C truck with the "can"-ister version of the reservoir. All I had were pics of 71-72 trucks with the plastic reservoir. And a search of the the board and the internet at large was surprisingly fruitless. In the end, we didn't flatten the angle as much as my 70, just enough to comfortably clear.

[IronCanine]

A 72 Blazer rolls into Eric's shop this weekend. I'll enjoy just being a spectator on that one. But it means that after a final spit polish and detail today she had to leave the nest. So we trailered her up and took her to a little truck and car daycare not too far up the road. It's nice and warm. She'll have some new English and German friends there...and though there aren't many trucks, at least she's got a few GM cousins to hang with. My brother and his family are headed up tomorrow and will get to see her complete (in person) for the first time. And he'll get to put mile #5 on her....and however many more he wants.

[rustytruck50]

Truck looks amazing! Great job!!!!

[jaros44sr]

I'm going to run into the same problem on my door switches, do you happen to know how much you took off?

Is your buddy going to document the blazer build with a build thread?

[DeadheadNM]

Looks great Brad. Done! Lmk if Eric intends to maintain a build thread for the Blazer.

I encountered the same issue with NOS door jamb switches. We were able to shove the “sleeve” deeper into the thread nut that affixes these to the jamb. The OEM ones looked as if the same had been done to them.

FWIW I’m still awaiting a photo of an AC-equipped 70 Jimmy for bracket comparison.

[Ol Blue K20]

I guess it had to leave the nest eventually. LOL. looks fantastic!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by rustytruck50

Truck looks amazing! Great job!!!!

Thanks Doug.

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

I'm going to run into the same problem on my door switches, do you happen to know how much you took off?

Is your buddy going to document the blazer build with a build thread?

I don't have an exact measurement for you. I would say take off 50% of the sleeve and then reduce the other pieces accordingly.

Eric mentioned that he might start a build thread on the Blazer--I know the owner won't. That one won't be a full nut and bolt...but definitely more than a re-spray. I think they'll know what it'll be once they get into it (as we all do).

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Looks great Brad. Done! Lmk if Eric intends to maintain a build thread for the Blazer.

I encountered the same issue with NOS door jamb switches. We were able to shove the “sleeve” deeper into the thread nut that affixes these to the jamb. The OEM ones looked as if the same had been done to them.

FWIW I’m still awaiting a photo of an AC-equipped 70 Jimmy for bracket comparison.

Thanks Pete. That makes sense on the NOS switches...I'm not sure that I could have pushed the sleeve in on these...but maybe. And thanks for always being a ready and capable resource.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I guess it had to leave the nest eventually. LOL. looks fantastic!

Thanks Dale. (I like the new avatar pic BTW)...it may seem silly, but one of the things I'm happiest about on this handoff is the dry concrete under the truck. It took a bit, but she holds her fluids. Even the Blazer had a weep on a couple of transfer case bolts.

[Ol Blue K20]

The new avatar pic is Blues first trip to the cabin since the accident (7 years )...thanks for liking it.

[IronCanine]

It occurred to me that I hadn't posted a before and after pic set like I did in the Blazer thread. This is ridiculous but I like it. Before and After....

[DeadheadNM]

She gained some weight and makeup

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

It occurred to me that I hadn't posted a before and after pic set like I did in the Blazer thread. This is ridiculous but I like it. Before and After....

Not a single piece matches, I say it’s a fake before & after

[IronCanine]

Weather was nice so she got pulled out for a short walk. She evokes more confidence/feels a little better every time she's run. Power steering had been a little noisy, but it seems like the air is finally all out now and the noise disappeared. She probably has only 30 minutes of run time total to this point. I guess she's an indoor truck that wants to be an outdoor truck.

Took the occasion to snap a few more pics. Here are a few.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

She gained some weight and makeup

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

Not a single piece matches, I say it’s a fake before & after

You guys are crazy...not saying you're wrong...but...

[69cam]

That's got to make you feel great! Looks amazing. If you ever decide to try the truck rally's on it I'd love to see it. Good job guys!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 69cam

That's got to make you feel great! Looks amazing. If you ever decide to try the truck rally's on it I'd love to see it. Good job guys!

Thanks...and you know I'll post if she gets rallys. I wouldn't dare deprive my brother the satisfaction. He needs to get some trim rings and centers (and tires!) if it's going to happen though. That ball's in his court. I'm calling it done on my end.

[YBNORML]

What a beautiful truck! I’ve been thinking more and more about a 4-wheel drive Blazer or truck. This truck doesn’t help keep those thoughts at bay

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by YBNORML

What a beautiful truck! I’ve been thinking more and more about a 4-wheel drive Blazer or truck. This truck doesn’t help keep those thoughts at bay

Thanks. I think you should.

[72Cheyenne454]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Eric finished up the paint on our remaining panels last week and got the blue bits buffed out.

The truck looks amazing and thank you for sharing the build with us.

I have a question about the black paint that was used on the inner front wheel wells, under hood, core support etc. Can you share what black paint was used to achieve this correct sheen? I'm currently completing an under hood restoration on my K20 and I'm struggling choosing a black paint that has the correct level of gloss.

Thanks,
Miles

[IronCanine]

i.COLOR Hot Rod Black SS Urethane
https://www.icolorcoatings.com/hot-r...ck-1401-1.html

Don't let the name scare you. It's just a nice satin black.

Eric can speak to the material choice (handling etc.) as he decides the paint...I'm just looking for a factory effect...and I like it for that reason.

Thanks for the kind words!