85 K10 Build

[85square]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Good work! Now that the frame's ready, it's all forward progress.

Thank you!! These pictures are actually from a couple months ago. The truck is about 90% finished now, I’m just posting a few pictures of my build each night until I get caught up to where I am now.

[85square]

Chassis saver looks very good sprayed on the frame. It’s a little glossy for my liking and I’ve heard it turns gray after time, so I put a top coat of flat black implement paint on it.

[85square]

After I got the frame all painted I hung the springs. I’ve heard mixed reviews on rough country, but I went with them anyway because the price was right. I got a 4” all spring kit with shocks and a raised steering arm for about $600. I’ll probably get a little hate for this but I put a small block in the back to raise the rear up a bit. I like a little rake and with these trucks the front wheel well has a bigger opening than the rear so to me it just looks better.

[85square]

Front axle in

[85square]

Rear axle in and brakes done. I did the brakes after I had it bolted in just because it was easier to move around without all that weight. For the time being I put my set of wheels that I run in the winter on my DD on just to move it around. They actually look decent on these trucks.

[85square]

This is when we started tearing down my other truck. Turns out the frame on this one was not in good shape at all and the body was getting pretty bad.

[aotte1]

Nice work, just started watching.
Keep photos coming.

[85square]

I contemplated going ls or building an old sbc. I had a complete 350 in the garage and a 400 small block in pieces. I decided to go with the 400 just because I feel like you don’t see as many of them as you do a 350, and there’s no replacement for displacement. So I started ordering parts. Everything is new except for the block. Balanced eagle rotating assembly, Aluminum brodix heads, etc. Brought it to my machinist and had it decked, bored .30 and honed making it a 406.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 85square

This is when we started tearing down my other truck. Turns out the frame on this one was not in good shape at all and the body was getting pretty bad.

The biggest problem I have seen with these 4x4 Squares.
Is the (Front) spring hanger on the rear axle collects (Dirt /Mud)
Then you know the rest of the story.

Looks like you are moving forward with your project.








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[85square]

Engine assembly

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 85square

I contemplated going ls or building an old sbc. I had a complete 350 in the garage and a 400 small block in pieces. I decided to go with the 400 just because I feel like you don’t see as many of them as you do a 350, and there’s no replacement for displacement. So I started ordering parts. Everything is new except for the block. Balanced eagle rotating assembly, Aluminum brodix heads, etc. Brought it to my machinist and had it decked, bored .30 and honed making it a 406.

You will like that a lot.
There is something about a 400 sbc that cant be explained.
I have had one in a previous truck.
Best throttle response EVER

[85square]

Down the road I’d like to install a Holley sniper efi system instead of a carb, but for now I went with a demon 750.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 85square

Down the road I’d like to install a Holley sniper efi system instead of a carb, but for now I went with a demon 750.

.

[85square]

Engine/trans set in. I run an sm465 but would like to run an nv4500 eventually if I can find one. The 4 speed can be fun but isn’t ideal.

[85square]

I needed a way to be able to start and stop the engine for break in so I took the wiring harness And steering column from my truck and hooked everything needed to the engine. This worked very well and wasn’t a big deal because I was swapping all of that stuff over to my other cab anyway.

Got it fired up, broke in, then changed the oil.

[85square]

New McLeod clutch installed.

[85square]

The cab I’m using is not perfect. It has its fair share of rust but is in pretty good shape for New York, and I got a good deal on it. As you can tell, I’ve been building this truck on the side of my garage. The days are getting shorter and pretty soon the temperature will start dropping, so for this year I’m going to get it running and driving, then next year I will do the body work and paint.

I took everything off of the firewall, cleaned it up and painted it before putting it on.

My frame is somewhere between 73-80 and the body is 81-87 so I had to make up some body mounts to go with my new poly bushings.

[Greenlee]

Nice work!

[Bigblueburban]

Looking good, the motor looks fantastic. I have an 85 k15 I got that is in need of freshening up. Nice to see some more updates. Keep it up!

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 85square

I like a little rake and with these trucks the front wheel well has a bigger opening than the rear so to me it just looks better.

I like this too. I like the lip of the fender to be the same distance above the tire. That puts the truck in about a 2-inch rake. It doesn't look overly tilted and is hardly noticeable but it gives just a little aggressiveness. Plus, from the side the tires look proportional in the wheel wells.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 85square

Got it fired up, broke in, then changed the oil.

That's a nice engine run stand you've got there.

[85square]

Got kind of sidetracked from posting. Here’s when I put the fenders on. The fenders I had on my truck were not in the best shape and I couldn’t find any oem rust free ones anywhere around me so I had to get aftermarket ones. I’m actually pleased with them, they fit pretty well.

[85square]

Swapped the doors over. The red doors are power and in better shape. This truck has quite a few different colors.

[85square]

Engine bay

[85square]

Took the maiden voyage into my back yard where I had the bed stored.