Project 68 k10 LWB..aka "The Hulk"

[7dee2]

Nice work! I'd like to do this upgrade to our C10 project in the future.

[First c10]

Its a lot of work Brett. well at least what I tried to do....

I was able to weld the door frame and readjust the doors with the door seals in place. Glad I did as I had to widen the front fenders and now the hood and cowl fit better.
Tells you what I know......which is nothing!

[cmabolt]

That gas door turned out very cool. Wish I would have done that.

Chris

[First c10]

Thanks Chris. I hope my truck turns out as nice as yours.

I was able to pick this old Logan lathe 820. It is a 1944. I picked it up for 150$.
I need to clean up the rest of it and get it installed so I can get back on he truck.

150$ and 10 hours of work. But will have a lathe.

Tools are cool!!!

[cmabolt]

That sounds like a good deal for a tool that will probably last forever. They just don't make stuff like that anymore.

I'm sure your truck will turn out great! Weather is getting warm and Car shows are starting up so looking forward to more time in the truck this Spring/Summer.

Chris

[7dee2]

Tools are the best, good score! Lots of stuff we could still use if I could find more shop space...

[First c10]

Hey guys. Wanted a to get the seats out of my garage so decided to finish fabricating the seat mounts. Got it all measured up and built. Looks good. I will have my upholstery guy take the back of the seats and cut them about 3". Not sure if I want to put the head rests on.
I first built the frame to position the seats at the stock height. Sat in them and thought they need to be lower and tilted back. So I lowered the overall seat 1" and lowered the rear of the seat 1 more inch.
I jumped in my sons yellow 70 and than got in this one and man what a difference. Head room and foot room!!!

[First c10]

I have been looking at the bed and taillight area where I want the fuel filler. I made the flip down door a while back but decided to start cutting away today since it is not going to install itself.
I was able to cut out the pocket and make the plate to mount the filler neck to.
It was a lot of work since I had not done this mod before. But I bet I have 20 hours in the door and filler neck mount so far. The plate is not welded in yet.
So about 2 hours and it should be completed.
I did order some 1.75" stainless steel fittings to run from the filler neck to the tank.

I am going to put the bed on and plumb the filler pipe before I finish welding up the filler cap mount.

[First c10]

Check out this Video taillight gas door

[swamp rat]

I like the seats! what were they out of? I think it would look more period correct without the headrests, but safer on a rear ender with them, your call.

[7dee2]

Don't blame you for wanting to cut the seats down but honestly they look really good in the pics the way they are, even with the head rests! You are killing the fuel fill, nice video, if that'll work at a California filling station I'm guessing it would work anywhere, nice job.

[First c10]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I like the seats! what were they out of? I think it would look more period correct without the headrests, but safer on a rear ender with them, your call.

Hey Mike,
The seats I think are from a place like shop4seats.com This is the same seat I think

I bought them from a guy on CL.

I may just have the back of the seat cut down to the window opening 2-3"and put the head rest back on.

[First c10]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Don't blame you for wanting to cut the seats down but honestly they look really good in the pics the way they are, even with the head rests! You are killing the fuel fill, nice video, if that'll work at a California filling station I'm guessing it would work anywhere, nice job.

Hey Brett,
I am going to wait on the seats till I get closer as I may change the color of the interior.

The filler well..... I am hoping it will fill OK. I am concerned as it doesn't have a vent line.

in the picture above you can see the flat sheet of metal to fill the side between the filler and the side marker light.

[First c10]

I got some help to place the bed on the frame.
Didn't look to bad but had a few issues
1. The bed and cab don't line up. The bed needs to be raised by 1/2" to match the cab.
The cab is on standard 4x4 body mounts. So not sure why it's off.

2. The tire is not center of the rear wheel well. I even moved the axle back 1" after the flip kit.

[72 tigger]

Nice job on the fuel filler & video!

[First c10]

You guys hunk the front end and cab need to move forward? I am not sure what center is. I will be doing some research on it.
Attached is the current pictures.

[First c10]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Nice job on the fuel filler & video!

Thank you.
I wish I was a little better at detailing what was done but when I get started I forget about taking pictures usually till after.
More to come as I will be showing how I connect to the tank.

[swamp rat]

Nice filler! Cant help but wonder why the bed is lower? I know the frames are different from 1/2 to 3/4T but not sure if the cross sills are different on the bed, guess if ya need me too I could go out and look.

[First c10]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Nice filler! Cant help but wonder why the bed is lower? I know the frames are different from 1/2 to 3/4T but not sure if the cross sills are different on the bed, guess if ya need me too I could go out and look.

Hey Mike
The frame is actually a 1970 k20 frame and the bed is a 1972 C20 bed.
Both 3/4 tons. So I am stumped.

I did measure and measure and measure again. I figured it is about 5/8 inch lower. So my plan is to use the 69-72 front body mounts and add 3/8" thick washer and lift the bed 1" that will give me enough room for the fuel filler piping to the tank and even up the cab and bed.
So Today I got the lathe out and make some spacers. Pictures to follow.

[First c10]

Ok so I worked on the bed a little tonight.
First thing I was able to level out the cab and bed.
Second I adjusted a 1" gap between the cab and bed.
Third I measured the bed and am 1" to far forward in the rear wheel well. So I marked up the front of the rear wheel well with a black sharpie. I moved the lower section 1" forward and was thinking to cut a sliver of metal(pencil marks)
Has anyone seen this to correct the gap? or did they move the rear axle back?

[7dee2]

Looks good Scott! IMO the front looks pretty good and the back is a little forward but not bad. Thinking the fix would be to move the rear (via zero rate), have you thought about the extra weight of the bed wood & hardware, tail gate and a full tank o’ gas? Once that weight is added to the mix would it squat enough?

[First c10]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Looks good Scott! IMO the front looks pretty good and the back is a little forward but not bad. Thinking the fix would be to move the rear (via zero rate), have you thought about the extra weight of the bed wood & hardware, tail gate and a full tank o’ gas? Once that weight is added to the mix would it squat enough?

Good morning Brett
Agree the front is good. I have already moved the axle back 1". I did wonder how much it would move after the weight was on the rear. I guess I need to put some weight in the back and see what it does. If the back lowers to much I will have a ghost trailer look.

Can someone tell what the average drop is to the rear suspension when all is said and done? 1"-2" etc.

[First c10]

Time for an update.
I have been busy with other stuff. But was able to get a few things done. Finished up the side panel pieces on each side of the filler neck behind the tail light.
Made the stake pocket plugs and tack welded them in. Also made hole plugs to fill the holes in the side of the bed with a hole punch. I thought I would fill in the bed rail to rear stake pocket little price that looks to be missing. But mistakenly I deleted the before picture here is the it welded up and just need to finish sanding it and a little forming to finish rolling the underneath edge.

[First c10]

Well after all the forming metal and messing up I decided to buy a new tool. Of course it was after I finished the gas filler. I am sure I will use it again!
It's a 3 in 1 tool. Brake,shear, & roller. With a managers special coupon and 25% off coupon I got it for about 300$. It is very heavy so I had some 2"x2"x 1/8" square tubing laying around and thought " time to make a stand"

I may add casters to it but as for now I just welded 1/2" nuts and put bolts in it to keep it leveled and stable.

[quadzero]

What an incredible deal. Would love to have a tool like this. Looking forward to the work you will accomplish with it.