'85 Short Bed 4X4

[FunKing85]

Originally Posted by jjzepplin

Good job! You are getting lots done! Gotta redo a bearing in the front of my Toyota as the first attempt failed. I think the old hub I used stretched the inner race and is not good right now. I found out after I did it that I should have used a new hub too. My bad- first front wheel bearing on one of these. POOP!

Absolute PITA in my opinion, stopped half way through and wasted an hour driving to the store to buy a new press, almost ruined a 50 dollar bearing. I'll stick to squares from now on, much more fun!

[FunKing85]

Some pictures of the parts I have thus far:

[jjzepplin]

Dang skippy!

[FunKing85]

The tear down begins. All in all, took about four hours with what I got done. Went well, the usual rusty bolt issues. One thing I was really unhappy with was the bumper brackets. Instead of just unbolting the bracket from the frame, I had to undo all the chrome headed bolts on the bumper itself because someone WELDED the brackets to the frame. Not only that, but they did a terrible job of it. Got all but one off, had to cut one with the cut off tool unfortunately. Had to break out the 1010 oil, about 8 or so years ago a friend of mine found a pallet of this stuff in a warehouse he rented, I don't know what it is but it works wonders on stuck bolt, by far the best penetrating oil I've ever used.
Today I'm gonna get the hood and fenders off, reassess my list of parts to buy and find all the other unexpected gremlins. Here's some pictures:

[FunKing85]

Cont:

[FunKing85]

Slowly chipping away at it, Got the fenders and hood off, have all the front accessories off the motor and brackets broke down to powder coat BUT...
I may not need to powder coat anything for a 350. Going Thursday to look at 454, built by a long time friend that's had it for years and has been asking me to buy it for some time now. I know its built right, exact specs to come. I'm gonna do some research on the 454 to 700r4 mating, I know it isn't the absolute recommendation but for a street use 4x4 I may get away with it, I have a shift kit and corvette servos so I may be alright. Other than that I need to figure out my mounting situation and if its all gonna line up. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Also, Have a OEM front sway bar crossmember on order to replace the disgusting hack job that I have now. Pics to come.

[FunKing85]

Back at it again, last post was 6 years ago but i still have this ol thing. I have a decent shop now and have been working at a aftermarket truck accessory shop. I havent been on the K10 build because I bought a crew cab C20 and LS swapped it along with alot of other things, learned alot and im ready to apply it to tjhis truck. Definitely have my work cut out for me. I'll post some pics of the last few years of Squarebody Shenanigans and then get to the build.

[FunKing85]

Pics

[FunKing85]

pics2

[FunKing85]

My 87 with a 383/th400

[FunKing85]

More 87

[FunKing85]

Painted the hood and roof

[FunKing85]

Shoulda painted the whole truck, but I wanted to move on to the K10

[FunKing85]

Alright down to business. This truck sat for about 4 years in a barn while me and the Crew cab traveled all around, ended up driving it to Oregon and back a few times (from Florida), but all hands on the K10 now. It has a 350/700r4 still, the frame is broke off at the front leaf hanger on the drivers side, the bed is full of bondo, probably everything else too. I need all new front suspension, including hangers for the leaf springs. I have to build a jig or something to get the frame back in one piece and square, thats obviously the first step.

[FunKing85]

Pic

[FunKing85]

pics

[FunKing85]

Mostly in a research phase until I get the frame solid, I am going to take the cab off as soon as I build a dolly to set it on. Id like to restore the frame and all the chassis components, get the motor swapped and bolted in then reassemble. I'd like to go with a stock 6.0 LS just like my Crew Cab, but I am on the fence about transmissions and if I want to go manual or not. I am leaning that way but haven't done any research into manual GM trans or transfer cases. I'm not even sure what case is in there right now TBH.

If anyone has a good source for stock k10 front end part numbers and availability that would be great. Currently on the hunt for stock leaf hangers for the front and rear on the front leafs, as well as trying to figure out which leaf springs I want, and what upgrades
I want to make. As far as the steering box/frame area, I bought the Offroad Designs plates and stabilizer, as well as the front upper shackle hangers just as a starting point. Figure if I get all that on and square I'm basically starting from a stock platform with a little more strength.

[FunKing85]

Found this online and ordered it, Cant beat this information.

[FunKing85]

Few more Pics

[FunKing85]

Over all Goal with this truck is to have it 8/10 all around, appear stock inside and out. 6.0 LS, manual trans. solid working 4x4. Keeping the same color scheme, same trim, just basically undoing all the damage and nonsense my 18 year old self did. I plan on using this truck for easy trail days and general around town stuff so I'm not going full restoration.

[LT7A]

You've built up a nice collection. It's cool that you've been hanging on to all of them and getting done each what they need. That crew cab long bed looked like a big truck until you put that camper on it, wow. Glad you're getting the chance to get the K10 fixed up.

[FunKing85]

Lots of progress pics to come, fixed a lot of frame related issues. However I am at that point where decisions are to be made and I'm finding it difficult. I'd like to do the Off Road designs crossover steering, I am still learning about all that it entails, knuckles and such. I am pretty sure I have the corpo 10 bolt so it should be straight forward but I am finding leaf spring choice to be very tricky. I don't mind going a little higher than stock, but I don't want it too much different. 2 inch skyjackers seem to be the ticket, not sure if that'll clear the crossover, I don't plan on doing the highsteer unless I'm missing something and it is a good idea, i wont be rock crawling. I'd like to find a good example of a truck with these mods but haven't yet.
So where are y'all getting leaf springs from? who's a good source to ask about length of spring and just some good general leaf spring info? done some searching and I'll do some more.

[FunKing85]

Teardown pictures

[FunKing85]

This thing was absolutely filthy everywhere

[FunKing85]

Ray charles welds