Ultimate work truck/ 70 K10 diesel

[DBear]

looking good Clint....talk to you soon bud!

[woodwright]

FINALLY!!!!! Got some paint on the frame.

I think I'm gonna spray the final coat. I need the practice if I'm gonna paint the body. Does anybody know of a website, book, or inexpensive dvd that teaches how to set the gun up? I've sprayed before, and work with floor finish all the time, so I know how it needs to lay. I have a nice Sharpe HVLP gun, i just need some help getting started.

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking great! Nice work and great fabbing!

[DBear]

Frame looks great....and I do think 35's will look perfect on your rig bud!

[TheWhiteElephant]

Man, you have some serious welding skills.

[woodwright]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

Man, you have some serious welding skills.

Well I don't think I do, but thanks.
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[propanemudtruck]

Originally Posted by woodwright

Well I don't think I do, but thanks.
Posted via Mobile Device

ha! You've proven that your imagination and fabrication levels for this truck are above and beyond the "requirements" to do a buildup!

[woodwright]

Originally Posted by propanemudtruck

ha! You've proven that your imagination and fabrication levels for this truck are above and beyond the "requirements" to do a buildup!

Well thanks guys, I appreciate it. I don't have the money to have someone else do it, so if I don't do it it won't get done. I researched a lot on this site and others, and used similar designs to others that are already out there. Diy4x has some awesome stuff. And Kurt is a really cool guy that will take the time to talk to you.
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[woodwright]

Almost done with the frame. Brushed on the first coat and sprayed the last 2. Flipped it over to get the bottom side.


Also hung up all my brackets and got a coat on them.

I'm using SEM rust shield from Napa. Originally I was using it without the hardener, because it makes it a little glossyer, and really wasn't all that impressed with it. But with the hardener it is really hard stuff, and sprays nice with 10% zylene. I really want to get this thing done but work has kept me buried. I guess I shouldn't complain though.
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[DBear]

the frame came really nice Clint, and so did all the brackets....and I bet those brackets were a pain to coat!

[woodwright]

The brackets actually weren't too bad. I hung them from the ceiling with wire and sprayed them. Today I got the frame flipped back over and started bolting brackets on.I'll take some pics tomorrow
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[woodwright]

Had a 4 day weekend, so I got the frame, all my brackets and crossmembers final painted and bolted together.


Even got a coat on my front end, and transfercase.

Working on getting my leafsprings cleaned up and painted, and I've got to put my front end back together and start on the rear. Does anybody know where to get the little teflon sliders for the leafsprings?

[woodwright]

Haven't updated in a while. I started cleaning up my 52" front springs, and found a crack on one of my main leafs.


I tried to mix them with another set I have, but they didn't jive so I just ordered some new ones from SD truck springs. $270 to my door for the pair. I'll get some pics tomorrow.

I picked up another rig to replace my suburban while my trucks down.

Its an 84 with a 6.2. The PO was getting some bubbles in the coolant, so he figured the head gaskets were going, and parked it 8 years ago. The bottom end and the injector pump only have about 20K on it. I pulled the heads, and found cracks between the valves on 3 cylinders, and didn't see any obvious problems with the head gaskets. Fortunately I have a spare 6.2 with good heads so I swapped them over. I've got the heads on with new 6.5 head gaskets, and am swapping the C code manifold for a J code. I port matched the heads and manifolds while i had it apart, and I'm also gonna modify the Air filter housing to run a 4" hose to the core support. Its already got duel 2.5" flowmasters, 4 inch lift, good 33" tires, and the pump's turned up some, so I'm curious to see how it does. Not bad for $500. I'm trying to just get it back together, so I can get back on my truck, but I can't seem to leave well enough alone.

[madcow75]

Whats the purpose of using 6.5 head gaskets as appose to 6.2 head gaskets. What is the purpose and or advantage?

[woodwright]

6.5 head gaskets are stronger, and less likely to leak. Make sure you get new head bolts or studs though. And run all the head bolt holes with a bottoming tap.
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[madcow75]

Good to know. Thanks for the advice. Are the 6.5 head gaskets made of better material or thicker?

[woodwright]

Im not sure whats different about them. You might want to ask on dieselplace.com or similar. every thread over there about head gaskets says to use the 6.5 gaskets. Heath Diesel told me the same thing.
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[renegade6]

The pre-90 heads were prone to getting cracks like that. 90 and after had different heads, injectors and injector pump.

[propanemudtruck]

Nice progress and nice K5 you picked up there...

[McMurray76]

subscribed

[plummen]

Originally Posted by woodwright

I've been trying to find information on Rhinolining the cab. Specifically, How it works for sound deadening. The only trucks I've found where they have done this are Jeeps and blazers, Where they don't really care about the noise, They just want easy to clean. The local guy here sprays Ultimate Lining, so I called their tech line and asked them what they thought. They said that the different brands of liner are different, obviously, some being harder and more brittle. With the Ultimate, I guess it stays more pliable and rubbery,so It should work great. The tech guy recommended doing both sides of the firewall and the underside of the hood. It should cost about $300.

Ive been seriously thinking about using that stuff under the cab and inside on the floors/kick panels and the firewall and bottem side of my front wheel wells on my 69 project since it will probably spend its share of time running around in the snow,i hope my project turns out half as nice as yours has so far!

[plummen]

Youve got my undivided attention here!
How do those older chevy diesels hold up compared to a small block chevy?Ive driven a few 550 super dutys with breathed on power strokes over the years that flat out hauled ass loaded or unloaded didnt seem to matter,the cummins diesels still scare me with the horror storys about the death pin.that combined with the fact ive never had any luck combining the words chrysler/durability/affordability in a complete sentence!
Ive been flip flopping back/forth between a realy stout 427 chevy ive got sitting in the barn just because these trucks look so cool with a rat motor under the hood or building another 415" small block chevy ,if I could build a reliable diesel motor i could take on long trips without worrying about finding parts along the way I might consider that also though

[VA72C10]

Very cool build!

[woodwright]

Plummen,

Truth be told, all I know about the 6.2/6.5's is what I've read on the diesel boards. I drove my donor truck about 10 miles, but the tranny was toast. I got a couple of 6.2's early on that were trashed and tore them down. They're about as basic as you get, and since everybody trash talks them so bad, you can pick them up for cheap. As long as you understand that they were built for economy and reliability, and will never make the same power as the Dura-Cumm-Strokes, half a million miles is doable if you take care of it. My 6.5TD is factory rated at 200 hp/400tq or there abouts. I'm opening up the exhaust and the intake, and turning up the pump a fuzz so it should be a bit higher. I think the best part about them is there is no vacuum to deal with. It seems like every small block I ever had, there was a leak somewhere, or the timing didn't advance right, or the carburetors were erratic.

As far as putting one in an older truck, They'll fit anywhere a big block will. The hardest part is cramming as big of a radiator in as you can. However, If money was no object, and I wanted a diesel tire fryer, that I could beat the piss out of, I would probably go with a Cummins or a powerstroke and a six speed. I personally don't like the Duramax's

My goal with this truck has always been to build a reliable daily driver that gets better than 11mpg, on a nonexistant budget. Where we live, 4wd is a must, and when you throw on bigger tires and a lift kit, your mileage goes to crap. Diesels just aren't as bad. I had an 05 Tundra a few years back that the PO had lifted 2" and put on 33"'s. It was an awesome looking truck, and did great in the snow, but I got 13 on the freeway, and maybe 10 pulling my 2000# trailer. And the power wasn't very impressive. I'm thinking I can beat that and have a cooler truck for less than a years worth of truck payments.

[plummen]

Thats my goal also,something that looks cool and is cheaper than a new truck!
My 05 2500hd crew cab 4x4 gets around 15mpg with a vortec around town ,but it looks like the other 2500hd which is something i really like to avoid.