1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy - Page 6 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**pjmoreland** · 10-28-2024, 01:50 AM

Reassembly

**pjmoreland** · 10-28-2024, 01:51 AM

Setup

**pjmoreland** · 10-28-2024, 01:53 AM

I also reinstalled the sender with a new Jeep plastic float and a new seal.

**bobbylong** · 10-28-2024, 04:14 AM

Nice truck, I love it! I'll follow your thread as I work on my '71 step-side.

**loudchevy** · 10-28-2024, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Someone did some crazy shimming on this axle at some point. The pinion and carrier shims were mangled. It appears that they enlarged the bearing IDs so that they'd be a slip fit.

Maybe the same someone that welded all the things on the rest of the truck

Great progress.

**pjmoreland** · 10-28-2024, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loudchevy

Maybe the same someone that welded all the things on the rest of the truck

Great progress.

I think you might be onto something there

**pjmoreland** · 10-28-2024, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbylong

Nice truck, I love it! I'll follow your thread as I work on my '71 step-side.

Nice! There aren't too many of these out there.

**pjmoreland** · 10-30-2024, 01:09 AM

This evening I worked on getting the pinion depth and preload set. I settled on .035" on the pinion which is only .002" less than the funky trashed shims that were in there. The drive side would have been better with a thinner shim, but the coast side would be way on the edge of the tooth that way. It feels smooth when rotated.

I installed a solid sleeve on the pinion and got the preload in spec. Took a couple of hours to get it right, but now I will be able to take it apart and put it back together in the future without worrying about messing up a crush sleeve.

I cleaned up and painted the pinion yoke, so installation will have to wait until the paint dries. This is a nice original yoke I had left over from another project. The one that was on this truck had messed up splines and was loose on the pinion. The pinion splines look perfectly fine, and this other yoke fits nice and snugly.

I wouldn't be surprised if the issues with this rear end were what doomed this truck in 2001.

**pjmoreland** · 11-01-2024, 02:52 AM

Finished setting up the rear end this evening. Got the backlash set at .008" and the carrier bearings are preloaded.

One of the axle shafts was the wrong length so a brake drum wouldn't fit (it would hit the backing plate). I replaced it with a new axle shaft that's the correct length. Installed new studs on both sides and painted the axle flanges.

Cleaned up the diff cover. It had a few small dents and the bottom edge was bent up from being hit with jacks over the years. Straightened it out a bit and then painted it black.

**pjmoreland** · 11-01-2024, 02:53 AM

More photos

**pjmoreland** · 11-01-2024, 02:57 AM

Diff cover photos

**1970cstblazer** · 11-01-2024, 07:50 AM

As always, beautiful workmanship.

**pjmoreland** · 11-01-2024, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

As always, beautiful workmanship.

Thank you

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 12:29 AM

Put some gear oil on the internals to help keep rust at bay. I will fill it after I weld on new perches. Installed the cover.

57taskforce · 11-02-2024, 08:55 AM

Excellent work!!

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Excellent work!!

I appreciate it. I wish I had more time to work on this truck.

57taskforce · 11-02-2024, 10:54 AM

Man that’s always how it is, time and money. Rarely do you ever have sufficient of both. You’re doing a great job so far. This thing has turned around in a huge way in not that much time! A lot of these trucks would be lucky to have more owners like you!

D.B · 11-02-2024, 09:16 PM

Great job, slowly but surely you will have back on the road before you know it. Then all of the hard work will be a distant memory. Keep it up!!

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.B

Great job, slowly but surely you will have back on the road before you know it. Then all of the hard work will be a distant memory. Keep it up!!

Thank you, Darrell. I'll keep plugging away at it! I'm actually really enjoying the project.

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 11:28 PM

More axle work today. Removed the bent rear perches in preparation for replacing them. Used a large drill bit through the center hole to mark the location of each perch on the axle.

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 11:33 PM

Replaced the front axle u-joints. They were really stuck in there. Took lots of pressing back and forth on both sides to get them to break free. Cleaned them up with a wire wheel and painted them

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 11:35 PM

Reassembly

**pjmoreland** · 11-02-2024, 11:38 PM

Also pulled the front carrier and pinion bearings. Assembled a puller from various tools.

**pjmoreland** · 11-04-2024, 02:43 PM

Did some rust removal on the portion of the front diff carrier that was not submerged in oil. It's badly pitted, but thankfully none of the machined surfaces or gears are rusted.

**pjmoreland** · 11-04-2024, 10:46 PM

Welded new perches onto the rear axle this evening. Decided to set them at the stock angle since my suspension is at stock height.

10-28-2024, 01:50 AM	#126
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Reassembly Attached Images

10-28-2024, 01:51 AM	#127
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Setup Attached Images

10-28-2024, 01:53 AM	#128
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy I also reinstalled the sender with a new Jeep plastic float and a new seal. Attached Images

10-28-2024, 04:14 AM	#129
bobbylong Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Nice truck, I love it! I'll follow your thread as I work on my '71 step-side. __________________ Bobby 1971 K10 SWB Stepside 1968 Chevy Camaro 1931 Ford Model A (truck) 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 1994 Harly Davidson MT350

10-30-2024, 01:09 AM	#133
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy This evening I worked on getting the pinion depth and preload set. I settled on .035" on the pinion which is only .002" less than the funky trashed shims that were in there. The drive side would have been better with a thinner shim, but the coast side would be way on the edge of the tooth that way. It feels smooth when rotated. I installed a solid sleeve on the pinion and got the preload in spec. Took a couple of hours to get it right, but now I will be able to take it apart and put it back together in the future without worrying about messing up a crush sleeve. I cleaned up and painted the pinion yoke, so installation will have to wait until the paint dries. This is a nice original yoke I had left over from another project. The one that was on this truck had messed up splines and was loose on the pinion. The pinion splines look perfectly fine, and this other yoke fits nice and snugly. I wouldn't be surprised if the issues with this rear end were what doomed this truck in 2001. Attached Images Last edited by pjmoreland; 10-30-2024 at 03:45 PM.

11-01-2024, 02:52 AM	#134
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Finished setting up the rear end this evening. Got the backlash set at .008" and the carrier bearings are preloaded. One of the axle shafts was the wrong length so a brake drum wouldn't fit (it would hit the backing plate). I replaced it with a new axle shaft that's the correct length. Installed new studs on both sides and painted the axle flanges. Cleaned up the diff cover. It had a few small dents and the bottom edge was bent up from being hit with jacks over the years. Straightened it out a bit and then painted it black. Attached Images Last edited by pjmoreland; 11-01-2024 at 03:05 AM.

11-01-2024, 02:53 AM	#135
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy More photos Attached Images

11-01-2024, 02:57 AM	#136
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Diff cover photos Attached Images

11-01-2024, 07:50 AM	#137
1970cstblazer All stock and staying that way Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,822	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy As always, beautiful workmanship. __________________ 1970 K/5 Blazer CST 4WD, Medium Bronze, 93k ACT. miles, 350, 4 speed, rear positraction, 16.5" x 8.25" HD wheel option, tilt, tach, vacuum, AM/FM, manual throttle...Dad ordered and purchased new 4/70. Currently frame off restoration finally getting close to completion.. 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 2WD, DK Blue/White, 90K ACT. miles, 402, TH400, 4.10 open, tilt, tach, vacuum, A/C, AM/FM, manual throttle.. A mostly original paint never rusted Texas survivor... 2017 Sierra 1500 SLT 4WD, Black, 45k miles, 5.3, 6L80E, 3.42 LS, 20" polished wheels, everything but moonroof and 6.2... 2019 Canyon SLT 4WD, White, 62k miles, 3.6, 8L45, 3.23 LS, 18" wheels

11-02-2024, 12:29 AM	#139
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Put some gear oil on the internals to help keep rust at bay. I will fill it after I weld on new perches. Installed the cover. Attached Images

11-02-2024, 08:55 AM	#140
57taskforce All about them K’s Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Entrapment Posts: 6,485	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Excellent work!! __________________ Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s

11-02-2024, 10:54 AM	#142
57taskforce All about them K’s Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Entrapment Posts: 6,485	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Man that’s always how it is, time and money. Rarely do you ever have sufficient of both. You’re doing a great job so far. This thing has turned around in a huge way in not that much time! A lot of these trucks would be lucky to have more owners like you! __________________ Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s

11-02-2024, 09:16 PM	#143
D.B Registered User Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Keller, Texas Posts: 542	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Great job, slowly but surely you will have back on the road before you know it. Then all of the hard work will be a distant memory. Keep it up!! __________________ Darrell 1972 Cheyenne Super C20 (My Fun Drive) 2000 S10 Xtreme (My Drag Truck)

11-02-2024, 11:28 PM	#145
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy More axle work today. Removed the bent rear perches in preparation for replacing them. Used a large drill bit through the center hole to mark the location of each perch on the axle. Attached Images

11-02-2024, 11:33 PM	#146
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Replaced the front axle u-joints. They were really stuck in there. Took lots of pressing back and forth on both sides to get them to break free. Cleaned them up with a wire wheel and painted them Attached Images



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11-02-2024, 11:35 PM	#147
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Reassembly Attached Images

11-02-2024, 11:38 PM	#148
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Also pulled the front carrier and pinion bearings. Assembled a puller from various tools. Attached Images

11-04-2024, 02:43 PM	#149
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Did some rust removal on the portion of the front diff carrier that was not submerged in oil. It's badly pitted, but thankfully none of the machined surfaces or gears are rusted. Attached Images

11-04-2024, 10:46 PM	#150
pjmoreland Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: CA Posts: 5,974	Re: 1971 K10 Stepside - Getting a Roller Roadworthy Welded new perches onto the rear axle this evening. Decided to set them at the stock angle since my suspension is at stock height. Attached Images

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