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#1 |
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Location: Star Valley, WY
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Holy crap, they have gone up! $1,000 for a ready to go runner was what I was used to. At that price a guy has to really consider their needs.
44444444
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
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#2 | |
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Location: San Carlos, Ca.
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
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Last 60 I bought was for the '76 CC Dually I converted to 4wd 18 years ago. Think I paid 700 for it. Yes times have changed!
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#3 |
60-66 Nut
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Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
WOW! 1600 to 2500 for a 60?.......should be dang near able to buy a whole K30 for not much more than that.
Yeah the last single wheel Dodge 60 I bought I think I paid 900-1000.
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#4 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
I was thinking the same thing Captain and had actually started entertaining the thought of just that. Buying another truck! Haha. My Wife would have killed me! Not sure if its "California" pricing but I wouldn't be surprised. I did see some Rockwells that looked kind of reasonable, but that's a whole 'nother ball of string. I'd have to also buy a forklift as well to move those things around! I will be happy enough to just have a front axle that works when I need it. Hoping to wrap up the crossmember to driveshaft clearance issue and also get the 205's shift linkage installed in this go 'round. Pics coming soon. I think the new / used knuckle will do the trick. Add a set of USA Moog ball joints, Spicer U joints and seals, USA Raybestos calipers and a fresh coat of paint and she should be good to go back in. I was going to do the bearings as well but opened the box of National bearings that I had bought to find that they are all made in China ![]() As far as the cracked spring, Ill probably take the 2 bottom leaves off of the original front set (45") that came with the truck and replace the 2 lowest leaves on the 52" pack. It might stiffen up the ride the amount Im looking for. Its all trial and error at this point. Wish I could afford a new set of springs but sure am thankful for the hoarding gene that I have right now!
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#5 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
The last D60 that I bought was only 400 and that was with in the last 5 yrs as I still have it.
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James 63 GMC V6 4speed carryall 65 chevy swb bbw V8 auto 68 K20 327/4 speed, buddy buckets 2002 GMC CC Dually Duramax 64 GMC lwb 3/4 V6 4speed SOLD 66 GMC swb bbw buddy buckets SOLD IG duallyjams The only thing that stays the same is constant change! |
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#6 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Athens, Georgia
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
There's a '68-72 3/4ton 2wd here being parted that has a Dana 60 rear... I've already got a full set of 6-bolt wheels, and an original GMC Dana44 rear with 3.55 and rebuildable posi... I'm reallllllly trying to ignore it... I'd be into the Dana for whatever the purchase price is, plus the rebuild kit, plus 3.55 gears (probably) and a new posi unit, AND a full set of 6-lug wheels.
I could get a Dana 60 for free, and it'd still cost me a grand. I'm figuring that for the light wheeling I'll be doing (easy trail rides, hunting and driving through fields, etc., no rock-crawling), with original pizza-cutter wheels and tires, the 44s will be up to it.
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#8 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
oooooh...
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
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#9 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Two weeks! Even if you wanted to break the bank, It would be tight to get a reputable yard to perform (one that separates the chaff from the wheat and knows what they have) plus shipping and all, or your driving. Maybe make a straight axle out of what you got and buy some time. I think you are at a critical juncture on you expenditures to get what you want sitting under the front. The D44 or D60 either way you need some breathing room. Hook or crook get what you got rolling, and save the "big buck" or "best fit" decision for when you got some time to consider.
good luck, I feel your pain!
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#10 |
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: nl connecticut
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
this would be a great time to add crossover steering. might as well get the passenger knuckle machined while its off.
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#11 | ||
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Location: San Carlos, Ca.
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
This jack weed emails me a pic of a dually axle and got pretty offensive and went on a rant about how hates CL. Says he's got a ton of interest in his dually axle and everyone is wasting his time. LOL. I'm sure that some poor sucker will buy it for 1250 (yeah he raised the price too) only to find out that they need 500$ worth of single wheel hubs to make it work. Meanwhile, the Timken carrier and pinion kit just showed up at the door. Looks like my decision (for now) has been made. I'll get the 60 one day when its right. Usually when I rush into a decision (like now), it doesn't pan out right and Im stuck with a new problem - like trying to suck the front wheels in a foot ![]() Quote:
I think I have too many irons in the fire as it is.
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#12 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Ha Ha, that's classic.. typical scenario in my axle search too. Hopefully your current setup will keep you on(or off the road) for a while.
Re the crossover. Man, my truck drives so sweet with my setup. I can take my hands off the wheel on the freeway at 60 and it tracks straight, over bumps and everything. It's never driven so good. My advise, if you ain't hard core wheeling and your vehicle tracks good... don't jack it up. I feel like I got lucky on my current setup. Maybe not luck, but my expectations have been surpassed by the way this truck handles! And it could probably even use a king pin knuckle spring and bushing replacement. But I don't think I could get it to handle any better, maybe HD springs up front. I used to gripe about the 4" Skyjacker soft rides up front being too mushy. Now that is not a pet peeve anymore because it just hugs the road. Anyhow, you know the old saying... if it works don't fix it. As always my 2cents... worth the price paid! ![]()
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#13 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
A little progress made this week. I pulled the pinion out and noticed that the bearings looked great as did the cups. I got the passenger side carrier bearing off with the bearing splitter that I bought for the NV4500. It came off pretty easy. Seems like there is not alot of press on those. I should probably watch a video on using the splitter so I don't have to blow apart bearings with a chisel in the future. After putting a little grease on the pinion bearings, it went back in with a new seal. I was very mindful of the shim positions in the process. There were a lot of them and some were paper thin! I reinstalled the shims on the carrier in their original places and pressed on the new carrier bearings all the while praying that Timken hadn't changed their tolerances in 40 years ![]() I put the carrier back into the housing - which was a tighter fit than coming out. I attributed this to wear on the bearings and cups? Anyway, a little persuasion with a pry bar and it went in snug. 60# on the caps. 160# on the pinion. I turned the yoke on the assembly and it did have a little drag. By the seat of my pants Id say 5 to 15Lbs. Light drag. Nothing weird. Backlash at the yoke was how I remember it (sounding pretty scientific now huh?). The Yukon bearing kit came with a tube of grease paint so I used it to check the wear pattern. Looks to be a little more towards the toe and centered in the tooth. From what Ive read, this is good for new gears and bearings? Ill get a pic up later on this.
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#14 |
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Location: San Carlos, Ca.
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
My little Vulcan press has been worth every bit of the 80$ I paid for it. Another tool that I have to learn how to use properly though.
Id be done with this thing in a couple of hours but have to run to Hollister to pick up a new set of rear 3/4 ton 63" springs for the rear of the truck. Oh yeah and the wheel seals that I forgot to order which kept me from finishing the axle last night ![]() Getting closer! I think that the axle will be just fine for what Im doing in the near future. Unless the differential catches on fire from the bearings being too tight that is!
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#15 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
Anyhow, for sure that is a great axle, no reason no to keep now that you're going through it. Like I said, if mine were a disc axle I would have gone through it. Have a great trip.
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#16 |
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Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Chris--you got my back a hurten just reading your post. A hate concrete in my old age. You'll get it done and then the fun.
Kimble
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1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build |
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#17 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
![]() Couple of pics. First is the " whats not right about this picture?" Second is the progress at the moment. I think it looks pretty good. New ball joints, 1 driver's side 10 bolt knuckle, inner axle and outer wheel seals, Warn hubs, Spicer sealed axle u joints, new Timken carrier bearings and pinion seal, Ruff Stuff 2 deg shims and spring center bolts, Tuff Country axle u bolts, Torrington spindle / outer axle bearings. New drag link and Dana 60 tie rod. The 52" - 7 leaf pack is a combination of the top 3 '73 K10 leafs and the bottom 4 from the original rear leaf packs that came on the truck. Brass wire brushed, washed, primed and painted. We'll see how this works out for ride, stability and God forbid more cracked springs.
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#18 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
That said... don't forget to put oil in it before the break in! ![]()
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#19 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
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Steve 1971 GMC Longbox. Full Roller Stroker 489 w/ FiTech EFI, Chris Straub Cam/NV4500/205/D60/14B w. Grizzly Locker and 4.11's. 2" Lift on 33's |
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#20 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
You got that right! I recently got rid of everything. RV, bikes, Polaris ect. Between maint, mods and constantly dickering with equipment in field... I started to need a break from my break! I really started leaving stuff more on the stock side and freeing up more time on pre-vacation and actual "vacation". Sporting people loose weight on vacation... everyone else gains 5 lbs.
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#21 |
6>8 Plugless........
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Location: Prairie City, Ia
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Nice work on your truck and thanks for the detailed thread doing your spring swaps. I really like your truck!
First of all, on the what's not right in the pic. Am I seeing correctly that the tie rod is on top of the knuckle on the RH side but below it on the LH side? It looks like the tie rod bar goes down hill in both pics. Secondly, are the 63" springs on chevy trucks from 88 up to 00 or on up to 05ish? I'm building another K30 Longhorn and this 63" rear spring caught my eye.
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Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project Tired of spark plugs? Check this out. |
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#22 | ||||
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
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Not so sure about the starting year for the springs but IIRC, they are '92 to present. I don't know anything about the 3/4 (yet) or the 1 ton springs but if you're gonna use your truck like a truck, the 1/2 tons probably won't do. Mine were a little soft for my liking and got on the overloads with 1/2 ton of drain rock. I didn't like towing the boat either as the truck looked like the dog dragging his but on the carpet. Ive also heard that they will distort pretty good if you put some power to them. Mine are still straight, flex good but are just a hair too light for me.
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Carlos, Ca.
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Ok, this part is done. Tomorrow is on to notching the trans crossmember for the drive shaft and t case linkage. AND putting oil in the front axle... Thanks Jeff!
Here is where we are at now....
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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#24 |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Hey I was just being a smart arse. Keep the orange bolts. I painted mine silver to look like stainless...
![]() On the oil note, I still use paper gaskets and only paper gaskets on my diffs and never have leaks (actually I think they're fel pro fiber on my 60) the rear 14 is paper. Anyhow, no goop is my point, I hate scraping crap to prep surfaces... I'm always in a hurry! Looking good. I spent a couple hours under my truck last night... my face looked like a chimney sweep, I gotta get the bottom side steam cleaned. ![]()
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#25 | |
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Re: Spring Swap Thread - 1963 K15
Quote:
Haha, took me a minute. I was pretty tired from thrashing on it last night. When I figured it out, I had a desperately needed laugh!. Ive found it necessary to have a sense of humor with this thing ![]() As far as the oil, I have a couple of half or more full jugs of 75 -80 which should fill it and get rid of the jugs at the same time. I usually use that "Right Stuff" and its never leaked. Im trying something different this time called a "Lube Locker" gasket. It was recommended with the Yukon bearings from Amazon. In a moment of weakness, I caved. Haven't filled it yet but Im sure it will be fine. Still gotta grease a few tie rods and tighten their adjusters. I was slackin tonight as the kid's first day of summer was today. My youngest is camping in the backyard with her girlfriend from next door and my boy is in bed vomiting. Woo hoo! Summer break! Hopefully I can hit it hard on Saturday.
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Chris '63 k15 long step Vortec 7.4 - L29 Blackbear tune, Five 0 Motorsports injectors, Chris Straub Cam, NV4500, divorced 205 ![]() 52" front and 63" rear spring swap D44 / 14bff - disc axles Milemarker 9K and 10.5K hydraulic winches 63" & B52 Spring Install http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ng+swap+thread NV4500 Reverse Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=reverse+build L29 - 7.4 Vortec Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=L29 |
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