77 k10 short box winter beater build

[cochino12]

Looks great!

[MTCK]

Looks amazing! Bring on the salt.

[Matt Man]

Looking forward to the bedliner, I want to do this to my truck as well. Which one are you going to use?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Matt Man

Looking forward to the bedliner, I want to do this to my truck as well. Which one are you going to use?

I am going to use Sem Rock-it liner. It is a spray in bed liner kit that seems to have good reviews. I have had good luck with all of the other Sem products I have used, so I will hope for the best.

[Jaysonb]

Well, I don't think I could be any happier with the way the bed liner turned out. It's still curing, so there is still some glossy spots.

[Jaysonb]

Got the wheel wells undercoated, got the yellow stripe painted in the wheel well moldings, and got them installed, and cleaned up and installed the center caps. Should be able to take it for a spin this weekend!

[Jaysonb]

Drove the truck to work this afternoon. 75 miles. It idles smooth, but under power it seems to run a little rough. Speedometer doesn't work, fuel gauge isn't reading accurate, and there is a bunch of wind noise from the passenger door. This little list of stuff will give me something to tinker with for awhile.

[Jaysonb]

I advanced the timing a little and now it runs pretty good. On the 150 mile round trip I only got 11.5 mpg. Advancing the timing made a big difference in throttle response, and it didn't feel sluggish like it did before, I hope it helps the mpg.

[3drburb]

Your truck looks great. Nice work.
I hope you get it tuned a little better. I had a 78 with a 250 in it years ago and I would get no better than 11 mpg.

[Greenlee]

I love how this thing turned out! Can't believe how quickly you got it done either. It took me about 5 years to do mine and I think you did more work. You have a better shop though.

[jott_06]

make sure to spray some cavity wax or oil in those bedsides, cab corners, and rockers before you do to much winter driving. This truck turned out too nice to let it rust out again.

[green72s]

You did an amazing job on this truck! You knew what you wanted, stuck to the plan, and forged ahead.

I was surprised by your mileage and the mileage reported by 3drburb. I have 79 with a stock 305/2 brl, and get about 12.3 mpg. I would have thought the six would have done better, but mine is a 2wd.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by green72s

You did an amazing job on this truck! You knew what you wanted, stuck to the plan, and forged ahead.

I was surprised by your mileage and the mileage reported by 3drburb. I have 79 with a stock 305/2 brl, and get about 12.3 mpg. I would have thought the six would have done better, but mine is a 2wd.

I was pretty surprised by the milage too. I had this motor in a 80 stepside, and got around 15. I think the timing adjustment will make a difference though. It's a full time transfer case, so I guess I probably won't get great milage no matter what I do, but I was hoping for 13 or 14.

[Jaysonb]

Finally got the cover for the fuel neck built. It's not as nice as I hoped, but it will keep the slop out of the box. I got the speedometer, and fuel gauge working as they should be. The change in timing made a big difference for milage, on the next 150 mile round trip I got 14.2 mpg, and that was with sloppy roads, and a high wind advisory for half of it. I can live with that. I put a old school cobra am/fm 8 track radio in it. I'm not sure if I will be able to help but installing a new head unit, it definitely has that "old school" sound that you can only get with just a tone knob.

[green72s]

Congratulations, that's respectable mileage... and with full time 4wd!

[AnotherWs6]

Originally Posted by green72s

Congratulations, that's respectable mileage... and with full time 4wd!

Full time awd? Hows that? Sorry if it's a noobie question.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by AnotherWs6

Full time awd? Hows that? Sorry if it's a noobie question.

It has a np203 transfer case. There is basically a differential in the transfer case, there are slugs in the front axle where lockout hubs would go, so in "2 wheel drive" it will send power to the front, or rear axle depending on what wheel needs traction. That is called "4 high", then regular 4 wheel drive is "4 lock". With the front end always spinning, and the huge np203, they aren't known for excellent fuel economy.

[AnotherWs6]

Originally Posted by Jaysonb

It has a np203 transfer case. There is basically a differential in the transfer case, there are slugs in the front axle where lockout hubs would go, so in "2 wheel drive" it will send power to the front, or rear axle depending on what wheel needs traction. That is called "4 high", then regular 4 wheel drive is "4 lock". With the front end always spinning, and the huge np203, they aren't known for excellent fuel economy.

No kidding, that sounds pretty sophisticated for back then, how do they work in the real world?

So there is no way to keep it in 2wheel drive?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by AnotherWs6

No kidding, that sounds pretty sophisticated for back then, how do they work in the real world?

So there is no way to keep it in 2wheel drive?

I think they work fine. They are chain drive, and heavy. It was popular to put a kit in them to make them have regular 2 wheel drive. The problem with the kit was that every couple hundred miles you have to engage 4wd for a few miles to keep the case properly lubricated. The only ones I have had fail on me, are ones I have got that had the kit installed. If left alone, and used under regular conditions , I think they work good. I think generally the have a bad reputation.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by green72s

Congratulations, that's respectable mileage... and with full time 4wd!

Thanks, when it warms up outside, I don't think that 15 mpg will be out of the question.

[Half Assed]

Looking good, it's almost too nice now to call it a beater. The bed liner looks like it sprayed pretty well.

[Dads79GMC]

Everything looks awesome! Job well done! Mike

[MTCK]

Have you been giving the truck a winter beating?

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Have you been giving the truck a winter beating?

I drove it a few times, then I found a guy that wanted it more than I did. Now I'm back at square one. I guess I get bored with somthing pretty quick once the work is over. I found a decent 87 v10 that needs a make over, so that will be my beater for the rest of this winter.

[hawgfanman]

I love this truck! I think the colors and stance are perfect!