1987 Chevrolet K10 to K20 and repairs

[olive drab]

I bought this truck the summer before I was a senior in high school in 2005 from a man named Cecil for $3600. It had 68,000 original miles on the 350 TBI, 700r4, 208 transfer case, 3.73 gears. Before I even had the truck I already knew what I wanted it to look like and wasnt going to let anybody change my mind. Over a couple years I painted it, put a 4 inch rough country lift on it, bought 5 new 35x12.50 bfg all terrains, changed all fluids/ belts and such.

After high school I drove it 420 miles to Nashville Tennessee where I went to Nashville Auto Diesel College. After I became more comfortable with my mechanical abilities, I put a B&M shift kit in it, MSD 6A box, Jet Performance chip in the ECM(which didnt do anything by the way), new wheels, and other miscellaneous items that go along with driving and older truck as a daily driver.

After finishing college I returned home to VA and bought a 1972 GMC 2WD Long Bed. The 87 kinda went on the back burner I as was infatuated with my new project. I turned the 72 2WD to 4WD in the matter of 10 months in my brothers backyard. I later made the mistake of getting married and everything went on the backburner for several years. Long story short I got out of the slump I was in for years and getting back to fixing up my 87 chevy from highschool again.

I call my 87 the "green truck". The main reason I started on this project again is because of a rotten spot on the frame. It was my first truck. The first thing I took out a loan on(from dad). It has been there for me through it all and I have millions of memories with it. My ex wife once told me that my truck was junk and I needed to get rid of it... My response was this and it has held true "These trucks were here before you and will be here after you long after your gone". Anyways I got alot of pictures to load to get yall up to date. Be paitient with me as Im still getting the hang of using this site instead of just viewing everyone elses builds

[olive drab]

Heres how it looked after returning from College

[olive drab]

Pulled the bed and stuff

[olive drab]

Bought some 37x13.5r17 Cooper Discoverer STT

[olive drab]

next to the truck

[olive drab]

These things were taking up too much space in the garage so I put them down in the house. They complimented my back bedroom with a nice aroma of new rubber

[olive drab]

Found cracks in a few of the leafs in the rear springs on both sides. Also pictured below is the rotted out frame.

[olive drab]

Ordered a new 4 inch lift from Rough Country, new drop down steering arm, and the steering box frame support

[olive drab]

Using axles from a 1991 3/4 ton suburban with 4:10s

[olive drab]

Cleaned out the old GL5 and put some fresh in it. Stripped the brakes, wire brushed it down to bare metal and rattle canned it. I took the drums to work so I could sandblast them and painted them with high temp paint.

[olive drab]

Got the old axle out of the way and started stripping the frame down to bare metal

[olive drab]

Progress

[olive drab]

Cut out a section of the suburban chassis and replaced the rotted out section on the frame

[olive drab]

another angle of the rott

[Yukon Jack]

Looks like a great project! Those Coopers appear to have a real nice tread pattern.

[olive drab]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Looks like a great project! Those Coopers appear to have a real nice tread pattern.

Thanks Yukon Jack! Love your truck by the way

[olive drab]

Got the back end rust free now and crossmembers bolted back into place

[olive drab]

progress

[olive drab]

Bolting up the rear axle. Turns out I ordered the wrong u-bolts. When I ordered the lift from Rough Country, I selected 1/2 ton instead of 3/4 ton. Which means my u-bolts were not big enough for the rear axle as its diameter is slightly bigger. I still managed to beat and squeeze them around the axle enough to slip them into place. Hopefully they wont give me any trouble or I reckon Ill just have to order the correct ones.

[olive drab]

Finally got it bolted up and the truck sitting on its own weight. Funny story, I went to advance auto and told the guy behind the counter that I need 32 lugnuts for this make and model. He then asked "front or rear?" Where do these people come from!? Long story short I just ordered some nice new shiny ones from summit racing

[olive drab]

Heres a couple of the wheels I ordered from summit racing. They are 17"x9" soft eights by Crager. I was kinda worried how a 13.50" wide tire would do on a 9" wide wheel but word on the internet says it would be alright for whatever thats worth

[stevenbear72]

Very nice build. Diggin' the black Cragar wheels. What is the purpose of the new drop down steering arm, and the steering box frame support?

[olive drab]

Originally Posted by stevenbear72

Very nice build. Diggin' the black Cragar wheels. What is the purpose of the new drop down steering arm, and the steering box frame support?

Thanks man! Those wheels were only 90 bucks each. The drop/raised steering arm keeps the steering linkage where its suppose to be. Its not a MUST have with just a 4" lift but it does keep the drag link from wearing out all the time from the angle put on it once the truck is lifted.

These frames are notorious for cracking at the mounting bolt holes at the steering pump after you run bigger tires. There is a couple good youtube videos showing how much the frame twists back and forth when turning the steering wheel left to right. My frame had a crack or two in it and will upload some more pics later. Those frame supports really stiffen up the steering too

[junksaver]

Looks good. Keep on posting.

[swamp rat]

Nice progress!