Restomod 72 K10 "Good Memories"

[Richard]

Heard the old saying "you know you are getting old when your back goes out more than you do?" My lower back was toast for a while. Back not really a problem in the past. Got out of bed one day and could barely move. All good now.
Worked at body shop at end of week and was able to get to the Dapper headlights that arrived fitted. They are the V2's with the larger 64mm projector. Got the classic style lenses and inner halo on them, also got HID bulbs and ballasts. Maybe not appeal to some but will be great for nighttime driving. Stock headlights are like holding a match in front of a pie tin. The sealed beam upgrades are not much better IMO.
Purchased a pair of reproduction buckets to modify in case it did not work out. New lights now fit fine in the buckets and stock radiator support. Cut off back off buckets and reshaped to allow headlight to fit.
Included some pics to show what I did. Took some time for the cutting and stretching of metal on the buckets.

[57taskforce]

Looking awesome Richard! This truck is gonna be real cool when it’s done! Nice fab work.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Looking awesome Richard! This truck is gonna be real cool when it’s done! Nice fab work.

Thank you! Truly enjoying the build and hope others are as well.

[Richard]

Finally a free day to get some work done on the truck. Over engine brace is tacked in and disconnects installed. Added more bracing to the shock hoops. Hope to finish up right side tomorrow then take it all off the truck. Plan is drop off at American OffRoad Thursday so Brian can finish weld all the pieces for me.

[Richard]

Hoops and brace are at American Off Road for finish weld. Made the double shear bracket for panhard mount at axle today. Will add more strength to the entire assembly on the right side. Was able to get left front bump off of truck and work on it as well. Will get the bump back in place and finish right side bump tomorrow.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by Richard

Hoops and brace are at American Off Road for finish weld. Made the double shear bracket for panhard mount at axle today. Will add more strength to the entire assembly on the right side. Was able to get left front bump off of truck and work on it as well. Will get the bump back in place and finish right side bump tomorrow.

WOW,that's impressive work there.very nice Richard.all the best.Greg

[Richard]

With work, the heat and plain old procrastination I am still moving forward on the truck. Front suspension was taken off. Shock hoops fully welded, painted and tweaked for reinstall. Never planned to just bolt through stock frame. Reinforcements made with 1", 1/4" wall tube and tied to upper and lower frame rails. I removed the shackle hangers and patched the hole as well. Easier to route brake, fuel lines and electrical with it gone.

The procrastination part was on the front frame reinforcing or boxing plates. Very few making them, expensive ($750), waiting time and only seemed for 2wd. Felt I needed to do something as the frame was not designed to support the truck as I have it now. Have the left side ready for welding in. Wanted something for easy access and still provided support. You can see what I came up with. About $30 of metal I had picked up. It is 1/4" so should be strong.

Four link brackets are fully welded on the axle. Threw a coat of paint on it to keep the surface rust from coming back. Still need to add sway bar mounts and steering ram mount. All my links and bars are welded and painted except the draglink. Have been waiting for some HD high angle tie rod ends for it, they finally showed up. Need to get everything back on the truck so I can see if they will work. Shooting to get the truck supporting it's own weight first of the week.

[Steeveedee]

Wowzers! I just read through this thread. Absolutely amazing. I've done work on cars in the past ('40 Chevy business coupe with a straight axle, 350 engine, 400 trans, 3.90 posi, for example), but nothing as extensive as what you are doing here. No pictures, though, and I sold it to pay for my wife's engagement ring. We just did what we did back then, when the internet didn't exist. Should have kept and stored some of the stuff I had. I could be rich! Not really, I would have just built different hot rods with the money.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Wowzers! I just read through this thread. Absolutely amazing. I've done work on cars in the past ('40 Chevy business coupe with a straight axle, 350 engine, 400 trans, 3.90 posi, for example), but nothing as extensive as what you are doing here. No pictures, though, and I sold it to pay for my wife's engagement ring. We just did what we did back then, when the internet didn't exist. Should have kept and stored some of the stuff I had. I could be rich! Not really, I would have just built different hot rods with the money.

Thanks for checking out my build Steven. Was nice to meet you and your wife. Hope the effort I put into the A/C repair for you was beneficial and lasts. You are the first board member I have had physical contact with. Truly enjoy using the gifts I have to help others. Never done anything like this myself as well. I have been able to work through the challenges presented on this build only due to my God given talents, what I have learned and patience. If you ever want to come by and see the truck, or just hang out give me a ring. You have my info.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Richard

Thanks for checking out my build Steven. Was nice to meet you and your wife. Hope the effort I put into the A/C repair for you was beneficial and lasts. You are the first board member I have had physical contact with. Truly enjoy using the gifts I have to help others. Never done anything like this myself as well. I have been able to work through the challenges presented on this build only due to my God given talents, what I have learned and patience. If you ever want to come by and see the truck, or just hang out give me a ring. You have my info.

Sure! Maybe I can come over and help out a little? It'll have to wait for cooler weather. I can't take the heat, anymore.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Sure! Maybe I can come over and help out a little? It'll have to wait for cooler weather. I can't take the heat, anymore.

Would love that! Heat has been unbearable. Hit 116 here. Way too hot for this guy to work in. Still managed to get some work done in the 105 temps, had a frustrating problem removing shock hoops to paint frame. Good day today, should have some progress pics first of the week.

[Richard]

Has cooled off a lot working on truck mor inbetween the body shop work. Ran into a problem removing shock hoops for the finish work. Three of the four grade 8 bolts going through the sleeves I welded in seized up about halfway out. Guess it was the heat. One snapped with the 1200 ft lb impact, pounded rest out. Heads broke off other two. Drilled out one and just removed the support and remade on the last. Anyway, all good now!
Mustered up the courage to weld up trackbar and bump mounts to frame the other day. Shocks are installed today. Axle is on ground in pic, Need to raise frame to get full droop. Everything a mess as usual, axle actually drops two inches lower and bump will raise one inch when nut is tightened at top. Should have almost full use of the shock travel available.
Truck will be sitting on temp wheels and tires tomorrow!

[Richard]

What a great day it was! Truck is supporting it's own weight on the temp wheels and tires. Ride height is right where I figured, probably have to dial in some more preload to keep it there after all the front sheet metal is back on. Only about a 1/2"right now. A bit of adjusting is needed on 4 link bars as well.
Will get on swaybar and steering ram mounts next. Truck sits high in front now, once the new rear springs are in it will level out or be a bit high in back allowing for the rear leaf packs to settle.

[CG]

Dang ... This is a serious truck! Love it!

[Richard]

Originally Posted by CG

Dang ... This is a serious truck! Love it!

Thanks for the comment CG. More than pleased with how the truck is turning out. Going through my scraps of metal it looks like I have everything here to proceed with swaybar install and steering ram install. Will start on Monday. Probably have to work a bit next week and need some parts bent up so it may not get done by end of week.
Would like to use disconnect pins on the swaybar. $40 worth of pins are almost $20 to ship. Bolts for now and disconnects can wait.

[Richard]

Was supposed to move some stuff into the shed to get it out of my way today. I instead worked on the swaybar. Got the frame side all done except for paint. The second pic is the parts that came in the "kit". The plates in the center I made to bolt bar to the frame. Will cycle steering in morning to check clearance and then take the arms to American Off Road to have the offset bent.

[Richard]

Brian bent the sway bar arms while I was there today. He was not sure his bender could handle the 3/4" thick material. It was no problem. Will get back on the install on Wednesday. Spent some time figuring things out after i got back. The offset was desired to keep mounting points at far ends of axle. Also necessary to clear the ports on steering box, closer than it looks in pic.

[Richard]

Sway bar is done and ram assist is mounted. Really happy with how it worked out. Good to be moving forward again. In the second pic ram bracket looks shiny because I took apart and painted it. Will reassemble tomorrow. May have to make new end links for sway bar. It is tricky because the axle has so much travel. Think I am mostly finished with all the major fab work.

Where to go next? Thinking I may assemble my dad's t-case and get it mounted up. One of the pieces I am using from the wreckage. Had the case bored out years ago for the larger female input bearing. I have a full rebuild kit in hand.

[Richard]

Have been busy with work and spending time with family. When I went to put t-case back together I found the 32 spline front output shaft was never ordered and had to wait for it. It is a no brainer upgrade from the stock GM 10 spline shaft that almost every GM NP205 has. The shaft is stock for Ford and Dodge and is a direct swap. A pin for the thrust washer does not fit in new shaft as the original was to large. Made a new pin from an old drill bit to get it together. T-case is now assembled, now is 32 spline input and both outputs. Front output has a flange for the high angle 1410 CV and rear has a 1410 ubolt yoke. Maybe make time to get it in place this week.

[72 tigger]

Good upgrade- tcase looks great

[Richard]

Managed to get some time to work on truck. T-case is installed, had to modify the trans mount adapter a bit because t-case was sitting to low. I also made a bracket for the t-case shifter, it grabs one of the adapter bolts and two threaded stand offs on side of trans. Because of larger girth of the 6L90 handle was pushed 2" to the right. Some heat and massaging placed the shifter right where it needs to be in the original hole. Going to mess with the heim linkage a bit to get linkage straighter. Works fine but think I can make it better.

[Richard]

Installed the made to spec Deaver springs today. Put the rear of the truck right where I wanted it. Just under 15" travel full droop to full bump. Using pretty much all of the shock now. A few pics attached. Was late and I did not get any full pics of the truck. First pic is mock up springs vs new.

[Richard]

Rear Driveline is pretty steep at full droop. 29 degree angle. There is a solution and parts that will handle this even with the power and torque in my truck. A few more measurements to make tomorrow and I will call Jesse back at High angle driveline to get started on the driveshafts.

[Richard]

Not a lot done since last post. Still waiting on driveshafts which are overdue. Not a surprise. Added wires and pins into the PSI harness for the GM A/C pressure sensor so my PWM fan will work correctly with A/C and also added an additional plug on the MAP for the Vaporworx pwm fuel pump controller. A pic of the modified harness seemed useless to me.

I did get the trans linkage all done. Used parts from Lokar. The 6L80-90 kit was on backorder. The kit with the longest rod for a 4L80 worked fine with some heating and bending of the rod. Trans shifts great. Still working out how to label lens correctly for 6L90 PRNDM. Nothing aftermarket available. First two pics show linkage.

A member PM'd about the power window switches I installed. Used double back tape to locate and determine mounting points. I used longer screws and washers for mounting to keep the handle in the correct position on door panel. As mentioned in an earlier post the longer shaft on the switch needed to be changed out as the handles were to far out from the door panels.

[Richard]

Additional pic of switch