1970 Chevy K10 - My First

[Don Pratt]

I've wanted this truck for years, but just couldn't find it. I wandered aimlessly, then stumbled upon her by accident yesterday. It's a love story really.

1970 Chevy K10, 350, 650 Holley. I was told it has a 400 turbo automatic transmission but I'm not sure about that, I'm not a mechanic. It has factory air, factory tach, factory tilt steering wheel and power steering! She's everything I ever wanted.

Her name is BigToe.



I found this forum while looking for some parts, and it sure looks to me like I'm in the right place.

[msgross]

I love it... looks like the placed the nose of a 68 on it..

i'm gonna move this over to the 4x4 section for you..

[Gene]

Congratulations, very nice ride you have there sir!

[78K20]

That's a very good looking truck !

I likeee !

Congradulations. Worth the wait.

[Don Pratt]

Originally Posted by msgross

I love it... looks like the placed the nose of a 68 on it..

i'm gonna move this over to the 4x4 section for you..

Does that look like the nose of a 68? I don't know enough about them to know the difference yet.

I ask because the VIN says this is a K20. I was just guessing that someone previously put the 3/4 VIN cab on the 1/2 ton drive train.

[Don Pratt]

My steering wheel is waaaay off center. Is centering this steering wheel something that can be easily done in my garage?

[mjensen]

Welcome to the board! It's a beautiful truck you've got there. And you're right, this board is the right place!

[Chevy1TonFun]

Welcome, beautiful truck. The first question you had was does it have a 400, take a pic and post it and we let you know. Also if you look at the trans pan sometimes they will say hydromatic turbo 400. On to your second question,centering your steering wheel. Well there are a few thing you may want to look at. First can you turn to wheels full lock to both sides? If yes then just center your wheels, then pull your steering wheel off and then install on center. That's it in a nut shell. Enjoy your truck and let us know if you need any help or have questions. You have found in my opinion the best forum on the web.
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[msgross]

Originally Posted by Don Pratt

Does that look like the nose of a 68? I don't know enough about them to know the difference yet.

I ask because the VIN says this is a K20. I was just guessing that someone previously put the 3/4 VIN cab on the 1/2 ton drive train.

68 for sure... If the vin is K20 and it has six lugs then someone might have built the truck from spare parts.. cab, nose, chassis etc... no big deal as long as it's nice and you like it. If you wanted to complete the 68 "Custom" look then you could add side chrome trim. Mar-K trucks has the nicest aftermarket pieces around. I only say that since you have the window and nose trim already...

we like pics so post as many as you like...

[Stocker]

Welcome to the boards, and congrats on a beautiful truck -- love that stance!


Edit: maybe this will help ID your trans


1 Aluminum Powerglide 14 bolts
2 TH200 Metric 11 bolts
3 TH350 13 bolts
4 TH400 13 bolts
5 TH200-4R 16 bolts
6 TH700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E 16 bolts
7 4L80E 17 bolts

[Don Pratt]

Thanks everyone, for the welcome and the help. I definitely found the right place.

[Don Pratt]

Originally Posted by msgross

68 for sure... If the vin is K20 and it has six lugs then someone might have built the truck from spare parts.. cab, nose, chassis etc... no big deal as long as it's nice and you like it. If you wanted to complete the 68 "Custom" look then you could add side chrome trim. Mar-K trucks has the nicest aftermarket pieces around. I only say that since you have the window and nose trim already...

we like pics so post as many as you like...

I think you may be right. The original color of the cab is green. You can see it where the paint is chipping off when you open the doors. The original paint on the tailgate was white.

And I DO like that 68 nose.

Yeah, that's not a big deal to me, I love this truck.

I'll just consider it custom made for me.

[msgross]

I agree, the 68 nose looks nice. You could also add the "4 wheel drive" badge under the front turn signals, like in this pic. The "Custom" badge goes under the door windows..

http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks60_72/t60_012.html


http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks60_72/t60_013.html

[birdistheword]

Good lookin truck. It doesn't matter if it's not all from the same year. Mine is only original from the frame on down.

[Don Pratt]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Welcome to the boards, and congrats on a beautiful truck -- love that stance!


Edit: maybe this will help ID your trans


1 Aluminum Powerglide 14 bolts
2 TH200 Metric 11 bolts
3 TH350 13 bolts
4 TH400 13 bolts
5 TH200-4R 16 bolts
6 TH700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E 16 bolts
7 4L80E 17 bolts

Thank you! That should do it! I'm out of town right now but as soon as I get back to her, I'll check it out.

[Don Pratt]

Another question...

I have a light on the dash that stays on, it says "Tandem Lock".

I understand how a tandem lock works for a semi, but how does that work in these trucks, and what could be wrong that would make the light stay on?

[Don Pratt]

Originally Posted by Stocker

Welcome to the boards, and congrats on a beautiful truck -- love that stance!


Edit: maybe this will help ID your trans


1 Aluminum Powerglide 14 bolts
2 TH200 Metric 11 bolts
3 TH350 13 bolts
4 TH400 13 bolts
5 TH200-4R 16 bolts
6 TH700-R4, 4L60, 4L60E 16 bolts
7 4L80E 17 bolts

Turns out it's a TH350. Thanks for your help!

[rjsdad]

Love the look of it! Congrats.

[BLAZERMAN]

Originally Posted by Don Pratt

Another question...

I have a light on the dash that stays on, it says "Tandem Lock".

I understand how a tandem lock works for a semi, but how does that work in these trucks, and what could be wrong that would make the light stay on?

Thats pretty common to find in these old trucks, a lot of instrument clusters were robbed out of the old C/40 - C/60 series trucks for there tachs and directly installed into our series. You can probably just reach back behind the cluster and pull the bulb and be ok. BTW/ That sure is a Beautiful truck you have! I have a 68 4x4 in probably the same color green yours use to be.

[Don Pratt]

Thanks, I appreciate your help.

Got photos of your 68 on the forum? I'd love to check it out.

Let me ask you one more question...

How much lift would you say is on my truck? And for reference, those are 35's on it.

I'd like to go with less lift and smaller tires. That probably sounds crazy to some here, but I'd like to get her looking more like she did stock, with just a little lift.

How small can I go? Do they make 2 inch lift kits?

[Don Pratt]

Nevermind that, I did some searching on my own and found 2.5 in. kits.

I think I'll go with that. I still want a good size tire with that lift though. How big would you think I could go with just a 2.5 in. lift?

[onebadbowtie]

i think a 33 would look great with that lift. and is what i plan to do to mine

[BLAZERMAN]

It looks like you have a 4" lift with those 35s. I have a Skyjacker 2.5 lift on mine with narrow 33s on the stock steel wheels but am thinking of going with a 4" lift and 35s

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Hey welcome to the best boards around from MT! Awesome looking truck looks super clean and great with the lift and tires. Have fun with the new project and enjoy cruising around in it.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by Don Pratt

Nevermind that, I did some searching on my own and found 2.5 in. kits.

I think I'll go with that. I still want a good size tire with that lift though. How big would you think I could go with just a 2.5 in. lift?

I have 2.5" Softrides up front, but never did add the blocks in back -- just stock springs + AAL & Hellwig overloads. You can easily run 33" tires with 2.5" springs. I have 33/12.50-16.5s on 9.75" wheels on my K20.