My Late, Very Slow 84' C10 Build.

[83swb]

I've been lurking around for a LONG time, couldn't begin to explain how much I've learned on this forum about these trucks.

I'm 17, what I know is mainly self taught/trial and error. I work as an AG "Tech" at a New Holland/Kuhn/Kubota dealer and spend most of my time around hay and corn harvesting equipment.

This truck is one of a few toys I have and it's been pushed to the side while I work on the others (67' F350, daily driver F150, dirtbike, tractors...), I just recently started back up on it and goal is to have it road worthy and presentable by late March 2015. Work part time for the most part so funds are a little low right now, but my spare change is dedicated to this build now.

The truck started life as an 84' SWB C10 Custom Deluxe, 6 banger Auto, I bought the truck cheap as a running/driving bucket of rusty bolts with a pre-vortec centerbolt headed 350 and heavily built (possibly TCI crate) TH350 installed in it. A few years ago I stripped it down to bare frame and it sat around until late June 2014. I bought a rust free 84' nose, 87' Silverado cab, and 86' Fleetside bed as the body wasn't solid enough to justify repairing. The motor that is in it now is an old 377 out of a Super Modified (destroked 400) that has been rebuilt with streetable compression, a milder cam, and a laundry list of other components.

My goal for the truck is to build it respectably clean, keep it simple, and maintain all the practical aspects of a truck. It WILL be used as a truck, it WILL go through multiple pairs of rear tires every few months, and it WILL be driven, hard.

ADHD is kicking in so, pictures:





















And an interesting idea the PO had:

[83swb]

I bought some mufflers for the truck a few days ago, a pair of stainless 4"x14" Jones round case mufflers (identical to a magnaflow #10416), and welded some 2.5" pipe to the pair of reducers that Hedman included with the headers. It sounds incredible, but with the truck toned down from open headers I could hear that the power steering pump was whining and making more than a few noises it shouldn't. With the truck running there were also a few tight spots before reaching full lock, hoping that it's related to pump pressure and not blockage in the steering box.

I ordered a new pump to fit an 84' C10, but I'm unsure if the pump and the mounting brackets are original to this generation truck. I would really appreciate it if someone could shed some light on it. Here's the pump fully dressed:





The stud and mounting bracket (Sorry for the poor quality picture, new camera):

[83swb]

I also had an issue with the new rear drums I bought for the truck, turns out that they no longer put a cutout in drums for shoe adjustment, Why? who knows. Nobody offers drums for theses trucks WITH an access hole.

I did find a solution to the issue. I drilled a 19/32" hole in the backing plate behind the shoe adjustment linkage, it's plenty enough to get a decent size screwdriver through.

This camera really shows the flaws in my finish and paintwork, now I have to get under there and clean it up.

[Willowrun]

Nice work. It's great to see a 17 year old interested in mechanical things. Look forward to more updates.

[Tom]

Ahhh, nothing better then a good DE-stroking of an engine. I'm jealous. Truck looks like its moving along nicely.

[83swb]

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it. Trying my best to keep momentum on it, working on it in an operating shop so my time to work in it is limited.

[aotte1]

I will try to post photos and check my 86' PS pump, to compare to yours. Mine is origional to my truck. You may be able to see a little on engine photos on 86'.
More later,
Les

[aotte1]

A couple of PS photos before R/R on 1986' C10, 2 wheel drive, and non-air.
The 86, may not be correct for you? The 86 is the same as 87, but not sure for 84?
At least you can see where it mounts to engine, that may be the same. See if your belt lines up with pulley.
Les

[aotte1]

Another

[aotte1]

A few more

[aotte1]

Last origional PS photo

[LSX408]

Nice work!

[83swb]

Originally Posted by LSX408

Nice work!

Thank you.

[83swb]

Originally Posted by aotte1

Last origional PS photo

Thanks for the pictures. I found that my pump and brackets are off a 78' truck, previous owner must have stole it off another truck when swapping out the 6.

[aotte1]

A few more photos, of PS unit cleaned up.

[83swb]

Originally Posted by aotte1

A few more photos, of PS unit cleaned up.

That bracket from the head to to pump is what I really need. The one I'm using uses one of the header bolts, and I really don't like it.