63 K10 project---picture heavy

[trapperjack]

I'll post pics first, and ask questions later. Texas rig, minimal rust, mainly door corners. Was a ranch/hunting truck. I'm told they blew the third member in the front pumpkin towing it from Houston to Waco using the towbar. Disonnected the driveshafts, but left the hubs locked in. Pretty solid body though. Brushed on house paint camo.

[trapperjack]

I'm told it's a 235, how to tell for sure? I'm guessing it's a 420 4 spd? Reverse is left and down. Divorced t-case, what should it be?
Big question, what other year front axles will go in without much fuss?
Thanks for any quick easy answers. I'm searching the faq's for other things like year model changes (doors/dash/etc).

[skoffice]

Cool truck! Not a bad looking huntin rig. I'd swap a D44 open knuckle/disc brake axle under the front from any '71 and up chevy/gmc. Don't forget to put a new proportioning valve in to acommodate the disc brakes. I'm pretty sure you are correct about it being 235/sm420 and I think a rockwell t-case. Looks to me like someone put in a rear end from a 2wd truck judging by the panhard bar stud in the 2nd to last pic. Check to make sure what gears are in it, and that they match whatever you get for a front end. Maybe the PO didn't check the gears when they put that rear end in and that contributed to the front end giving up? They must be the same or you will tear up the t-case, or the next weakest link.

[trapperjack]

I saw that, wasn't sure if maybe it had had a sway bar at one time, or had been swapped in from a 2wd.

[66Gilbert]

I have owned several of these trucks that had a rear end swapped in from a 60's 2wd truck and had the mount for the stablizer bar as yours has. The transmission is a SM420 and the transfer case is a Rockwell T221. I dont know about the engine all mine have had 283 V-8's. Have you been over to the 4x4 forum and checked out the thread "Lets see how many 60-66 4x4's are out there". If not you need to check it out.

[trapperjack]

I'll go check it out, thanks. Just trying to figger out what I got. Lots of reading here. Gotta love it.

[padresag]

are you sure that it is a 63 as 63 did have the 230 and a 292 eng. it may be an early 63 as I think that some of them did get a 235
ron

[Bugeyev8]

looks like a 62 to me by the location of the emblem and the grill, in any case it looks like a great truck !!

[sasquatch5308]

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[sasquatch5308]

It's a 62 like mine. That's a one year only grille and headlight bezels. Also the location of the side badges and hydraulic clutch. Is the motor mount in the front with a plate that goes behind the timing cover?
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[sasquatch5308]

Also you have clear turn signal lenses.63 had amber ones. So unless they swapped out the front end.... its a nice lookin truck though, mines in pieces.
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[trapperjack]

Yep, mounts up front under the harmonic balancer.
So just what is the oil capacity on this 235? Wanted to do an oil change, first couldn't find the filter (figgered that one out), but can't find a capacities chart anywhere. Going for oil/plugs/beer tomorrow.
Also, what to look for on wipers? Needs a fuel pump, they're asking if it's vac or elect....the fuel pump in it now doesn't have any vac outlets, but there are vac looking hoses going under the cowl.
Thanks, all.

[A.T. RockDriller]

I agree on the D44 open knuckle...
I took the frt. & rears out of a '79 K5 diesel and went with swapping both..

On the rear-end, I had to modify the spring pads a bit, as the '63 has a two inch narrower spring configuration......and I did have to swap & move the shock mounts on rear diff.'s.
However, the fronts were a straight swap. Easy deal.....no difference. I might add, though, that I took the opportunity to install a Saginaw P-steering box so I don't have a clue what you might run into on the pitman arm to drag-link connection.
Along with the aforementioned swaps, I also put a Hydro-boost on her, and I sure have to say that this rig never drove or stopped better. It sure does drive like a dream.
Just ask if you have any questions.
I added some pic's of the bracket engineering during installation.....(I have the GMC V-6 and couldn't find any pump brackets)....I don't have any shots of the diff. swaps handy, but I'll sure get some if you think it would benefit you any.

Let us know how it goes.

[A.T. RockDriller]

I added some pic's of the before & after stance....The first ones were stock spring-packs, the second shows the way it sits now.
I added two springs on each side in the rear to address the rear end sag.