American in Austria 83 Build

[44boggers]

Hey guys,

I figured I would start a build thread. I am an American living full time in Austria. I have owned 2 other 81-87 pickups, a c30 and a k20 (which is now a rock crawler)

Anyway, the truck I have here is a 83 C10 with a 305/700r4 and a cracked frame! That was extra. The truck is not in bad conditioning by any means, just some shautty ass work from the previous owner to fix frame cracks and some body damage. Check out some of the purty welding the last owner accomplished.

The plan for the truck, powder coat the frame, CCP front suspension (2" coils and spindles), the previous owner already put in 6'' shackles in the back (not sure what that gets me for lowered inches). Rebuild the 305 a bit, runs fine, but I am going to put a cam, heads, intake, headers, dual exhaust and probably go with EZ EFI. I am putting a boyd tank in the rear. Basically its a full resto with modifications. Going to run either 18's or 20's, probably the boss 338 wheels. I am also running all Wilwood brakes, front and year with their proportioning valve. Well No need to list any more, you will see as I go. I am pretty excited to get this going. I have a fair amount done so far. The Frame is at powder coating at the moment, so in the mean time its cleaning and painting.

I have wanted to do a restoration like this for many years, just didnt have the time or the place to do it. Who would of thought I would have the right place to do it living in Austria.

Enjoy guys.

[44boggers]

Some pics of the frame fix:

[44boggers]

Few more pics of the axle clean up. Its getting new bearings (going to run the all in one seal/bearing). Got a new diff cover with the load deflector thingers.

[44boggers]

Here are the pics

[44boggers]

Some pics of the 700r4 clean up and paint. Didnt take pics of it before I started cleaning it, but i thought it was already painted black! I found a cleaning product over here that said its to clean motors. I figured i would try that before brake clean. Works very well and doesnt dry instantly like brake clean does. You can see the difference in the first photo of the side I wiped down with the motor clean product and the side that wasn't. I finished it up with brake clean to get the residue off and shot it with primer and gloss black.

[44boggers]

I got my frame back from powder coating and it looks perfect. I am very happy with the result. Today I was able to get all of the front suspension on. But I do have a concern. I was able to get the upper and lower control arm together without using a jack to compress the spring. So right now, I have the spindle all bolted together and I am able to still move the spring around. Is this normal? I figured it would be like stock where I needed to compress the spring in order to put the spindle and control arms together.

All of my front suspension products are direct from CPP, 2" drop springs and spindles with their control arms . Can someone enlighten me on this? Am I missing something, Pics of my set up are below.

The other thing, I put all of the camber shims back in as they came out. On the driver side I have almost twice as many shims and the diver side rear shims are stacked so much I have zero threads showing through the nut. I have also attached pics of this.

Last thing. the pass, side spring has even less tension on it than the driver side, it basically flops around. Why would the pass and driver side have a different amount of spring tension? Both castle nuts are tightened down completely.

Please enlighten me. Thank you!

Paul

[esbstuff]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

Some pics of the frame fix:

Thats the only 2nd steering box crack on a 4x2 I think I have ever seen.... Interesting for sure. BTW the first had a frame that was in a pretzel shape... check for straightness for sure!

[44boggers]

Not to much to update right now. But I have a short video of the motor firing up. The FITECH system seems to work perfect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DPMFuyejUA

Thanks
Paul

[44boggers]

Hey guys, not much going on. I did get my Lee steering box and pump the other week which I finally put on. Of everything I am looking forward most to feeling the difference in the steering is on the top of the list.

I spoke with CPP about the shock alignment issue. There wasn't much help there. They simply said they set ups they have on the show room floor also have the same cocked angle. I really feel that CPP made an error with where they located the lower shock mount. Either way I decided to tighten down the shock and see how it looks. It is still very much on an angle which you will see in the pics. I guess my only concern was somehow bending the shocks shaft in time.
Other issue I am having is with my front Wilwood hub dust caps. No matter what the dust caps will not press on. I have contacted Wilwood but they said these are the only caps they have. I asked them to try to install a set at the factory and let me know if they succeed before sending me another set of caps. It looks like the bevel leading up to the end of the cap is to wide for the hub not allowing it to press on. No matter how hard I hit the cap with a socket it will not press on. I can simply knock it off with my hand. Any suggestions? I have tried shaving the bottom of the cap thinking it was bottoming out but that is not the case. Pics below.

Next thing on the list is to get a few of the engine parts powder coated (pulleys, brackets ect..) Completely finish my exhaust which entails finish welding the mounts that connect the front half of the exhaust to the back half of the exhaust. Grind that all clean so the air flows nice and reinstall it.

I wont get started on the body work until mid april or so. But I am looking forward to it. I am still throwing around the idea of getting the cab acid dipped and then E coated.
Till next time.

Paul

[44boggers]

Don't want to make this thread about any vendor bashing, just sharing my experience. I have actually heard negative things about their customer service in the past, so I was actually prepared for something like this. If it wasnt a $30 part and more in the 100 plus range I probably would have fought it. But not worth my time or energy over 30 bucks.

Wont be any updates for at least a month. I have a baby coming at the end of the month. But my little lady said I should have plenty of time to work on the truck during the day when they are sleeping. Hopefully that is how it goes

[44boggers]

to the top. Any ideas guys?
Thanks
PAul

[44boggers]

Got a few more things checked off the list today. Finished shaving the firewall. Filled just about all the holes except for the throttle linkage, hood pull and heater box. I decided to shave off the outer seams and weld them up. Im going with an aftermarket wiring harness so I will mount the fuse box somewhere inside and run the wires through the fender most likely.

Also welded in an original radio frame (cut it off a blazer) the previous owner must have had an aftermarket radio installed. But I plan on going with an original looking radio but with the new bells and whistles.

So next step is to take care of the windshield frame rust holes. Then I will have part of the cab bead blasted. Probably just do inside the cowl and a few parts under the dash. The rest of it I can strip off myself.

Thats all for now. Hopefully get some epoxy on this soon enough.

Paul

[44boggers]

Hey guys, quick question. Does anyone have a shot of the driverside speaker hole in the dash frame? The PO cut it out. I am guessing it is pretty similar to the passengerside speaker hole, so I can probably just mimic that lay out. Just throwing it out there in case someone has it available. Finally got the window frame finished with new metal. Next step it to start stripping all the old paint, flip the cab on its back and epoxy then undercoat the bottom.
Thanks

Paul

[44boggers]

Got a few more things done over the last couple days. Finished up installing the front Wilwood brakes. I need to order more shims to get the caliber centered on the rotor. I used all four that they provide but i need another 1 or 2 shims and should be good.

I got the new steering linkage installed, other than the steering box and pitman arm. I am thinking about getting a cpp 500 box to replace my stock box. Seems like there are many good reviews on the box. My box is leaking and has some play in it, so it might need a rebuild anyways.

I pulled the leaf springs apart, cleaned and painted them up. Put in new poly bushings. Also installed my boyd fuel cell. I still need to get some grade 8 bolts and some rubber to completely mount the cell.

Here are some pics

[Chevy_mud_truck]

Looks good are parts ready available over there how do you like it over austria

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Chevy_mud_truck

Looks good are parts ready available over there how do you like it over austria

Parts are not available at all over here actually. I can't even get grade 8 standard bolts over here. **** I can't even find red loctite. I either have to order everything or I bring it back when me when I got to the us.

But it's nice living over here for sure. My girlfriend is from Tirol. We live in the mountains, it's a beautiful place actually.

It's funny when people saw my c10 they thought it was the biggest truck they have ever seen. Imagine if the saw my long bed 4 door f350 I have back in the U.S. Haha
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[86swb]

Looks like you are doing a great job. Keep the pictures coming.

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by 86swb

Looks like you are doing a great job. Keep the pictures coming.

Thanks buddy. I am really excited about this build as I always wanted to do a full restoration. But never had the time nor the place to do it.

I am leaving to the us on Tuesday until x mass so nothing will get done. But I will
Be collecting some parts to bring back. Hopefully the steering box, oil pan, trans oil pan, rear main seal, grade 8 bolts and red loctite ha.
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[Chevy_mud_truck]

Sounds like a nice place to live in I've thought about moving but i don't know if I could part with my trucks

[Lokin4AReason]

its a different world there for sure ... i have spent many of year(s) living and working in europe ...

and not many people over there have ever seen or ever ridden in these vehicle(s). its like a luxury vehicle to a point if you ask me in having one of those over there ...

it would be neat to see the surrounding around that you live in ( as in these so called mountains ). could you post US some photo(s) =0)

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Lokin4AReason

its a different world there for sure ... i have spent many of year(s) living and working in europe ...

and not many people over there have ever seen or ever ridden in these vehicle(s). its like a luxury vehicle to a point if you ask me in having one of those over there ...

it would be neat to see the surrounding around that you live in ( as in these so called mountains ). could you post US some photo(s) =0)

When I get gone I will snap some pics. But if you google Austrian alps or the valley in live in "oetztal" you can see a bit of where I live. I am a ski coach so it works perfect for my job. We have a glacier we train on 15 minutes from my house. Soelden glacier.

Where did you live in Europe? I have been living here for a total of 6 years now. With a little break in between.
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[44boggers]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

When I get gone I will snap some pics. But if you google Austrian alps or the valley in live in "oetztal" you can see a bit of where I live. I am a ski coach so it works perfect for my job. We have a glacier we train on 15 minutes from my house. Soelden glacier.

Where did you live in Europe? I have been living here for a total of 6 years now. With a little break in between.
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Here is a pic of our town. I actually live in a small village (about 20 houses) off to the side.
Posted via Mobile Device

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

Here is a pic of our town. I actually live in a small village (about 20 houses) off to the side.
Posted via Mobile Device

Ok this will be the last update until after Xmas. I'm heading back to the us for work until Xmas. Will give me sometime to collect parts to bring back.

Yesterday I switched my upper ball joints so they now sit on top of the control arm. It also helped to bring the two control arms closer together taking a lot of the slack out of the springs at full droop.

Also started cleaning up my 305. Just have the before pictures right now. It's an oily mess. But after a couple hours of motor cleaner and a steel brush I can see bare metal again.

I did some research on the cpp 500 steering box and it seemed to get more bad reviews than good reviews. So I am going to look into other options. Being in Europe I can't afford to not have the box not work properly.

Till next time.

Paul
Posted via Mobile Device

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

Ok this will be the last update until after Xmas. I'm heading back to the us for work until Xmas. Will give me sometime to collect parts to bring back.

Yesterday I switched my upper ball joints so they now sit on top of the control arm. It also helped to bring the two control arms closer together taking a lot of the slack out of the springs at full droop.

Also started cleaning up my 305. Just have the before pictures right now. It's an oily mess. But after a couple hours of motor cleaner and a steel brush I can see bare metal again.

I did some research on the cpp 500 steering box and it seemed to get more bad reviews than good reviews. So I am going to look into other options. Being in Europe I can't afford to not have the box not work properly.

Till next time.

Paul
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[Pro Performance]

Build looks great and will be following!