Help please... Have you ever seen this? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevylu630 · 08-28-2018, 10:50 PM

Recently just bought a 1983 "C10"...
I put quotation marks due to the fact when I checked the vin, it came up as a 1983 K10.
As you can see in the top picture the crazy amount of shims...
The seller says he wasn't aware of it and never realized that it was converted into a 2wd...
I was wondering if anyone has ever converted a K10 into a C10?
If so, what's the route you went?
The truck rides/handles great and I had it up to 75mph on the highway.
But, that was before I saw this mess. Now I'm worried this is completely F'ed...
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

Mattchu60 · 08-28-2018, 10:59 PM

I don't think the shims mean anything - the K10 has a totally different front end setup - they have leaf springs up front - no control arms at all up front.

Its more likely that the cab got swapped I would guess.

chevylu630 · 08-28-2018, 11:03 PM

I agree and I thought the same.
But, the frame has the same vin as the cab.

Dead Parrot · 08-28-2018, 11:35 PM

Check the glovebox for the SPID. Should tell you how it left the factory.

Possible it was in an accident that roached the front axle and a PO just switched to 2WD. Could also explain the large number of shims.

83GMCK2500 · 08-30-2018, 04:09 PM

Look about 12" back from where the shock attaches to the frame, is the leaf spring hanger still present? It's riveted on, 4 holes, with a larger hole through the frame.

You can get an idea of what it looks like here: https://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/FUSH.htm
and here: https://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/hdshackles.htm

bdiamond · 08-31-2018, 12:41 AM

Thats not just a ton of shims. Especially since its been lowered....

homemade87 · 08-31-2018, 06:50 AM

Also cross members do bend over time with the engine weight sitting on top of it . Who knows what the truck has been thru . If you cant get the alignment to come into spec it would be time to take it to the frame shop and have the frame pulled back out . If in spec as is I would not worry about it as is .

3drburb · 08-31-2018, 08:59 AM

You should not be worried about the shims that's pretty common for the alignment on lowered trucks as stated above.
Btw that is a very nice clean truck you have.
Congrats on your purchase.

sweetk30 · 08-31-2018, 09:31 AM

frame has the bulged brake hose sections for 2wd .

possible cab swap or shhhh vin swap . . . .

lowered depending how can = lots of shims .

whats the 1st half of your vin ? so maybe we can help figure it out .

also if it was 4wd they would have had to swap out the front hangers for the rear springs . as 4wd = 3" taller / lower hanging off the frame over 2wd that are close to flush .

08-28-2018, 10:50 PM	#1
chevylu630 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 21	Help please... Have you ever seen this? Recently just bought a 1983 "C10"... I put quotation marks due to the fact when I checked the vin, it came up as a 1983 K10. As you can see in the top picture the crazy amount of shims... The seller says he wasn't aware of it and never realized that it was converted into a 2wd... I was wondering if anyone has ever converted a K10 into a C10? If so, what's the route you went? The truck rides/handles great and I had it up to 75mph on the highway. But, that was before I saw this mess. Now I'm worried this is completely F'ed... Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Attached Images

08-28-2018, 10:59 PM	#2
Mattchu60 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Swaledale, IA Posts: 485	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? I don't think the shims mean anything - the K10 has a totally different front end setup - they have leaf springs up front - no control arms at all up front. Its more likely that the cab got swapped I would guess.

08-28-2018, 11:03 PM	#3
chevylu630 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida Posts: 21	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? I agree and I thought the same. But, the frame has the same vin as the cab.

08-28-2018, 11:35 PM	#4
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,611	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? Check the glovebox for the SPID. Should tell you how it left the factory. Possible it was in an accident that roached the front axle and a PO just switched to 2WD. Could also explain the large number of shims.

08-30-2018, 04:09 PM	#5
83GMCK2500 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State Posts: 1,515	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? Look about 12" back from where the shock attaches to the frame, is the leaf spring hanger still present? It's riveted on, 4 holes, with a larger hole through the frame. You can get an idea of what it looks like here: https://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/FUSH.htm and here: https://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/hdshackles.htm __________________ Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96

08-31-2018, 12:41 AM	#6
bdiamond Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 459	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? Thats not just a ton of shims. Especially since its been lowered....

08-31-2018, 06:50 AM	#7
homemade87 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Guntersville Alabama Posts: 1,073	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? Also cross members do bend over time with the engine weight sitting on top of it . Who knows what the truck has been thru . If you cant get the alignment to come into spec it would be time to take it to the frame shop and have the frame pulled back out . If in spec as is I would not worry about it as is .

08-31-2018, 08:59 AM	#8
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 856	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? You should not be worried about the shims that's pretty common for the alignment on lowered trucks as stated above. Btw that is a very nice clean truck you have. Congrats on your purchase.

08-31-2018, 09:31 AM	#9
sweetk30 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: horseheads,ny rust belt Posts: 2,794	Re: Help please... Have you ever seen this? frame has the bulged brake hose sections for 2wd . possible cab swap or shhhh vin swap . . . . lowered depending how can = lots of shims . whats the 1st half of your vin ? so maybe we can help figure it out . also if it was 4wd they would have had to swap out the front hangers for the rear springs . as 4wd = 3" taller / lower hanging off the frame over 2wd that are close to flush . __________________ 77-k30lb BIG truck build . 87-k30lb budget beater build . 85-k30lb the plow machine build . 85-c10sb summer fun toy . ----------------------------- HOLLEY SNIPER efi = worst case of p.i.t.a i ever had . EDELBROCK pro flo 4 = best deal going so far . love my setup works great.



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