1971 C/10 to K/20 Conversion

[john@thepier]

If you put a locker up front, say something like an Eaton E-locker you would not be snapping more axle shafts like you originally thought, actually by having a locker you would be distributing the load to both sides, hence less load on any one side. You would have less tenancy to be stuck causing you to have to beat on the truck to get unstuck. There is a company that make constant velocity joint axle shafts for the Dana 44 that are really strong. I bought a set but have yet to install them. They are called RCV Performance CV axles. Check them out. John

[newstedcomeback]

Well last weekend I had to fix a "power steering leak" on my girlfriends toyota, which turned out to be an oil pump o-ring leak. which ended up becoming a timing belt/ tune up and all that fun crap.

However this weekend I made some serious progress on the truck! I finished removing all the bolts that remained in the frame, I cut off the bumper brackets that some Bozo decided to Booger weld onto the frame. my buddy Jimbo helped me strip all the crap off the frame with a grinder and then we sandblasted it. last night we painted the bottom of the frame and today I flipped it back over and painted the rest. its all beautiful now and I am so relieved that I am done with the bare frame portion.

This week I will start building up the suspension and hopefully finish putting the dana 44 back together. I would love to get both axles under it by this weekend!!

[Drewbee]

Hey is that 4wd frame a 71? I have a 4wd frame that the rear spring hangers were taken off and there's some confusion if 71 had a one off rear .spring hanger.

[newstedcomeback]

Originally Posted by Drewbee

Hey is that 4wd frame a 71? I have a 4wd frame that the rear spring hangers were taken off and there's some confusion if 71 had a one off rear .spring hanger.

Yes. The frame is a 71. I don't think the 71 is a one off year. 67-68 were different than 69-72. They had different springs. If your spring hangers were cut off. Look at the DIY4X.com site. Run the longer springs and have a better ride

[Drewbee]

Awesome work by the way. Thanks for getting back with me. I would think the k/20 spring hangers are the same as the k/10 hangers. Do you mind taking a picture of the rear spring hangers? thanks

[slotard]

What are your plans for rear calipers? Will you have a parking brake?

[newstedcomeback]

Originally Posted by slotard

What are your plans for rear calipers? Will you have a parking brake?

the frame I bought didn't come with any parts for an E brake. I am going to get the truck running without one for now, But I plan on figuring something out later. I have a pile of front calipers to use as cores so I will most likely just run the front ones. rebuilt ones are pretty cheap.

[msgross]

You could do a driveshaft (near TC) ebrake setup too...

http://www.tsmmfg.com/np205.html

http://www.fourwheeler.com/product-r...ergency-brake/

[newstedcomeback]

Originally Posted by msgross

You could do a driveshaft (near TC) ebrake setup too...

http://www.tsmmfg.com/np205.html

http://www.fourwheeler.com/product-r...ergency-brake/

thats a sweet setup. I wish I could use something like that, but they dont make it for a NP208...

[newstedcomeback]

Today I finished the rear hubs. I taped off the friction surface of the rotor. I'm gonna leave the tape on for a while to prevent rust

[newstedcomeback]

Diy4x brackets

[newstedcomeback]

The back half is all done for now. Everything is sealed up and fresh. My truck will be OD green. So in gonna do both diff covers this way.

[TBONE1964]

Subscribed:

You are doing nice work there. I have the same plan for my 72 Cheyenne which is a 1/2 ton 2wd long bed.

I may consider the 700R4 swap as well while I am doing it.

Look forward to seeing more progress on your truck.

Keep up the good work there,
Tom

[AzCountryman]

Looks like its coming along nicely. GF staring at it is priceless.

[newstedcomeback]

I feel like I have been working on this dana 44 for half of my life. Well today Jimbo and I finally finished the front axle!! All bearings replaced, seals, ball joints, u joints.. And we painted everything. We assembled the hubs and got the wheels mounted. I can't wait to see it under the truck!! Good old Jimbo will provide an extra set of hands on any project in exchange for some KRACKEN RUM! Haha

[Dieselwrencher]

It's looking nice!

[newstedcomeback]

Today I cleaned off my work bench and took apart the 208 transfer case. It was much simpler than I thought. It took me 10 minutes to take apart. And 2 hours to scrub and degrease the entire case. If I can find some time this weekend. I'm gonna try to get it all put back together.

[ryanroo]

looking great!

[newstedcomeback]

Originally Posted by ryanroo

looking great!

Thanks. I take that as a huge compliment coming from you. I checked out your build page. Well all 50 of them. You have some serious skills man.

Today I put the transfer case back together. It was very simple. I am waiting on the parts house to get my big tube of anerobic sealer. I will glue the case back together tomorrow. Happy valentines day truck! Lol


P.s. That is not hot sauce. I mix ATF and STP 50/50 and use it for assembling transmissions. It works great. I just use an empty at patio bottle to dispense it. Also Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is a great way to hold needle bearings in place during assembly. It mixes in with the oil eventually.

[newstedcomeback]

this weekend I got alot done. The Transfer case is all done. and the wife went with me to the hardware store to pick up a new wire wheel and a bunch of fancy grade 8 bolts for the steering box and transfer case mounts.

[ryanroo]

i love the detail. i was joking with my lady, that it must take a special breed of weird to get all excited by something as odd as high attention to detail on an old truck drivetrain. As i am busy painting the inside of my transmission case to look like cast iron and powder coating my aluminum to look like aluminum... haha

[mattbert56]

Builds looking good man. Ill keep my eyes peeled for it. Feel free to check my build out. It's in the middle of a frame swap for a k20 frame. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=628346

[newstedcomeback]

Originally Posted by mattbert56

Builds looking good man. Ill keep my eyes peeled for it. Feel free to check my build out. It's in the middle of a frame swap for a k20 frame. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=628346

I checked out your build. very nice. you do great work. I also noticed that we both are in Santa Rosa. you should come by sometime and pick through my extra parts pile. I have a bunch of extra 4x4 parts. front and rear axles, leaf springs, tires, I would love to sell it cheap or do some trading. Im right off 101 near college ave

[mattbert56]

Heck yea. My front springs are sprung bad. I have a set but are longer. Send me a pm with ur number or somthing. Iv got some left over parts to. Lots of parts haha. But still liking the build u got goin Man

[newstedcomeback]

This weekend I have big plans.. The wife works and I made sure to get all the yard work done today... I hope to take the front end off and engine/trans pulled. We will see...