1969 K10 CST Full Restoration

[OLDYELLOW]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Another high quality build! You guys are impressive in your level of detail and the speed of the build. I enjoy seeing a truck that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. Hope you’re able to spend some time riding in it, does your shop dog like going on rides?

She loves to ride. Molly has taken over the passenger seat in the family car, depending on who is driving me or the wife has to sit in the back.

[Kronald_70GMC]

Very nice truck fellas. You guys are getting me motivated to get mine going again!

[notsolo]

WOW! Great looking truck, Incredible build. Thanks for sharing all the fine details.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice to see the punch list is getting closer to completion. It looks fantastic out in the sun....Woo Hoo!!!

[DeadheadNM]

Lol! Excellent.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

Only wish I had more proper parts to give you, maybe on the next one I’ll have some stuff laying around

Dude...nonsense, you hooked me up. Thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Another high quality build! You guys are impressive in your level of detail and the speed of the build. I enjoy seeing a truck that looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. Hope you’re able to spend some time riding in it, does your shop dog like going on rides?

Thanks. I like stock too. She's not 100% correct for her model year, but she's very stock-y. . Molly's main move is to run in when you're contorted on the floor under the truck and in a bind trying to fit something out of reach or blind and lick your face aggressively. Sometimes after she rolls in something gross requiring a hat to be burned.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Kronald_70GMC

Very nice truck fellas. You guys are getting me motivated to get mine going again!

Thanks. And you should...and post pics!

Originally Posted by notsolo

WOW! Great looking truck, Incredible build. Thanks for sharing all the fine details.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice to see the punch list is getting closer to completion. It looks fantastic out in the sun....Woo Hoo!!!

Thanks guys...and thanks for coming along with us.

[jaros44sr]

2 successful restores, before I even got one, amazing work. So, what was the most difficult part of the restore

[IronCanine]

Another good day. Stretched her legs a bit more. Brake lights work. Gas gauge works. Slowly shedding anxiety as we go.

Sunshine agrees with her. Couldn't be happier with the color and the flop.

....How about oldyellowssun's stealthy chase plane.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

2 successful restores, before I even got one, amazing work. So, what was the most difficult part of the restore

Jim that's a tough question and we talked about it today after I saw your post. This build definitely felt harder...because we had to tread trodden ground with do overs and restarts on several occasions (and it literally took 3 months longer than we expected). There were several moments where we arrived at an "impasse". Eric should weigh in, but I suspect he may say "PAINT" in general. I don't feel that because I know he's going to nail it and luckily that's not on my plate . I could think of a few things that I had to walk away from and otherwise had me whipped for at least 24hrs. But probably the best answer to your question I think would be the windshield install with trim. Because we struggled on it together over a couple of days and I felt at different points mentally and physically defeated...and we had to order more weatherstrip! Eric will likely tell you that we've got it figured out now and it'll be no problem next time. Maybe he's right, but I don't relish the fight.

Edit: Thanks for your kind words by the way and for following along with us.

[Ol Blue K20]

From what I can see, you guys nailed it. I love it.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Jim that's a tough question and we talked about it today after I saw your post. This build definitely felt harder...because we had to tread trodden ground with do overs and restarts on several occasions (and it literally took 3 months longer than we expected). There were several moments where we arrived at an "impasse". Eric should weigh in, but I suspect he may say "PAINT" in general. I don't feel that because I know he's going to nail it and luckily that's not on my plate . I could think of a few things that I had to walk away from and otherwise had me whipped for at least 24hrs. But probably the best answer to your question I think would be the windshield install with trim. Because we struggled on it together over a couple of days and I felt at different points mentally and physically defeated...and we had to order more weatherstrip! Eric will likely tell you that we've got it figured out now and it'll be no problem next time. Maybe he's right, but I don't relish the fight.

Edit: Thanks for your kind words by the way and for following along with us.

OK< then I will stay away from that job, and pay a professional, if 2 qualified men have to walk away for a while, that is enough evidence for me to call for help

Mine has fought me all the way but, only b/c I wanted certain things different, some systems have gotten better over the years. But, I'm excited again to go to work every day at Dales shop and conquer something.

Just last week I had to redo a double flare on the brake line to the rear, ok doesn't sound like much, but you have your peers looking at you, so I buy donuts every day

BTW, what rubber gasket did you use? and how does your brother like it?

[IronCanine]

Jim...we only had four double flares to do on this build...everything else was done by InLine tube. It got to be like rolling dice and trying to roll double fours on back to back rolls. So I feel you on that one.

We used Precision and I have no complaints. It's my fault we had to re-order the windshield gasket. I pulled a tear in the passenger corner with the rope.

I think my brother likes it. He hasn't seen it in person and in all honesty pics let it down. I'd hoped he could be up here and have the honor of the first drive himself but it didn't time out for it. But Thanksgiving is right around the corner and while I'm thankful for all of you on this board, I'm also thankful we have gotten this big blue baby birthed.

PS Your truck is awesome...at least there's an assembly and service manual for what we're doing.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

From what I can see, you guys nailed it. I love it.

Thanks Dale. I love it too.

[notsolo]

50th Anniversary Truck. too...."Life is simple it's either Cherry Red or Midnight Blue" I don't think the windshield install is the same on any truck, you could try again tomorrow and have completely different results, you might get lucky hiring it out, or they may mess it up as well. Do the doors close OK? I used the Precision gaskets also and ended up sharpening an 1/8" punch, made several air release holes like on the later models, it helps.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by notsolo

... Do the doors close OK? I used the Precision gaskets also and ended up sharpening an 1/8" punch, made several air release holes like on the later models, it helps.

Everything is very tight...in a positive way. Of course when you open them they pop open enthusiastically and when you close them it's not a one finger affair--your heart needs to be into it.

[DeadheadNM]

[jaros44sr]

well, let me say, my eagles lost....but I am sitting here degreasing my drive shaft for this weeks work.

so, we can blame you on the gasket fail? or?

Great time to give it back to your brother, with all his family around, couldn't ask for more. It's a wonderful life.... good movie

and yet we have another truck of the year, you guys have to slack off, so us lesser gifted have a chance lol

there was a manual, I just couldn't read it

[MDPotter]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the attention to detail and the speed and ease which you've put this together is impressive. Now get out and enjoy it!

[regan wilson]

That thing is Sweet. I would be scared to drive it.

[1971Stepside]

Now that you two aren't busy I could sure use some help...

Truck looks great out in the sun and at the gas station. I bet you had lots of lookers and people wanting to talk to you.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the attention to detail and the speed and ease which you've put this together is impressive. Now get out and enjoy it!

Thanks...I don't know about the ease and speed part though .

Originally Posted by regan wilson

That thing is Sweet. I would be scared to drive it.

Thanks...and I am.

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Now that you two aren't busy I could sure use some help...

Nah...if your wife can put together a truck bed, you don't need us.

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

...Truck looks great out in the sun and at the gas station. I bet you had lots of lookers and people wanting to talk to you.

It was awesome...a guy came up to us before we could get out of the truck and asked about the paint. Of course I said, "this is the guy who painted it right here.." It's funny how long of a conversation we can have over something as simple as paint.

[DeadheadNM]

More pics more pics....

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

More pics more pics....

We only took her for gas and a neighborhood stroll yesterday. Just a confidence building exercise really. So no picturesque vistas to pose in front of...Hoping for a real 'photo shoot' this weekend.

I was able to get off work a little early today, but I used that time to really grind down the punch list. The front output leak on the transfer case was from the splined shaft and not the front seal. So while it was much more difficult to remove the drive shaft with the body on...the job was less involved than it could have been. Transmission needed topping off and we detailed a few underbits (that over time had lost their freshness so to speak). Roger Koop is sending me a new A/C canister and horn. Those two swap outs coupled with charging the A/C (which is scheduled for the end of the week) and she is officially complete. I got lots of pics, but generally they're more versions of the same stuff already posted. But how about this...I'll post a pic or two and annotate them to death. Maybe something will come up that I neglected to mention in the thread. Gimme a second.

[IronCanine]

Here ya go...

Engine bay dissection:

1) I believe this to be the correct breather for this truck as a 69 4WD, but not as an automatic. Based on what I can gather only 1/2T automatics came with heat stoves in 69(EDIT: And to be clear, no 69 4WD truck came with an automatic, this is a mod for us).
2) FirstOwner69 was kind enough to share his pre-resto pics of his known original hose routing for A/C and heater hose and we copied it exactly.
3) Pete, I picked up the brass caps and foil Harrison decal from Zip Corvette at your suggestion. I think either the hex(like we used) or the "ribbed" metal caps could be correct.
4) The white plastic plate on the firewall through which the vacuum switch rod passes has sheet metal screws that came from our Atlanta built truck. They were clear zinc and a size larger than every other set I have seen. I became acutely aware of that when I installed them in the 69. I feel very confident that they were original to the 71...but they are a visual tension for me now as I'm used to seeing them smaller and most appear phosphated in pics of other trucks.
5) I love that that prop valve sat in a box for 50 years and now it's doing a job.
6) I usually pick an original truck that I like and copy it for finishes. I reference the 80 mile 1970 a lot. That's why we cleared the top radiator hold downs and clear zinc-ed the hood latch. Even though I have seen different finishes on both.
7) I would prefer for the tower clamp on the upper radiator hose on the engine side be positioned closer to the edge of the hose for esthetics, but that's where the rib is on the metal hose. I haven't seen it discussed, but that radiator pipe does not line up with the radiator and the thermostat housing at all...it's in the neighborhood, but that's about it.
8) On the 69s I think the windshield washer bottle could be on the fender or the core support.
9) I still don't know the rhyme or reason on the red mark on the A/C box. I replicated it with a paint brush and acrylic paint. It seemed like a way they might have done it.
10) The speedometer cable would not work if it was 1/16" shorter...I mean it's tight.
11) I don't know what the breakdown on the 4x4 dipstick is, but I'm not sure it was a thing until 70.
12) I know the battery terminal covers aren't correct, but they clean it up I think. Top post terminals are just an eye sore.

....hopefully I haven't ruined the pics with all these words.