1979 K10 - Everything I Never Wanted

[ACS]

I've been around the site for while reading up on square body info, joined a few weeks back and now have a project. Maybe.

I'll try to keep this concise. I’ve been looking for a truck to use around our property, nothing fancy, just something I can use for towing and shunting broken equipment around. I decided the ideal truck would be a decent running 73-87 regular cab, long box, 2wd. I’ve followed all of the local offerings for the last year or so, hadn’t seen anything that fit what I had in mind; everything was either too nice or thrashed. I decided I would put more effort into searching for something. I was so set on the truck format described above I almost started buying suspension parts – lowering spindles and a flip kit. Good thing I didn’t.

On the way home a week ago I noticed a farm had dragged a truck out of the area they were prepping to plant new grape vines. It was a square, I pulled in to enquire and that’s when I saw what is actually was - a very rusty 4x4 short box. Before I could get away I had agreed to buy it at scrap rate. Obviously it also has engine issues.

Facts:
- 1979 High Sierra, 350SCB, TH350, NP203, A/C, Tilt Column, Folding Bench, Single Gas Tank, Rally Wheels, Sliding window.
- Flint built – unusual for Ontario Canada – most around here were assembled in Oshawa, Ontario
- Originally a 350 truck, but has a replacement Goodwrench 350 (more on that later)
- Interior has the High Sierra headliner, plastic trim, carpet and cloth seat – which you might describe as threadbare.
- Someone along the way added an Edelbrock performer carb, headers, full length dual exhaust and Super Winch locking hubs.
- Tires are 33x12.50. No idea if the truck is lifted or not. It doesn’t have blocks on either axle and the springs and hardware all look pretty original.

The guy I bought it from had it for 10 years and used it around his farm, before that is appears to have been in Ohio, Prior to that Saskatchewan, Canada based on an early 2000's inspection sticker. There was also mid-90’s Oklahoma inspection sticker on the windshield. It’s been around.

Did I mention it’s rusty? It’s quicker to describe what’s not rusty: the hood, the roof and the core support. The rockers, doors, fenders, inner fenders and entire box are all pretty much shot. Actually, the frame is in really nice shape. My guess is the heater core leaks, and has for a while and that took out the passenger floor and rocker.

Here are a few photos: