Creamsicle: My 70 K10 SWB is about to get sweeter

[derotoreut]

Our Creamsicle truck is going to get a little refresher update. The Creamsicle name came from my wife's love for the original Popsicle brand, orange treat. Her love for the frozen treats and the orange/white color of the truck was responsible for the Creamsicle name for our truck. Stay tuned!!! Yum!

[rsavage]

Love that truck Dan. Cant wait to see what you are going to do.

[derotoreut]

So here are some of the plans for my K10 SWB refresher:

• Pull 307/SM465 and replace with 5.3L/4L60E combo (DONE)
• Reseal and update NP205 transfer case (DONE)
• Remove bench seat and replace with factory buckets and rebuilt console (DONE)
• New Carpet (DONE)
• Remove original fuel tank and replace with under-bed tank (DONE-Ricks Tank, made in Texas)
• Update wiring (DONE-AAW Classic Update)
• Vintage Air AC (DONE-Also added VA latest heater/AC control)
• Ididit tilt steering column (DONE)
• Dakota Digital gauges (DONE-Dakota Digital RTX with BIM-01-02 module)
• Updated stereo (DONE-RetroSound stereo with Kicker front & rear speakers)
• LS aluminum radiator (DONE)
• Headers and exhaust (DONE-Speed Engineering Headers and polished SS exhaust)
• New steering gear (DONE-Readhead steering gear)

Additional items not originally planned:

• Firewall and cab floor insulation kit (DONE-Quiet Ride Solutions)
• Custom bed floor with fuel filler (DONE-Smokey Road Rod Shop floor with 2" filler by Boyd)
• Skyjacker drop pitman arm and drag link (DONE)
• New Dana 44 pinion seal and cover (DONE)
• New Power Steering Pump (DONE-Part#15909834)
• Dapper OE7 LED Headlights (DONE)
• Custom made core support and engine covers (DONE-Still need prime & paint)

It's quite the laundry list. We'll see how it goes.

[First c10]

That is a list! Can’t wait to see your progress.

[derotoreut]

Time to get started




My grand daughter says, "This interior is nice, but it's gotta go".



Seat, carpet and high hump removed



Removed hood, bumper and grill

[jaros44sr]

Dan, sure looks like you're putting your new shop to good use, is there a level above envious?

[underliner6]

That is such a gorgeous truck! The 5.3 swap is going to be a great update. Are you going with a junkyard 5.3 or do you have a donor vehicle?

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by underliner6

That is such a gorgeous truck! The 5.3 swap is going to be a great update. Are you going with a junkyard 5.3 or do you have a donor vehicle?

The 5.3 is a Gen III LM7 model from a Yukon.

[derotoreut]

A few more things done, but carpel tunnel surgery is going to slow me down.

Removed clutch fan, radiator and condenser.



Removed all factory AC components. Eventually all of the AC system will be for sale.



Exhaust and drive shafts removed.

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by derotoreut

The 5.3 is a Gen III LM7 model from a Yukon.

Nice, no AFM or flex fuel crap to contend with!

[derotoreut]

I dropped the NP205 first, then the 307 engine and SM465 transmission.

Should've just removed the radiator core support. Oh well.




Even got my wife to help out.

[landarts]

Looking great

[derotoreut]

Since I'll be relocating the fuel tank under the bed, I wasn't sure what to do about the original fuel fill hole. Since my truck is already painted, I really didn't want to go through the work of shaving the fuel filler hole at this time.

I decided to keep the original hole for now. I welded a stud onto the back of the fuel cap and used some washers to double-nut it in place. I didn't want to hack off the original filler from the tank, so I don't have any of the filler neck showing. I think it looks OK though.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice looking truck. Subbed to watch.

[derotoreut]

Several years ago I bought a set of bucket seats from a forum member for my '71 project. I decided to switch gears on that project and I still have these seats. I decided I'm going to put them in this truck. They won't be exactly correct because seat covers are slightly different from 70 to 71. Most likely the average person won't notice. Only the purists or people on this forum will know the difference (some very sharp people here). Maybe someday I'll replace the foam and recover them, but for now my goal is to get the truck complete. Also, the console will be restored to a cup console.

[derotoreut]

I'm also going to weld in an OEM bucket seat floor brace that I bought several years ago from Mike (Cash3481) on this forum. It needs to be cut off from the remaining floor pan, cleaned up and painted. I have some pictures from Classic Bowties showing how it needs to be installed.

Bucket seat floor brace.


Pictures of how it needs to be installed.

[derotoreut]

More tear down continues. Core support and fenders removed. Time to start on the firewall. I'm planning to smooth out, but not going overly crazy with it. I want to have this truck ready by summer.

Fenders and core support removed.


Engine compartment now bare and entire drive train removed.






A lot of holes to fill.

[derotoreut]

Got my hands on a very nice set of Blazer tilt brackets that I think I'll paint up and use for the passenger side bucket seat.

[derotoreut]

I have a couple sets of inner fenders, but two of them need some metal work. I sandblasted both sets and applied epoxy primer. Metal work is pretty much done on the one set now.

[derotoreut]

Finished up the bucket seat floor brace. I cut the brace off, blasted and painted it. It's welded in on the floor. I just need to finish the rest of the floor pan paint.

[msgross]

looks nice

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by msgross

looks nice

Thanks. Coming along.

[derotoreut]

The bucket seat floor brace is finished and painted, along with floor. Next is to fit up the bucket seats and console.

[derotoreut]

Console is also finished and ready to go. Before and after pictures:

Before:




After:

[derotoreut]

Some progress made on the firewall. All holes filled. Not going nuts on smoothing this firewall like I did on my 71. I want to get this back together. Still some work to be done.

Holes are filled.






Not going to the same level I did on my 71.