Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD

[FLATFENDER54]

My 70 year old father bought this about ten years ago with intentions of restoring it. When he was young, one of his friends had a 62 4x4. My father, as he got older, had always wanted to get one for himself. This truck has basically sat around for the last ten years and he had given up on the restoration. Well about 6 months ago my 14 year old son asked grandpa if they could work on the truck together and get it running (maybe sell it then). Well he said yes and they decided not to do a restoration but instead just make it look nice, be safe and look more or less original to the casual observer.

The ideas of selling it has passed and 3 generations are now working on the truck with the goal of having it ready for my son to occasionally drive when he gets his license in 2 years.

I've been lurking on this site for a while and it has been very helpful and Ive even ordered a few things from Captain Fab (who I highly recommend)

Anyways I'm sure gonna have a lot of questions and need Ideas as this goes on.
Thanks. Jeff

[61K10]

Welcome to the forum! and another k truck is a delight to see. Post up some pics so we can see or better yet start a build thread. have fun-----------

[FLATFENDER54]

Originally Posted by 61K10

Welcome to the forum! and another k truck is a delight to see. Post up some pics so we can see or better yet start a build thread. have fun-----------

Thanks I will. Trying to figure it out right now.

[FLATFENDER54]

Front view. From what I think I learned it has a 60 Grill, and 60 or 61 Hood.
Doesn't look like it was ever wrecked and probably was well taken care for the first half of its life (not its entire life though) haha
It is a 283 with a manual 4 speed on the floor. Still has the generator. Been swapped over to an aluminum intake and a 4 barrel

[61K10]

Nice tk and it has a 60 hood. The inserts are different on a 61.

[FLATFENDER54]

Your truck looks very nice. Hopefully "grandpas" truck will look just as nice.


His plan is the original orange it had on it. With possibly a white top and the door inserts painted white against the orange interior. He is still deciding on steel wheels or some type of aluminum. I like the 2500hd 6" wide factory 16" aluminum wheel and trying to talk him into them. Tall skinny tires. It had 35" tires on it when we got it but they were just too tall for him.





.

[FLATFENDER54]

We found a set of 1973 axles with disc brakes. 8 lug Dana 44 and a 14 bolt rear. The rear bolted right in. The front I had to cut off the old shock mounts and move them onto the Dana 44

Pictured below are the original axles

[FLATFENDER54]

Axles in place with temporary dodge wheels and tires we scored for 50 bucks
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[FLATFENDER54]

Power steering was next on the agenda. It turned out to be a major pain by the time is was done. Thanks to Captain Fab the steering box mounting was easy and his slide on steering shaft made that portion simple also

[FLATFENDER54]

Getting the power steering pump mounted on the engine was another story. Major PITA! Our truck had the front horseshoe engine mount with the front crossmember in the way (no side motor mounts) I switched over to an aftermarket crossmember with side motor mounts. Welded it up and then bolted it in-between the frame rails and to the side motor mounts. Then I removed the horseshoe mount at the front. We left the front crossmember in because its not in the way now. Plus I'm sure it gives extra strength to the steering gear box mount (its partly behind it) Also had to get a 3 groove crank pulley, 2 groove water pump pulley and a 2 groove alternator pulley for the generator. I could not figure out a way to get the clearance for the power steering pump belt to run around it alone.

Everything is new "1973" on the steering except the power steering pump. Went with a 1975 pump so could could use a press on pulley. This way we could have a little wiggle room on the pulley alignment and location. Was also able to use the hoses for a 1973. Just had to bend the return line carefully at the gear box. I will clean up the fender hole better later

[FLATFENDER54]

Working on the brakes now. Got a manual trans power booster bracket from Captain Fab. It's a tight fit but went in like it supposed to. 9" power booster brake kit for drum disc is in. Everything needs hooked up still though. I had a simple surgery and can't strain for a couple weeks but we have about 2 years to finish.

That's a new Holley 650 on there. Got a real good deal on it so just removed the old and in with the new

[FLATFENDER54]

Found a 88 to 98 seat on Craigslist for 60 bucks
. They really do bolt in to existing seat holes in the floorboards in the front. Will need to drill for the back 2. Feels much more comfortable. It will be reupholstered more appropriately in future

[FLATFENDER54]

More pics

[FLATFENDER54]

More

[FLATFENDER54]

More

[FLATFENDER54]

More

[FLATFENDER54]

Found 2 replacement doors a couple months apart . 100 bucks each

[FLATFENDER54]

The floorboards are real good shape. The doors are pretty much shot and the rockers are bad. Cab corners are good.

[FLATFENDER54]

We have the long bed that goes with it. Its in decent shape with no floor in it. Ill have to add pics later it is not inside the shop

[FLATFENDER54]

I have a few questions if anybody has an answer for me?

Will the front shackle rebuild kit for the later trucks work for the 1962 I have? They look almost the same?

My VIN number and title says its a C10 but its a 4wd (no way this was converted this completely and original by a previous owner) Is that common? A 4wd C10?

And do the hood inserts / scoops just let the weather into the engine bay or is the truck missing something?

Thanks

[Captainfab]

Thanks for the good words about me and my products

Just what years are you referring to as 'later trucks'?

It sounds to me like the cab was replaced at some time. The frame is drfinitely a K series frame. Compare the cab VIN to the frame VIN.

Sorry I can't help with the hood grills, I've only had a couple '60-'61 hoods in my time and I don't remember what was on the inside.

[ApacheNick]

Originally Posted by FLATFENDER54

My VIN number and title says its a C10 but its a 4wd (no way this was converted this completely and original by a previous owner) Is that common? A 4wd C10?

And do the hood inserts / scoops just let the weather into the engine bay or is the truck missing something?

Thanks

From what I can tell comparing your pics to my 61 4x4, your frame is a 60-62 4x4 frame. As Captainfab said, your cab was probably replaced at some point.

As far as I know, there's nothing that blocks off the park/signal light inserts in the hood.

[FLATFENDER54]

Originally Posted by ApacheNick

From what I can tell comparing your pics to my 61 4x4, your frame is a 60-62 4x4 frame. As Captainfab said, your cab was probably replaced at some point.
.

Do the 2wd cabs also have the high hump removeable trans cover?

[FLATFENDER54]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Thanks for the good words

It sounds to me like the cab was replaced at some time. The frame is drfinitely a K series frame. Compare the cab VIN to the frame VIN.

Sorry I can't help with the hood grills, e.

So no C10's were 4wd in 1962? Where is the VIN at on the frame? Any other diffences in the cab or way to tell what year? The hood and grill are a 60. Maybe its a 60 cab?

[66K20]

Originally Posted by FLATFENDER54

So no C10's were 4wd in 1962? Where is the VIN at on the frame? Any other diffences in the cab or way to tell what year? The hood and grill are a 60. Maybe its a 60 cab?

C indicates 2wd chassis
K indicates 4wd chassis