1986 Chevy C10 SWB Step Side

[aotte1]

Part numbers are:
0 National Bearing A3 $9.65 ea
0 National Bearing A6 $8.73 ea
0 Federated Seal F 8871. $2.27 ea
0 Federated 18-4021 Brake Caliper $15.31
0 Federated 18-4020 Brake Caliper $15.31

Calipers were rebuilt by CARDONE, and calipers are for JB 1 brake package i.e. light brake package. I think the JB 3 package uses the same caliper per Keith S. Infor he posted on OEM brake packages. Thanks again to Keith for this helpful information!
Les

[aotte1]

Cleaning American Racing slot wheels, AR111, 8.5 x15 with back spacing of 3 7/8. Only have two wheels so far. The build date is February 1973. They were pretty dirty with some corrosion and nicks.

[aotte1]

The back side before cleaning.

[aotte1]

The cleaning tools and materials used.

[aotte1]

The cleaned wheels

[aotte1]

Both wheels cleaned.

[aotte1]

Picture of front and back of wheels.

[aotte1]

Cleaned the back side first: 1). Used the paint strip wheel dry to remove a lot of the crud (bad stuff) wore the paint mask to protect from asbestos dust from brakes. Next used paint wheel wet with " SmithBrite ultimate metal polish" to clean more crud off, this left the back side almost clean. Final step was to use Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish on foam cone polish wheel for final clean on back of wheel. Just cleaned a little with Mothers...... The stick-on wheel weight goo was removed with lacquer thinner.
2). Front, first cleaned with "SmithBright...... and foam cone polisher on drill to remove the easy surface crud. Not trying get clean this step, just light cleaning. Next cleaned with SmithBrite... and scotch barite pad. This was a more indepth cleaning, more time doing this. This left areas that were pitted and having more severe corrosion. Then used 800 and 1500 wet/dry sand paper to remove corrosion and pits. This step took more time, repeated several times until clean but dull. Final step was to polish with Mother....... on foam cone polish wheel. Did a lot of polishing in this step. Polish, clean with cloth and polished again, several times until had a uniform brightness. About 4 hours to clean both wheels.

The wheels are very nice, but not like new. Wanted to keep original characteristics of the wheels, including machining and casting surfaces. Plan to try a little more cleaning in the future. Will update if I find additional clean approaches.

[aotte1]

Picture of "Mothers Power Cone", you can see it above attached to the drill. It is a little hard to see as it is covered in alu oxide.

Two wheels in one afternoon, fingers a little tired!!

Planning to install tires on wheels tomorrow.

Les

[jpnh]

wheels cleaned up nice/making good progress.

[aotte1]

Jeff,
Thanks for encouragement, here is picture of them with tires, 275x60x15. Wish the truck was back home so it was in picture too!!

Les

[aotte1]

Both wheels with tires.

[Russ_the_truck79]

Those cleaned up nice!

[rip2174]

awesome job on the wheels. That takes time and patients. very nice

[Low Elco]

Awesome! I love me some slot mags. Jonboy would be diggin' on it! Consider 15x10's for the back. They fill out the "hips" on a square great and just look bad ass. They turn up on the Bay from time to time. Can't wait to see this truck come together with the level of work you turn out.

[aotte1]

Jeff, Russ, Rip 74, and Low ELCO thanks for the compliments. I am zeroing-in on using 10" deep dish slots for the rear. That deep dish look has me hooked. To finalize decision would like to get truck back from body shop so can measure twice on all the measurements. If it will be awhile before truck is back from body shop, then may take the above wheel/ tire ( 8.5x15 w/ 3 7/8 BS) to truck and measure their frame clearances. Then calculate where a 10x15 w/ 3.5 or 3.75 back space will fit.

Also, starting to look for source to shorten axle, and respline shortened axle shafts. Going to try Moser in IN.

Also want to confirm if 93 to 98 Blazer/Tahoe rear axle WMS is shorter then the 1986 C10. Possible source for shorter axle.

For the 10" slots, kind of thinking of the vintage US Indy or American Racing wheels because of how their hub contact surface is made. FYI, US Indy has been repurchased back from American Racing by a family member of the original owner and they are making slots again. They have a 10 inch wheel.

[jpnh]

i was curious so i took a minute and layed under my rig with the tape measure its looking like the first thing you can hit with the tire back there is the bedside you have bout 14 inches from the bedside to the inner lip of the fender im running 15x10 wheels 5inch backspace 4 3/4 bolt pattern adapters to 5x5 bp with 295/50/15 MT tires i had to account for the adapter 1inch and the balooning of the tire 1 inch. there is still 2 1/4 inches between the tire and the first place it can rub on. {the bedside} the space looks huge in the pic but its 2 1/4 inches the front side it makes it under the fender the tire dosent stick out past the fender{pic2} but if i was trying to get the tire way up under the fender like some people do{which would be way too low for around here} id have to roll the lip of the fender more or get wheels with the 5x5bp and lose the adapters i would still be an inch and 1/4 from the bedside to the backside of the tire losing the adapters and gaining more backspace. the wheel are 15x10 but the tires add another inch on either side makes the width 12 inches. the trick would be to center that 12 inches in between the 14+ inches between the bedside and the inside lip of the fender pic 1 shows the space between the backside of the tire and the bed side pic 2 is a shot looking down on the fender showing the tire makes it under the fender pic 3 shows looking up at the front side of the tire and the fender lip {towards the right side of the pic} my truck is lower than stock but i still have 3 1/2 inches from the top of the tire to the fender-jeff

[aotte1]

Jeff,
Thanks for the rear wheel/tire space available and alignment of yours in a stepper wheel well. It is a big help since I do not have one to go measure right now.

Les

[jpnh]

no problemo

[aotte1]

While on slot wheels, here are pictures of the center caps that came with them ( the built date stamped on wheel back side is February 1973). Also picture of wheel back side info.

[aotte1]

Center Cap side view

[aotte1]

American Racing Slot wheels, 5x5 bolt pattern, 8.5x15, built 1973

[aotte1]

Whole backside.

Also, like these and the US Indy slots because they have a larger hub flange mounting surface area ( contact area). This should provide a higher clamping force and be easier on the wheel studs for those high RPM clutch dumps. For general maintenance with alu wheels, a little less checking of wheel stud torque. Need to protect the rear stepper fenders $$$ in them. This stepper will definitely see the drag strip.

Les

[aotte1]

Close-up of info

[aotte1]

Close-up of info 2