Introducing my Project: '78 K10 on 12" of Lift

[Anadrol]

Originally Posted by blown luv

Sweet truck! Whats the tire and wheel size your running?

39" Swampers, not sure on the rim size, but they need to be bigger and deeper and the tires need to be wider.

I bought em like this from the previous owner, and they'll be replaced fairly soon with some fatter rubbers and bigger + deeper rims. They look a little too "pizza cutter" for me right now.

[msgross]

nice truck, I don't think that spare will work very well though!

BTW, be sure to become a site supporter if you decide to sell parts..

good luck with the truck, i'm a native Hoosier as well.. Go Colts!

[blown luv]

Whats the tire width? I like the narrow tire look .

[Anadrol]

I'm back with a couple minor updates. Given my limited mechanical know-how and the recent weather we've had here in Indiana, these seemingly small updates took me a good amount of time and effort, so I'm proud.

-Purchased Weatherguard tool box off a dude on Craigslist ($200 in great shape)

-Rhino Lined the inside of said tool box (Inside was too dirty to store clothing in, and now it's clean enough to store food in!)

-Bought/Installed new gas struts for the toolbox so that when you push the latch button, the thing FLIES open. (before, I had to push the button with one hand and open the lid with the other hand).

-Installed Diamond Plate bed rail caps and tailgate cap (Tailgate cap doesn't QUITE fit right, due to rhino lining on the inside of the tailgate not allowing the cap to go all the way down)

-Installed new Grant Steering wheel (13.5" diameter to give more room behind the wheel)

-Got new dog for truck bed

[Anadrol]

Probable next steps: UPDATED 1/7/09

1. Power Locks DONE.
2. Power windows DONE.
3. Security system/remote start/keyless entry DONE. Viper 5902 Responder HD
4. Suffolk Security Collar (http://www.suffolklock.com/steadfast.html)
5. Sound deadener throughout the cab DONE. Dynamat Xtreme on Floor, in Doors, On Firewall, Back Wall, Ceiling, Under Hood.

Those 3 steps will then enable me to move towards putting in a new dash and expensive, modern audio/video equipment. Now in "Test Phase" with 10" Kenwood Slimline Excelon behind seat + Kenwood Amp. This is Loaner equipment that I will likely be replacing with better stuff soon.

PICS:
Sound Deadening Project

[Anadrol]

January 2010 updates- The Before & After Extravaganza

LEFT: BEFORE~~~~~RIGHT:AFTER

1. Total Truck


2. Front Grill



3. Headlight Bezels



4. Wheel Well Arch Trim



5. Rock Guards



6. Windshield Chrome Trim



Next Mod: HID Headlights and Fog Lights. Should be complete in the next 2 weeks or so.

[Rollinsqrbdy]

sweeeeeet. Thats a nice truck. Is it a half ton?

[Anadrol]

Originally Posted by Rollinsqrbdy

sweeeeeet. Thats a nice truck. Is it a half ton?

Yes. Despite the incorrect K-20 badge, it's a half ton.

[pat386]

nice truck!! your bassett looks just like mine!

[thirdstreettito]

Just wondering. When was the last time that truck saw mud or anything besides smooth ground?

[Anadrol]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Just wondering. When was the last time that truck saw mud or anything besides smooth ground?

It doesn't, and it probably won't.

This is just short of what I'd call a show truck. It's not going to any shows, but it's not going to get its a$$ kicked by the trails like my old trucks did. I've seen how hard that is on trucks and I don't want to do it to this one.

It did see a ton of SNOW in the past couple days, and it did better than my '08 Tundra by a long shot. But we aren't trying to take this thing off road as an occupation. It may run around the farm a time or two but no Texas pin stripes will ever compliment this paint job.

It would take me a long time to describe what this truck is actually intended for.

[Anadrol]

Just got back from the shop. Had my headlights switched over to HID's.

[Anadrol]

NEW Tailgate Band Installed

The band on my tailgate was pretty crappy. This picture won't really show how bad it was, but it was deeply dented in several places and I ended up pulling the Chevrolet emblem off the band because it had cracked. This left a shadowed "Chevrolet" emblem outline behind, all rusty and discolored. The ass end of my truck really looked terrible.


I then tried putting some stupid stick-on, $0.25 lettering from Auto Zone on there to cover up the old chevy emblem. This looked even more terrible, and an otherwise great looking truck was ruined by the ass end eyesore.


I then found a new tailgate band in a barn. I think this came off and older truck- maybe a '71 Chevy ??? In any effect, it was the exact look I wanted, so I was ecstatic to find it.

It took about 5 seconds of grinding, and it fit like a glove.

Here's what we did-
1. Removed the old band. This left us with 6 sharp screws sticking out of the tailgate that used to secure the old band in place.


2. Took this new band (which, ironically is actually older than my old band) and just held it up there. Realized that it wouldn't fit correctly because of the metal backing.


3. Cut bout 3 inches off the ends of the metal backing on the new band at an so that the band would fit. This didn't have to be precise at all.





4. Took some white caulk and put little dabs of caulk on the tip of each of the sharp screws I mentioned in point 1.

5. Put the new band back up in place. Each of the screws transferred some white caulk on to the back of the new band in the exact spot where the screws are.

6. Drilled holes in the white spots.

7. Put the new band back up there, and screwed in the screws, which now went perfectly into the holes we drilled.


Done.

[3r!c84]

nicce (:

[Stitch]

that's actually off a newer truck...like a 4 headlight front end truck 81-87 bodystyle...looks good...

[flamingbig10]

nice tailgate band actually its a pre 80s band "don't actually Know the actual year can't keep up with all the different bands for 73-80" his old one was a 81-87

[Stitch]

oh ok

[Anadrol]

My first thought was that it was from an older model because of the Chevy emblem and its font. I thought all Chevrolet writing after 1977 (?) on emblems and anything else decorative was just like my first band in the first picture.

Anyway, the Chevrolet emblem looks like an old school design.

Also, see what the back looked like, in the second to last picture? That went on a tailgate with a really narrow indentation. Not like the 80's trucks, right?

[Anadrol]

February 2010 Update: The Exterior Lighting Revolution Continues

Project Timeline:

1. Decided that I wanted HID Projectors in the front bumper to be used as auxiliary lighting. I didn't want a brush guard, and I didn't want large off road lights mounted to the front bumper because I thought they would take away from the clean, stock look of the front face of my truck. I wanted the most light possible, in the smallest package possible. This brought me to HID Projectors like you would find in most late model German luxury cars. I also knew I wanted the light to be Yellow.

2. I purchased a set of (2) Hella Bi-Xenon Projectors.

3. I also purchased an HID kit with 3000K color temp bulbs (which glows yellow in color at full power).

4. While waiting for the equipment to arrive, I got the idea in my head that the 3000k bulbs and the clear projectors wouldn't give me the deep yellow light color that I was wanting. I decided that I needed the actual glass on the projectors to be yellow as well. I was lucky enough to find a set of Yellow projectors off a wrecked Lexus, and I purchased them as well.

5. All of the equipment arrived, and I tested the HID Bulb in both style projectors that I now had in-hand. I quickly decided that the CLEAR Hella projectors were much better than the yellow Lexus projectors. So, the Clear ones would be my front fog lights.

6. Since I now had the Yellow Lexus Projectors and no need for them, I decided to install them in the back of the truck as reverse/backup lights.

7. Started the front fog project.Sawed circular holes in the front chrome bumper for Fog Lights. Installed the Projectors, bulbs, & ballasts. Used Epoxy to seal the deal. DONE.


8. Installed the Lexus projectors in the rear, undercarriage of the truck using a little metal bracket. Got them aimed up properly, and screwed 'em in tight. DONE.


I now have 4 HID Xenon Bulbs in this truck- 2 HID Headlights and 2 HID Fog lights. The reverse lights are Halogens inside a Lexus projector.

HID's take about 20 seconds to warm up to full brightness. They start out bluish green....


And finally warm up to a bright, true white color:


Front HID Fog Lights are 3000K Temp and burn a very, VERY bright, deep yellow color:


They have the very distinct cutoff at the top of the light pattern like late model luxury cars' headlights:


When they're turned off, the little projector bulbs retain the chrome look of the front bumper, and really blend in well without making the truck look too "Japped-Out" or stupidly updated. Also, I get a ton of light power without adding huge, unsightly off road lights to the front face of the truck. Don't get me wrong, I love big chrome off road lamps, but I don't want them to detract from the pretty face of this bad boy!








(Continued in Next Post...)

[Anadrol]

Two Projector Foglights off a wrecked Lexus IS serve as reverse/backup lamps


Backup Lamps are totally undetectable from behind the truck, even from a low angle, they're totally hidden unless they're turned on:


You gotta know where to look in order to find 'em!


This truck used to be borderline dangerous to drive at night because the old headlights were so dim, and they faded away into the blue yonder since the truck is lifted so high, and there was no reflection off the ground. Now, my truck is totally ready to rule the night. It's so bright, I'm worried about starting forest fires!

[qu1cks1lver56]

Nice man, I like the reverse light idea. I think I'm gonna try something similar, but with some led strip lights or something.

[indyrenegade4x4]

ive seen your truck at the jamboree last fall and seen couple times around carmel and westfield nice truck reminds me of my old one

[Rollinsqrbdy]

The truck is awesome bud. The lighting is great. What else you got planned for it? Hmmmmm maybe its time to start up the Grey Hair(my 84-k10 swb).

[Anadrol]

Here are some night shots of the new yellow HID fog lights and Halogen Projector backup lights:

[Rollinsqrbdy]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. Thats 2 Cool