77 k10 short box winter beater build

[Jaysonb]

Finished stripping down the frame, gave it a power wash, ran over it with the wire wheel, and shot some paint on the frame, and motor. I didn't paint the springs or axles yet, they need work before paint. I didn't do a super fussy job, as it's going to be my winter beater, should keep the rust at bay though.

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

I have a set of front hangers if you want them.

That would be awesome. Here is a pic of the hangers I need. Front hangers on the rear springs.

[Jaysonb]

Made a little more progress tonight!

[Dads79GMC]

Here you go. Went into the attic or my garage and looked for about 10 minutes and found nothing!!! Figured I threw them away, which would be typical me. Looked one more time....., they were under a pile of interior parts. For some reason they look at bit different / smaller?? These came off a 1979 Heavy Half.
Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Yours is a 4x4! That's why they look a bit different. Didn't think of that until I saw your wheels/lugs. Sorry

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Yours is a 4x4! That's why they look a bit different. Didn't think of that until I saw your wheels/lugs. Sorry

No problem, thanks for taking the time to look!

[Willowrun]

Do you mind giving more details on the paint? I'm working on an IH Scout (budget build) that is a very similar light blue and am interested on the color, how you mixed it, what you sprayed it with, etc. Does it feel durable? How's the finish? Thanks!

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

Do you mind giving more details on the paint? I'm working on an IH Scout (budget build) that is a very similar light blue and am interested on the color, how you mixed it, what you sprayed it with, etc. Does it feel durable? How's the finish? Thanks!

The paint is rustolieum professional. They have tint base gallons at menards, and a display of colors they can mix up for you. The color I chose was pool blue. If you go to tractor supply you can get half pints of enamel hardener for about $15. They suggest you mix the hardener 16 to 1. For reducer you can use mineral spirits (slow), xylol (medium), or acetone (fast). I used some activator and reducer for some urethane paint I have so far, it worked, but I picked up some enamel hardener yesterday to finish things up with. The mixture that has worked good for me is 5 parts paint 2 parts thinner, 1/2 part hardner, sprayed out of my primer gun with a 1.5 tip. I do a medium tack coat, followed by 2 wet coats. The finish depends on how you spray it, it will flow a little, I would rather sand out a little orange peel, than have runs and sags. When it's cured it's a very durable, tuff finish, but you have to maintain it once in awhile (wax). It's not as good as a urethane single stage, but with a little care it will be fine for many years.

[Jaysonb]

Well, I've decided to build a custom flat bed for this truck, the box is shot, I have always wanted a flat bed, and I have 2 other squares with boxes, so why not! I'm pretty excited, we have a pretty good plan for it, and I think it can be built to look good, as well as function.

[MTCK]

Cool! Flat beds are handy. Keeping my t short??

[Jaysonb]

Yep, I'm going to keep it short.

[Dads79GMC]

Jaysonb, any updates? Mike

[Jaysonb]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Jaysonb, any updates? Mike

Not much, got the steering column in, put in the carpet and seat, I got the doors tore down, and got a good start on body working the doors. I hope to get the doors done this week, the inside door bottoms are really rusty though, I'm not sure how much time to put into them for a "quick winter beater build". They should be replaced, I think I'm going to sand blast the bad spots, and see what I can do with some duraglass. I also got the core support ready for some rust repair, it's gone under the battery tray, but that should be easy enough to repair. Both of the gas tanks, and all of the tank brackets were rusted out, so I think I'm going to install a blazer tank. That should work better for tool boxes under the flat bed. There is no way I'll have this thing ready to go before the snow flies.

[jott_06]

A little OSPHO probably wouldn't hurt on those doors.

[Jaysonb]

Got the core support patched up. It's not pretty, but the inner fender will have a spot to bolt up now.

[Jaysonb]

Inner fenders, and core support painted! I also got some epoxy, and a few coats of high build primer on the doors.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

This is some great work. Minnesota salt is a killer.

[Jaysonb]

Got the core support, and radiator installed this afternoon. I have a bunch of parts coming friday, the gas tank and straps should be here Monday. Hope to make some progress this weekend.

[Jaysonb]

Got a little time in the shop today. I got the engine harness cleaned up and installed, installed starter, trans cooler lines, got the exhaust welded up, I'm going to wait with the tail pipe until I have the blazer tank installed. Blasted, painted, and installed the brake booster, new master cylinder installed, and got the rear window installed.

[Jaysonb]

Got the blazer tank installed today.

[Hankster]

Looks like you dove right in! Keep it up man. Looks great!

[Dads79GMC]

Looks great!

[Jaysonb]

Got a nice chunk of work done this weekend. Got the fuel lines ran for the blazer tank, full brake job, including new hoses, new steel lines on the rear axle, steel line to leat caliper, new calipers, new wheel cylinders. I HATE doing drum brakes. I got new spider gears, and c clips installed in the rear end. That took care of alot of the slop back there. Had a new slip yoke welded on my rear drive shaft last week, so I put new u joints in that, replaced the rear pinion seal, and output shat seal, then smacked in the drive shaft. Oil change on the transfer case. New u joint and installed front drive shaft. Got the exhaust finished up. I picked up a polished stainless thrush glasspack for $30 from summit. I figure that should give my little 250 about an extra 60 hp. Repacked the wheel bearings, and took off the lockouts, and put some factory slugs back in. Got new tires mounted up. Finished wireing up the engine. Installed a new detent cable, wires up the steering column, got everything filled up with fluid, and got it running! Bye the way, glasspack on a 250 does not sound like a muscle car!! That was 2 FULL days of work, now I'll be shot for a couple days.

[Jaysonb]

Well, another change of plans! I went and met Dads79gmc today, and came home with a bunch of sheet metal. It was great meeting you Mike, and thanks again! This will speed up the project tremendously. So, tonight we are test fitting fenders, and doors. They fit pretty well, but I had to shim the front cab mounts about a 1/4" to get the door to fender gap decent. No flatbed, I now have replacement box sides, so there will be a little work to do on the floor, and I will have to figure out the fuel filler, since I installed the blazer tank. Open to ideas.

[Dads79GMC]

Looking great!!