1981/86 K10 Short-Bread

[Altec]

Fiddled with the truck a little before the sun went down. Hooked up the brake lines on the master cylinder, tighten the engine mount bolts, cotter pinned the brake push rod, and put cotter pins on the drag link tie rods. Was going to grease them, but ran out of grease.

Shortened my list of small stuff to do. Going to try and get the headers on tomorrow. If all goes well... Now that I have power back, I can use the welder. Then plugs, wires, and setting the dizzy!

[Altec]

Got my headers patched, and half painted.

Here is what I started with. They are Flowtech headers. Not great, but they were free... They are also car headers. Got to make my clutch bell crank work around them...



Booger welds!


That is better... After using the cut off wheel, and cleaning up with the grinder...


Using a piece of scrap 3" exhaust tubing, I cut patches. I cut three. Two for the headers, and one test piece because I haven't welded in a while...



Here is my test piece. The left side is where I started, and I went around in a clockwise pattern.


I welded the headers, but didn't realize that metal was as light as it was when I started. So my first weld blew right through it. lolx You can see I stitched it pretty good. Looks like ass. Thank the Lord it is under the truck...


And the other one. Turned out a little better.


And how I left them tonight. Cleaned, and the backsides painted.

[Altec]

I give you, the Storm Trooper headers! Is that still relevant? Eh, whatever... I liked the contrast of white/rust the headers had before, so I took some black to add a little flash to the paintjob. Thought it came out pretty good!

[Altec]

Got the headers installed today. Allen bolts was all I could get for them, but I will probably never use them again. It is worth the wait to get good reduced head 6-points...

Also, wash your hands before installing white headers... I got most of the grease off with baby wipes...

Before I could install the headers, I had to clean, and fill a pin hole in the factory welds. I also installed the starter, but didn't have the short bolts needed for the newer mini starter. I put spacers on the bolts, but will need to get proper length ones to swap in. I'm running a newer mini starter. I love mini starters! With the help of Pappy, I brought #1 up to TDC. Can put the plugs in now.



List of stuff I need to do at the moment...

1. Grind down a Allen wrench to tighten one PITA header bolt.
2. Install plugs.
3. Clamp Dizzy.
4. Install wires.
5. Install Fuel Pump.
6. Get Carb Inlet Washers/install Fuel Log.
7. Make Gaskets/Install Water Pump.
8. Find Accessory Bracket Bolt.
9. Ghetto rig wires/lines/cables.
10. Hook up Oil Pressure Gauge.
11. Put oil in it (Haha.)

That is a long list of little stuff... Just to get it to the point that I can drive around the drive way... :whistler:

[thirdstreettito]

Good progress! Keep it up!

Did you use high temp paint for the headers?

[Altec]

Thank you!

Yep, I used two cans worth Duplicolor Engine Enamel white, and a little flat black. It isn't purpose built header paint, but it is what I had. Should hold for a little while. As long as I don't run it lean... Like that'll ever happen... Haha.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Lookin good, man! Did a nice job with those headers.

Question for you--what's the easiest way to find TDC without the use of the TDC-finding tools? I have an HEI I'm going to swap in the near future.

[thirdstreettito]

As far as I know, shine a light in the spark plug hole and wait til you see the piston. Not sure on that though. :s

[Altec]

This is how I do it...

Pull the #1 Spark Plug, and place a 1/2 drive ratchet with a 5/8 socket on the engine crank center bolt. With my thumb over the spark plug hole, I turn the engine over until I start the feel pressure building in the #1 cylinder. Now you are on the compression stroke. You continue to bring it up until the the timing marks read TDC, or you can stick a small rod in the spark plug hole to watch for when the piston stops coming up.

To get the dizzy set, you really just drop it in... Keep in mind that you don't have it set in any fancy way, or even have the #1 plug wire in a specific spot on the cap. Take the cap off the dizzy, and drop it in place. If the rotor looks like it is in a good spot, then lay the cap on it, and line the nearest post up with the rotor, and clamp it down. If you aren't happy, pull the dizzy up, and spin the rotor 180*. If you still aren't happy, you'll need a very long pair of needle nose pliers, or a oil pump priming tool to spin the oil pump. So, after you get the rotor set where it is lined up with a post on the cap, you are set. That is #1, and all your other wires are installed off of that. You may want to mark the cap so you remember which is #1...

Doing this should get you set plenty close enough to be able to use a timing light.

The only questions you have to ask yourself are "Which way does the engine need to be turned over?" and "What is the firing order?"

My dizzy ended up with the #1 being just right of the HEI connections, and facing toward the driver headlight... Works for me!

Thanks for the complements!

[Altec]

Got a few things checked off the list before it started to rain.

Got oil in it. Valve covers are leaking a little... Gotta fix that...


Got the dizzy clamped down, and plugs installed.


Fuel pump installed, and front plug installed.


I have some plug wires up on a shelf for it

just a couple hours messing around...

[Altec]

This evenings update.

I started with that pesky header bolt. I ended up grinding the 5/16" ball allen from my go-to set. Been wanting to pickup a Bondhus gold set anyway... Wrench is for leverage.


I then dug out my plug wire collection, and tested them with the ohm meter. Put together a good set, and hooked it up.



Dug out the fuel log I've been saving. Little on the overkill side... Gotta shorten it a little. It was used on a 1050 Dom in a past life... Don't mind the brass fitting... I have some more stainless line to make the line going to the fuel pump.


And here is what I'm most proud of today! How to make your own gaskets!

Supplies:
1. Gasket Paper.
2. Small Ball Peen Hammer
3. Scissors
4. What you are making a gasket for.



Start by cutting a piece slightly larger then the final product. 1/4" on each side is good.


While holding the gasket paper down with your fingers, drag the ball side of the hammer over the paper where the bolt hole should be. It'll indent the paper slightly, and let you see where to start. Once you have it marked, hold the hammer at a roughly 45* angle to the edge of the hole. You can now lightly tap the edges of the holes, and it'll Break right through. The trick is to use less force then you think you need, and making sure the paper doesn't move.


For the next hole, stick a bolt through the first to help hold it.


Same concept for the center. Tap around it at a roughly 45* angle.


Now, for the outer edges you can do it two ways. Tap around it for the cleaner look, or just use scissors like I do...


Enjoy!

[thirdstreettito]

Good progress! 7-quarts of oil? Doesn't it only need 5.5?

[Altec]

I'm using a Proform 7-quart oil pan. It is what I had laying around, and I had the matching pump.

[threeonthetree]

damn trucks bad ass. any pics of the clip? you said your gonnna have a 91 sub clip
your have great fab skills.

[Altec]

Best I have right now of the clip. I'll get some better shots tomorrow if it isn't pouring rain still...


Also using the silverado doors. I like the mirrors.


Thanks for the complements.

[Altec]

Switching gears. Here is a couple minutes worth of work...

Took some flat bar, and made a new arm-thing-dodad-widget for the bell crank. I was going to cut the old one off, and move it, but I wasn't happy with trying to cut it off...

Started by cutting a piece of flat bar to a nice eye ball length. Then I laid it flat, and held the bell crank up to where the final location would be, and marked the radius. I did it this way because the piece doesn't fit centered, and I hate hole saws...


First, I made a "L" shaped cut with the cut off wheel to get rid of most of the metal. Then I used the cut off wheel as a grinder to shape. Didn't have to be perfect is why I chose to do it like this.


Fit? Pretty damn good!


Final product!


I held it in place on the truck, and it appears that it will clear the header, but I'm considering heating, and bending it for a offset. Just to get a little extra insurance. So if the truck flexes, it won't bottom out on the header, and jam...

I also made a little boo-boo. Without thinking, I drilled it for 1/2"... Which is bigger then the little rod for the clutch fork... I guess it isn't really a problem. I'm going to make a brass, or Delrin bushing to take up the area. This will keep the hole from hobbing out over time, and I already have a 1/2" hole if I upgrade it to a heim joint setup like the rest of the system...

Last night I installed the water pump. Can't really show it, so here is a thumbs up. Who's awesome? You're awesome! lolx

[Altec]

Clutch bell crank is almost done. I tacked it in place straight up, and down. After test fitting it, what I feared was correct. Not enough room. About a 1/4" of clearance...


So, I went to plan B. Welding it at a angle, and bend it over. I was going to bend it with the torch, but I was having trouble with the tank valve. So I said screw it, and scored it with the cut off wheel. Bent it, and tested it. Worked great!


Well, I did have to make a bushing to fix my boo-boo. Probably will make another with a top hat shape.


Final product. Well, still needs to be be welded at the slit, and some spray paint...


All this for fancy headers, and a transmission I have to shift MYSELF...

[cheguevara]

Nice overhaul man....you either have your own personal shop you work at all day everyday or lots of spare time...thanks for posting this thread and keep posting updates man...thanks. che
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[Altec]

I have a shop roughly 30 feet from the house. I mainly put a hour in here, and there. It adds up... right now there is a 3-wheeler in the shop, and the SO's car needs the dash ripped out Tuesday. Poor truck is under a tarp...

[Doug_J]

anything new?

[Altec]

Sadly, no. I have been itching to get a few things done, though. I hear this weekend is going to be great weather. Maybe I'll try to get some stuff done!

Things I want to do...

Get the fuel pump to carb plumbed
Front brake line
Cut a NIB 20gallon fuel tank to 16gallon
Accessory bracket bolts
Driver side valve cover gasket
Finish Clutch Pedal Setup
-Return spring on clutch fork
-Tighten bracket
-Get fine thread 1/2 nuts

Thank you for the interest in the build! I appreciate it!

[Altec]

Well, I'm a liar... No work done on my truck. I've been jumping between every project/job but it. Today was getting a DT466 ready to be pulled. Before that was brakes/oil change on a Saturn VUE, before that was a fuel pump on a Aerostar, and a little three wheeler rebuild work thrown in for flavor.

The good news is I may have a turbo! A GT4082! Can't confirm it yet, but there is a decent chance I can get it, and the map shows it as a perfect choice for my engine. It would run at peak efficiency in the area I'm planning to make power at.

Fingered crossed on it...

[Altec]

Went to the junkyard today looking for springs. No luck there for 2", or 1.5" springs. I did however find this... A non-emissions intake, and turbo setup from a 6.5L diesel! These don't last a day. I was amazed to see it, and my Dad who was with me pretty much said we are getting it. lolx



I also eyed a clutch pedal assembly for my K10, and axles for the DJ. Will be going back next weekend.

[quadzero]

This whole tread is thumb's up. I really enjoyed the wip and progress pics. Very impressed with the header rescue and the dash is looking great, exactly what I hope to do to mine. Keep up the good work.

[Chevymaniac]

What's your plans for the intake and turbo setup? Is it going on a small block or big block. I have access to one and was thinking of putting it on my big block. Have to do more research and see if it will work.