Rockdrillers '63 K1000

[A.T. RockDriller]

Kind words, erock....very kind.

Thanks to every one of you fellers.

I sure would be a lonesome, painful sort without you's.

[rustyrodknocker]

I was regretting not jumping on that motor. but i was working crazy hours and could not fit it in. glad to see it being put to use and its one less sitting in the back of my panel. no fun doing a body swap with an truck full of junk. hope to get a 351 someday though.

[LostMy65]

Here's another
salem.craigslist.org/cto/2616999238.html
Posted via Mobile Device

[A.T. RockDriller]

So....
I set out to check my oil a few days ago, and I'm on my way back together.

I sure got carried away.

I figured I'd patch a couple rusty spots on the floor-boards ....paint the firewall while I was swappin the engine.....Like I said the other day.....I let myself get carried away.
By the time I got finished dealin' with some other small stuff...I ended up replacing most of the drivers side rocker panel.
My body work is sufferin a bit.....I'll dial it in when I lay paint on the outside of her. I sure was in a hurry to get paint on my fresh work.
I was at the paint shop and browsin a bit ......they have a new employee that was spose'd to mix a gallon of color for a customer....should have been two stage product....and, by golly, the guy mixed up a gallon of Centari Enamel.
I liked the color....the more I checked it out.
Anyway, they sold me the gallon with hardener & reducer for $50.
I'm really happy with the color.
A little grey on the top of the interior, get the top & trim covered in eggshell and shoot the rest of that green on the ol' girl, and it should look pretty good.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by A.T. RockDriller

I liked the color....the more I checked it out.
Anyway, they sold me the gallon with hardener & reducer for $50.
I'm really happy with the color.
A little grey on the top of the interior, get the top & trim covered in eggshell and shoot the rest of that green on the ol' girl, and it should look pretty good.

I really like that color.
I looks great for your truck.

[66farmer]

Looks great Driller . I wish I had my floor boards finished what a pain in the a--
I found you another GMC service box check it out Salem CL

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 66farmer

Looks great Driller . I wish I had my floor boards finished what a pain in the a--
I found you another GMC service box check it out Salem CL

Yeah, I saw that too, and instantly thought of RockDriller..
I posted a link to it in post #78
Posted via Mobile Device

[thirdstreettito]

Nice color! Perfect for the truck!

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Yeah, I saw that too, and instantly thought of RockDriller..
I posted a link to it in post #78
Posted via Mobile Device

I sure do thank you guys for lookin out for me.
After you sent the first note to me, lm65, I called the young feller that has the stuff.
He sure wants me to own that thing.
I have my hands full with one already....ha ha

Thanks all you dudes for keeping me propped up.

I'm prepping a few things for powder coat today.....J&M Sandblasting.
My budget won't like it, but my physical condition wont let me do it myself.

[A.T. RockDriller]

I'm getting ready to reload the engine/tranny in the ol' girl....

Here's a shot of the auto tranny adapter components....(less the fly/wheel)
I forgot to take a pic of the fly/wheel.....which looks like any flywheel minus the accomodations for the pressure plate.
The starter ring gear was all hashed up, so I flipped it over.
The adapter set-up is tagged with the engine serial # and states "must stay with engine"......kinda interesting.
I was hesitant to try to install the tranny from the bottom, as with all the accessories it may be a real b!tch under the truck.
As it sure is a heavy combo...it's a b!tch anyway.....but we'll see.
Here's a pic of my engine hoist....(or Industrial Walker, as my family refers to it)
Without this thing I would probably be a shut-in.....surely I wouldn't be able to do any heavy hitting.
More pics 2night.

[Captainfab]

Looking good

I like that 'engine hoist', that's awesome.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Thanks, Cap.
It's the most important tool I own.

Well.....I figured my concerns about the GMC cross member had some merit.

The auto tranny struts/braces laid right on the dang thing....in fact, right through the center of it.
I'll be figuring this one out till I get it right.
Haven't decided if I'll heat & bend the bars or if I'll slot the X-member.
Either way, It's gonna be a real ***** to pull the tranny when the time comes.
Might be easier to pull the whole Marry-Ann all at once.....again if I ever have to change it out.
I only have to drop this thing about an inch or so....maybe 1.5"
The shot of the oil filter says it all:
All of the finesse was happenin on the passenger side.

[Slowtruk]

subscribed! Too cool!

[thirdstreettito]

Great progress!

[Vintage Windmills]

Wow, that setup looks great and with that big 6, i'd be tempted to leave the front clip off for routine viewing!

[LostMy65]

Looking Really Good!

[NWGreaser]

How's the progress coming along?

[A.T. RockDriller]

Hey...Grease
Good ta see ya.....

I'm gettin my a$$ kicked on this one....
I'm just closing in on the motor mount swap....

Anyway.....
I'm down to finishing up the column.....and the attached shift linkage an...an...an..........and maybe that's it. Other'n boltin it back together..

I Gotta think 'bout that....Either way....I am ok to start it after I wire the engine harness....Oh. After I finish plumbing the aux. fuel tank (so it will be the only tank) because I yarded the one out from behind the seat....Just have to bend the rest of the tubing....I'll take a pic later.

Anyway, here's a couple for ya...

[A.T. RockDriller]

Ok....
I may have to have my new 12" driveline balanced.....I figured I'd gamable.....If I can feel it I'll buck up an give the Drive-line Doc his $100.

I found a column out of a '70 Chev....it was the leather brown....or biscuit color or whatever....It'll take a couple of mods ...and I'll have the hole for the 4/way switch (I'll probly install the "FlareStat" sw. pretty quick), but It'll work well fer now and it's better than that B&M Mega-shifter that was tryin to get the "nod" from under the work-bench.

Ok......on these pic's...
I'm glad I took my column out...(I have to use pieces out of both to make one)
The PO made some down rite scary repairs.

I can't wait to get her back together.
I had to blast & paint the trim.....my powder coat deal fell apart after the inner fenders....

I still have to straighten out the rear bumper on the press and paint it....That's a stiffener laying next to it as part of the Hitch assy.

It's good to hear from you...

PS: Oh.....and this took me a while to figure out....
That's a dang Mayfly settin on my core support.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Ok....so now I'm getting kinda antsy about finishing this phase.

I am down to re-assembling....other than the linkage rod from the column to the pivot....
I'll go to the local "You Pull It....Or I Will" tomorrow and spend another $5.00 and 1/2 hour of my feeble, dwindling life...an' pick one up.

I thought I'd post a pic of my new automatic column from the top....along with my new gauge & toggle switch rack. I kinda taylored it to go along with the dash cluster....kinda.
If you stand way back and kinda BBLLUURRR yer eyes....it looks ok.
On the far left I dropped in a pyrometer and boost gauge to kinda motivate (Force) myself to get the turbo project on the ball. I still need to finish tidying up the wiring....and if it looks soakin' wet....that's 'cause I just finished up with the "post-project" wash job...she'll dry out over night...

Anyhow....I'm gainin on it....should be firing it up tomorrow.

One more kinda cool thing...
I absconded the doner column out of a '70 C20.
I never paid that much attention before and so I dont know what years were and weren't like this....but I owned a '72 and it was different.
It appears that in 1970, Chev used that new technology called "fiber-optics"....(which was used by Cadillac as early as at least '64 that I know of) in the tranny indicator on the column.
Very cool to let the truck division in on it for a little taste of High Tech...
After looking at the third pic...I need to re-clock the column.....She's a bit twisted....I'll deal with it over a cup of coffee.

[Slowtruk]

Awesome progress Les, this thing is so cool. I also have heard about the fiber optics used in early Cadillacs. Neat. Ready to see this thing rolling again! There is something so cool about a vintage, (and in your case very rare) heavy duty truck that serves its purpose.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by A.T. RockDriller

Oddly enough, Rock, I'm pondering that right this minute.
It will surely get an o-haul when I install the boost system.....which will be happenin' this winter, but I may clean it up....check it out....reseal it....paint it red.... and dump it in.
I just popped the intake off of it 'cause I was curious.
Holy $hit....you wouldn't believe the size of the ports on this thing.
I'll post some pic's of it tomorrow.
More later...
Thanks for the comments......all of you fellas.

Shoot, fellas.....

I sure was an ambitious soul back then....wouldn't you say....?

"Dump it in"....

Oh ya, buddy.....I'll just dump it in.....about a month ago....

Well....at this rate, I'll have the "Boost Project" about wrapped up....say...by...About 2013...
And while yer at it.....you jes hold your breath on the '59, .....too.
I'll sure keep grindin away on em.

[A.T. RockDriller]

I'm tired...

Re-mounting the transfer case linkage....used to mount on top of the sm420...There's no easy spot to mount it on the th400.

If I aint too shy about my fabbin talents, I'll show all of you jes how it turns out. We'll just see.

I think all I have to do prior to reassembly an light-off.....is......
* A few feet of fuel line and two 18"X3/8" bolts to hold down the tank.
* Tighten a couple hose clamps to the radiator.
* Mount & plumb the aux tranny cooler.
* Wiring harness under the hood.
* Fill her with appropriate fluids.
* Probably should bolt the seats in so I can be sittin when I put her through the moves....purge some air bubles....so I can get to the brake pedal.
I'll get her pretty quick.

[A.T. RockDriller]

Originally Posted by Slowtruk

Awesome progress Les, this thing is so cool. I also have heard about the fiber optics used in early Cadillacs. Neat. Ready to see this thing rolling again! There is something so cool about a vintage, (and in your case very rare) heavy duty truck that serves its purpose.

BTW.....thanks fer the props, Slow.

Really keeps me on the good side.

[pdxhall]

The trucks coming along great, Les. I'm really looking forward to when you start working on the turbo setup.