Carolina K10, 1979 Reg cab short bed.

[swamp rat]

Lookin good! (yea i know i just repeated myself)

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Lookin good! (yea i know i just repeated myself)

Thanks. We had 2 sunny 70-80 degree days this week so I wanted to do as much as possible before the rain moved in today.

[bohmankid]

Keep it up and you might motivate me to continue working on mine haha.

[1963c-10]

Nice progress Austin. And the more parts on the truck...the less in the garage.

[TheBlueBomber]

The engine Is pretty much all ready to be put together. Just need to blast/paint a bunch of stuff and an oil pan gasket and it'll be done. Picked up the welder today... Gonna start practicing soon.

[rusty76]

Looking good!

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Thanks. We had 2 sunny 70-80 degree days this week so I wanted to do as much as possible before the rain moved in today.

Wow, that sounds like here in the N.W. well almost anyway. I swear it rained for 40 days and 40 nights at least, it let up yesterday about 12pm......

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Looking good!

Thanks. Are you going to the auto fair next month? I might be going. Run to the sun is next weekend in Myrtle Beach but I'm only going down one day.

[bohmankid]

Gotta love Harbor Freight.. Haha. My first welder was also a Chicago, but I just bought a new $700 Lincoln gas welder. Save your money for a nice gas lincoln or miller, you won't be disappointed with the quality.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by bohmankid

Gotta love Harbor Freight.. Haha. My first welder was also a Chicago, but I just bought a new $700 Lincoln gas welder. Save your money for a nice gas lincoln or miller, you won't be disappointed with the quality.

I'm going to take everyone's advice on this and get a quality welder. But for now I shall practice... i just need to find some random scrap to start practicing on lol.

[rusty76]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Thanks. Are you going to the auto fair next month? I might be going. Run to the sun is next weekend in Myrtle Beach but I'm only going down one day.

I've been thinking about going to the Auto fair. I haven't been before. I've been to Goodguys once. Long time ago. I've never done the run to the sun event. I've always wanted to. I haven't made up my mind yet. I wanted to go last year but things didn't work out. Mostly family stuff. Family first. I might just have to go. Let you know. There's another show that take place down at Kure Beach. Sunset Street Rodders something or another event. Not sure that is right. My wife and I went a few years ago. Caught it on a whim really. Was a nice event. Really cool stuff there. We usually go to Kure Beach for vacation. Hadn't been to Myrtle in a long time. I guess since my honeymoon........

[1963c-10]

Austin...check this out: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=619994

[TheBlueBomber]

Bomber down.

I've found a transmission for the k10 but something was holding me back... found out what it was today.

I guess I'll be getting a new transmission for the blue truck lol. That was one hell of a burnout!!!

[TheBlueBomber]

I think it was God's way of getting me to start a build thread.

[TheBlueBomber]

Started to pull the transmission today. All i need to do is unbolt the bellhousing and drop the transmission. It started to drop temperature and my girlfriend was upset I wasn't ready for our movie date so I'll do it in the morning.


The difference between the NP203 and NP243 is ridiculous. Here's a side by side shot.

[rusty76]

Never seen the difference but there's right much.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Never seen the difference but there's right much.

The NP243 I could bring down using my chest, and shoulder muscles. The np203 however I would not dare use anything but hydraulics when I'm by myself lol. I'll get a better side by side pic tomorrow when it's sunny.



Got the 4l60e out today should be able to drop it off later this week.

[1963c-10]

Come on Austin....

[swamp rat]

I got my NP205 out by using my twain cheepo floor jack and a stack of blocks to get it started, as i got it clear of the tranny it was clear i had my hands full as it started to roll off the side of the jack toward me, i had no choice (and was very lucky) i was able to control it enough to lower it to my chest using my hands and arms, that was one heavy sob and that didn't feel too good! I actually did the reverse to install it knowing my jack was useless, i scooted the T-case under the truck, then rolled it up on my chest then lifted it in place, got it after a couple of try's, i'll never try it again that's for sure! That was 20 some odd years ago, i'm not that strong any more.

[TheBlueBomber]

The theme of today... 1 step forward and 10 leaps back.


I decided to clean up the garage after the transmission job yesterday so I started with installing the oil pan on the 5.3....

LESSON NUMBER 1 of today, If a part has "refer to service manual" stamped on it, head that warning!!!!




Lesson number 2, if your day starts out terrible and continues downhill... quit while your ahead, lock your doors, turn off your cell phone and watch a movie for the remainder of the day LOL.

After calming down after the realization of my stupidity, I called my friends down the street to see if they had a spare. Just so happened they had a core l33 shipping out later today.

Boom new l33 oil pan. I then learned that the oil pick up is shorter along with the pan on the l33 engine so I had to go back and swap pick ups. Now the only problem I'm running into is bending the windage tray to clear the new pan.





Traded the chrome 15x7 bullet hole rims for a set of 15x10 painted wagon style rims and $100. The plan for these rims are to sand them down to bare metal and paint them black. Eventually when I get a set of street wheels for the truck i'll mount those on the chrome wheels and the boggers on the painted. That way I won't worry about scratching them while wheeling.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Come on Austin....

Haha is it bad that I read it in his voice

Originally Posted by swamp rat

I got my NP205 out by using my twain cheepo floor jack and a stack of blocks to get it started, as i got it clear of the tranny it was clear i had my hands full as it started to roll off the side of the jack toward me, i had no choice (and was very lucky) i was able to control it enough to lower it to my chest using my hands and arms, that was one heavy sob and that didn't feel too good! I actually did the reverse to install it knowing my jack was useless, i scooted the T-case under the truck, then rolled it up on my chest then lifted it in place, got it after a couple of try's, i'll never try it again that's for sure! That was 20 some odd years ago, i'm not that strong any more.

That thing is no joke. I made sure I was clear of that thing when we started lifting the engine out. Mad props for bench pressing that thing all by yourself multiple times haha

[TheBlueBomber]

Figured out it wasn't the windage tray that was getting in the way, it was an old part of the gasket I left behind. Scraped that off and two taps with a hammer later I got the oil pan bolted up. Sealing up the rest of the motor so it'll be done and out of the way.

[rusty76]

Won't be long now.

[swamp rat]

Well, guess that movie did you some good..

[Captkaos]

Just wanted to jump in here and give you my thoughts... Spoke with you on IG...

I highly recommend you pull the motor down and gap the top ring to 0.028" if you are planning on adding some boost to it, otherwise around 12-15lbs it will blow the top ring land off. While you are in there check the bearings and clean it up. Most will be fine on the inside, but it is nice insurance to know, and it will live without machining it.
The bottom end will handle the power, the weakest link is the rods, but 600hp is realistic. Mine is making 450hp/500lb/ft to one wheel right now fuel limited.

If you can swing it, get a 4L80E, eventually you will toast a stock TH350, the NP205 won't care... A 4L60E will break also unless you have some really good parts, as in most peoples Level 6 stuff.

You need the straightest path for the fuel lines and I would run 3/8" both directions otherwise your pump will be limited. I recommend removing all the stock metal fuel lines and either running straight 3/8" tube or braided hose. You are going to need 87 sending units for the electric pumps. I don't know where you are planning on putting the turbo's, but plan ahead for the drain/return. I recommend welding an AN fitting into the timing cover or oilpan.

Good luck, you will love it.