Ol' Brown - 1985 K3500 SRW slow build

[tip]

Here is my new truck, a 1985 GMC K3500 SRW reg cab. I've wanted a factory one ton 4x4 since I was a kid, and finally found one. My previous build thread was a C30 dually, which I thought I would keep forever, but I just have to have 4 wheel drive and I couldn't justify two trucks at this point in my life. They are the same color though!

This truck needs quite a bit of work. Currently, it needs tires BAD. A cracked pass side exh manifold, sticking choke, and a lot of other stuff. Body is pretty straight, some rust.

Plans are 4" lift (front springs and ORD shackle reversal kit) and 35's, go through the whole truck, buff out the paint, get rid of rust, and drive her. It will be used primarily as a woods/hunting truck, so functionality will be most important. I plan on keeping this one forever... finally feels good to say that!

Anyway, here's some pics:

When I first brought it home






after a quick rinse (between rain fronts)

[tip]

Did some exploratory work to see how much rust I'll have to deal with. The inside of the cab is disgusting... poor truck was really neglected by the previous owner.

I ripped out the rubber liner to see what I have... knew there would be rust - just how much - I wasn't sure.

Drivers side:





Pass side:

[tip]

Most of the rust formed due to a few water leaks. I found the e-brake bracket was missing a bolt, which is probably what caused the stress crack on the firewall (sorry no pics of that). Which in turn let water come in the cab.

missing bolt


water leaking:


I temporirily sealed it with some butyl tape and some washers on the firewall nuts. I will need to weld the crack shut soon but this will keep the water at bay for the time being.

Another leak in the back of the cab:




and another above the dome light


the source






Looks like I'm gonna have to start learning to weld sooner rather than later! God I hate previous owner f*** ups

[y5mgisi]

Darn previous owners!

[tip]

What do you guys think about these floorboards? I'm thinking blasting them and a solid coat of epoxy primer. I don't know if they warrant welding in whole new panels, but what do I know.

More rust




Hole in floor board (from bottom) that I thought was rust... looks more like puncture




Parts are trickling in...



And the name sake:

[cochino12]

cool, truck. I'll be watching progress

[russgt]

Nice truck, I've always loved the K30s! As far as the floor pans, clean them up with a wire wheel and "poke" at the areas that look thin with a screwdriver, if it doesn't break through, then you should be ok.

[y5mgisi]

i'll second the poke method. Those look like they will clean up fine.

[Slammed84]

I did my floors in roll on bedliner. Turned out really nice. I'll post pics for you tomorrow

[tip]

Yeah, do that. I think raptor liner is what I was leaning towards.

[tip]

Finally getting tires test fitted. Switched to 16" wheels, found some on craigslist. Hit them with some 600, then 1000 grit and then some machine polish. Not really my style but they'll work for now.

Tires are 315/75R16 Cooper S/T MAXX E rated

[77K10Silverado]

Stout pickup!

[y5mgisi]

I like it.

[MTCK]

Nice truck and I dig the big meats.

[tip]

Thanks guys

Going to try some Dyna Beads for these since I couldn't get them balanced at work. It was either that or Centramatic balancers, which I've seen in another build thread (but $200). I like the idea of not messing around with wheel weights and these seem to get decent reviews. Just waiting for them to ship here.

Got the last wheel polished up


As I mentioned before, I have some floorboard rust. I spent some time wire-wheeling the floors today to see more what I'm working with. Wasn't good:





The one small hole turned out to be worse than I thought. So looks like I'm going to be welding in floor pans on the driver's side. Passenger side looks like it will be okay.



That's where I am with the truck now. I'm really resisting the urge to get any deeper than I need to with the rust. I have a bad habit of turning small projects into big ones... I keep reminding myself it needs to stay my woods truck for now, not turn into a frame off resto.

On the immediate need list:

-replace right exhaust manifold
-mount and balance tires
-change out all fluids
-fix sticking choke
-replace king pins
-swap out auto locking hubs for manual
-alignment
-figure out floor pan fix

[twangismythang]

Nice lookin truck, I'm in to follow the progress..........

[MTCK]

I used some POR15 on my floor pans after I took the little bit of rust off with an abrasive disc on a die grinder. I scuffed the por15 in the door jambs where it was exposed then primed and painted.

[400/400]

Cool truck. Looks like your truck is the same color as my '85. Is it Indian Bronze Metallic?

[tip]

Originally Posted by twangismythang

Nice lookin truck, I'm in to follow the progress..........

Thanks

Originally Posted by MTCK

I used some POR15 on my floor pans after I took the little bit of rust off with an abrasive disc on a die grinder. I scuffed the por15 in the door jambs where it was exposed then primed and painted.

I'm definitely looking at POR15 for the floorboards after repair. Then hopefully some FatMat and a black carpet kit.

Originally Posted by 400/400

Cool truck. Looks like your truck is the same color as my '85. Is it Indian Bronze Metallic?

It sure is. My last C30 was the same color, it looks really good after some polishing. Hopefully my current truck's paint will look as good.

This was the C30 fender after some work:

[400/400]

I used Chassis Saver, similar to POR 15, on my floors. It's intended to go on rust for good adhesion. I sanded all non rusty metal well with 60 grit sandpaper before I brushed it on. It seemed to adhear pretty well then I installed some insulating mat and a thick rubber floor liner.

[y5mgisi]

For the polishing, i used nufinish on my 77 and couldnt believe how good it turned out! Here are some pics of when i was doing the hood.





Before,



After,

[tip]

Originally Posted by 400/400

I used Chassis Saver, similar to POR 15, on my floors. It's intended to go on rust for good adhesion.

Thanks for the tip, I'll have to check out Chassis Saver.

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

For the polishing, i used nufinish on my 77 and couldnt believe how good it turned out! Here are some pics of when i was doing the hood.

Dang, nice job!

Finally got my tires on today! I must be getting old because it took me forever and now I'm sore as hell.





Showing her good side









And her not so good side (dull):






Overall, I'm very happy with these Coopers and glad I went with Dyna Beads. There was no way I was going to mess with balancing these, especially with the little caliper clearance I have now after ditching the 16.5" wheels. She rides pretty damn good for an old 1 ton.

I was also surprised how well these tires fit with stock suspension. I'm almost thinking a 4" lift would be too much now.

Noticed today it would diesel for a second or two after shutting off, I'll have to look into that next. I REALLY don't want to put money/time into the quadrajet because I'd like to swap in a fuel injected motor (TBI at the very least) at some point.

I'm sure it needs a rebuild, but I'm afraid it will never run right after I tear into it. I bought Cliff's Q-jet "bible" a while ago but its mainly geared for high performance stuff, not an actual rebuild guide. I was "this" close to pulling the trigger on one of Cliff's SR rebuild kits for my old C30, but got cold feet and ended up selling the truck.

[hardcore4life]

Dang. So that's stock height with 35's? It looks good right where it's at.

[MTCK]

That looks great! How bad is the rubbing?

[tip]

Originally Posted by hardcore4life

Dang. So that's stock height with 35's? It looks good right where it's at.

Yeah, stock height supposedly. The front springs were re-arched back to factory specs according to some of the PO's receipts. Really rethinking the suspension now.

Originally Posted by MTCK

That looks great! How bad is the rubbing?

No rubbing just driving around town, none at full lock either way. Some rubbing when I turned into an off camber driveway though. Will have to do some more checking, as I'm sure it will rub as soon as I get any kind of suspension travel. Wish I had a forklift to use real quick!