Project - Winter Beater - 85 K3500 dually

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Hey everyone i'm finally starting a build thread. I just want to say thanks to everyone here for all the great threads and info!

Ill start off with a picture of the day I brought it home


My original plans were to fix it up gradually and use it mostly as a winter/firewood truck. It has a 350 SM465 NP205





Air compressor - rotten rotors - dicked fuel tank


So I drove it like that for the summer and loved it. So I decided to fix it up pretty decent this winter. Unfortunately it was so cold this winter I didnt get as much done as I had hoped. Shes was in pretty tough shape. You boys down south dont know how easy you have it!!!!!


Parts truck I got a sweet deal on. Rear axle was broken. It had a lot of good body parts and misc parts I needed. Original plan was to use this box and put the dually Fenders on it.


Pure madness everything is rusted/sized/gone. Haha I was reading through Txfirefighters lemons to lemonade thread (beautiful truck, and amazing work you do!) and he posted that trucks should not leak/drip. I had a good laugh while tearing this thing down. The only places where this thing was half decent still was wherever there was leaks!





There was nothing left of the old box. it was held together by some fiberglass


Thats it for now. Will post pictures of hows its going soon

[Wrecked1982]

great project!

[mrolds88]

Interesting project. Make sure of 2 things as far as the bed goes. 1. Dont toss the old dually bed until you have got the fenders mounted on a new bed. Second make sure you strip everything off the dually bed (brackets, wiring, and the little blockoff plates that go in the arch) before it goes too!!

[brimc]

You got a great platform to start with their. That specific combo is hard to find up here, trust me I know. Looking forward to following this build along!!

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Thanks Brimc - I read through your thread love that truck! cant wait to see it done.
Thanks for the advice Mrolds, I actually ended up selling that box when I found a good southern box. The fiberglass blockoff/filler dealys were broke up on both boxes does anyone know where I can find them? I find a lot of places dont list any dually parts.

I did strip everything off of the old dually box that was salvageable as well as pretty much everything off of the parts truck that i though i might need right down to nuts bolts... I got to say anyone thinking of getting into a build or anything a parts truck is a huge life/time saver.

Here are some pics of some of the body work






This is the colour it is going to be


Here is the box i picked up for it. its not the prettiest but its actually pretty straight. I cant believe how clean underneath it. One day i would love to drive south a pick up a clean untouched truck.



Once the cab was finished I got going on the chassis, I didnt tear it right down 100% I just didn't want this thing to turn into a couple year project. I do plan on daily driving winter and summer. Its definitely not going to be a show truck. I do plan in working on it once it is back on the road. I did replace all shocks steering dampner, tie rods, any u-joints with play, fuel lines break lines etc..






For the frame I just descaled and wire wheeled with a few thick coats of tremclad. I plan on keeping it well oiled underneath so I didn't get fancy.
Resealed everything on engine/trans/t-case. Engine was really clean inside, was told it didnt have alot of kms, looks like the previous owner wasn't lying.

[brimc]

I like your approach. My build has turned into a multi year deal and has changed a few directions. The cab repairs look real good. Keep it up.

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Here are some more pictures of the progress

Got the interior mostly back together - the twin sticks turned out pretty cool!


New tach wired in and working good.


Cooling fan also installed and working good. Seems to cool it fine, may need to build a shroud if it doesn't cool it good enough


Front end came together pretty nice.




Today I got the hood on and test fit the headlights/grille It will need to come back apart for paint. Also got a little bit more done on the interior.




Should have the rims back from sandblast this week. I'm thinking black or white. I didn't want to go black because I already have black rims on my other truck. But I dont really think white will go good with the grey. Any thoughts?
Once its rolling hopefully within two weeks I can have it out for paint and then move onto the box.

[Anchorism]

Originally Posted by SC C-10

Here's mine; '79 454 pulling beast. We call it the Big Chief.

I think they look pretty good being on a dark grey truck.....Stole this pic from SC C-10....hope he doesnt mind!

[Wrecked1982]

progress is fast! great body work skills

[brimc]

Looking awesome! Is that new front end sheet metal you are using? They look new in the pics. If so where did you get them? I'm looking to buy new fenders for mine. All the used parts around here (ont) are pretty much shot.
Can't wait to see it painted.

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Hmm that white looks really good with the grey actually! I cant take credit for a lot of the body work, I rough fit rockers and cab corners but I had a guy I know come finish it all off - he has been great.

The Front left Fender and rad support are new I got body parts and patch panels from either discountbodyparts.com or amazon. I live 5 minutes from the border, we have a ups box over there we ship to. Luckily I got everything for this truck in the fall when our dollar was good.

[jott_06]

what about silver on the wheels? Like the argent color used on rally wheels

[Rideagainstthemachin]

I thought about that silver as well, but i think it will be too close to the body colour. I'm going to go with white. its easy enough to change later if I want. Does anyone have a good source for dually specific parts? Im still looking for some of the filler fiberglass pieces that go between the dually fender and the bed.

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Got some more updates! Its back on the road and loving life. Im really happy with how it turned out. The one picture shows it being put to work bringing some skids home to stack firewood on. The "rear" bumper I bought turned out to be a front bumper haha so I am fixing up the power gate right now. Its done just needs the be sandblasted. I will get some pictures when its done. Once its on I will make a trailer hitch for it. Then that's the last of the major work on it. still quite a bit of finishing touches left yet. Its booked in for spray in bed liner this Friday.

[MTCK]

Cool truck and nice work on the build.

[71veronica]

Turned out great. Nice job

[brimc]

Truck turned out very nice really like what you did with it. I'm interested to see your Bedliner when it is done. Which company are you going with?

[Zach079xxx]

Not a dually fan but this looks great.. & your parts truck looks just like my truck lmao I was like noooooo

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Thanks guys!

Brimc - Im going with line - x I have it on my other truck and it has stood up very well. Ill get some pictures up once its done

Sorry Zach parts truck had a rotten frame and just wasn't worth saving

[Throckmorton Whump]

LOL, just saw this thread for the first time.
I bought control arms from you over a year ago - they were off the brown/tan parts truck. I have them now rebuilt, pie-cut and cupped for air bags under my Blazer. Build thread coming.
Dually looks awesome, nice work.

[Zach079xxx]

I'd like to know how the line x turns out also. I'm thinking of getting mine soon. How much did you get quoted for it where you are located at?

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Originally Posted by Throckmorton Whump

LOL, just saw this thread for the first time.
I bought control arms from you over a year ago - they were off the brown/tan parts truck. I have them now rebuilt, pie-cut and cupped for air bags under my Blazer. Build thread coming.
Dually looks awesome, nice work.

Thanks! Cant wait to see yours sounded like a cool project.

Originally Posted by Zach079xxx

I'd like to know how the line x turns out also. I'm thinking of getting mine soon. How much did you get quoted for it where you are located at?

Im in southern Ontario, I was quoted 500 for under the rail. I had to work friday so I cancelled appt but will book in again for friday. I will post some pictures once its done.

[Zach079xxx]

Long bed or short? My buddy was quoted 500 for a short bed but I have a long bed.


Derp moment.. You have a short bed. Wonder the price difference

Originally Posted by Rideagainstthemachin

Thanks! Cant wait to see yours sounded like a cool project.



Im in southern Ontario, I was quoted 500 for under the rail. I had to work friday so I cancelled appt but will book in again for friday. I will post some pictures once its done.

[Rideagainstthemachin]

Its a long bed Zach.

Sorry no real updates we just had our first child so i've been pretty busy with that. However I did pick up a 5.3 ls for next year maybe?!? Ive Read about some x member issues with stock height 4x4 swaps but cannot really find much info. Does anyone have links to a thread or info of this issue?



and we all love pictures so here is another reason I haven't been working on the truck.

[motornut]

nice grey,gotta love a solid winter beater