Author Topic: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper  (Read 29960 times)

Offline Keyblazer

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1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« on: January 06, 2011, 01:42:32 PM »
Great Forum!
Here is my "Old Faithfull" 1973 K10 that I bought cheap, not running.




And its updated look!



Offline Grim 82

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2011, 02:24:12 PM »
Absolutely awesome.Welcome from ND. More info!
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.

Offline Keyblazer

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2011, 03:01:14 PM »
Thanks!
Ummm,
350 SBc and a TH350, with a NP205.
4" lift with 35" Goodyear Silent Armor's on 15" MT wheels.

Replaced the hood and front fenders due to damage and a little rust in the hood. The rest of the truck is very solid.
I hated the Mustard color, so I did a light prep and painted it with Rustoleum Black gloss... with a roller.. using the famous "$50 Paint job" method.
I did begin to buff it out to a gloss finish then realized I was getting silly, so rerolled it back to a semigloss. I just wanted it to look good from 20', and be able to fix trail rash simply.
Progress pics, hood and fenders replaced:



First coats:





Sanded between coats..



Buffed out..
This how good you can get!



Bed was done with Hurculiner, and its great!




Interior is revamped with Black Leather heated bucket seats, and black carpet and roofliner. Still finishing it in fact.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 03:46:51 PM by Keyblazer »

Offline beastie_3

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2011, 03:09:24 PM »
Its turning out great! Where in Cali are you?

Offline Keyblazer

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2011, 03:37:38 PM »
I am in South Orange County...
When I drive this around, the locals get the heck outta the way! ;D

The Camper shell, is a Callen... very strong, and built on a steel frame.
I have been to Death Valley and driven most everywhere, and camped way out there.
The truck has a custom made second gas tank, mounted drivers side, so I can carry about 35 gallons.

I was happy with getting out into the wilderness with this rig, but a new GF and the 2 dogs means things changed..
The K10 just does DD duties now... hauling stuff and junkyard runs!
This is my latest project, and what we will be taking to the outback when i have sorted some issues out, refitted the interior bathroom and kitchen.


I also have a 1987 Suburban R20 with a 454. Great truck and does whatever I ask of it... here it is in Death Valley a few years back..


And lastly, my 1973 Blazer...

Offline bake74

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2011, 04:33:22 PM »
     Looks like you got a whole fleet of them, welcome from up here is Sacramento, Ca.
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline Jim Rockford

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2011, 06:00:38 PM »
Dude nice pickup at first, but the wheels are horrendous. I don't understand what people see in ugly wheels nowadays.
1973 k20 Camper special
1980 k20 custom deluxe
2004 Crown Vic LX sport

Offline slammed79

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2011, 06:09:24 PM »
Dude nice pickup at first, but the wheels are horrendous. I don't understand what people see in ugly wheels nowadays.


X2. I can't stand the wheels. The rest of it is awesome though. Gotta love pre-smog Chevy's. The Burb isn't too bad either.
74 C10 Long bed 350/SM465 Lowered on 20's

Praise the lowered

Offline Keyblazer

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2011, 11:09:55 AM »
Thanks for the kind words!
They were not my first choice of wheels, but I got a deal on them.
I was gonna put some rock rings on to give them a tougher stance, but money is tight.
I have a set of tube bumpers in my garage and a winch for it, but no time to mod the bumper to suit...
One day!
Its been a totally budget driven build, but fun just the same!
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 11:13:10 AM by Keyblazer »

Offline beastie_3

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2011, 12:04:01 PM »
Dude nice pickup at first, but the wheels are horrendous. I don't understand what people see in ugly wheels nowadays.

Easy.

Offline Grim 82

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2011, 12:32:12 PM »
This is my latest project, and what we will be taking to the outback when i have sorted some issues out, refitted the interior bathroom and kitchen.

As in the Australian outback? That camper looks awesome. Is it 6wd?
Give a man a gun, and he might rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he might rob the world.

Offline Keyblazer

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2011, 04:29:37 PM »
It is/was a 1977 Dodge Tradesman 1 ton Van.
Couple more pics for fun...





In the 80's it had a Pathfinder 4x4 Conversion. So it has a Chrysler 360, TF 727, and a NP203 feeding a custom Dana44 upfront and the stock Dana70 outback.
Then it was bought by a Disabled Engineer, who had th extra length and axle from a similar van added by a Fabrication company in Riverside, CA.
The rearmost axle is a Dana70, but not driven.. so I guess that would make it a 4x6. I am trying to figure out how to do it, but its lower on the list than the refit of the interior. I want it driven, and have looked at many options, but all have drawbacks. I will change it to a NP205 Tcase, and I am working on having one with twin rear outputs to drive both axles.
It has the rooftop A/C and a 5000w genset in the rear, water tank and propane tank.
The masterplan would be to get a diesel drivetrain swapped in..
Anyone really interested will find the whole story here, as I dont want to distract..
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39401
« Last Edit: January 07, 2011, 04:42:41 PM by Keyblazer »

Offline Canadian 4X4

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2011, 04:36:54 PM »
Welcome, Sweet Rigs!

Offline ccz145a

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2011, 06:52:31 PM »
Nice set! That paint turned out good.
1975 C10 Silverado LWB, 454CID, TH400, 10bolt 3.42
11MPG Downhill w/tailwind (but there ain't no hills here)

Offline thirsty

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Re: 1973 K10 DD/Wilderness Camper
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2011, 10:12:56 PM »
Great job on the rustoleum paint job. Would have never known it wasn't regular paint.
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Give me a long enough lever and a place to stand, and I shall move the earth or break this bolt...Whatever, just hold my beer!