Hey everyone!
Picked up my first Squarebody(s) a few months back. Got a 77 k10 fleetside, 79 c10 stepside and a 84 c10 rolling chassis minus bed. Plan to restore the 77 back to daily driver duties cause I need a truck again (never know how much you actually use a truck until you sell it haha) and use the 79 and 84 for parts.
The 77 has a good frame and drivetrain (350, SM465, NP205, Dana 44, and 12 bolt) but the sheet metal is shot. I actually have this one running and driving now but the whole floor of cab is shot.
The 79 has a good engine but transmission is shot. It looks like someone tried to restore it several years ago and they slapped bondo on every body panel besides the bed and it is starting to peel/crack so I didn’t want to redo all that work when I could find a better donor cab. ( I got the 77 and 79 in a package deal)
The 84 I bought mainly for the cab but is also a Silverado so has all the top options like A/C, tilt column, etc.
My plan as I see it now is to use the Frame and drivetrain from the 77, swap the cab and front clip from the 84 and use the step side bed ,for now, from the 79.
I know I have a lot of work in front of me. My brother in law is saying to sell it all off and just start off with a better platform but I figured for the amount of money I have in all 3 trucks($78!!!!) I could build the truck I want and I would know it inside and out. This isn’t going to be one of those 3 month projects and see it driving down Main Street. I plan to really start tearing them down later in the spring when it warms up so in the mean time I will be prowling the site for research.
If there is any upgrades or mods that you have done or know is a common problem that I should do let me know! I would rather do it during reassembly vs driving it and will wishing I would have done it.
Thanks Jared