1986 Chevy K10 Custom Deluxe Restoration

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

I baught this 1986 K10 about a week ago and I plan on restoring it. It is the heavy half ton with quad shocks in the front. The guy who I got it from put a new alternator, front drive shaft, tires on. The first thing that i did was take off the box because there was basically no floor. I forgot to take pictures with the box on the truck but heres the box ready to get hauled in for scrap.





I know this isn't the best way to do it, but i am only going to sandblast and paint half of my frame at a time. I need the truck to move for a couple more weeks and I mind as well get the rear of the truck frame done while I wait. Also I will have an easier time remembering where everything goes in the front of the truck. I took both bumpers off, grille, and the hitch, then I got all the old bolts and stuff of the rear to get ready for sandblasting. Now I just need to get a sandblaster then get the rear done.







Other than the box the rest of the body was in pretty good condition but there is still rust so I will just put new metal on there.





These tires were a steal, he wasn't going to give me these tires at first but for just $150 more I got them, there is lots of tread left on them.





The engine has to get rebuilt, and so will the tranny. When you start the engine cold it will knock for a couple seconds. I am not sure if it is the 305 or 350 I'll just have to find out when we pull it.



The interior is in pretty good condition, the dash needs some new parts but the bench seat is really nice.





I believe the radio is original and it works to, so i will be keeping that.



Ill add pics as the truck progresses.

[bake74]

     Nice start, nothing wrong with doing the back half first and then the front, as long as you do get to the front.     The stereo does look stock and if it worked I would keep it for now also.
     That should be a great truck as you keep working on it, will be following progress, keep us posted.

[mikek20]

This truck has a lot of potential.  I hope you keep up on it. Good score on the tires they look well worth it. It looks like your off to a good start.

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

Yeah I really like the rims, I was thinking of putting hubcaps with the chevy logo from   on.

[Custom Deluxe]

Thanks for sharing 

I'll be looking at your updates !

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

I finally got around to working on my truck, I was on and off working on it since my last post just not that fast. I found a new box for my truck, I got it for $100 and its off a GMC but a new tailgate will just turn it into a Chevy Box. There is a liitle surface rust on it and a little bit of the wheel wells are bad but I already have new ones to be put on it. The box floor is solid which is a big improvement from my other box.







I wasnt planning on pulling my engine this early but plans just happened to change. Now I am going to pull everything off the frame and get that all painted, then slowly get everything back on. I plan on getting a wire welder in the next couple days and start fixing up my box.

[bake74]

I wasnt planning on pulling my engine this early but plans just happened to change. Now I am going to pull everything off the frame

     HA, the bug bit ya didn't it.     It's ok, it happens to the best of us.  Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.  Oh yea, nice score for $100.00, that bed does not look all that bad.

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

The box is really nice, I also didn't think it would be such a pain to get all the fenders off, it took me at least 4 hours.

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

I got to work on my truck again this weekend. I got a couple friends over this weekend and we got the engine pulled. This was the first engine that I have ever pulled and I was surprised on how easy it was. I still have to find another code on the block but right now i'm pretty sure that is a 350. I will know for sure tomorrow.

This setup has a TH700R4 tanny with an aluminum NP208 transfer case.







I still plan on getting a welder, that I never got yet. But it going to cost me more than I thought it would, so it will have to wait until I get paid again. Right now i'm thinking about pulling the cab and getting the frame painted all at once.





I also have a question for all of you, is this a proportional valve? I was told that you can't buy these new anymore.

[mikek20]

To answer your question: yes that is the proportioning valve you took a picture of. As far as i know you can still buy them new but from minimal sources. It is difficult for them to really "go bad". Most people break the lines off going into them. You can find them used at any junk yard, or take the other approach of adjustable aftermarket ones. Im not a fan of those though. I like what your doing with the truck though, i recommend painting the frame if you pull the cab. But once you start you wont want to stop! Its addicting.

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

If I take my cab off and repair it I'm going to have to figure something out, the door close really hard. You have to really slam each door to get them to close right. So I'm thinking the cab is twisted or messed up somewhere. The guy before me put like a beam under the cab to support the floor so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

[mikek20]

If your body line on cab fits your doors and theres no extreme gaps between the door and cab when they're shut; then i would say your problem lies in the strikers and door latches. My truck i have to slam the doors on because the latches are stiff and my seal is new. If i dont slam them they are only half shut. I would lay some lithium grease in the latches and try it out.

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

That sounds a lot easier, my body lines are pretty close and when the doors are shut, there tight. I was going to get new doors anyways because the ones I got now are pretty much just body filler. Thanks

[Chevy Truck Guy 86]

I finally found the number I needed to find on the engine block and it is 350 ci. It also doesn't have an Edelbrock carburetor, it has a Rochester carburetor which I think is like the factory carb. So I don't know how good they are.

[bake74]

I finally found the number I needed to find on the engine block and it is 350 ci. It also doesn't have an Edelbrock carburetor, it has a Rochester carburetor which I think is like the factory carb. So I don't know how good they are.

     Depends on which Rochester you have and what you want with your truck.  For the most part a Rochester Carb. is a great carb. if rebuilt and tuned properly.  They are however trickier to get "just right" than others.  But once they are dialed in they have excellent response and reliability.