My 77 K-5 build

[Displaced_Txn]

Thanks, got the hood pulled off it today  and trimmed and sanded down to look alot better and allow the wipers to move freely, got the valve covers off to replace the valve stem seals in the morning along with new front shocks for it, ordered a diy4x shackle flip for the rear, pulled apart the gauge cluster and Now im hunting down a circuit board for a 77 like i have instead of the 87 model board thats on it now.

pic of the damage to the hub


completed


all back together


group shot of all my 4x4's


and



got a few more things to do to it this weekend clean up the diff covers , sand down some parts and re paint them and need to get the back lash set in the rear end again.

[bake74]

     At least it is progress right.

[Displaced_Txn]

Yea, can never complain on progress, however every time i get something done on it I discover another task that needs to be done on it

[bake74]

Yea, can never complain on progress, however every time i get something done on it I discover another task that needs to be done on it

     It is either that or another task that comes up around the house or the "honey to-do list".   

[Displaced_Txn]

very true but the honey do list went out the window with my divorce a few years ago, so trucks get all the attention and money now.

another update for the day.

pulled off the front shocks and went from duals back to a single shock, sanded and painted the steering stabilizer and put a new boot on it, and put my k&n on it finally.. doing the valve seals tomorrow.


Before
 

During


finished

[Displaced_Txn]

well started to do the valve stem seals today let it warm up a few minutes to check if the top end was getting oil. Got the valve covers off after about 15 minutes after pulling the plugs, ran my finger in the head and came out with this


push rods look like they havent seen oil in a while along with all the gunk build up in the heads, thinking its time to pull the heads   just havent decided if i want to get the factory heads checked out and worked on or just grabbing some summit heads and bolting them on and calling it good


which was the fear i had of pulling the valve covers today so here goes a ton more money into it, on the upside it is a heck of a lot cheaper than getting my diesel finally fixed



so just used the last bit of spare cash I had, full gasket set, 2703 intake manifold, summit loaded heads, summit high flow water pump, new push rods, new rockers, arp head and intake bolts,

[fitz]

Looks like a fun project you have going on.
Are you doing the valve seals because it smokes when you start it?
Does the motor run good the way it is? Did you do a compression test?
I'm just asking because  I've heard of a few horror stories when people put a new top end on a worn out motor.

[Displaced_Txn]

motor runs fine just have smoke on start up, checked other side and it was nice and clean. Really debating on doing valve stem seals now to help clear up the smoke and such or just shelling out the coin and getting some new heads. Heads were on the want list anyways but just have to decide if i want to spend the time doing every valve seal or just going the easy way with new heads...

[bd]

I agree.  The top is starving for oil.  What is the oil pressure running?

[Displaced_Txn]

last time i remember checking it was 2 start ups ago(before it got loaded on the trailer for texas) and it was idling at about 25 or so. pulling the intake off in the morning, then heads. was hoping it was gonna just be valve stem seals and call it good but nothing is ever easy on this thing.

[bd]

The idle oil pressure is good, but something is holding oil back from the top end.  Could be a restricted galley if it starves only on one side.  Need to inspect the lifters, as well.

[Displaced_Txn]

well got the intake and carb off, still need to pull the push rods out, and check the lifters, really debating going this far if i should just pull the cam out and throw a new one in it while im at it. but heres a few pics of how it sits now






was planing on pulling the oil pan for new a new gasket and figured i might as well throw a new h/o oil pump in it at the same time.

[bake74]

     It looks like from the pics that there was some sludge build up in there.

[Displaced_Txn]

in the head yes just a slight amount in a few spots of the head, but valley had no sludge but has also been sitting for 2 days. I was planning on pulling the pan also to replace the gasket and throw a high volume pump  in it at the same time.

[bd]

That intake gasket is pretty well cooked at the center on the passenger side.  Check the manifold with a good straightedge.

How many miles are on that oil filter?   

Do you see the problem you are facing?  Where do you stop?  At what point does it cease being a repair and become an O/H or replacement?  Been there a few times.  I don't envy your agony one bit.  The thing to do is to make a complete evaluation before you dump any green into that engine.  You know full well the more you take apart, the more you'll find.  Is ye prepared?   

Here's a thought.  Why don't you pick up a primer tool and pressurize the oiling system with the intake and valve covers off?  Then you can bar the engine over while priming to observe oil delivery to the top end - determine whether there are any lube system issues that require major cleaning like rodding the rifle bores....  You see where this could end up.  Perform a complete eval before committing to repair.  Just my 2¢.  Well... maybe 1½¢.