My 78 k10 4x4 build thread -454 install / build -1 ton axles- frame restoration

[FearNoMan78k10]

Yeah you think so minus ?! Thanks bro !! I want to paint the entire frame this color lol seriously it's that gorgeous haha,,,, the tranny and transfer case will be painted this color I think it looks so good man lol, and I will paint the same colors on the axles too.  I'm thinking though a gloss black for the frame ?

[FearNoMan78k10]

I've changed my mind so much on this build, I'm not going with these merlin heads for a couple reasons..... I can wait and put heads on later,,,,, port these heads and also do some old school hot rodding tricks to these heads to get more flow and power, coupled with the new cam and intake it should really be forcing in air big time,,,,, saves lots of money, opens up more room for parts,,, so instead of going with sealed power gasket set I'm going with a metal gasket set for the top of the motor... To keep things sealed well and holding those pressures... Well the stock heads should do just fine after they are fixed and cleaned up real good and have been tricked I think they will do just fine for awhile, later down the road I probably will change them at some point to gain extra hp and tq and hit that 700 plus marker all day long, but if think for now, 600 is enough... I have new springs ready for the old heads , and chromoly push rods and lifters from Howard's cams along with a Howard's cam for the valve train, Howard's springs as well, so since the heads aren't being ordered it opens up a lot of room and space for progress on the truck , extra parts and other things. Should see a lot of progress this week, and even more the following two weeks,,, it should all come together here soon ,,,,

[FearNoMan78k10]

Well I just confirmed the order on summit racing it ships tomorrow and should arrive Tuesday Wednesday next week! Today I'm heading down to the shop to meet a guy with a slightly used radiator with two electric fans that he has for sale, same guy that bought my engine parts and then my carb, he has a nice new oil pan for me that he is also bringing by today! And I'm also finally going to pay my mechanic for his Holley 830 double pumper today! We are going to do some head work this evening. The heads will be worked over throughout ....  Axles are getting taken apart and the 1 ton axles installed ASAP status... Still searching for new rims,,, and still trying to sell my old rims so I can buy new ones so until that happens the chevy will be on some jack stands waiting for new wheels. I need 8 lug American racing Baja 16" wheels :-) 137 a piece, still trying to search for a better price.... Also ordered some Taylor cable spark plug wires as well.  409 race fit wires. Color , red,,, and a half pint of ARP assembly lubricant. Arp products totaled $487.03 for the engine, assembly lubricant was 19.42 for a half pint alone from ARP. not to mention the other assembly lubricant for other parts and  fluids/grease etc from bumper to bumper. That in itself is going to be a pretty penny...  Still searching for a good performing dual exhaust setup. ..... Also still needing bushings shocks and brakes all the way around. Brakes are 140 for front and rear with hardware kit. Should be picking that up soon . And also should be machining the rotors and drums on the lathe soon to get ready for the new brake pads and hardware. Leaf springs are still trying to be sourced as well as shocks. Still a lot of determining to do on the shocks, ie, brand, length, travel, and it's quality to it as well as ride and drivability. Good shocks coupled with added leaf springs and a new steering stabilizer shock with having the steering rebuilt should make for a better smoother on the road driving experience. Axles will get sandblasted very shortly ,,, truck frame under cab will be restored and brought to a finish like the rest of the frame, the interior will be getting some love soon too... So I'll be posting up quite a bit from here on out as far as progress goes on this project fix and build.

[FearNoMan78k10]

Okay so all the parts arrived from summit and rough country ( ordered a custom 4" 1 ton suspension lift with springs ) . I didn't take pics of the new suspension because it's all in boxes. But did an inventory and all checked out, summits order as well... I stopped by tanner 4x4 today and ordered new spring perches. They will be here Monday for the axle swap. Also picked up some heavy duty u bolt top plates for Dana 60 from tanner 4x4 here in the springs. Also stopped by advance auto parts and got fluids for the entire truck, axles, tranny, transfer case, power steering , brake fluid and coolant. And also spark plugs and a Holley air filter with cap. It's a huge filter... Should breathe pretty well with that on there, but check this out. I forgot the engine oil and filter today !!! How does that happen? Associate talked my ear off and I got distracted ....lol so I need engine oil and a oil filter now which isn't a huge deal but still that's not cheap... The oil pan I have holds wayyyyyy more fluid than the old pan which was a passenger car oil pan. Trading my old rods for an oil pan , it's in good shape too, just needs cleaned up... Well with all the parts here now it shouldn't be too long before it's done.... Still need to pay for the rest of the labor and half of the new carb.... Umm oh yeah the drive shafts,,,,, still need to have those redone and strengthened up. New rebuilt custom shaft is 325 a shaft . X2 lol... That's 650 just for driveshafts ... Soooo that will be the LAST thing done on the truck.... Still need brake pads and rotors / drums resurfaced..... There is always something else on the list of things to do and get seems like... I'm trying to wrap this build up as best as I can.....I'll get some pics posted up of the new suspension, mounting plates, perches and fluids soon... Last pic is what the new carb looks like... It's been fully tricked out by the mechanic helping me on this build..Here are the engine parts aside from what we already have at the shop


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Here is 2/3 of the engine parts list ......I did not order new heads,,,,, heads will get ALOT of love and attention as they really really need it..

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[FearNoMan78k10]

The last part on this list was world products merlin heads .. 1500 dollars,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ummmm yeah ,,,,, ended up reconsidering and did not end up buying these new iron heads,,,, too many other parts needed ordered


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Everything on the list came in the mail so thank The Lord nothing was missing or broken on arrival ....  Here is a pic of the new spring lol the others I didn't take pics of as well as the other engine parts and suspension but no worries I'll post it up for you guys to see


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Here is the first initial order and some receipts with dates on them just showing the progress, it's been a long expensive journey


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[FearNoMan78k10]

This is minus the new engine parts and suspension order


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[minus1]

  that is one heck of a pile of parts 

[FearNoMan78k10]

Loool yeah it is brother....... Insane.... Hey the front axle the big nasty Dana 60 is INSTALLED NOW,!!!


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[FearNoMan78k10]

/suspension lift installed as well up front !,,,


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[bake74]

     Those springs look small compared to that axle.

[FearNoMan78k10]

Lool yeah they do... Rough country assured me the springs are 1 ton... The old leaf springs had nothing to them, 2  maybe 3 leafs on each perch ... These are much much stronger and more leafs on each perch by far than before. Hopefully they will do what they are suppose to do ,,,,, that Dana 60 is just insane on how heavy it is... 900lbs I'd say without exaggerating, 700 or so on the Dana 70. A lot of weight in just axles.... High gear ratio though....  SOOO.... After installing the lift up front the entire truck came up like 5.5" or so ... Lift was a 4" lift... DEFINITELY raised it more than 4".... But with the big block it should bring down the front an inch, around that much....


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[FearNoMan78k10]

So I just got done with the dog house !!!!!! I sanded it real good with a mouse sander lol ...... Tedious......... BUT...... It has it's first thick coat of flat black rustoleum on it.... It's not perfect but I think it looks much better than before... Plus all that nasty rust has been taken off and coated over with flat black.... I am considering leaving it flat black........ It looks pretty smashing In my opinion... Not like I had a couple grand laying around to sandblast and professionally paint everything .... But I'm thinking of glossing it too..... Dunno.... Any thoughts guys ?.... What do you think of the flat black ! ?  Frame is gloss black... Axles and suspension except shocks will be gloss black...  I need about 2 more cans of gloss in addition to the two cans I already have to put the final coat on.. I have two more cans of flat black... But its a little breezy to continue painting... I had a few runs on the paint from the wind and just decided to wipe off the runs and repaint.. Only a few areas... Just tricky painting on the side of a mountain ya know!? I will also be doing the underneath of the bed.... And under the wheel wells on the dog house and bed too.... Truck is coming along a little better now ,,, now that we have more parts to work with.....


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