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

[Irish_Alley]

Love my red top. Didn't pay for it, when I worked at auto zone 8-9 years ago someone dropped it off as a core. I had a couple spare cores laying around so I swapped it out put it on trickle charge and put her in my 94 it was used when I got it and its still in my truck

[FearNoMan78k10]

That is a total score on a optima that's for sure, you didn't pay for it , got it for free, and it has lasted over 9 years ? And was used when you got it?! WHAT....... that's insane.... So you pretty much scored a 200 dollar battery free that still works nearly a decade later,.. That's a once in a 1000 story lol jeez and how is it working to this day? Any signs of it standing on its last leg? Or is it " running on all cylinders" still?  Do you keep a trickle charger hooked up to it? How often do you recharge it if at all?

[FearNoMan78k10]

Irish that is a God thing that the used optima you were able to get has lasted this long, truly



I'd be willing to bet my plug nickel you have taken great care of it too.....

[Irish_Alley]

Yeah its over 9 years. Seams when it gets real hot the starter will struggle. But I don't think I ever replaced the starteror the wires. Truck has over 330k but no trickle charge. Every now and then the battery light will pop on with the head lights and wipers on. But replaced the alt a couple years ago and it stopped now it does it every now and again.

[FearNoMan78k10]

Having the wires replaced with new ones I'm sure would help, what about your voltage regulator?  That might be a possible cause..... Perhaps a loose ground somewhere causing a short? Or a connection somewhere in a switch?  Open loop connection through a loose wire?    A soon to be faulty relay could cause it.... That is a LOT of miles,,, is it still going strong?  That's impressive Irish .... Seems to me you definitely do maintenance on the truck often... That can't be said for many vehicles on the road today..... Can you post a pic for giggles of the truck and battery since it's related?

[Irish_Alley]

lol its more of a beater with a/c. its really the wife’s first truck 94 with the front end of a 93- swb 4.3 4l60e (the original trans did go about 13 years ago. got one from the junkyard came out of a v8 fyi the v8 version of the 4l60e has a lower stall and more clutch packs than the v6.)

it was a pain to get the a/c since the compressor was for r134a and the condenser was for r12. the fittings didnt match up so i had to find the right condenser to fit both the space in the front and the fittings. now it blows colder than most truck/cars i been in. it has also been cutting out once you reach 65+. Just today coming from work i was going about 60 wanted to go a little faster it started to stumble but was picking up speed. seamed to clear up and i looked down and was going 80. the 4.3 is just a 4.3 so its lacking the power that i want and used to from my 3.8 s/c impala. ill try to get some pictures

[FearNoMan78k10]

Irish I'm heading out to sand a and paint today , I'm a slow worker so I look forward to responding to your post when I'm done today. Have a great day

[FearNoMan78k10]

No that sounds like a rock solid truck to me .... Seriously.... It has that many miles and still runs and drives great .... That speaks volumes for itself ..... Well Irish at least it has the power you need...... Maybe not want but need...... How much is it producing ..... ROUGHLY..... To the wheels?  How is the beefy 4l60e trans holding up? How many miles are it? Just curious..... Hey yeah I bet that AC issue was a headache trying to find the right condenser.... I prefer r134a anyways. R12 is dangerous stuff and harder to find .... And very expensive anyways.... Did you know r-414b can be a direct drop in replacement for r-12? It is also known as "hot shot" and actually runs at lower pressures and maintains the same cooling temps...it is great for a long life in the AC system and the components. Although you would need your EPA cert to buy it.... Unfortunately ....            R134a can't just be dropped into a r12 AC setup as it would eat up the rubber seals and also the expansion valve doesn't have enough ability to adjust it for its range of required use to meter it correctly..... Anywho....  Hey just curious Irish.... Could you throw a super charger on the 4.3l for a relatively cheap price do it yourself style ?   I mean I'm sure there is a model out there that has a supercharger you could throw on? Well a turbo setup is cheap if you do the homework and install fabricate yourself.... Has that hair brained thought ever crossed your mind? It's an IDEA...... You could get taller gears for your axles to help on power ,,,, just a thought ..... Sorry I didn't respond yesterday I was slammed busy Irish... My body is killing me today worse than normal ,,,,

[FearNoMan78k10]

Someone please help me find top plates that are OEM and in stock for a Dana 60 king pin straight axle, 1 ton,,, gm or chevy top plates for a 80's model axle, I will post axle numbers today! Oh by the way I painted and sanded the bed!

[FearNoMan78k10]

I will post pics today! I am going to paint the doghouse today!  I will post pics tomorrow ... It's almost mid night and I've have a long long day painting and prepping, working etc,,, goodnight guys

[Irish_Alley]

it came stock with only 165 hp so right now it prob has 100 lol. i dont even know if they made a super charger for the 4.3 and a turbo would just kill that motor. im thinking about getting a 400+hp/tq ($3k) motor for her and changing to a 4l80e trans this would be about the same price as buying a turbo setup i think and i would be making more power and more dependable. the gears idk what they are i imagine really low numbers for mpgs. 

[FearNoMan78k10]

Hey Irish I've been occupied and flat out haven't had time to get online this weekend. Been spending time with my family....         


Oh jeez 100 you think ?  Well it must carry itself somewhat alright ..........but not able to get out of its own way type of power ? 

Well I tell ya .... A 400 horsepower ground pounding tire shreading engine would be VERY cool to throw under the hood that's for sure. Jeez that's sounds great Irish ..... How much thought and seriousness have you put into it? Are you seriously contemplating that? THAT would be something special right there... Especially, backed by a new heavy duty transmission to lay the power to the ground.....     Do you have any idea of the gear ratio? I have been curious since we have been talking about your truck!

I agree it would be much more dependable than a turbo or any forced induction setup... Ie supercharger or turbo or if you have deep pockets.... BOTH lool..., agreed though..... I would stick with all natural cubic inches and raw power rather than a boosted engine, although very fun,,, not as reliable as pure muscle....plus the turbo or supercharger takes away from the beautiful sound a small or big block makes as it's Rollin down the road... Especially under load.. Some like the sound... I'm a fan of all naturally aspirated.,. Now don't get me wrong though... I love a well built cummins diesel with high boost :-) anyways ..... Irish ,... I think that's a great idea. What would the torque be? Estimated...... Mpg? City.... Highway....? What size carb would it have? What company ? Air filter?  Flat tappet cam or full roller setup? How much lift ... Duration on the cam?  Oval or rectangle port heads?  So would you have a electric fan setup then in addition to the belt driven fan?         

[FearNoMan78k10]

OKAY....... Here is what I've been waiting for to post! Just needed the time!  I FINALLY PAINTED the bed and doghouse.... It's 90 percent complete ! Just a few taping jobs combined with painting afterwards to complete that 10 percent left I have to do!

[FearNoMan78k10]

Also my much anticipated optima red top battery came in! So looking forward to using this battery and I'm hopeful I will get years and years of use out of it!

[FearNoMan78k10]

And the extra tube of loctite 598 ultra black silicone came in too. Totaling 4.5 tubes now of it haha