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

[FearNoMan78k10]

I didn't take too much pictures of the sanding progress I was just too busy trying to get as much done as possible before the wind and nightfall


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Still have more painting and coats to do on the dog house.... This is the first initial coat


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[FearNoMan78k10]

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[FearNoMan78k10]

I cleaned up my valve covers, stripped the paint,,, cleaned them,,, and still have a bit of polishing and cleaning to do on those valve covers and timing cover.... Trying to get it as best as I can.... The OIL PAN was NASTY RUSTY,,,,,, annnnd this is how it looks now ! literally brand new oil pan now!  Here is a better shot of the axle swap up front too,,,, I'm going to keep the valve covers bare metal and coat them to protect from rust and visible wear, I'm going to polish them as best as I can too with what I have.... I think the bare metal look,, looks pretty sweet,,, so I'm going to stick with that,,,oil pan would be pretty sweet to leave bare after coating it to protect it.... But we will see on that .... Slowly but surely she is coming along,,, I've been putting ALOT of time lately cleaning stripping sanding painting etc.... Well thought it would be done by now BUT that's okay hopefully it will be done in July ? Only God knows that ..... Porting,,,polishing, hogging out the heads,,, Tony is doing that himself,,, finessing and working the heads going WILD on everything we can possibly do to the heads to make power and torque/ better flow and combustion / burn rates,,,, etc..... Well still poking around for some tubing for an exhaust so I can weld it up together and make something sweet out of used piping.....3".......... Also ,,,, Sunday the perches on the Dana 70 will be cut off and new perches welded on... Hopefully in the next 5 days or so the new mammoth rear axle will get muscled under neath the truck and bolted up.... The leaf springs are 2.5" wide.... Would of been really nice to have wider springs and the 56" springs instead of 52" but I think it will do just fine! Honestly lol, the old leafs had like 2,,, maybe 3 leafs to them,,,, TOPS... these have triple the number of the old leafs that were on there.... But if I need to add a leaf I will but thinking and hoping that will not be a need.... I'm looking for u bolt top plates for the Dana 60 straight axle still... Hard to find ,,,, expensive..... SOOO that is a major item on the list,,,, tanner 4x4 gave me the wrong top plates,,, I have to have plates that are 1 ton GM/ Chevrolet  top plates,,, stock ones with the side hole mount for the sway bar.... So pray for me that this suspension will be bolted up together completely in its entirety ,,, sooner than later....still need brakes and shoes/ resurface the rotors and drums,,,, also sandblasting the axles still needs done .....it's coming along,,, definitely by far my favorite truck ive ever built,,, I'm just counting down the days until that engine is finally fired up and cackling and snort popping around on the engine stand.... It's nice that I have two old school hot rod mechanics to help me do the build.... I broke my back bad in a bad car accident and it left me crippled/ disabled for the rest of my life?... Took me three years to be able to stand up straight... And 2.5 years to be able to bend over and barely lift myself back up without falling over....I'll never have a recovery and work like normal people but I'm able to do some things on the truck... If it wasn't for my body,,,,,,,,,,,,',, and,,,,,, the lack of a garage,,,,,,,, a massive rolling tool chest, air compressors, grinders etc... I'd be doing ALL of it myself... Like I had my entire life up until this accident when I was 22.... Turning 26 this July.... I've gotten a lot of judgement and flack for not doing everything myself,,,, so keep it mind I'm disabled, no garage, no tool chest anymore,,,, etc..... I'm doing the best I can with what God has given me,,, physically, emotionally, financially........


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[FearNoMan78k10]

I still need to get a complete engine gasket set that is high performance and made for a .030" over 454.......
Just so much fine detail work to do I am just taking one step at a time and trying not to get ahead of myself.... It's not going to be a perfect show quality truck but it  will be bumper to bumper restored....


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[Tylers85k20]

I just went through you whole build thread and I have to say the attention to detail your putting into this is insane. This looks to be a awesome truck once its finished. 

[FearNoMan78k10]

Haha feel sometimes like I'm writing a book on it,,,,,, I greatly appreciate it, that's pretty gnarly to sit there and go through my whole thread there is quite a bit on the thread to read and look at. I'm glad your liking the build! Not that many people have said much about it... I'm putting all of my heart into it bro trying to refurbish rebuild replace every last thing that needs it... Because the last thing I want is something breaking or constant maintenance to do.... This WILL BE the LAST truck I drive and own.... Until The Lord calls me home someday.... I am an old man trapped in a young Mans body and since this will be the last truck I drive I wanted it the entire truck to be taken apart after the engine damage , completely rebuilt from the ground up and I just decided to go all out with what I can do on it, finances are of course always a concern and set back as to exactly what product I am able to put on it..... Like for example.... The exhaust..... 500 for pipes and mufflers..... Just can't do that with needed brake and axle rebuild parts. Bearings, seals, etc.. Soo the exhaust will be fabbed up by me :-) I'm putting my knowledge to the test lol !  So I'll be copying a x pipe design off the web... And building my own :-) well the truck is about to go into major overtime overhaul in just a bit, you guys won't believe this.... The rods that came in..... Are the WRONG rods.... The TRW flat top pistons will absolutely not work with these rods.... Soooo sending them back and waiting on the correct rods to come in, once that happens this big block will be put together ASAP status .... Hopefully crossing fingers it will be finished in a week after the new rods show... I'll be happy just to sit and watch it run on an engine stand for a couple weeks lol..., I'll make a video of it and post a link or post it here if I can.... Those guys are ready to finally be done and I don't blame them,, I've put a ton of work into the truck myself and I tell you what it has been non stop needing this and needing that , cleaning , detailing , planning , getting parts, putting in foot work, drawing plans out again because of a modification etc.... It's been a trip ..... I just can't wait to finally be shifting gears behind a freight train of a motor lol.... I won't be hot rodding it between lights or anything but just looking forward to cruising with a big block and a new rebuilt truck down the road.... And occasionally open up the secondaries on the Holley :-)   Should see a motor done and built soon guys

[roundhouse]

Niice build !



A friend of mine was born with no legs
Although he has some artificial ones
He Scoots  around on a skateboard most of the time
He says it's a lot faster

He has restored a 68 Galaxie convertible
Doing a lot of the work by himself in a garage that's too small so the back 3 feet of the car hangs out

He has added a built 390 with EFI and overdrive
AC. Etc

When he was born the docs told his parents he'd never walk etc

Not only was he walking  he was racing go carts when he was 8 yrs old

Paid his way thru college with a paper route and drove a taxi at night with hand controls
Don't give up and dont listen  to anyone who tells you that you can't do something

[FearNoMan78k10]

Thanks man I appreciate it! That is definitely a encouraging testimony for sure thanks for sharing that man it has helped encourage me a bit :-)  restoring that galaxy I bet took a lot off his mind,,,, and probably made him feel like he accomplished a huge feat which is exactly what that is to do that on his condition....     

[FearNoMan78k10]

Awesome news!!! The new rods a arrived this morning !!!!! Whoo hooo!!! Summit racing is such a fantastic company to work with and buy from guys.... This company has just bent over backwards for me, I called them explained my situation on ordering the wrong rods... Spoke with a supervisor ,,, and they overnight shipped me the new correct rods ! Shipped them yesterday and arrived early this morning,,, i paid for the shipping,,, but still... They sent me the new rods without even getting the old incorrect rods back for a return first ,,,,UNBELIEVABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE,,,,, you just can't go anywhere and get that kind of service... It was a God thing that I was able to have this happen....truly... They even sent me a parcel return slip paid for by summit racing,,, what more could I ask for ?!  Not only that but the new correct rods were 308.97 and the incorrect bushed rods were 353.99 so I literally got 40 bucks back about leaving me with enough to buy an engine oil filter after shipping the rods!!! Now .....I'm not using laniers speed shop because they are a bunch of jerks....so I'm trying to find a performance machine shop to do the balancing on the rotating assembly.... Soo today's homework is to find a shop to take the engine parts to.... Here are the correct rods...


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[FearNoMan78k10]

So tomorrow ,.,, everything will be dropped off at a race shop here in the springs somewhere for balancing......and as soon as we get it back it will get assembled like ASAP status.... Still have the behemoth Dana 70 to install in the rear along with the lift in the rear..... And brakes and bearings to buy as well, along with a engine oil filter, engine oil,,, paid for half the Holley drag street strip carb from Tony the mechanic,,, it's a Holley 830 double pumper that's been fully outfitted and modified... :-) POWER HOUSE of a carb . I'm excited to see a fire breathing big block here soon ! I'm waiting and waiting and it seems like it's going to take FOREVER to FINALLY BE DONE lol.... But I guess the longer I take the more fine of details I can address and fix , upgrade, repair, clean, paint, rebuild etc while I'm waiting on this engine to get built.... Having a bit of issues getting the top plates for the Dana 60 kingpin axle,,, because they are so expensive and just trying to save money by not buying the plates from a dealer.....  Side note,,, I want to become a site supporter here soon so pray that 25 dollars will become available for me to do that,,,, love this chevy community .....


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Well today my son and I cleaned up the bed after the sanding progress to get through decades of dirt and grime,,, just a little sanding work, prep work, and cleaning to do before it's first coat of paint is applied to it... Lots of nooks and crannies to clean.... My paint is at the shop garage so I've got to pick that up tomorrow,,, should be painted in the next few days,, going camping and fishing this weekend for Father's Day with my wife! I'm stoked!  So no truck progress will be made Friday , Saturday or Sunday. But next week should get quite a lot done. Need to pick up about 12 cans of paint, 5 or 6 flat black rustoleum cans, and 6 or 7 gloss cans.. So I can really lay it on thick on the underside of the bed,,, bed is super smooth feeling after the sanding,, still a few spots that are just absolutely crusted up in decades of dirt,, extremely difficult to get off but the bed won't get painted or restored until all the varnish and rough areas are clean and smooth.... I've never done this to a bed or dog house before , let me just say it's ALOT of work! And attention to detail.... Just trying to take my time and do it right instead of cutting corners,,, here is my progress on the bed,,,, side note, bed mounts are okay and true, but the frame of the bed is bent quite a bit in some spots, I will straighten it out as best as I can and tac weld plates in the bent areas to strengthen it. The wheel wells will get sanded quite a bit more and they too will get the love the bed is getting,  gloss black will go on the wheel wells nice and thick just like the bed,, the front of the bed will get gloss as well, even though it sits directly behind the cab I will also do that as well, fun fact, the bed was blue before, not originally orange, definitely looking forward to a restored body and bed! 


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Travis is as happy as can be to help me restore this classic hot rod, first time he's ever been around this kind of thing, he actually got to ride in the truck multiple times when I had the 305 in it picking him up from school, he just loves it! Next work progress will be sanding again over the entire bed, wash , clean, then prep work, and finally paint, so hopefully 2 or 3 days of doing this and it will be ready ,,,,, FINALLY!


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[FearNoMan78k10]

So here is some real good close up pics of the bed,,,, the gas tank will be painted on the inside of the actual gas tank cover, as well as behind the cover inside the bed, check the pic out you'll know exactly what I mean,, the bed is in overall great condition with the exception of some areas that just need some love and attention to detail, goal is to get every bit of rust and spec of dirt off for a nice paint finish to be applied,,  more sanding and spot cleaning should do the trick, the HARD to reach areas are the very ends of both sides of the bed  very small to work in and that's where a lot of the grime is still left, as well as the center of the bed that still needs quite a bit of attention and love to get it where it should be, like I said never restored a bed before or a dog house, always have done engine work or upgrades to the suspension etc, never really been a body fixer upper but I sure am getting my feet wet with this project build restoring the body... Side note, the black drips on the end of the bed is like a rubber based black paint,,, any ideas on getting it off easily without removing paint? I could sit there and finess it for hours and get the same results but my back tells me to think of something different, also see pic with white scuff mark on left side of pics on the bed, that sucker ,,,, I don't know how that got there but that has got to go and get touched up , freshened up with some paint, that will be something else to fix and make it match,,, I'd really like to be my OCD self and get every last little thing,,, it's a challenge, but fun seeing hard work starting to pay off a little, since our house we are living at is 8800 feet up and on the side of a mountain, dust particles have settled on the bed pretty good, the breeze does a nice job at times of the day blowing stuff around,,, it's pretty nice up here ..weather wise, but storms tend to blow through quite often during the summer creating delays in work , setbacks a little as well due to blowing sand dirt etc on something I'm trying to keep clean as possible, so most of the time I have to reclean what I literally just did, but hey it keeps me busy,me see the bed rails I was talking about, they are bent up pretty good in spots  and a few fat patches of rust to go along with it , I'll sand as best as I can and clean this chevy short bed up as best as I can, I'm using no power tools at all to do this, just a mouse sander and a brain and elbow grease lol, so not much to work with tool wise guys but I'm trying! The bed is sitting on a spare set of atv tires haha! And this is my work area, I cover it up with a brown tarp to keep wandering eyes and fingers at a distance, the two posts and chain is where it will be chained up under lock and key every time it's parked, along with multiple safety power switches to keep thieves from stealing it so easily. The battery will be removed every night as much as a pain that will be, I say that now , but we will see,,, serious thought though, I really want to make it very hard for anyone to take the truck, why don't people just work and sacrifice so they can have one also instead of stealing others things ? I'll never understand that, it's just like people stealing puppies and dogs,,,,, what in the world are they thinking ? Lol anyways, I am home every day 24 hours a day around the house and every time someone drives by I'm there looking to see who it is because we don't have many visitors up where we live, that in itself makes things a bit easier, I always have my lever action 45-70 ready and rearing to go with 460 grain hard point bullets loaded up just in case. We have bears , mountain lions, cougars, bobcats, lynx, coyotes, and wolves amoung other predators so it's safe to say that packing firearms up here is definitely wise.anywho I get off on a tangent sometimes,,, I know it's a lot of pics but this is my project that I'm putting heart into and I love it and am definitely proud of it and I've always been one to take a lot of pictures!


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[FearNoMan78k10]

Literally the ENTIRE bed was CAKED in this ultra thick dirt/ grime and it has been a CHORE getting it off to even be able to see the actual metal let alone cleaning sanding it until I could get it to where it's at now, insane progress made I feel, it was unbelievable guys just how heavily caked on it was, I'd rather be sanding through layers of paint than this stuff. Very difficult to even get the bed to look like it does now compared to before... Pretty much take the nastiest spot you can find in the pic and multiply it by hundred times, lol it was EVERYWHERE underneath this chevy short wide! But it's coming along. Should see it getting cleaner and cleaner and finally painted here soon!