Author Topic: 73 K10 Build  (Read 7105 times)

Offline Tranz Zam

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73 K10 Build
« on: July 29, 2015, 10:37:53 am »
Picked this up about 2 weeks ago. Dragged it 85 miles home from Maine. Its a 1973 Chevy K10 4x4 4 speed. It needs some metal work, but the bed and tailgate along with all the front sheet metal are in amazing shape. Its mostly the cab that needs work, and even that's not too bad. Two cab corners, a passenger rocker and some minor floor work is needed. For $300 you cant complain about repairing some rust!

I love the fact that it's a 73. The plan is to do the metal work, drop in a LS 5.3 and paint it that cool new Ford Kodiak brown with a Sunset Gold Metallic roof. I still haven't figured out what transmission I want to run yet. Right now I have a Sm465 with a 205 T case. I'll end up selling that for an automatic setup, but I don't know which one yet.

Don't worry, that horrible grill is the first thing to go on the truck.  ;D










1971 Trans Am 5.3 TH350
1981 Trans Am Daytona pace car
1973 Chevy K10 (LS swap/resto in progress)
1994 Ford F350 5.8 6" lift on 35's

Offline Jason S

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2015, 10:55:01 am »
Nice find for $300!
1973 GMC K2500, Super Custom, Camper Special, 350, TH350, NP203, 4.10's
1974 Chevrolet K10, Custom Deluxe, 350, SM465, NP203, 3.73's

"1) Peace through strength; 2) Trust but verify; 3) Beware of evil in the modern world"

Offline LTZ C20

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2015, 01:52:21 pm »
Welcome from California. Nice truck.
LTZ Cheyenne C20

Offline fitz

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2015, 02:30:54 pm »
Welcome from Mass.
Can't go wrong for $300, you will get that back when you sell the SM 465/205.
This will be a fun build to watch.


Offline Don5

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2015, 04:12:09 pm »
Yeah I would not have hesitated either. That was a great find. How do guys find these deals? I personally like the 465/205 combo but I can see a automatic too.
It's been a LONG time since I have been called a newbie. Just sayin....

1979 GMC K15 355, SM 465, 205, 3.73 Dana 44 with a Spartan Locker, 12 bolt Eaton limited slip and 6 inch lift with 36 x 12.50 Super Swamper TSL's.

Offline Tranz Zam

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2015, 04:26:00 pm »
Welcome from Mass.
Can't go wrong for $300, you will get that back when you sell the SM 465/205.
This will be a fun build to watch.

Hello fellow Mass resident!

I haven't really "started" the project yet, but I've been planning it out. I'm trying to sell another T/A I have before I tear into this truck.

You're right on getting my money back by selling the trans/t-case. That was one of the first things I thought when I saw the truck.
1971 Trans Am 5.3 TH350
1981 Trans Am Daytona pace car
1973 Chevy K10 (LS swap/resto in progress)
1994 Ford F350 5.8 6" lift on 35's

Offline illinoisk30

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2015, 09:30:29 pm »
Welcome from Northern Illinois. Great find, nice looking truck.
1977 Chevy K10 LWB Supercharged 406 TH350
1977 Chevy K30 DRW 400 TH400
1978 GMC K35 SRW 454 TH400
1979 GMC K35 SRW 400 TH400
1980 Chevy K30 SRW 350 SM465

Offline Tranz Zam

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Re: 73 K10 Build
« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2015, 11:36:36 am »
I got the ws6 sold last week, so its time to start working on the 73! Oddly enough the guy I sold the car to had square body parts, so I ended up getting a rust free passenger door for $50.

Got the nose and passenger door pulled off yesterday. The radiator support, passenger fender, and hood are workable but I'm going to try and find some rust free ones.

The next step is to remove the bed. Once that's off I'll be removing the cab to fully assess the rust situation. I'm leaning towards just putting new floors, rockers, cab corners, and floor braces in. If I could find a nice rust free cab that wasn't a small fortune I'd replace the whole thing.

Before the nose and cab go back on I'll be installing brand new pre bent brake lines, and painting the frame and suspension. The front end will get fully rebuilt also.





1971 Trans Am 5.3 TH350
1981 Trans Am Daytona pace car
1973 Chevy K10 (LS swap/resto in progress)
1994 Ford F350 5.8 6" lift on 35's