1981 K10 Restoration

[jjdruffel]

Hey guys, I'm new here but I thought I'd get started right away showing you what I'm starting with. I picked up an old 81' after I wrecked my 94' and am getting started on a full restoration.  I've had several pickups, always bought never sold kind of guy, and I've done a lot of work to all of them but have never done a restoration so through the process I'd love to hear some "been there done that" advice. 

Here's the pickup right when I bought it. Very clean, little rust but I don't think I'm going to have to replace anything (the selling point of the vehicle).  There are a few spots that I'll hit with a sand blaster, if it punches through I guess I'll know I have to patch up that area.

Eventually I want to get a nice blue painted on there, chrome accents, and a 4 inch suspension lift.  I'll also switch out the bench seat for some buckets with a fold down back in the middle for an arm rest.

[jjdruffel]

So since this picture I've started tearing the thing down. Here's a few pictures to give you guys an idea of how far along I am.

[LTZ C20]

Welcome from California. Good starter you have there.

[jjdruffel]

Welcome from California. Good starter you have there.

Thanks! I'm really happy with how little rust there is.

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[LTZ C20]

That is always a good thing.

[jjdruffel]

Made a little more progress tonight, got the doors off as well as both fenders and wheel wells.  Started poking around and found some rust (looks like I spoke a little too soon on the rust issue).  Anyway, I don't know how to post the pictures along with descriptions so you'll have to decipher which picture goes with what.

First I found a little rust on the front of the passenger wheel well.  No big deal, I can just get a new one of those and be done with it.

Next was the passenger side cab corner (I figured there had to be at least a little in the corners).  This side definitely needs some work but its nothing terrible.  I know almost nothing about body work, but I'm sure I can figure it out...eventually.

Then I checked the drivers side cab corner.  Probably going to have to buy a cab corner patch for that one.  But I believe it's salvageable.  I found some nice garbage (I'd assume from factory workers) in it too, even a half eaten candy bar, the dogs thought that was interesting.

The only other place I have found rust so far is behind the drivers side rear wheel.  This is the rust that I knew was there when I bought it.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that one, does anybody know if they sell a patch for that area?

The picture of the ground area is a bolt head I had to grind off to separate the wheel well and the fender.  Out of all the bolts I've taken out so far that is the only clip that has snapped on me.  I farm, and every time bolts come out nicely it's a little win for me.   Just having one out of all of them break so far has really been a pleasant surprise.

All said and (months away from) done, and from what I've seen other people deal with I think I'm in pretty good shape.

[jjdruffel]

A few more.

[jjdruffel]

One more.

[DanMcG]

Looks like the same rust as I have on mine.. They do make patch panels for the rear wheel opening, I'm going to replace mine as soon as my mig gets out of the shop.

[jjdruffel]

The only patch I saw was the big one that replaced the entire wheel arch. I know I could cut the piece i need out of the big patch but I don't think I want to spend that much plus shipping. Is there another smaller patch that I'm not aware of?

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[DanMcG]

this is what I have, it's a little pricey but easier then making one by hand.

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=0850-133-1341&Category_Code=7387Beds

[jjdruffel]

this is what I have, it's a little pricey but easier then making one by hand.

http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=0850-133-1341&Category_Code=7387Beds

Ah, I saw that but I didn't understand what piece it was. The shape makes sense now. Thank you Dan.

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[jjdruffel]

OK, little update.

I got the cab stripped out. The tach, radio, speaker, fan controls, and buttons/switches are all still in but the dash is pulled, seatbelts out, obviously the seat, and the carpeting.  The rust looks bad in the photos but I think most of it is manageable.  the only spot that is really concerning me is in the corners (near drivers left foot and passengers right foot) i'm not sure what the correct term for that piece is called.

For now I think I'm going to leave it and wait until I hit it with a sandblaster to see how much is salvageable, how much is pitted, and how much just down right needs to be replaced. 

Has anyone ever tried covering the cab floor in bedliner and then carpeting it?  I've done bedliner on cab floor before and it has worked great but I've always left it at that, never covered it with anything.

[jjdruffel]

one more

[jjdruffel]

I got the rest of the interior out tonight. I'll post a picture below (if anyone following this thread knows how to post the pictures along with the text body I would sure appreciate knowing how to do it, I checked out the tech pages and still couldn't figure it out). 

Also, What is that aluminum(ish) strip at the hinge of the glove box for?  My assumption is that its just that, a hinge for the glove box.

Next thing is to pull the glass and get that cab off of there so that I can start on the frame.  Not going to strip the frame down, but I am going to check around and see if all the brake lines look alright, as well as deal with any other visually obvious issues. 

And for the finally, I GOT AN AWESOME CRAIGSLIST FIND!!!!

I found a post on craigslist selling two cabs (one rusty, one not) two front clips (both in decent condition), a large assortment of random parts,  a bed, frame, and the best part, a full leaf (no blocks or shackle flip) 4 inch lift kit with steering and sway bar corrections.  A buddy of mine wanted all the parts and I wanted the lift so we split the 750 asking price and for 375 I ended up with everything for my lift except brake lines and shocks.  On top of that I claimed the bench seat so that now, with the original bench in mine, I have the two sets of mounting brackets to mount under a 60-40 split seat that I'm planning to put in.  I also got some chromed mirrors, an unrusted right inner fender, the grill I wanted, stacked headlight bezels to replace the single headlight bezels I have, and the blinkers to fit in the grill.  There are a few other less exciting parts but I'm a pretty happy camper right now.  My cab corners also arrived, so I can start ruining those whenever I feel like it.