85 K10 rebuild (aka CreamPuff)

[melloyello]

Well, here goes another build thread. Just what everyone wants to see right? I bought this truck about 3 years ago because it was solid mechanically and the asking price was only $1900. It was originally a 305 truck but someone swapped in a late 70s 350. It has AC (not working), cruise control (not working), a 700r4, rear locker, dual fuel tanks and factory quad shocks.
I’ve driven it off and on and put a 2” lift on it last year because it cost more to put oem shocks and leafs on it than to put a lift on it.   I also replaced the old sealed beams with some more modern headlamps and added the upgraded headlight harness.
This project actually started as a paint job and once I got started I decided if I was going to have to spend this much on bodywork and paint why not just rebuild the whole truck.

[Shifty]

I use Imgur

[Mike81K10]

I am new and just learning. However, I found that when you do a post click on the Attachments and other options, below the text block. Make sure the pictures you add (load) are less than 500kb and when attaching more than one the combined size cannot be more than 3000kb. If you save the pictures as a JPEG the photo will be shown in your post. If you save as a PDF, the picture will have a link you have to click on to view it. Click on modify and you can add a picture to a previous post or reply.

[DanMcG]

Welcome Mello, Looks like you got a nice truck to start out with, Hope ya figure out the pic thing, I'd like to follow along.

[melloyello]

Before I started rebuilding I added these aftermarket headlamps and a 2" lift.


At this point I was just planning on paint.


And all of a sudden my scrap pile starting getting bigger


Then I started finding little hidden gems like these




So, my parts pile started growing.



Next thing I know, this happened. (yes, I am a Nissan guy)

[melloyello]

And I found some decent rust on the chassis


Hard to see it under the dirt but it's pitted pretty good


And the little octopus drowning in a sea of rust



So, I gave her a bath and got busy removing rust and put on some chassis saver



Rear axle before


Rear axle after


And mounted back under the chassis. Waiting on a new cover

[melloyello]

At this time the front axle is completely disassembled in the shop (a before shot or 2)



This is the time consuming stuff. All the disassembly and prep work is just tiresome and slow

[melloyello]

Random dirty tranny shot


Whenever in doubt just add more washers right?

[melloyello]

I use Imgur

Thanks for the suggestion. Figured it out.

[Mike81K10]

Got a good start going. Look forward to seeing the progress.

[DanMcG]

Got a good start going. Look forward to seeing the progress.

X2!!

[JohnnyPopper]

Nice work, I was getting pretty cringy as the rust pics flooded the screen!

You have your work cut out, look forward to the final product.

[melloyello]

Front axle ready to go, minus a new cover and brake hoses that are on the way

[melloyello]

Got the front axle and sway bar back in after work today.
If you see the spots on the chassis, it's pollen. It's in full effect around here.

[melloyello]

Front diff cover came in the mail today


Got the shocks on with new boots



And worked on the worst part. Cleaning and painting hardware


And ole Squidward got some new hoses and clamps. Need a few larger clamps for the 3/8” hose