1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Happened to have procured a rusty K10 last night after going out to look at a 72 K10. Decided to bite on this 79 instead. Ideally I wanted a 73-79 K10 LWB. Friend let me know about this one for sale about 40 minutes away. Couldn't remember where exactly it was. So I wound up driving around side streets in a town for about an hour last night. Finally found it around 9pm. Knocked on the guys door. Verified it was for sale, went over to look at it and saw '$495' on the windshield.

I was taken back for the price of the truck, being that the running gear is worth more than $500 pending that it was all in working order.. Started the truck right up, drove it around his yard for a couple minutes, then up the road and back. Came back and let it idle for about 45minutes. Wound up having it towed home, because my wife was asleep and everyone else was drunk already. The plan is to get it ready for the street by the first snowfall. By ready, I mean new panels on the cab, including doors, fenders, rockers inner and outter / etc.

Wound up getting it for $450 delivered.

The guy bought the truck last winter for when the weather was bad. Drove it as is. It'll be there to replace my Mustang once the weather gets cold. So the mustang can spend some time in the garage over winter.

One thing that struck me as odd.. The truck has both the Scottsdale package & the Bonanza package....

Here's an RPO Rundown on what i've found.
CD4-INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS
E63-BODY EQUIPMENT,FLEETSIDE PICKUP BOX
MX1-3 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION (TH350)
N33-COMFORTILT STEERING WHEEL
T44-????
U35-CLOCK: QUARTZ, ELECTRIC
V22-APPEARANCE: DELUXE FRONT
YG1-MOLDINGS: CUSTOM PACKAGE
YLC-????
ZY1-PAINT: SOLID
Z62-SCOTTSDALE EQUIPMENT
74Y-????
A01-TINTED GLASS - ALL WINDOWS
C60-AIR CONDITIONING - FRONT MANUAL CONTROL
LS9-ENGINE, 350 C.I.D. V8 (350L)
NA5-EMISSION SYSTEM, STANDARD FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
PA1-WHEEL TRIM, SPECIAL WHEEL COVERS
UF2-LAMP: CARGO AREA
U63-AM RADIO
XLC-????
YG7-BONUS VALUE OPTION PACKAGE
ZLC-????
Z53-GAUGES - VOLTMETER, OIL PRESSURE & WATER TEMP
73L-RED PAINT

Pictures:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1308985_n.jpg

Replacing this for winter duty.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6506860_n.jpg

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Picked up new headlights, ignition switch. Cap, rotor, wires and plugs for it.

Thursday i'm going to pickup Cab corners, lower cowl panels, inner and outer rocker panels, floor pans, fenders and the outer grille trim. Hopefully I can get some metal swapped this weekend.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9306/partsp.jpg

You know you own a GM product when you spend more on parts each week than bills.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Tough crowd here. I guess you guys are more interested in show queen 2wd's.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

no we just like to see pics, and not mustangs lol. what brand welder is that? looks like the one my dad bought and we used to do my 88 cab corners.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I for one love the edge mustangs like that...I had one that was pretty badass...wish I still had it...maybe one day I'll have another when all the other projects are finished...it looks pretty damn good man

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

It's a harbor freight 90amp flux welder. I bought it so I can do a writeup for the average Joe who doesn't have a $1500 mig welder. Also doing this all with cheap consumables as well.

I'm just tired of seeing write up's done in shops that are outfitted like professional body shops. Sure, I do have a nice Miller 212 mig at my personal shop, but I'd much rather show that you can do it on the cheap.

I should be just under $325 + my labor to replace the inner and outer rockers, cab corners and inner foot well panels.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I've run into that too! I hardly got any responses on my stock height, stock rim size 2wd. Seems like if it's not rolling on 22s and 3 inches off the ground, it's not cool. It's just the current trend. :smoke:

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Subscribing...I like to see guys taking on rust projects! Looking forward to how this goes for ya!

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I know what you mean, my old man bought an all-power MIG flux cored welder to do body work, it was like $200 from fingerhut, it's cheap but it works. We know all about a tight budget. I replaced my 88(newer body style) cab corners with left over scraps from his 84 cab corners that were cut off the patch panels when I did his. it's our first time welding too and we're doing it outside.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Dug around the floors today, cleaned up the garage. Found a bit more rot that I anticipated, but that isn't too big of an issue. Hopefully this week / next weekend I can get the truck torn down.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6574/holyfloor.jpg
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2565/rockerleft.jpg
http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/8987/rockerright.jpg

Got the truck in the garage too!

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6550/ingarage.jpg


The pile of parts seems to grow quicker than the work done on the truck!

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/6821/partspile.jpg

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Put some new brakes on the truck today, also put four new shocks on it aswell.

With a truck this rusty, I should have anticipated a lot more of a job than I did in replacing the shocks. There wasn't much left of the shocks themselves and they were mostly rusted out.

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/5...sandshocks.jpg

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Hey,
this truck will be in its prime once its done.But the biggest thing is to not give up cause of the current condition.I like to find 1 of these trucksat this price so keep up the great work..

thanks
pat

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Stipped the fenders, hood and doors off the truck today. Found some good stuff and some bad stuff. Found that i'm going to need some sort of a patch for the cowl panel. (see below). Hopefully next weekend i'll get around to getting the passenger side rocker, floor and cab corner done. The drivers side the weekend after that.

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/9519/strippedk10.jpg

Here is a picture of the rusty cowl. I guess i'm going to need to find another truck and cut the cowl out of it so I can use it as a patch.

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/2803/badcowlk10.jpg

Also waiting for my new brake lines to come in. I'm in between on running headers or leaving the stock manifolds on the car and ordering an LMC exhaust.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

headers, then if you want a bolt on deal check out jegs or summit they have dual header back kits.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Love your truck. Another 4x4 lover. Tired of all these 2wds :P

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I love this build. I personaly hate the lowered on 22's ytucks. If it aint't a 4x4 % ain't interested. I look forward to seeing the finished product and want to hear how you like the welder, I'm considering buying one.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

lets not give up man.......keep pluggin

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Cool rig! I'm not feeling so bad about my rust issues now - glad to see someone tackle one of these on the cheap. Drive that thing!

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Glad to see the 4x4 crew finally came in.

I've been mulling over the mile-marker part time conversion kit for the transfer case and some new lock-outs for the front end.

Going to pickup the new core support, grille, grille trim, exhaust, carpet and some other nick nacks from LMC this weekend if time allows. Main priority is getting the cab straight right now.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

cant wait to see how the rust repair goes. I need to replace my rocker panels too.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Keep at it man, do all the rust repair first, get all the hard stuff out of the way. I actually kind of gave up on mine and it had less rust than that. I was having a hard time fixing it and then had some employment issues and a baby on the way so it got put on hold indefinitely.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

hey man lmc has those lower cowl pieces you need for the firewall, they are like $40 a side though.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/5...ockertruck.jpg
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/116...ckertruck2.jpg

Between the million things my wife wanted me to do this weekend. I managed to find about an hour and a half to work on the body of the truck. Got everything cut down and ready for the rocker to go on. I still need to get a hold of some full length inner rockers so I can fix my floor drop-offs. Between both of those, I need to cut the floor and weld the floor patch in place.

These also came in the other day, Thursday I think.

http://i.ebayimg.com/15/%21B9MW%29fQ...1%7E%7E_12.JPG

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Yanked the bed off the truck today. Going to hopefully pickup my new core support and inner fenders next weekend. I need to bring the new doors from the shop out to the house and get them test fitted.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3...10stripped.jpg

Almost to the point of where the reassembly process begins on the truck. Getting tired of tearing it down. Ready to put it back together!

During this time i'm going to install some headers and a brand new 2 1/2" exhaust and brake lines. Taking advantage of the situation with the bed being off.

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/6...0stripped2.jpg

Looking at the frame, it seems pretty solid. I'm going to wire brush it down and then coat it in POR15 or something from Eastwood. Definately need to take care of it while the truck is apart.

Also picked up this little guy to go in the dash. Should look perfect when all is said and done and the new dash bezel and pad are on.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/3962/79tachdash.jpg

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

so far so good man! nice to see them getting saved, vs going to the scrap heap.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Thanks, this one almost went to the scrapper and then turned into a honda. :lol:

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Picked up a $50 "Test fitted once and I found all new GM metal for my truck door"

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/221...riversdoor.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/227...llinnerroc.jpg

Also picked up new full size inner rockers w/ floor drop offs, battery mount and tray, gauge lens for my tach cluster and a floor support.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

There's nothing like fresh metal!

You mentioned the Harbor Freight welder.......Another good handy tool from Harbor Freight is this spot weld cutter......Item number 95343. The cutter works better than some I've bought for 3 times the price.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I picked up two of them. As long as you keep them covered in panther piss. They'll last forever. I used the first one to cut both cab corners and rockers off of the truck.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7391282_n.jpg

Just got done with the tach cluster.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

sweet

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

man i love your build thread, im not much of a guy for lowered trucks either becouse they loose there practicality and most of them trucks probly dont get much street use or off road use for sure. i wanna buy a round eye 4x4 some day to fix up but i gotta finish what ive started if ya know what i mean. are you gonna lift the truck eny?

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Looks like it progressing well. I think I have seen this truck around town before.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

I'm going to windup going with a 4" lift and 33's. I don't want to go too high on the truck. But with 4inches, I should be able to handle most of anything out here.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Went ahead and took a picture of the passenger side of the cab. Still need to cut the floor pan down a little bit and then fit the new floor drop offs.

http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/4...floorpanrh.jpg

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4052/79k10011610.jpg

Got the new brake lines installed on the rear of the truck, new wheel cylinders and completely rebuilt rear brakes. By the way, the rear axle lines that LMC sells for 1/2 ton 2wd trucks, will also fit your 1/2 ton 4wd truck, on the axle. I'd imagine the front to rear frame lines would fit as well. I'm not too sure of that though.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1...k100116102.jpg

Had a chance to throw a spare door on the passengers side to check final fitment and it looks good. The door is a little wavy though, but the rocker is good for final welding.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1847556_n.jpg

The above is why the taiwanese need to stick to making lead based baby toys. They're much better at that. In the picture it shows the inconsistency of the press process when the door was made. The bottom of the skin isn't straight and true but arches up and down. The rocker is perfectly straight.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2680410_n.jpg

The trucks starting to look like a truck once again. The fenders still need to be shimmed a bit.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1618150_n.jpg

Threw the NOS emblem on the side for a shot so I can convert it into my avatar here.

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Looking good! Like others have said, always good to see another one saved!

Re: 1979 Bonanza/10.
 

Nice build. Keep up the good work.