1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I got this truck in september of 2011, ive been disassembling and cleaning and painting and cuting and grinding for several months now. Im going to get all my pictures uploaded and get caught up to-date on my build progress.

This was the day I brought it home. It came from Utah off eBay.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I sold the wheels that came on it and a set for another truck and was able to purchase these from a guy off a local site. Many will not like my choice, I understand, no worries. (22x11 xd diesels, 37/13.50/22 Toyo open country mt, 8 lug.)

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Me and my wife decided to pull the motor one saturday. Went pretty smooth, took about 3 hours.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Next I pulled the tranny, sm465, I need to sell or get it out of the way.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I then pulled the bed off, and every thing on the back side. That engine hoist was the best Christmas present ever, I've used it for many things that it wasn't designed for.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Next was the front end.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Found some one tons to buy. Dana 60, corporate 14 bolt with gov locker. The front's carrier is welded where it is locked, not exactly what I wanted on the d60 but i'll work with it. They came off a Military cucv.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I gutted the cab out some, it looks pretty good to me. Then I used my engine hoist again for another unintended purpose.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Next after many hours on here researching I went ahead and shortened the frame.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

more

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

more ginding and welding. All the plans for cutting the frame and the support pieces is on here. There is a CAD drawing of it, I forgot whose build-up I read. But long story short, you cut off the extra bed mount, cut out 1 foot from infront od the wheel, and 8 inches from the back. Measure 100 times and tack and measure and tweek and tack and measure and tweek and then weld it front back.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

After all the welding and grinding was done, I wire wheeled/grinded/cleaned the frame for about 400 hours. I read a lot about POR-15 and Master series products. I went with Master Series coating system. I dont know which is better, but I am well pleased with my results. You start by cleaning the already wire wheeled frame with their rust converter. I let it dry then wire wheeled, then reapplied, then scuffed it once more. It leaves a zinc or something film after it dries to prevent new surface rust thats why you have to scuff it all off. Then I coated two coats with their Silver undercoating paint, then two coats of their black 2 stage top coat. Came out slick. I have some runs becasue I globbed too much on there and it was 2 a.m.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I built that roticerie out of two Harbor Freight engine stands and some angle iron from lowes. More paint pictures.

1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I built some rolling stands to move the cab and bed around better. They have came in handy so far.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I started pulling apart the np205. I did abunch of research and found out the best way to connect a 10 spline to a 4x4 4l80e. I talked to the people at off road design and they helped me out a bunch. I havent ordered it yet but, Im going to order their 32 spline long output shaft, rebuild kit, and 32 spline 4l80e np205 adaptor (similar to the th400 adapter just bigger interier bore). But i took it all apart, cleaned, and painted.

This is where I am at today as of July 31, 2012.

Next project its to cut up my bed and make it swb.

After that is work on the axles, new seals, I need rear brake rotor and calipers, i already have the adapter, clean everything up and paint them.

Im begining to run out on free projects, soon ill have to start dropping some coin. I need 8" lift leaf springs so I can have a roller. Any one know the best ones to buy, im looking for affordiable but smooth.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

primmed and painted

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Looking real good alot of work you have done so far. Looked like you had a good soild truck to start with that makes things alittle easyer.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Nice build. I'm subscribed as I'm building a similar truck except longbed. I swapped in the whole suspension from a 87 M1008 (D60/14FF). If yours is out out a M1008 (Pickup) it should have a detroit locker in the 14FF. The "gov locs" were used in the M1009 (blazers).

Does your truck have factory A/C? It looks like it in the photo but the compressor has been removed. I'm trying to get a good photo of the pulleys/brackets on yours. Mine seems to have been peiced together by the PO. My crank pulley is a two piece unit with four v grooves and it sits about 3/8ths inch closer "in" towards the block than the water pump pulley so everything is off and I dont know where.

Anyway- looks like you have a great starting point and a nice place to work on it:metal:

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I really like this. The frame and your painted pieces look excellent. Great idea with the rolling stands too. Sure looks like you have one heck of a shop and space to move around. Keep up the good work.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I think it was the m1008, not totally sure. I got them from a guy that had them under a s-10 mudder so im not sure exactly what he got them off of, I just remember he said some thing about it having a gov lock, so who knows. It has 4.56 gears and that was all I cared about at the time.


And the truck is factory a/c but when I got it the a/c wasn't hooked up. There was no compressor or any lines ran. The 350 I pulled out of it wasn't the original motor, so I guess the PO didn't try to hook up the a/c. Must not need a/c in Utah quite as bad as I do here in southeast texas.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Here is an update. I finished shortening the LWB bed to a SWB. So lots of cutting welding sanding going on.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

more pics

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I smoother everything out with a flap disc on the grinder, sanded the whole bed, sprayed primer, bondoed the seams, sanded, bondo, sanded bondo sanded bondo sanded bondo sanded bondo sanded and then bondo and sanded a little more.....eventually i sprayed some more primer.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I gutted some more of the cab, cleaned the floor real good and put some master series on it to prevent any future rust and to seal it off real good. Im either going paint it to match or bedliner it. I havent decided. I have carpet so it really doesnt matter I guess.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Sweet looking truck man! Is that tailgate in the background off this truck? I think that looks pretty cool using the 90's style 'CHEVROLET' panel on the old style gate. Sweet progress and keep the pics coming!

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I like the dog. Nice to have a friend to work with who agrees with everything you do..lol

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Yeah its actually a GMC tailgate lol. The PO told me that the bed and tailgate were from a GMC that he found in better shape. I might clean up the gmc one and sell it so i can get the correct chevrolet one for that moderl or just keep it the way it is.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Very nice work. Wish I was close to ya, I would take that 4-speed off your hands.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Ill happily sell it to you for cheap.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I undercoated my bed this weekend with some Chassis Saver, Ive never used it befor this. I liked it alot. It went on easy and it seems to be just like the master series produts I used on my chassis. This stuff was a little cheaper and they had it in stock at the auto paint store locally. All I did was hit the underneath of the bed with the wire wheel on the grinder and then painted this on with a brush. It leveled out nicely.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

This was the stuff I used.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

How cheap is cheap?

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Sent PM

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Great truck!
I can't believe how clean that truck is rust wise. We salt the roads heavily here in Utah. I'm guessing it wasn't the PO's daily driver.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Nice choice of drive train! Great work on the frame and bed! Wish I had a dollar for every unfinished cut frame and body I’ve seen over the years! Great effort!
Also Nice shop... mine is a catch all!

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I didnt even think about the salt. I just figured it had less rust because yall had a drier climate, or at least drier than south east texas, we breath water lol.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

Thanks Spicer, mine is becoming more and more of a catch all too

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I did a little sandblasting and painting on the front Dana 60 this weekend. I was going to start putting the carrier and all the internals back in but realized a few things I was missing to do the job correctly. I have a couple questions if anyone has done a carrier swap.

I used POR 15 this time and coated it with the POR 15 chassis top coat. I figured i'd try it out too and see how it compared to the others. I liked it ok. I really like how hard that chassis saver I put under the bed was tho.

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

I do them quite often, mostly from 4.10 carrier and down, to the 4.56 and up carrier...
What ratio are running? Locker? Any up grades while your in there?

This had 3.73's in it from the factory, it has 5.13's and an OX locker in now...

Re: 1969 k10 lwb to swb, 1 tons, 6.0/4l80e/np205
 

WOW thats a lot of beef! Sweet diff cover and axle stands, thats legit.

Im running 4.56s open carrier. When I bought the D60 it had the stock carrier completely welded up so I bought a used open carrier off ebay and thought id just swap it out. Ive since then done a lot of research and found out its not quite as simple as I thought.

Correct me if im wrong, I am going to have to pull the pinion and all the pinion shims and reestablish all the shim depths with the new open carrier along with all my backlash settings?

Initially I thought I could just pull carrier, replace it, and set the backlash but the more I've read, it seems that Ill have to pull pinion and reset everything in order to get a correct pattern between the pinion and the ring gear?