Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD k10
 

My 70 year old father bought this about ten years ago with intentions of restoring it. When he was young, one of his friends had a 62 4x4. My father, as he got older, had always wanted to get one for himself. This truck has basically sat around for the last ten years and he had given up on the restoration. Well about 6 months ago my 14 year old son asked grandpa if they could work on the truck together and get it running (maybe sell it then). Well he said yes and they decided not to do a restoration but instead just make it look nice, be safe and look more or less original to the casual observer.

The ideas of selling it has passed and 3 generations are now working on the truck with the goal of having it ready for my son to occasionally drive when he gets his license in 2 years.

I've been lurking on this site for a while and it has been very helpful and Ive even ordered a few things from Captain Fab (who I highly recommend)

Anyways I'm sure gonna have a lot of questions and need Ideas as this goes on.
Thanks. Jeff

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Welcome to the forum! and another k truck is a delight to see. Post up some pics so we can see or better yet start a build thread. have fun-----------

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Thanks I will. Trying to figure it out right now.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Front view. From what I think I learned it has a 60 Grill, and 60 or 61 Hood.
Doesn't look like it was ever wrecked and probably was well taken care for the first half of its life (not its entire life though) haha
It is a 283 with a manual 4 speed on the floor. Still has the generator. Been swapped over to an aluminum intake and a 4 barrel

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Nice tk and it has a 60 hood. The inserts are different on a 61.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Your truck looks very nice. Hopefully "grandpas" truck will look just as nice.


His plan is the original orange it had on it. With possibly a white top and the door inserts painted white against the orange interior. He is still deciding on steel wheels or some type of aluminum. I like the 2500hd 6" wide factory 16" aluminum wheel and trying to talk him into them. Tall skinny tires. It had 35" tires on it when we got it but they were just too tall for him.





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Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

We found a set of 1973 axles with disc brakes. 8 lug Dana 44 and a 14 bolt rear. The rear bolted right in. The front I had to cut off the old shock mounts and move them onto the Dana 44

Pictured below are the original axles

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Axles in place with temporary dodge wheels and tires we scored for 50 bucks
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Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Power steering was next on the agenda. It turned out to be a major pain by the time is was done. Thanks to Captain Fab the steering box mounting was easy and his slide on steering shaft made that portion simple also

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Getting the power steering pump mounted on the engine was another story. Major PITA! Our truck had the front horseshoe engine mount with the front crossmember in the way (no side motor mounts) I switched over to an aftermarket crossmember with side motor mounts. Welded it up and then bolted it in-between the frame rails and to the side motor mounts. Then I removed the horseshoe mount at the front. We left the front crossmember in because its not in the way now. Plus I'm sure it gives extra strength to the steering gear box mount (its partly behind it) Also had to get a 3 groove crank pulley, 2 groove water pump pulley and a 2 groove alternator pulley for the generator. I could not figure out a way to get the clearance for the power steering pump belt to run around it alone.

Everything is new "1973" on the steering except the power steering pump. Went with a 1975 pump so could could use a press on pulley. This way we could have a little wiggle room on the pulley alignment and location. Was also able to use the hoses for a 1973. Just had to bend the return line carefully at the gear box. I will clean up the fender hole better later

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Working on the brakes now. Got a manual trans power booster bracket from Captain Fab. It's a tight fit but went in like it supposed to. 9" power booster brake kit for drum disc is in. Everything needs hooked up still though. I had a simple surgery and can't strain for a couple weeks but we have about 2 years to finish.

That's a new Holley 650 on there. Got a real good deal on it so just removed the old and in with the new

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Found a 88 to 98 seat on Craigslist for 60 bucks
. They really do bolt in to existing seat holes in the floorboards in the front. Will need to drill for the back 2. Feels much more comfortable. It will be reupholstered more appropriately in future

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

More pics

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

More

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

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Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Found 2 replacement doors a couple months apart . 100 bucks each

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

The floorboards are real good shape. The doors are pretty much shot and the rockers are bad. Cab corners are good.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

We have the long bed that goes with it. Its in decent shape with no floor in it. Ill have to add pics later it is not inside the shop

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

I have a few questions if anybody has an answer for me?

Will the front shackle rebuild kit for the later trucks work for the 1962 I have? They look almost the same?

My VIN number and title says its a C10 but its a 4wd (no way this was converted this completely and original by a previous owner) Is that common? A 4wd C10?

And do the hood inserts / scoops just let the weather into the engine bay or is the truck missing something?

Thanks

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Thanks for the good words about me and my products :)

Just what years are you referring to as 'later trucks'?

It sounds to me like the cab was replaced at some time. The frame is drfinitely a K series frame. Compare the cab VIN to the frame VIN.

Sorry I can't help with the hood grills, I've only had a couple '60-'61 hoods in my time and I don't remember what was on the inside.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

From what I can tell comparing your pics to my 61 4x4, your frame is a 60-62 4x4 frame. As Captainfab said, your cab was probably replaced at some point.

As far as I know, there's nothing that blocks off the park/signal light inserts in the hood.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Do the 2wd cabs also have the high hump removeable trans cover?

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

So no C10's were 4wd in 1962? Where is the VIN at on the frame? Any other diffences in the cab or way to tell what year? The hood and grill are a 60. Maybe its a 60 cab?

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

C indicates 2wd chassis
K indicates 4wd chassis

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Nice work, and sweet 4x4...Vin number maybe behind steering pump, top of frame or under drivers seat side of frame.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

60 to 63 shows up as a different shackle rebuild kit than the 64 to 66. Everywhere i look the earlier ones are on backorder but the laters are available.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Check with member 61K10. He and I have discussed this previously. Both our builds discuss this some. 61K10 has earlier K10 and mine is a 64’K10.

Les

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Yes. Having a high or low hump depends on what transmission the truck came with. I'm not 100% sure what hump was used with what transmission, but I'd bet someone else here will.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Yes the C series cabs were available with the high hump trans cover. There is no difference between a '60-'66 C series cab and a '60-'66 K series cab. The frame VIN is on the top of the frame flange on the drivers side below where the generator/alternator would be, as well as on the side of the frame under the cab.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

yes as aotte1 (les) said go through his thread as there is info. if i remember right the difference is the front bolt setup. the early ones have a bolt and nut. it also screws into the hanger (nut comes off then unscrew the bolt) the later fronts are similar to the rear ones as they screw in. I only had to replace the front bushings as my bolts were good. Go to aotte1's build as much info there as in mine.

LMC truck part? classic parts?

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

did you find some parts? Is yours apart? What condition are the pins?

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

No, still finishing up the brake lines. Still healing up after my surgery. Next balljoints then the spring shackles.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

wondered where you went. Get healed up first----

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Bent up and ran all the brake lines. All new brake hoses, calipers, pads, bled the brake lines etc. Real close to moving and stopping on its own.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

A side note on the rear brake hose..... We have a swapped in 14bolt rear end. A 73- 87, k20 stock brake rear hose is no where near long enough so we ordered a extended brake line hose for A 4 TO 6 lift. It is still barely long enough. These trucks sit very high from the factory. We may still have to get a longer brake hose in the rear.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Anybody know of a source to get the rear leaf spring shackles for a k10? Are they were used on other year vehicles? Mine look worn out like this pic. If not, do you think they can be drilled out and sleeved at a machine shop?

Also where to get the little rubber bushings/spacers/washers that go on the front spring, rear shackle?

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

LMC has them or did. I have a complete set from them.

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Thanks I will check them out

Re: Work begins on the 1962 C10 4WD
 

Rear disc brakes going on the 14 bolt. This thing better stop good when done.

Got the rear shackles from LMC and most of the bushings and pins in.