1982 K10 6.2 Diesel build

[focusedontheprize]

The truck looks great and that color scheme is definitely growing on me - I really am liking it now. Regarding your K10 diesel frame project, that is the best way to go if you can and the best of both worlds.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by focusedontheprize

The truck looks great and that color scheme is definitely growing on me - I really am liking it now. Regarding your K10 diesel frame project, that is the best way to go if you can and the best of both worlds.

Thanks! I feel the same, I was really considering a color change but man it really does look sharp when cleaned up, I think I will keep the original color.

And yeah I think it makes good sense, I hate my projects sitting around so if I can decrease downtime thats what I want to do.

[93M6Formula]

Not a lot to update but my stock radio seems to have a loose connection somewhere so I decided to clean up a spare cassette deck I had.

[82Diesel]

Nice radio. Mines still Stock & even works! so did my speakers. I've saved up a bunch of them bcuz the are hard to come by even so More hard to find the Rear cab speakers 4x10s. As Optional most trucks didn't have em.

[Corts60]

Looking great! I love the stance and tires. Makes me miss my '80 4x4.

I love that you're keeping the diesels alive. I daily drove my '78 for years with the factory Olds diesel. Nothing wrong with getting 23mpg in a square body!

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by Corts60

Looking great! I love the stance and tires. Makes me miss my '80 4x4.

I love that you're keeping the diesels alive. I daily drove my '78 for years with the factory Olds diesel. Nothing wrong with getting 23mpg in a square body!

Thanks! And yes I agree, I've always been a fan of the diesels and I hate seeing them swapped all the time, it's nice to be able to afford to daily drive one of these. This was a super original truck when I got it which I liked, it just got rusty. Original engine runs great, especially after what i've done.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by 82Diesel

Nice radio. Mines still Stock & even works! so did my speakers. I've saved up a bunch of them bcuz the are hard to come by even so More hard to find the Rear cab speakers 4x10s. As Optional most trucks didn't have em.

Yeah I have a whole pile of them just in case, I just like the stock look too much and I have a bluetooth adapter anyway so I try to keep the original radios.

[93M6Formula]

So I kinda sorta changed the direction of this project. I had mentioned that I have the whole other chassis that i'm going to completely overhaul so I can continue to drive and enjoy this truck and eventually when the frame, axles, fresh engine etc was done I was going to transfer the body to that frame and obviously fix the rust beforehand.

Then I got thinking, this truck as it is, is kind of special and I would really hate to take away a lot of the originality. It's pretty much 100% mechanically and i've been already going through and fixing cosmetic things while leaving it looking original. So basically, I decided i'm going to continue fixing this up but as a driver that can have scratches and a little "patina" to preserve some originality and i'm going to build a whole other truck off to the side the way I really want.

I have nearly every part including a very solid cab from the parts truck I posted earlier that i'll use and build from there. I probably won't get far on it this year yet so I won't start a build thread just yet. I will be focusing on this truck for now and getting it where I want it in the meantime. Why not have two squarebodys right?

[93M6Formula]

I did do a little this weekend to it.

Some emblem restoration

[93M6Formula]

I'll have to take some better pics, and some may laugh, but I spent some time sanding down the passenger rocker and cab corner and repainted it, yes with the bottom half of the cab corner rotted out lol. I had my local Advance Auto mix up my paint code in a few rattle cans and let me tell you, I cannot believe how perfect it is, I don't think you could match 38 year old paint any better so that made me happy. It's part of my plan to try and preserve what I can for now and make it look much better.

The passenger door is the worst part on the truck now and unfortunately I don't think it's worth the time to try and patch up so i'm going to use one of my spare doors and paint it up. I'm confident I can get it to match the rest of the truck pretty well so it won't be too noticeable which is my biggest concern.

[93M6Formula]

Eventually I may do the whole bottom half of the Almond color. Most of the original Bronze is in decent shape after a buff job.

I did score some hydro clutch pedals and an NOS GM door panel from my uncle which i'll use on the other truck.





Also, since manual tilt columns seem to be a tough find, I decided to see how close my GMT400 column would be since I have a few. Looks to be basically plug and play for 84+ trucks. It's about 2 inches longer where the steering shaft connects but that would be easy to remedy, and also the firewall flange is welded to it instead of seperate so I will just have to cut it off. Figured this would be good info for people. 78-83 trucks will just have to wire up the highbeam switch and wipers which would be simple or you can leave it alone.

[straight6chevyguy]

Originally Posted by 93M6Formula

So I kinda sorta changed the direction of this project. I had mentioned that I have the whole other chassis that i'm going to completely overhaul so I can continue to drive and enjoy this truck and eventually when the frame, axles, fresh engine etc was done I was going to transfer the body to that frame and obviously fix the rust beforehand.

Then I got thinking, this truck as it is, is kind of special and I would really hate to take away a lot of the originality. It's pretty much 100% mechanically and i've been already going through and fixing cosmetic things while leaving it looking original. So basically, I decided i'm going to continue fixing this up but as a driver that can have scratches and a little "patina" to preserve some originality and i'm going to build a whole other truck off to the side the way I really want.

I have nearly every part including a very solid cab from the parts truck I posted earlier that i'll use and build from there. I probably won't get far on it this year yet so I won't start a build thread just yet. I will be focusing on this truck for now and getting it where I want it in the meantime. Why not have two squarebodys right?

I think this is a great idea. Yep you can always use another squarebody lol.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by straight6chevyguy

I think this is a great idea. Yep you can always use another squarebody lol.

Exactly!
Plus this color really grew on me and along with other reasons, I would just hate to tear it apart and completely change it. I'll do what I want to the other one without feeling guilty lol.

I've always wanted one in dark metallic blue so that's what i'll be doing along with building my spare 6.5 and throwing the NV4500 behind that.

[93M6Formula]

Here's some additional photos of how painting rust turned out lol. I can't complain, it's better than it looked before. The rocker is in one piece but was getting pitted as you can see but I didn't want to spend too much time making it perfect. Down the road i'll likely do corners and rockers as this cab is pretty solid yet.

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by 93M6Formula

Here's some additional photos of how painting rust turned out lol. I can't complain, it's better than it looked before. The rocker is in one piece but was getting pitted as you can see but I didn't want to spend too much time making it perfect. Down the road i'll likely do corners and rockers as this cab is pretty solid yet.

That turned out great! They got those mixes spot on!

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by Corts60

That turned out great! They got those mixes spot on!

Yeah i was blown away, i don't think you could get any closer. I'm real happy.

[93M6Formula]

Got a couple things done before snow starts flying. After I rebuilt the front end there was still a ton of slop in the steering which I found out was a totally smoked gear box and rag joint. Replaced the rag joint and swapped a low mile box I had laying around and it's MUCH better. Also super easy, took all of 45 minutes.



Also had fuel leak in the valley i've been battling ever since I put it together. The primary filter would not seal no matter what I did and I believe the housing is just warped. I decided to just get rid of for now and run the secondary. Going to order a universal housing and mount on the firewall near the factory secondary.

[Corts60]

FYI, the big filter is the primary and the one on the engine is the secondary. They make quadrant o-rings for those fuel lines I'm pretty sure to seal it inside the housing. Perkins diesel uses the same set-up. Take a pic of the end fitting when it is out of the filter housing. If there is a little pipe nipple at the end of the threads, it is designed for a quad o-ring to seal properly.

Also the filters have different micron ratings: primary might be around 15-30 microns and secondary is probably 10 microns. Don't run without secondary too long or you risk sending bigger particles into the injectors and shortening their life.

[82Diesel]

Originally Posted by 93M6Formula

Got a couple things done before snow starts flying. After I rebuilt the front end there was still a ton of slop in the steering which I found out was a totally smoked gear box and rag joint. Replaced the rag joint and swapped a low mile box I had laying around and it's MUCH better. Also super easy, took all of 45 minutes.



Also had fuel leak in the valley i've been battling ever since I put it together. The primary filter would not seal no matter what I did and I believe the housing is just warped. I decided to just get rid of for now and run the secondary. Going to order a universal housing and mount on the firewall near the factory secondary.

I've got a factory firewall mount filter base i'd sell to ya for $50 came off a low mileage unit. & anything else you need.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by 82Diesel

I've got a factory firewall mount filter base i'd sell to ya for $50 came off a low mileage unit. & anything else you need.

Appreciate the offer but I do have a few spares yet so i'm going to give that a try first.

[93M6Formula]

Not much to update recently, just been enjoying the hell out of it and it's been my main daily. So far all the work has paid off in the cold weather, one of the best starting 6.2s i've had, gives me no fits whatsoever. Once it gets warm again i'll pick up where I left off.

[93M6Formula]

Finally found a winter front for this thing. I've been wanting an era correct white vinyl one with the red GMC logo but that was proving to be a lost cause. Found this on ebay, it's still era correct.

[82Diesel]

Originally Posted by 93M6Formula

Finally found a winter front for this thing. I've been wanting an era correct white vinyl one with the red GMC logo but that was proving to be a lost cause. Found this on ebay, it's still era correct.

Looks great! If your on FB the 6.2/6.5/5.7 group a guy had a Era Correct White GMC Front for $40... I have been trying to find a "Chevy" Black one like that or even GMC. but very tough to find. I haven't tried eBay though.

[93M6Formula]

Originally Posted by 82Diesel

Looks great! If your on FB the 6.2/6.5/5.7 group a guy had a Era Correct White GMC Front for $40... I have been trying to find a "Chevy" Black one like that or even GMC. but very tough to find. I haven't tried eBay though.

Woah i'm gonna have to find that post, i'm on that page. I still want one if I can find it. Closest one I found on ebay was for a Topkick of course.