Carolina K10, 1979 Reg cab short bed.

[TheBlueBomber]

I wasnt intentionally trying to go through that hole but my front tire slid in and I figured I would go all the way... If I had reverse gear, and a higher rpm motor I might have been able to back up when I first slid in.


Drove the truck home and parked it for the night. Two days later I drove to the carwash and when I stopped smoke started pouring out of the engine bay. Popped the hood and found oil all over my passenger valve cover, head, and pan towards the rear of the vehicle. Only happens when I stop...

The game plan is, limp it to the shop next week so they can install the new rims, limp it back to the house, pull the transmission, pull the motor. Rebuild the transmission, and go through the motor resealing it and reinstalling it if its good. Hopefully, time and money permitting, it will be done in a month in a half.

[Old School Low]

I love your thread. Real people with real situations. Keep on truckin.

[KatFish]

hey man that picture at Sheetz is that at the corner of 401/Ten Ten Rd? I have a friend that has an 85 he's getting ready to pull the current lift and all off if youre interested.

I go to Wake Tech.

[KatFish]

He also have 2 350's for sale. He's doing and LS2 in his.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by KatFish

hey man that picture at Sheetz is that at the corner of 401/Ten Ten Rd? I have a friend that has an 85 he's getting ready to pull the current lift and all off if youre interested.

I go to Wake Tech.

That's the one. Depending on what size lift and if the 350's are solid and run good I'll definitely be interested. I'll shoot you a pm with my number. I'm about 15 minutes away from wake tech.

[TheBlueBomber]

So thanks to a good friend of mine I was able to aquire a set of Mickey Thompson valve covers. They are straight with no dents or dings. He told me the PO sprayed paint thinner on the covers and never wiped it off. Stamped number is 3276000

I'll be going a little bit of a different route with these. I'll be out of town this weekend so any progress will most likely start Monday.

[TheBlueBomber]

Here's an ad I found for the M/T covers.

[Hankster]

I'm really digging this build! your making me wish mine was a 4wd instead of a 2wd ... dangit!

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by Hankster

I'm really digging this build! your making me wish mine was a 4wd instead of a 2wd ... dangit!

Thanks. Just remember... You break less things on pavement then you do off pavement! haha.

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Thanks. Just remember... You break less things on pavement then you do off pavement! haha.

Not me.

[TheBlueBomber]

I started working on the valve covers yesterday. Sprayed them with paint remover, scrubbed them with a scotch bright pad, sprayed down with a pressure washer, repeated about 3 or 4 times. After stripping all of the paint and gunk off there are a few nicks but I'm not too concerned about them. Being that they are cast late '58 through '68 I'm surprised that they aren't torn up. Definitely worth the $40 I payed for them.

Spent about 2 hours on the first with 120 grit. It's a little rough but there are still some spots in the metal and scratches I need to get out. I haven't started on the valley's and hard to get areas yet because I am lacking in the sanding tool department. This weekend I'll pick up some attachments and start on all the nooks and crannies but for now I'm focusing on spots and scratches.

[TheBlueBomber]

That's about all I could do in one straight session without losing my marbles

[TheBlueBomber]

Still looking for a th350 or a SM465 setup. My never used farm truck plate came in today and I mounted the last 2 rims on the truck.

[rusty76]

Cool valve covers. I'm sure a trans will turn up just got to keep digging.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Cool valve covers. I'm sure a trans will turn up just got to keep digging.

Thanks. There aren't as many squares in this area compared to yours so parts are kind of scarce.

[Old School Low]

Nice work

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by Old School Low

Nice work

Thanks. I see your motor is coming along nicely.

[rusty76]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Thanks. There aren't as many squares in this area compared to yours so parts are kind of scarce.

They're around here but you don't see as many round eyes on the road as you do the '81-87s. Some and about most of the junkyards around here don't keep them either. Kinda sad really. But they can be found.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Still looking for a th350 or a SM465 setup. My never used farm truck plate came in today and I mounted the last 2 rims on the truck.

Looks good! I love them rims!

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Looks good! I love them rims!

Thanks. How's your truck coming?

[1963c-10]

Hows the build going?

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Hows the build going?

I've taken a momentary pause in the build until I figure out what I'm going to do about the engine.



I found a guy a little past Siler City that will build the TH350 for $450 so I'll drop that off next week.

I've seriously been contemplating putting a 5.3L engine into the truck and I need to come to a decision if I want to reseal the 305 and drive it while I wait or just save the money for the 5.3l swap.

I ordered some LED bulbs for the gauge cluster that should be here tomorrow. I need to get a new circuit board for the back of the cluster because it is shot. Those go for about $80 and for $70 more I could get a tach cluster to put in.



Glad to see you back and well Jon.

[1963c-10]

I say save the $$$ and upgrade to a tach cluster. That will also replace the circuit board at the same time.

[TheBlueBomber]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

I say save the $$$ and upgrade to a tach cluster. That will also replace the circuit board at the same time.

I might as well. I've been wanting a tach cluster for a while now and have been hawking all the local yards might as well pay a little more and know it works /looks good.

[TheBlueBomber]

Decision has been made. LS it is!!!! Have a lot of planning and thinking to do as to how exactly I want to do this.


Basically, 5.3/4l80e/np241.

5.3 stock bottom end with LS6 top end plus or minus 2 turbos... Most likely plus!

Stock transmission and a stock tcase. I don't know about Axles just yet and if I want to keep the 12 bolt or not.

The truck has to be as stock looking as possible so I'll keep the gas tank underneath.

This quickly turned from a "kind of built fun daily driver" to a full out twin turbod LS powered square body.

End goal is 600hp. Without blowing up. Some say stock bottom end won't work. I'm going to make it work. And not blow up right away lol.