Project: "Junkyard Resurrection"

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I have all the new pieces welded in and ready for primer and paint.I ordered some steel to brace the frame since it will be weaker.When it comes in Monday I can reinstall my spring hangers and get all that bolted together.I am waiting on the new ring & pinion and then the front axle can go back together.I have the stuff for the rear axle but Im waiting to get the frame back together to put the rear axle back together.Im also in the process of getting some 16x10 aluminum rims and ordering my new tires.

[84 400]

GREAT Build up!! Nice progress tooo! also it looks like your doing it right the first time by fixing anything you overlooked. Better to mess up new paint then to snap off a spring hanger.

again nice work

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I repainted the frame today and started the rear axle re-assembly...

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I was moving quickly along on my swb 4x4 build but its came to a stop as I dont have my transmission back yet,my motor hasnt been dissassembled to be bored and put back together,and I dont have the chassis ready for the drivetrain.My original goal was to have it running by my birthday on Feb 18th but that goal wont be accomplished .The new goal is to have the chassis done which includes getting the axles back together,finish the lift kit install and put the complete body back on the truck so I can see it as a truck which I havent seen since July of last year.About half of the truck is flat black,one door is yellow,and the bed is in primer..It may be ugly looking but hopefully it looks like a truck on Feb 18th,as in the body will be completly on but the motor,tranny,and t case will be out. Stay tuned!
It will be no means be done,just together so I can see some work pay off on my birthday before I pull the body back off,put in the motor,tranny,t case and paint the cab.Once the cab is painted it will go on and as more is painted those parts will go on also.

[1969k10stepside]

Iv been told my transmission will be done and can be picked up tomorrow with a total cost of $0 to be rebuilt

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I didnt pick up the tranny today...not in any hurry on it though.I got the new ring and pinion for the front thanks to LIVRAT.Thanks so much
I ordered new front shackles,transmission/t case bushings,shim kit for the rear axle,and some other items last night,they will be here in 1-2 weeks.

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I am pretty sure I am going to re-assemble the front axle tomorrow.Tonight I put in the crossmember I repaired and test fitted everything before its all bolted down.It looks like its gonna work.I spent the rest of the night working on the motor....I think this is the one Im going to use.I reamed the cylinder ridges and started taking the bottom end apart.Once the body is sat temporarily back on the chassis I am going to put the truck outside for awhile and take apart a parts truck to part out and sell parts here.I also plan to do the motor work during that time.

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I got the spring hangers on and the rear springs bolted on.I got the new pieces bolted down to brace the frame where I patched it also.I started the reassembly of the front axle but will have to wait till tomorrow to get some bearings I didnt expect to need.I had some people over looking at the truck today and was told it was looking good and they couldnt wait to see it done.I was told by them they had seen the truck before it went to the junkyard sitting in someones yard,while it was still green.I wish I could have seen some pics but atleast I know part of its former life.

[1969k10stepside]

Got my new front shackel assemblies.Time to go put them on........

[1969k10stepside]

Well,the new bushings are installed and shackels on.Though there was difficulty since they were for a stock spring,not lifted.The bushings for the spring eye,which I already had new ones for wont work,as will the shackel plate on one side,as I had to reuse the original square headed bolt,and needed the square hole,which the new plate didnt have.So I have 2 extra shackel plates,and 4 bushings for the spring eye on the back of the front spring.I guess they will hit the parts board eventually.

[msgross]

where did you get all of your bushings? I need to do a complete swap on my 68 K-10. let me know if you want to parts with the extras. Send pics to msgross@hotmail.com if you want.

Mike

[1969k10stepside]

I got new spring eye bushings with my lift kit.I ordered new front shackle assemblies from LMC for $70 a side.I dont have any pics of what I have left over,but can get some.The rear shackles still need new bushings,but I havent got that far yet

[1969k10stepside]

I forgot to post these,but these are of the rear crossmember that caused my rust problems.One is a before pic,and others are after.If you have rust between crossmembers and the frame,remove the crossmember and check it out.I welded the new pieces in the crossmember,after cutting out the thin area.I also patched this hole in the back crossmember.All in about 8-10 total hours of work,including removing the stuff,welding it,and bolting it back together,and cutting the metal of course.

[1969k10stepside]

Well,Im waiting on the shim kit to put the rear axle back together.To make my deadline,Im going to be working all through the night bolting the body on the truck and take some pics to show offOnly have 7 days to go

[msgross]

where did you get you axle parts?

[1969k10stepside]

I got the new ring gear from a board member.I bought the shim kit for the rear axle from Year One.A majority of bearings and seals came from Napa,the lockouts came from O Reily's.The u joints for the axle shafts came from Auto Zone.I think thats it

[msgross]

was the rear axle in that bad of shape or was this preventive maintenance? I am just planning on changing oil in my rear axle and minimal parts on my front for the carrier swap.

[1969k10stepside]

Rear axle didnt need anything but was installed by the previous owner with no shims.It had 1 ton axles under it before I bought it since it was a mud truck and when he took it to the junkyard he just put some gears in the original rear end and hauled it off.It wasnt driven with the gears like that but need adressed now before I start driving it so the gears are lined up properly.The front end,with the ring gear chipped meant the gears werent lined up.I had to change stuff and had to cut some bearings off to remove the stuff I need so they had to be replaced.Then all new seals needed put in,u joints on the axle shafts were put in because one side was hard to turn and that u joint was shot.Some bearings were pitted so I replaced them.I wouldnt have done it all if I didnt care to have to tear it all back apart later and the front is harder to do then the back.My advice is to check it all so once its done you dont have to pull your front axle back apart.On the plus side,just about everything in the axles is new so no problems should be expected.Better safe then sorry.

[msgross]

I agree, I just noticed that I have some rust between the frame and cross member that runs under the t-case. It's bad enough to have bowed the x-member between the bolts so I better see how bad it is underneath. I finally have to the of my frame on the rotisserie and have been fighting with the back spring bolts (AAAHH those suck) so I can get the rear mounted on it. Hopefully i'll be sandblasting in two weeks. I only get a few hours a week to work on mine...

[1969k10stepside]

I had to heat up the rear spring bolts to remove mine.Some came loose,some I had to cut out.Which ruined the spring but didnt matter to me because I had the new ones.I hate the smell when I accidenently hit the bushings and they catch fire.I would WD them and let it soak awhile,they might come loose.About the frame,I bet its like mine,you might be cutting in it too like me.

[msgross]

maybe melting the bushings will work even better. it took me 30 min for one of the rear bolts. I can't ruin my springs though because you can't find them for a 68. I'm breaking out the torch next time i'm at the shop and see what happens.

[1969k10stepside]

Have you considered converting to the newer style rear springs.If you wanted to put on a lift kit with new springs it might be something to consider.
You would just need to get spring hangers and shackles off a newer 4x4 to use.I think I have some,I dont know what year they are for though.Be aware that you will either need to weld new perches on the axle or get a different axle.If you were heading through Indiana you could come pick up the one from the back of my 69 4x4 as I am putting 1 ton axles under it

[msgross]

we'll see what happens with the heat gun. i would rather not go that far since I am sticking with stock height. I will be "back home again, in Indianaaaa!" For the race that is, in May....

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I guess I decided I am putting a stock chrome sport bumper on the back as I found myself bolting rear bumper brackets on that is for sport bumpers tonight.Thats what I did today...so yeah...

[1969k10stepside]

Well,I ordered the last part I need for the differentials,at $.85 a piece.I ordered 2 thrust washers that go in the "Hogs Head" (as we call it here in Indiana atleast).Mine was a little worn.I could have use the originals but I might as well do it right now.My transmission is done(It was said before but it wasnt really done then),I should get it this week.After I get it,the transfer case and transmission can go back in the truck...oh,if only I had a good motor to put in it,I would have it runnin by March.