71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I guess the best way to start a build thread is to scope out the goals;

I hope to make this a runner, a every day driver if you will. I have the hopes to take it on a road trip to Alaska in the summer of 2015. My main goals before the trip are a body that's decent, and ok paint. What I mean by that is, it looks ok from 20'. Drivetrain wise I want this thing perfect, no corners cut as to reliability, simplicity, originality, and driveability. I want it to run as good or better then new in 1971.

I ended up finding my perfect base to start on, it was originally a California truck, bought in 1970. It was moved (with the owner) to Washington in the 80's. It was half assed restored in 2005-2009 and sold to a nice old chap in Kamloops BC. He owned it for 4 years, barely drove it, stored it outside and basically let it start to rot. I saved it this summer.

My plans;

re-do the interior with new gauges, cut and weld the dash for a factory style radio, and touch things up, its not too bad as it is.

Drivetrain: all new or rebuilt.... from the radiator to the lug nuts. I have a crate ramjet 350, completely rebuilt SM465, and NP205. I will do the diffs and drive shafts when I get the motor in, and things like radiator, headers, brakes ect will all be new items.


Once she's together and running perfect, (hopefully for this summer) I will drive her for a bit and shake the bugs out. After Alaska I plan to rip her apart again, and completely redo the body to perfect shape.

The truck was painted once a different shade of orange, it was a typical "mask off lights, windows and spray" job, so colors don' match. That annoys me, but I know I will abuse the body on my Alaska trip, so that why I will wait to strip her down and paint in correctly.

Anyways, here are some pics.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

That was how I picked her up. The last picture is with the 20" wheels off and some 15" chevy rally wheels put on with 35" bfg at's. Of course at this point lots of people wanted to test drive her' for me;

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

After many clutch drops and burns from city girls with no manual experience I noticed the rear was getting a little loose. I found the lame lift blocks somebody used where roatating and bending the spring perches, so I did a shackle reversal, with new perches to solve this block issue. I also re did the exhaust and drove it the rest of last summer.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Now it is time to do some more serious work. It's cold here, and she's been parked inside since oct. I'm gathering parts and getting ready for the big tear down.

First up, put a original Antenna back on, and pass mirror... why people get lazy on rebuilds frustrates me. The previous owner must have thought these were non essentials and never put them on....

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Now tranny and t-case time. I never took any pics of the tranny tear down and rebuild, as it was last winter. (I got donor cases) and here is the t-case;

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Now Fuel tank mod time, I need high pressure for the ramjet, and dislike the sound of external pumps. So, I guess we'll see if this is loud in the cab... I plan to dynomat the tank also.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Time to gut the interior for new gauges, dash stereo panel repair, ect...

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Nice truck Phill, I like it with the rally wheels, looks much better! you may not want to change too much about the truck as it is, looks like a chick magnet already! :lol:

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Nice build, love these SWB 4x4's.

I'm curious about your in the tank fuel pump set-up, and if it will be noisey !
Not sure just yet what I'm doing for my fuel delivery system !

Gary

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Interested in your fuel delivery as well!

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Very nice truck. I do like the ralleys much better. Thats a unique color that just might grow on ya. The ladies looked like they were enjoying the drive.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Thanks guys! A bit more progress this weekend; I stripped the entire dash, cut out all the crap wiring (original harness untouched! :metal:) and patched up the radio hole for a original type stereo. Of course I put new speakers in and tested it, sounds not bad!

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

more;

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

lil more'

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Now I also figured for my AK road trip I'll need a new rifle. What better then a marlin 1895 in 50 Alaskan Caliber! Now none of you yanks will let me buy one from you as your government doesn't want your economy to prosper and puts in laws against exporting things to us evil Canadians.... SO.... I'm building my own! haha ;)

I got a brand new 1895SBL in 45/70 and tore it down, now I need a 50 cal barrel blank and my reamer to show up.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Awesome truck,and cool trip planned.!
And what a great truck to run to alaska with !.:metal:
You seem to be making good progress.Good luck to you.
Tom

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Cool truck and gun.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

got the dash back together and started pulling the drive train.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Man! Great looking build! I like that stereo.... Can't wait to get mine to that point....

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

By the way what kind of suspension you running on there? I am assuming that isn't stock. Tires? Just curious, still trying to figure out what I want to do with mine. I can't decide, it's making me crazy... Lift or not... That is the question. Haha :)

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Thanks! :) its just a basic 6" tough country lift in the front, and ORU shackle flip and 1" add-a-leaf out back. The front could use softer springs, that's on my list of "too figure out a part #"

Tires are just 35x12.50 BFG AT's. I would run a 37" but I like white sidewall lettering and no 37x12.50r15 offer that.

Cleaned up the frame rails and started putting the ramjet it, I also got a large summit order in so I have a few projects on the go.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I fabbed up some a nice clutch linkage to fit the headers, with all 3/8" heims for no play (stock stuff had about 2" of play! :lol: )

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

sweet build

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

nice ride! the trip to Alaska should be awesome! What brand of stereo did you use? plan on a/c ?

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

That is a great looking truck :metal:
I really like the direction you are going with this. Looking forward to more updates.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Looking good!

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Hi Ya Phill

Gee that truck looks reallyyy Bad .... Cough Cough how about i come down to Calgary and do you a favor and move it up to my Garage :)

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I Am definitely jealous! Awesome Job and great progress . I was hoping to have my truck done for the spring to make a run to the Yukon . looks like i will have to read your progress

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Awsome build. Truck should end up cool too. My truck gun is the 1895 in 45-70. Added wildwest trigger, ejector, xs ghost rings, did a fill on the rear site dovetail and refinished whole thing in duracoat Teflon. If you are not aware of grizzly custom guns you should google them and check out his brush hawg packages. Are you going 50 alaskan to match calibers with a handgun? Love the "big medicine".

Also your truck looks good and great call loosing the 20's. Like your choices in test drivers.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Thanks Guys, Roxx just let me know when you can pick it up ;) lol

Bojak, I've been thinking about a big revolver as well, hehe we'll see on that. I finished the 50 Alaskan this weekend and started in on the truck again.

The gun works well, and there isn'y much to show on the truck,but completely wired the MPFI, ECM, and Ignition. All modded into the factory harness to look semi-original. Then started plumbing heater cores, belts.. ect.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

uuuyee why Does my axle have spirally thingys in it ...... errmm ohh that's a Barrel
Cough cough ;)

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Well I finished fitting and tigging up the exhaust, as well as dynomatting the incab tank with the electric fuel pump.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I then got the tank in and mounted/plumbed as well as the vinyl flooring and the rest of the interior. I then put in a nice hidden receiver hitch for a rear tow point and incase I want to tow a small trailer.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Ohhhh jeees Truck is looking rougher then ever ... ;) Good idea to do the tank to

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Now it was time for the drivetrain, I got all new spicer "life" series ujoints for everything, I run only these u-joints in everything I have and have yet to have a failure under 100K miles. I also started tearing down the rear diff for a full overhaul with new everything and a Detroit trutrac diff.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

This is how she sits today. I am waiting for a rear ring and pinion, and the front Detroit Truetrac and I should have her together in a couple of weeks sans any problems.

I have fired and set the timing on the ramjet and it seems to run great. As the the fuel pump in the cab, you can hear it prime barely before the engine fires but then I can't here any noise from it.

Hopefully my parts show up and I can get the front end completely done with new ball joints, tie rod ends, bearings, seals, diff ect... over the course of the next few weekends, as well as button up the rear. Then I can drive her again, and its almost time for all the snow to melt up here so not a second too soon.

I also included a pic of the stock axle shafts on the left compared to the 73+ 297x ones I'm using on the right so people can see the differences. I didn't know the older 72 and prior ones necked down so small the whole length. That's Dana 30 size!!

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Awesome build man, hope you make it to alaska. Feel free to stop by if you do! haha

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

Thanks :) I just may do that! haha

I got the rear ring and pinion and Detroit in and all set up with a great pattern, as well as the front Detroit and gears. I also did all new bearings, seals, ball joints, u-joints, brakes, tie rod ends, drag link ends ect...

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I also got a spare 35" swamper I had laying around mounted up on another rally rim for a spare tire. I then put the drive shafts in and took her for a spin...... and embarrassingly the tranny was howling.

Re: 71' K10 4x4 SWB project "North to Alaska"
 

I suspected a bushing I got from trans warehouse since day one as it fit too tight in the granny gear.... I measured it as .010" OD over the old bushing, but it was new and the other was worn I figured? Nope, it was just a sh!t part. So she's back on the lift, I tore the tranny out, and found that bushing burnt up. It also scored up the main shaft and the granny gear. Luckily I have a lathe and a diamond wheel grinder set up to true the shaft and re-grind and I had a spare granny gear. I put it all back together with a new bushing I got locally that measured in correctly. :( this was yesterday so the tranny's back together on the ground and she's still in the air. But, next time I get a day I'll start slapping her back together.