68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

$$PROJECT MONEY PIT$$

ok, I've been on here nearly a year and have been working on the K-10. I have a ton of pics saved up and decided to finally put something into a build thread. The wife named the project, figures:me2: She figured since it's green and takes all the extra money in the house that it fits....

So about the truck, it was a 1 owner Upsate New York truck that was owned by a mechanic. When I bought it off Ebay ($1600) it had a monster custom front steel push bumper welded onto the front and a matching rear bumper with a welded hook on it. They were both attached right and did zero damage over it's 30 years of service. The gentlemen use to push or pull cars home to his garage that were stranded.

This thread will be a quick recap of the past year and a weekly update after that. It will go on hold in Oct 07 when I leave for Alabama for 6 months to attend a military school. As a daily job I am a Captain in the US Army instructing pilots in the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter.

Here's some specs, numbers matching truck with glove box sticker intact
1968 K-10 SWB fleetside truck (1 owner) only 1449 built like it
327 cid, 4bbl, Rockwell T-221 TC, 4 speed saginaw tranny (granny gear)
Wood Bed (came with NOS wood)
tach dash
tow hooks
HD front springs
HD cooling
70K on the odometer (flipped? or used hard)
west coast JR mirrors
manual throttle
manual steering
manual brakes

Goals:
1. Get it running
2. learn more about the truck and it's components while finding a new hobby
3. avoid truck payments!
4. Have a good reliable classic truck and will get a thumbs up every now and then
5. Keep food on the table throughout build
6. add power disc front brakes, rear gas tank, tilt wheel, A/C (future upgrade), reese hitch all while keeping a fairly stock appearance and pay respect to the truck...(no hoopty ghetto crap!)

Enjoy the pics and feel free to leave comments

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Cool! It looks pretty solid to me. Are those rockers still the originals? If so, I'm jealous! :lol:

Have fun & keep the pics coming as you dive into it :metal:

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

"3. avoid truck payments!" Do you mean get out of truck payments? :lol:

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

rockers had been replaced, they didn't do inners though...?? here are some under cab pics of what I found...

Major rust issues are under the cab, driver rear support missing, pass rotted as well. Some floor areas have been repaired in the past but will all need redone. The entire frame had been undercoated which protected a majority of it from the salt and sand of the New York winters.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

YEP:lol:

I tackled #3 shortly after that pic. Sold the HEMI Ram for what I owed and got out from under a $400 payment. Did the wife give me that money....NOPE:bs:

now I drive a free Camry to work that her parents gave us... 175K and still running. Once our Tahoe is paid off then i'll get another new vehicle though!

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Mike,you forgot to mention the truck is one of 1449.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

oh yeah... I just watched a twin of my truck sell for $1200 on Ebay and it was in PA. 292 with no tach and a bad tranny... More pics and updates to follow..

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

More pics from the beginning of the build. Some of these were from the Ebay auction when I got the truck....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

more pics... truck had been sitting behind the shop for 7 years. It started with a little gas dumped into the carb and drove itself onto the trailer....:metal:

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

First plan, get it running....

started with an oil change and new fuel pump....no good

then the carb and intake (Ebay for $100 as a combo)...fired but didn't idle well

then HEI dizzy and another Holley carb.... ran like a beast:metal:

IT'S ALIVE! great oil pressure, no knocks, 130'ish psi in all cylinders....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

It's Alive... the video linky

http://picasaweb.google.com/hawkdriv...80332332331298

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

very nice truck, even if it is a "money pit"

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Decided to try a few wheels to get a feel for the Pit....

picked up a set of 33"x10.5x15's BFG's AT for $150 (for all 4!) with 1,000 miles on them from Ebay.... I wanted 12.5 width but couldn't pass the deal up. Also got a set of 15x10 wagon wheels for $30 local and tried one out. Decided that 10" is to wide for the tire so I kept searching. Then I found a set of 15 x 8 MT Classic II's on Ebay for $280 local (used three days) and liked them better...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

I like this look better...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

AbSoFRiggN LuteLy! :metal:

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

I prefer the M/Ts to the wagon wheels any day.But...I like the 15x8 stock rims too.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

If I had four nice one's like my original pics rear rims then that would be cool. Add original hubcaps with new age tread and size!

I want the truck to look original at first glance except the rims, then you notice small improvements over stock (i.e. nicer paint, tilt, A/C?, rear poly tank, power front disc brakes, LED taillights, Reese hitch, Rancho 9000's with hidden in-cab controls, hidden stereo, etc...)

thanks c-mac for the compliments, the truck was pretty nasty underneath though! inches of gunk on all crossmembers, surface rust and old undercoating on everything else. You can look at my pics on the sig if you want a newer look. I'll get more posted as I go....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Pretty much the same way mine is.All stock looking but the lift,tires,and the motor looks fairly stock.The interior looks original and the body does too.But,there is the added original a/c,tilt,etc.
I plan to one day get some 15x8 rims and stock hub caps and have the current set and the 15X8s with a less agressive tread.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Noticeable difference will be the shadow that yours cast with a 6" lift! Don't know if this will ever make the 600 mile trip, unless I get my own trailer and come to a show in the future! I'd like to find a nice set of buddy buckets someday too...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

not a bad looking truck, in that start up vid is it open exhaust?

i had a bunch of crap on my crossmembers and in the nooks and crannies to, nothin a pressure washer couldnt take care of though

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Lookin good :c2:

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

:haha:
If you dont want to go with the 68 style buckets I might have a line on 2 sets of buckets from a blazer.I'm gonna use one set in my truck but if you want I can get the other set for your truck.I'm in luck cause they are like what my truck had but they are different than the 67-68 style.I suppose you could go back to originals someday when you find them though...Oh,and Super Chevy at Indy...That would be the show to go to.

It don't cast that much of a shadow..:lol: :)

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Hey Mike,did you find a passenger exhaust manifold?I have one for you that I turned up (odd one).Let me know if you still need it.That truck will come out nice,the way you`re going at it.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

I'm subscribing to this build thread.

I love the truck and not to mention it's from a fellow Pa member. :metal:

Very nice write-up and GR8 progress in your yr with it.

Hope to meet you someday soon. :) Since Spring Carlisle didn't work out for me :(

You may be a little bit south for me but, don't forget if you ever get in a pinch and need a hand with something truck related or not Don't hesitate to ask.

Keep Up the GR8 Work!! :cool:

RJ22...:)

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

thanks guys...

Jason, I might plan a flight and check out that Denny's Pub with the big burgers this summer... I'll let you know if we head up that way.

Tim, local board member hooked me up with a pass ramhorn, thanks... Are we doing Carlisle truck show?

GreaseMonkey, yep, I hacked off the exhaust about a foot from the manifolds so it would catch fire. The original style muffler was still installed and pretty rusted. I drove it through my sub-division like that...and with the bed off! woohoo....

Dustin, no biggy on the seats, My bench is useable and I plan on covering it until I find the Buddy's in the future... nice shadow!

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Dig the progress and I really like the truck. A very classic 4x4 just to my liking.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Now for the teardown and parts fitting....

Decided to clear out the old wood bed first. The truck came with a set of NOS wood for a chevy, still had the dealers sticker on it and appears to be pretty good shape. Also removed the bed and mocked up the poly blazer tank... Removed the heavy duty steel bumper that was welded to the bottom of the rear frame rails....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

I thought that the bed was in pretty good shape until I started taking it apart.... Most of the bolts under the wheel wells had rusted out and you can see the damage on the bedsides. It was a very study bed until it came apart! I know have a better set of crossmembers for the bed and new wheel wells. I need to fix all the rust issues on the bedsides before it can go back together and need to purchase a new bed panel.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

so here's what the truck looked like when I dorve it down my street and back.... Had to check out the drivetrain before I started pulling it apart... I think only one brake works! Remember that this has closed knuckle Dana 44 front with drum brakes and a 12bolt rear with drum and rotted e-brake cables.

My antifreeze jug fuel cell can be seen inside the grille...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Now time to assess the cab problems...:whine:

Few suprises, since this was my first truck I didn't know what to look for when I picked it up. The driver rear cab corner had been replaced, the rockers had been replaced (no inners installed??), the rear cab supports were rotted, pass floor was getting weak from the old sound deadner (they seem to promote rust!), and one huge hole under the gas tank:confused:

I also pulled out the pass seatbelt with my hands! So new floor pans, rockers, supports and cab corners will be going in. The reast of the cab is in great shape with only a small rust issue in the back window....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Man I have a nice 67 cab I'd almost give you, but it's in AZ. It's a small window, so wouldn't really work for a 68, but I have a nice motor home cab (with the back cutout for a walk through) that would donate you a completely rust free lower half of the cab. That is sweet. I have a one of 1054 67 short fleet that'll be up and running in a few weeks that I'll post in the classifieds as soon as it's done. Gotta love a short 4X!!

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

:lol:
Lucky south westerners.I might have to move there.I was bidding,on ebay, on a 72 4wd in Southern Arizona that was 95% rust free but was outbid so I was left with the rusty northern trucks.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

The cab is salvageable it's just that EVERY piece of the floor has some kinda little problem that all add up to a lot of new sheetmetal... oh well, I need to work on my welding skills anyway! It will be covered with Dynomat and rubber floor anyway....

southwesterners can't have snowball fights though!

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

:metal: definately try and make it up to check out Denny's Beer Barrel Pub.

I would love to meet up with ya a I will give it another try myself :lol:

It's real easy just catch Rt.322 and follow it the whole way. Denny's Pub it along Rt.322

You have less rust than I do. Thats why all things that carried body color are going to be replaced :( EVERY last piece of sheet metal

Again, Awesome build RJ22...:)

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

Is this stock height with the 33X10.5X15 tires on 8 inch wide rims. If so could you get me a measurement from top of front wheel opening to ground and another from top of wheel opening to center of the hub. By the way the truck looks sharp. I love the SWB 4X4's.


Jason

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

yep, it's the stock height but the truck is a bare frame right now... might have to wait a year until it gets panels on it again!

It has the HD spring option so it might sit a little higher than some K-10's. I am also adding an add-a-leaf in the back...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

So winter was getting closer and I had a grubby, rusty, unsafe truck now... So what the heck, I decided to take it down to the frame, all the way... Since mama wants to park the Tahoe in the garage and that keeps me from taking up two bays.... 4 buddies at work are renting a 4 bay, two deep garage and are working on a 59 Apache, a 65 Mustang, a 74 Cuda and a 74 bug.... For $120 a month I got in on the garage which gave me space and access to a rotisserie, welder, torch, and other items that helped. It's only 4 miles from home but the wife has now started getting on my case about spending any time away from home. SO over the last 6 months I have spent an average of 4-5 full days a month down in the garage.... Plans are to get it rolling and get it back to my garage, work on the cab (buy my own small welder) and chip away at it rent free....

On with the build, we towed it to the shop and started the tear down...

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

found that a few critters had lived in the cab, two mice nests in the vents and one behind the seat.... Also think that the wire to the heater had caught fire (still worked) at one point because a fire extinguisher had been emptied into the dash.... Circuit panel was rusty so a new wiring harnass was in order. Southdisto (board member) hooked me up with a free one that he didn't need....

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

figured i'd use the rotisserie for the frame, as you can see it has a lot of rust and undercoating. I took many hours with the torch and putty knife to clean the frame up.

Re: 68 K-10 SWB build thread - project Money Pit...pics galore!
 

How are you going to clean the frame,prep for coating,and what will you coat it with?Oh...and can you have all that done by the time I check back?I hate to wait.