Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Here's the "official" start of a project I'm calling Git-R-Done, which is a 72 K25 I bought several years ago and am finally doing something with.

The whole objective to to finally complete one project truck, so I'm taking all the parts I've bought for my three projects and going to try and finish this one this year.

It means that the K25 will end up having chevy front end but hey who'll notice.:lol:

Basically the truck will be stock, with a 350-TH400-NP205, air, ps, pb, keyless entry and maybe PW, I'll also be building a flatbed for it and am trying to decide if it's worth making it a dump bed.

Here's the before pics as I start disassembly.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Looks like a great start, good luck with the build!

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Looks like a solid start, the old GMC's are great trucks, I just subscribed, keep us posted.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

I dismantled the old bed today, it's a good thing I decided to build a flatbed for it, the old bed was a disaster, the bedsides were barely worth salvaging.

Next step is to finish disconnecting the cab and pull it and the front clip off in one piece.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

I hear you, mine has never had a bed on it, it has always had some sort of body, I am going to wind up building a custom flat bed for mine and my friends dodge here pretty soon. I need to do my 12 valve Cummins swap first though.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Cool truck. Cool dogs. Keep up the good work.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well it's been a while since an update on the truck but it's not like I haven't been busy, there have just been alot of things that built up to this point. Now the plan is to blast and prime the K25 frame next week but before I could I had quite a few things to do before I could get to that point, so I'll break them down into a picture series.

Now first off I decided to use the cab I've fixed up for the C10 on the K25, but before I could take it off the C10 frame I had to get it out of the shop, and inorder to do that I had to put the bed back on the frame and before I could get the frame out, I had to fix the brakes on the Studebaker since it was in the way and wasn't safe to move since the brakes were completely gone. One master cylinder and two wheel cylinders later and I could lock the front brakes up.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Now unfortunately I've stockpiled alot of scrap metal that needed to be gotten out of the way before I could move the studebaker and C10. Most of the small stuff got dumped in the trunk of the Buick, the rest got dumped on the pile behind the shop.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

So the studebaker got mobile but before I could start thinking about taking the C10 cab off I needed a place to put the C10 cab until the K25 frame was done since the the K25 cab was going to go on the c10 frame until it was time to fix that cab. So I had to build a cab dolley.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Ok so it's time to pull the C10 out of shop, right? Not quite, I had to put the boom back on the tractor.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Custom boom? Or bought?

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

So the Studebaker is sitting in the yard and oh joy, the wife is working nights this week so I had to jockey the C10 frame out of the shop myself, which involved alot of winching, pushing and tossing bricks under the tires so it didn't go down the hill on me, but finally it was out. Leaving me able to lift it off with the tractor and put it on the cab cart.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

All in all it came off well, I got done before the sun set. All despite the fact that one furry little pest kept getting in the way, not understanding that Studebaker, tractor or truck tires would really ruin everybodys day.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Time to fill up the big empty hole and tommorow hopefully the k25 cab will come off.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well I hear the oven beeping time for dinner.;)

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

One I custom fabricated, pretty simple.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well I didn't get the cab off, it turns out that the cab and front clip were heavier than the bucket could lift. I'll have to lift the front clip and cab off seperately, so I've taken off all of the bolts holding the clip to the cab, hopefully if the weather isn't too bad tomorrow I'll get it lifted off.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well I removed the front clip from the K25, removed the cab and put it on the C10 frame, and as well put the k25 front clip on the C10. Moving the cab was a real pain since the tractor simply couldn't lift the complete cab, I ended up having to take the doors off as well as taking the seat out before it was light enough.

Well onto cleaning up the frame.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Now my friend you are at the part where it starts gettin really expensive...

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well I got to work on the frame today, cleaned all of the old lines off, took the shocks off and removed all of the old exhaust brackets that somebody crappily welded on.

Of course I found some problems, cracks at the very front on the left and right and the typical torch work at the rear.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

As well I found an enlongated hole on one of the front spring shackles, the tranny crossmember I have is wrong but hopefully useable.

The worst problem is the rear crossmember is badly rusted were it meets the frame, finding a replacement will be really difficult, and repairing it right just as difficult.

Not a real setback but unexpected.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Check out the boss hoss build, I built my own tranny cross member, and it was really easy, not to mention it is now much stronger than the stock stamped job.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Thanks, I had a quick look and it looks really strong. I'll have to drop by Elmira Steel this week. Maybe I can do the same thing for the rear crossmember as well.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

I was able to tie in to the bottom side of the frame only, but that is because my truck is a 2wd with a carrier bearing, Eventually I will add supports that go to the upper frame flange. You will definitely want to have them on a 4x4

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Quick update on yesterday's work, pressure washed the frame and tried a little sandblasting with my homemade pressure pot.

It was a little more work than it sounds since it took me 3 hours to get the pressure washer working, next time I'll treat the gas before winter. :waah:

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Todays update, removed the rear crossmember and as you can see it was fairly rusted at the ends, the rest was pretty solid so I decided to save it. I fabbed some patches and tomorrow I'll weld them in.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Whole lotta welding thursday. Repaired the crossmember by tigging in the patches I made yesterday, I'll drill the missing holes once I mount the crossmember back in the frame.

Repaired the torch work in the back of the frame by opening up the forward of the torched set of holes with a hole saw and cutting a patch with the next size up of hole saw, those were migged in front and back. As well I just cut out the section at the back and migged patches in there as well.

Cut a new patch for the parking brake bracket and will probably weld it up saturday.

I also decided to remove the lower rear crossmember brackets and am not to happy with what the frame looks like in the bottom. most probably I'll cut those sections out and weld in new patches there. I'll have to be careful as this is directly over the leaf mount and is obviously a pretty critical structural area. I'll V groove the edges and weld top and bottom for full penetration.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Well I cut out an 8 inch section of the lower frame on the right and 5 inches of the lower frame on the left and welded patches in. I wasn't satisfied that the patches would be strong enough so I added a 12 inch plate on both sides and fully welded that in as well. I'll have to modify the lower crossmember brackets but they needed work as well anyways.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

it's looking real good man keep up the good work

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

No update for today, but for yesterday I repaired the top part of the frame at the rear, welded up the cracks on the frame horns and removed the old front crossmember. That means all of the frame repairs are done, sandblasting is next. Unfortunately I didin't get to the point of priming the frame by the end of the week but I'd rather have things done right so the delay was worth it.

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Wire wheeled the frame on sunday and finished it today. No pics but hopefully this weekend I'll get started on sandblasting. Found out that the wirewheels work really well for cleaning up the diffs as well.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Finally caught a break from the rain and got some sandblasting done, only got about 20% done though. I really can see why people are willing to pay somebody to do this.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Wow it's been a month since I did anything, maybe I should call this Not Gitting-R-Done. After swaping an engine for a freind and other misc BS, not to mention the weekend weather not cooperating I finally got to it yesterday.

I did a little blasting with some improvements, first off I changed out the pressure pot line to a larger interior diameter (1/2" as I recall) and used my new air suppy system and things went pretty fast. I got most of the driver outside rail, that leaves 1/2 the pass outside, and 75% of the rest of the inside left to do. I'll probably have to reblast some of the other side but it should got fast. Probably won't get much done today as it's raining. :waah:

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Some more progress today, I moved the rear crossmember forward to make room for the rear fuel tank, as well I moved the spare tire carrier to the rear to act as a spreader bar.

Did some work repairing the mid? lower crossmember brackets, still have to do some trimming and welding on those.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Tack welded the mid lower crossmember brackets together. Will finish weld them together tommorow if I have the time.

Next project that finishes the frame work is the tranny crossmember. After that blasting and painting the frame is next.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Yesterday I went out and finish welded the mid-lower crossmember brackets and as well welded the rear brake cable bracket I repaired. That was supposed to finish the frame work, but I decided to install all of the crossmembers and make sure everything would fit before I went onto blasting and painting the frame.

Good thing I checked too, the measurements don't add up, from the motor mount to the back of the engine is 16", from the front of the tranny to the tranny/t-case support is ~24" for a total of 40", the engine crossmember to the tranny crossmember is only 37", so somewhere I lost 3". The tranny seems to be sitting in the right position for the front driveshaft but it is 2" too far back for the rear driveshaft which collapsed (maybe, I have to recheck) is 56" but I only have 54" of space.

Very weird, I can probably explain the rear driveshaft since I don't think it's the original, and maybe can explain the missing 3" at the front as it isn't the proper tranny crossmember as well. But I can't help but think I'm missing something obvious.

The project may end up getting altered as well, since I'm thinking about picking up a cheap diesel van pulling the engine for this project.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Did some moire sandblasting, not much left to blast, just the inside of the passenger framerail. Unfortunately the older blasted parts will have to be reblasted and of course it rained before I could roll the frame back into the shop so I'm already seeing some flash rust on the top of the newly blasted frame.

I tried flap wheeling the frame where it had already been blasted, the results we fast and pretty good, every bit as good as sandblasting, where I can I'll use that to clean up the remainder of the frame.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

Finally! Yesterday I finished cleaning up the frame with a combination of sanding, wire-wheeling and sandblasting the areas that I couldn't get otherwise. Just rolled the frame into the shop as it started to rain again.

Looks like it will be time for epoxy primer today.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

DONE!!! The frame work is done. Well not quite, but the main frame rails are primed and ready to go.

I'm not really planning on top coating the epoxy primer, it looks pretty good already. Next steps are to blast and prime all of the crossmembers and install them for the last time.

BTW, I used SPI Black epoxy primer, good stuff.

Ron

Re: Project Git-R-Done - 72 K25
 

No real progress on the K25 but I had a look at a 95 3/4 ton GMC diesel van with a 6.5L diesel that was for sale and ended up buying it for $1000. The engine ran great and was well maintained with 194,000km on it (~121,000 miles), so it will become the powerplant for the K25.

Ron