80 Chevy k10 build
 

Hello guys, I am new here, I just picked up a 1980 K10 Pickup last Monday. This is my first project truck, and I am really looking forward to getting to work on this.

Pictures:

Grill is cracked, you can see it is held together with string, the right head light bezel is broken as well.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0821.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0820.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0819.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0822.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0823.jpg

The Hood is bent, I know this is a problem with this style truck, how do I go about fixing it? It has been bent so many times that I will have to add some kind of support to keep it from bending.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0824.jpg

It has a 250 engine/ 350 transmission/ 205 transfercase. The fuel pump is missing, and the PO said that the engine is making a clicking noise, but I plan on putting a 350 in it. It also has AC in it!
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0826.jpg

Does anybody know anything about this rear bumper? It sets in really far, and then the ends stick out farther. It has a frame in the bed for a hay lift, and im not sure if that has anything to do with why the bumper is like that.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0831.jpg

This is where the hay lifts winch was mounted.
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0830.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0835.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0834.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0833.jpg

It seems to be in really good shape for being 30 years old, and being a farm truck. I dont know if I want to replace all of the dented areas on the truck or not. I plan on it being a Daily driver, and a mild offroader, so Im not sure if It is worth it to replace the bed and front fenders or not.

The Plan:
-Blue Body (Darker)
-All chrome, or non body colored things will be black
-350 Engine
-3/4 ton axles and springs
-New Stereo system
-Military Surplus Tires

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Welcome to the forums!

I'd almost swear that is my Grandpas old farm hands truck, his name was Manny and he passed away about 12 years ago or so. I have no idea where his old truck went, but I'd really have to be convinced that wasn't his. Then again, there are a loooooooooot of those style out there, in that condition. :lol:

Looks like a good project for you, has some awesome potential though! I'll be watching.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Looking forward to seeing how this goes for you! Looks like you have a solid truck to start with.

I am betting that rear bumper is a custom job with the corners intended as steps.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

The bumper is probably homade and in in the center so you could drop the gate down without kinking it in the middle ,If you swap to 350 I pretty sure you ac is on the drivers side and alt is on the passenger,I know alot about these trucks as I bought one in 1980 and still have it today,Dang I feel old now,I got a hood for it though off 79.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well, the guy that farms my parents land said that he has a 1980 3/4 ton, I am going to use it for parts. He says it was a high end truck at the time has power windows, power locks, ect.. I plan on stealing the 3/4 ton axles and springs (if they are 52" rears like mine) to make a Heavy Half ton.

Well the 250 engine has some bad news. It was missing the fuel pump, but I wanted to see if it would crank, because the PO said that it was making a clicking noise, and that it was getting really bad, so they parked it. Well after hooking a battery up to it, and trying to crank it, the engine was locked. So sense it was locked my dad and I started to look at it, and there was a hole in the oil pan from something flying through it. I planned on replacing the engine any way, it just means I have to get a new engine before I can drive it around, but that is what im going to get this parts truck for, it has a working 350 in it.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well I have not updated a lot, but I have done quite a bit lately. I have already removed the front clip, and pulled the engine and the 350 transmission out.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0845.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0853.jpg

The 250 was blown, the connecting rod went through the block, and the cam shaft was broke, and a lot of metal floating around.

After I removed the front clip and engine/trans, I took off the bed and cab.

I spend two days going around the frame removing any rust/dirt i could. Tonight I final put a fresh coat of paint on the frame.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0854.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/DSCN0855.jpg

Should be picking up a 1980 K20 for parts this weekend. I plan on stealing the engine and axles out of it, and any sheet metal that is better than mine. I also plan on stealing the gauges out of it, instead of have the idiot lights in mine.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Nice job!!!

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Looking good!

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Thanks Guys, So far this has been a really fun project.

I have a few questions to ask though, How should I go about tipping the cab and bed over so I can paint the bottom of them black? Does the back glass on the cab need to be removed, or is there a way to set the truck on the back without removing the window? I just want to clean up the bottom sides of them, they are really muddy, and I'm sure the rust is starting, im just not sure how to go about setting them up and over to paint the bottoms.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

On the cab, if you can slowly roll it over, have someone to put like a 4x4 at the bottom of the cab and right at the top, right above the back glass. Now, Im just guessing you could do it this way.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

bumper is dealer installed item, we have several trucks with that bumper on -them, but most of them are 73-74s, although i think one of our later 77-80 has it as well.




Looks like a clean old 4x4, what ratio are your current axles?


overall clean looking truck, i likey :metal:

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

I have thought about that, but I do not know if the cab will flex some causing the back window to break out.

What is the purpous of that bumper? The end parts that are sticking out have a hole on the inside almost like something was suppose to install on there? I want to find a new bumper, I'm just not sure what I want to run on it. I am not sure what the ration in the axles are. This is my first project truck, so I don't know how to do some things. I Guess what I need to do is jack one of the rear wheels up, and spin it and see how many times the drive shaft rotates to 1 rotation of the wheel?

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

jack it up and rotate the pinion and watch and make sure both tires turn evenly at the same speed, and count how many turns of the pinion to one turn of the tire.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Alright, I will have to check that out this Sat. I hate working nights, and it being so hot out during the day, not much gets done!

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

The cab shouldnt flex with the doors and all still on it.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Are you planning on swapping out the power doors and all onto your truck? If so, it may be easier to swap out cabs and all, since yours is already torn down.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well I removed the doors already. So if I put the doors back on, and then set it on some blocks I should be able to clean and paint the bottom?

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well with the doors already off, I probally would put the doors back on just for this. But when I sold my old 86 K20, it was all in peices. And the way we moved it, we had to lay it down on its back and then rock it some to get it up on a wagon. And it had no doors on it and the back glass didnt break, neither did the front glass. We just didnt care if anything broke is why we moved it like that. But if you are un-sure and dont want to risk it, I would put the doors back on.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well I got the 1980 K20 parts truck yesterday. My dad and I was able to get the 350 out of the truck. I think it has a dirty carb, because on the way to the shop from the PO house the truck would start to lose a bunch of power when you would accelerate it. I think the tanks also have some leaks, i had to refuel it 4 times to get the truck 4 miles from the PO house to the shop.
The PO said that the valve seals need replaced, and I also think the rear main seal needs replaced as well because their is oil all over the back of the engine, as well as the tranny. I didnt get any pictures yesterday, so I will get some pictures when the storms clear, and post them up!

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Well I have not done anything sense I pulled the engine out, here are a few pictures.

Parts Truck
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/IMG_0039.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/IMG_0040.jpg

And the 350
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...k/IMG_0041.jpg

Will be cleaning up the 350 tomorrow night, and start changing out the valve seals. Then I will be tearing it down more to change the main bearing seals, and look at the timing gear/chain. I plan on also changing out the Water pump, thermostat, hoses, spark plugs, and spark plug wires. Is there anything else I should change on the engine before I go about putting it back together? I will be putting headers on this (cousin is giving me some for free) and getting a custom dual exhaust on it in the end.

Matt

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Nice!! cant wait to see this truck done

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Ohhh, a nice cattle guard on that parts truck, and cab lights. Well, I guess it depends on what the use will be for the truck, but I always loved trucks with cattle guards on them.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

I plan on using that grill guard, and I have thought about using the cab lights, but I just don't know how I would install them, and I would hate to drill holes in my cab and have it leak.

I did a compression test on the 350, 7 of the cylinders are getting 180 PSI, one of them is getting 150 PSI. What am I suppose to be getting? Should I be worried about the 30 PSI gap between them?

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Stock should be around 160 PSI.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

So is that 180 a bad thing? If not, then should I be trying to figure out why that one cylinder will not go any higher than 150? Or should it be ok the way it is?

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Some plans have changed, My cousin texted me today and told me that his friend would sell me a whole 1989 Suburban front clip (fenders, grille, radiator support, lights, hood, bumper, and wireing harness) and five 8 lug 16.5 inch rims (which I will be using for the hummer tires) all for $125!!!! I will be picking them up, along with the headers my cousin is giving me this weekend.

For a small update I have started to tear down the 350 so that I can replace some things. I found a leak in the intake gasket, and I need to change out the main seals, and a couple other things as well.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

i wouldnt worry about the compression.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

It will be fine. You might have a stuck lifter or something, or they may not all be pumped up if the motor has been sitting awhile. Had this happen on my old 305. Been sitting for a year and at first it only pulled 90 PSI, after spinning it more, it eventually pumped up to around 210 PSI on all cylinders. But that motor had been rebuilt before I got it.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Alright thanks guys. I am planning on taking the heads off of the engine to see what everything looks like just to make sure I do not have to rebuild it before I start buying replacement stuff. The engine was not running great when it was in the parts truck, and I am not sure what was going on with it.

How loose should the timing chain be? Mine has about a 1/2 inch of play in it. I have been thinking about just replacing it now so that I wont have to replace it later, but I was just wondering if there is to much play in it or not.

I also noticed some weird things on the exhaust manifold, They are only on one side of the engine, and they are a long skinny tube that just sticks into the exhaust port. Does anyone know what these do?

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

It shouldnt have hardly any play. I would replace it now before you put everything back together.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Yeah I think that is the plan. It might seem like it is in ok shape, but sense i am there I might as well replace it, its only like $30, and i wont have to replace it again for a while.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Thats the way to do it. I cant wait to get started on my motor, Im in the body work stage right now. I just painted my passenger door jams.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Im doing it the opposite of you. I am planning on putting the engine on the frame, and then start putting the body on the frame and start doing the body work. I do plan on painting the engine bay and firewall before I put the body back on though. I want my truck to be able to drive before I worry about the paint. Plus it will be so much easier to bolt the engine and tranny to the transfer case with the body off. Some of those bolts can be tricky to get out and back in.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

I agree with ya, but my truck doesnt need any motor or trans work, plus its a 2wd so Its easier for me. And Ive already painted the firewall when I first bought the truck. But the reason I cant wait to get to the motor is I got 2 more 350s that I can build. And when I go to build them, Im gonna go all out on them..:metal:

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Yeah, this motor didn't run that well, so I'm just trying to get it working good. I do plan on after I get the truck mostly done or so to build up a different motor some time and go all out on it.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Another reason I am doing the body work now, this truck was my DD to school and back for 3 months before Summer came and I tore it down.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Yeah, Body work is pointless for me right now, cause I am picking up a whole new front end, and i might go looking for a new bed. So until I figure out what I want it to look like, its body is staying the way it is haha.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

I have not updated for a while, Last sat I went and picked up the 89 Suburban front clip, it is missing part of the hinges, grille, and light bezels, but it is rust free, and straight. I also got 5 8 lug 16.5 inch wheels for whenever i swap the axles on my truck to 8 lugs for when I run the 6 inches of lift and 37 inc hummer tires. I will have to get some pictures later of the clip and maybe the wheels.

For right now the project is on hold, After my father and I got the front clip, we started to clean out some hay in my grandfathers shed to put my parts truck and other trucks parts. Well after we had finished that my dad was starting to get some chest pain, but after a while it went away. Tuesday he went to the doctor and they sent him to the hospital. I guess he had a mild heart attack. Yesterday he went under the knife and had open heart surgery, and so far is is doing really well. They say that he is doing really good. He wont be able to lift more than 8lbs for a while, so for now the truck is on hold.

I might bring the heads down to my house some time and have him supervise me while I change out the valve seals, and then later on he might be able to come down to my grandpas with me and supervise me putting the engine back together.

So for now things will slowly be updated.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

It may not seem like it now, but the truck can wait. Hope your dad makes a full recovery.

Re: 80 Chevy k10 build
 

Thoughts and prayers with you and your Dad.