1978 K10 rebuild
 

So my dad bought this truck new off the lot. Its been in 2 different wrecks and been painted 3 times over the years. Originally it was a 1978 K10 Scottsdale and was dark brown. My dad handed it down to me almost 10 years back and I finally got tired of seeing it start to rust away. I slowly started making changes to it until I just said screw it and blew the thing apart to give it some of the attention it deserved. Before I started this last process, I had already changed out the axles for a 14 bolt and a another dana 44 with flat top knuckles and 8 lug to match the rear. I also swapped out the TH350 and 203 for a NV4500 5 speed and 205 tcase. Pictures of where it was before tear down. I was extremely rusted, even though the pictures don't show it.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I bought a 6.0 out of a 2009 Silverado and an 86 c10 to steal the cab off of and ditched the original cab that was shot.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Those stainless strips must've covered a lot of rust? It looked really nice and will be cool to see what you do with it. Maybe start a thread in the "builds" section?

In pic 2, what wheels and tires have you got there? And what size?

Thanks

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Sorry I just noticed there was a build section after I posted this. I can start a new posting there, unless an admin and just move it???

The wheels in the 2nd pic are 17x9 procomps. They are like the cheapest ones they sell or close to it. They didn't last long on it as I didn't like the looks.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I stripped the frame and did the POR 15 and painted everything.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Motor trans and tcase getting test fitted and the new cab back from sand blasting and with a coat of primer on it. Absolutely no rust on the new cab!! I also picked up a new cowl hood.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I also bought new fenders and did some modifying to open up the wheel wells some more to run bigger tires on a smaller lift. Took some material off the front and pie cut the back to push back the opening.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Just getting some of the chassis back together and got the new wheels and tires that I'll be running.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Getting the base color down on the cab

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

and the clear.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Cab is all done.:metal:

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

work on the bed.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

more progress

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

more.....

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Looks fantastic - did you paint everything in the garage? It looks very clean for just have been painted it - did you hang plastic or how did you keep the paint dust down?

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I painted the whole truck in my little two car garage. I did every part separate. I should have put plastic down but didn't. I still have a lot of paint dust in places. I just opened my garage door a couple feet and then ran 3-4 fans in the back of the garage to push the air out. I wet the floor down every time as well. This was my first time ever painting a car so it wasn't ever going to be perfect and its not a show truck or anything. I had little orange peel which I've sanded and buffed out pretty easily. That was the part that made me the most nervous was sanding a new paint job and fear of starting over.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I forgot to mention I also raptor lined the bottom of the bed, cab and inside the cab where I didn't paint. I also swapped out the column as the old original had seen better days. I also got the motor harness all hooked up and routed through the firewall where I'll hide the PCM under the dash.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

And here is how it sits in the garage as of today.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Amazing looking! Keep up the good work!

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Pretty awesome job! Can't wait to see the finished product!

What color blue are you using, & how many coats of clear?

FtP

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

That's lookin good! I'm following!

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Looks good man, nice work. I'd like to repaint my own truck, and I'd have to do it in a similar size garage.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

Its actually a paint code off a 2014 dodge that the guy at the paint store helped me with. It's got about 4 coats of clear on top of the 3 coats of base.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

I got the gauge cluster all finished up and test fitted it all. Modified some of the stock parts alone with the LMC brushed aluminum piece. I don't have a finished picture but I sanded and buffed the brushed part more to give it a better finish and to have it match the factory stuff better. I wasn't real happy with the quality of the part when it first showed up.

Re: 1978 K10 rebuild
 

amp back board and speak mounts built.