80 Chevy k10 build

[Mattman2010]

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.

[Walts_restoration]

i wouldnt worry about the compression.

[GMC91]

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.

[Mattman2010]

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?

[GMC91]

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

[Mattman2010]

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.

[GMC91]

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.

[Mattman2010]

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.

[GMC91]

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..

[Mattman2010]

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.

[GMC91]

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.

[Mattman2010]

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.

[Mattman2010]

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.

[Jonboy]

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

[palposity]

Thoughts and prayers with you and your Dad.

[Mattman2010]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

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

Oh I know the truck can wait, he is going to be hurting for a while. So far he is doing good, they made him walk this morning, and plan on getting him walking again tonight. Then they will be making him walk four times tomorrow.

Originally Posted by palposity

Thoughts and prayers with you and your Dad.

Thanks, So far he is doing great. Looking at getting out of the hospital Monday or Tuesday.

[Mattman2010]

Well, My dad is doing great, and while he is already bored from setting at home, he cant go outside and help me. So today I went down and cleaned the heads so I can start the tear down of them, and replace the valve seals.

I said I would get some pictures of a few things that I picked up two weeks ago.

Headers


Front Clip

I have the hood, but I am missing the grill, light bezels, and part of the hood hinge.

Wheels

The tires on them are warn down to the wires, the guy I got them from let his buddy borrow them, and the guy ran them till the tires wore so much that they started falling apart.

For now I am just cleaning, and then putting the engine together. And then painting it and installing it.

[Mattman2010]

Tonight I got my heads all torn apart to get the valve seals all replaced. I am planning on getting a cam, lifters, and new valve springs for the engine as well.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-CL12-235-2/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-981-16/

I am also planning on finding a used, or getting a new Edelbrock Performer intake.

[Mattman2010]

Well I have dropped the idea of a cam for right now, I almost have the engine all back together. I put some paint on it today, and also bought some more parts for it today. I am looking at getting it fully back together, and get my transmission mounted up and set it on the frame in about a week or so!

Sorry for the crappy Iphone picture


Parts I got today:
Water Pump
Heater hose fittings
Thermostat Housing
Thermostat
Spark Plugs
Spark Plug wires

[Mattman2010]

Well I mounted up the water pump, and got the top alternator bracket mounted as well. Does anyone know how the bottom of the alternator is mounted? I think I am missing a bracket that holds the bottom of the alternator, because this engine had a bracket for a hydraulic pump for some bale forks, and the bottom of the alternator mounted to that bracket. I also think I will have a problem with power steering and running headers, I have a bracket that mounted with one of the exhaust manifold bolts, but the headers are not thick enough for the bracket to line up right. I have thought about running some kind of spacer but I am not sure.



The Bracket, I think this is what the power steering pump mounts to?

[1985-GMC]

Cool build you got going here! I like the spoked wheels a lot, but don't switch to the suburban front clip the round head lights look too cool. Plus the wipers mount different between the two and i think the hood hinges too, if anything change to 77 style grille and bezels.

[Mattman2010]

Thanks 1985-GMC, If I get that Crew Cab as well, I think I will save the front clip for it. Do you happen to know what front clip my truck had on it? I am really thinking the front clip is a 74 (I dont know my grill and light bezel designs). I almost think this truck was pieced back together because it had white marks drawn on parts of it like they came from a junk yard.

My 80 parts truck has good light bezels on it, I was thinking about using them. I would just need to find a good grill.

[1985-GMC]

I don't know all the grilles either but that is for a 80 model. The white marks you see on everything was done in the factory as it was being assembled. While I was pulling my truck apart I found those marks everywhere, on the cal, firewall behind the seat, hood, frame rails, cross members, on top of the paint and some under the paint.

[Mattman2010]

What does the 77 front end look like? I would really like to use the good stuff that I have, like the light bezels off of my parts truck. I need new fenders, as the one on my k20 (parts truck) is starting to rust out, and the ones on the k10 are all dented.

[1985-GMC]

Here's one http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/justdiff...ickup-1977.jpg