Mavis, 67 K10/292

[ks147j111928]

I had started a build thread a looooooooong time ago but since progress came to a grinding halt I wasn't keeping this current. I guess it got deleted... oh well.
Here's her story: bought for $1500 with a disc axle/unmatched gearing and t-case stuck in 4-hi. PO swapped the front axle but didn't match the gears, resulting in a crunchy diff and broken d-shaft. Awesome.

Drove for a while then got a wild hair to start de-rusting her. About $300 in metal later she's all patched up. Right now she's just a cab and frame; getting back to it this year. I have an 88 Suburban's front axle (free parts are cool) to replace the toasted diff. Keeping stock rear axle but debating which axle to re-gear: rear is 4.10 (I think?) and front is 3.42 ratio. That's a ways down the road... and I need a right side fender. I got a GMC grille for her that came with the radiator support/wiring/everything; sold the Chevy grill a while back.

The engine (292) is staying and getting bigger (0.060" overbore) and getting a 268 duration Schneider cam with Clifford intake and header. Probably going with a 600 CFM Edelbrock carb or injection if I can afford it. I'm saving (ha!) for an NV4500 trans and case to stick in here since I sold the SM420 and Rockwell t-case. Plus 5 speeds are better than 3 1/2.

Other than that... not much is planned. I was hot on this for a good bit but several other projects got thrown on me so she had to go on the back burner for a long time... think it's been about 2 years now.

So I'm back at it; here's hoping it gets done this decade!
>>Dan

[ks147j111928]

5 years later...

Life got nutty, but she's still here. I found the flywheel, got a clutch and found a bellhousing... since I sold mine with the SM420 trans years ago because I had NV4500 plans.

Not anymore! SM465 and NP205 (203?) from a 71 K10 are in now; also the axles are '77 K20 types. I want to get selectable hubs up front; those goofy auto hubs (or whatever) are... goofy, and I don't want them.

Currently she's back inside the shop getting the engine/trans/case installed. I need to pick up some lifters, get the trans mounts and get it all bolted in. Unfortunately once the guts are in she's going back outside for the winter; my rock crawler is getting a V6 transplant this winter... or so I hope it gets done this winter.

>>Dan

[ks147j111928]

Figured I'd post a few pics; nobody likes reading words without anything to look at...



"air conditioning"


usual rust... it's all gone now


crusty old oily 292, but it ran like a champ even though the piston rings fell out when I took everything apart... fell out in pieces


Rebuilt heart; almost ready to go in


Along the way I traded the frame of the 2wd for a complete GMC front clip (not everything is pictured, I do have all the parts)


Scored a 2wd for a parts truck; super-cheap... can't say no


Early on when I first got her:


Where she sat for a few years; yes she was covered up with a kick-ass tarp.


Primed with Eastwood's stuff; I'll be going over it again with DuPont's primer soon since I have DuPont for color base.


Lately I have been getting the engine and trans mounts all cleaned up to go back in; this weekend I am aiming to stab the engine. Tonight I'm hoping I can get the trans/t-case in... damn things are heavy! I forgot how heavy since I've been dinking with Toyota stuff for a few years now.

Grond, my little '84 that started the whole mess:


...but the engine crapped a bearing, so...


Then I scored a well set-up 85 4Runner:


and picked up a few others along the way:


Now the tan one is in line for a 3.4 V6 swap this winter, the blue one and magenta one are sold and I'm always looking for more.