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Old 03-10-2020, 08:19 PM   #1
Bkndsdl
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1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

I bought this truck for my youngest son. He is 15, and is always in the shop messing with stuff with me. I wanted a project he and I could work on together. He's been talking about C10's, because I used to have a '65. I found this one on Craigslist. My son hasn't named the truck yet. Here's how it came to us; I was pleasantly surprised at how good the body is. The floors and cab corners are gone, but the rest of the truck is surprisingly free of rust. I purposely wanted the straight 6 3 on the tree combo for his first vehicle because like me he has a heavy foot. I told him no V8 until he's 18.
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Old 03-11-2020, 07:50 AM   #2
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Good find! That truck looks like it's ready for someone who will enjoy and appreciate it.
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Old 03-12-2020, 12:24 PM   #3
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Thank you. Having problems uploading pics at the moment, need to find a photo hosting service.
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Old 03-12-2020, 12:38 PM   #4
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Let’s try this:

https://i.imgur.com/jNLruwM.jpg
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Old 03-12-2020, 12:40 PM   #5
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Think this'll do it:

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Old 03-13-2020, 09:00 AM   #6
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Looks like a good project, how does it run?
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Old 03-13-2020, 04:44 PM   #7
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

FINALLY got these pics to load right!!

Katrina10, it runs, but rough right now. We rebuilt the carb, but it is missing a few parts; they added a manual choke because most of the linkage is missing. It will run on choke and throttle correctly but won't transition well. We plan on getting another carb soon.
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Old 03-13-2020, 05:03 PM   #8
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Here's the interior. Seat is pretty good but the floors have holes. Not as bad as this image makes it look, but still pretty big holes. To be expected for sure.

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Old 03-13-2020, 05:04 PM   #9
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Seat is there, that's about all we can say about that.

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Old 03-13-2020, 05:05 PM   #10
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

First things first - gotta get a bath!



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Old 03-13-2020, 05:06 PM   #11
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

First drive shot!!

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Old 03-13-2020, 05:16 PM   #12
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

First observations:

Obviously the carburetor. It'll run, but it definitely needs to be replaced. Listed on the 'Things to Do' list.

It will go into reverse, first, and second, OR first, second and third. Never reverse and third together. I'm thinking the worst, but may just need to replace the synchronizers? It'll get looked at for sure.

Brakes - the driver rear locks up when braking. PO said he replaced the wheel cylinders out back, replaced the passenger caliper, and the master cylinder, and I can see that's true, but the shoes look like they're swollen on the driver side. Definitely need shoes.

First work:

We've rebuilt the carb to no avail; The carb was run without a fuel filter whatsoever, and a manual choke was added. When we took the carb apart it was filled with gunk. We went ahead and put an inline filter in the fuel line and also put a filter in the carb line, as it was missing.

We've replaced the plugs, wires, rotor, cap, coil, and module. We should be good in the ignition department.

Did a bit of hose replacement; needs a lot more but bare minimum at the moment.

Replaced the ignition switch. The truck came with a screwdriver as a key, but had a new lock cylinder in the glove compartment. We searched the internet for how to get the cylinder out, but couldn't find anything. Actually I did, but didn't stop long enough to watch the video and did the stupid thing and drilled it out.......THEN watched the video where a simple chisel to the inside of the column to knock out a hole and gently push on a plunger did the trick. Oh well........it's replaced, lol. Albeit with the wrong year cylinder, but at least we don't have to use a screwdriver.
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Old 03-14-2020, 07:51 AM   #13
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Nice that you can wash your truck in winter with the weather we have here. Does it have one of those square-looking carbs on it?
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Old 03-14-2020, 09:50 AM   #14
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katrina/10 View Post
Nice that you can wash your truck in winter with the weather we have here. Does it have one of those square-looking carbs on it?
Yes it is!!

It has the Varajet carb on it, looks kinda square. I have a picture of it but can’t upload it as of yet.
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Old 03-14-2020, 02:39 PM   #15
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

A friend of mine bought a new 79 with one of those carbs on it, they are a little weird and all those tubes on the valve cover. Of course, we tried to remove all that stuff back then. I seem to remember the carb worked pretty good.
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Old 03-15-2020, 07:45 AM   #16
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

We ended up replacing it yesterday with a new one. His grandma gave him an advance on grass cutting money, lol. He owes everybody!!

The new carb runs great!! I think that was the problem, all the missing linkage. Fired right up, idled right, good to go!

Once we tackled that, we replaced the rear shoes. That stopped the rear wheel dragging, but now it pulls hard to the left. The PO replaced one of the calipers but I can’t remember which, hoping it’s the drivers side because that would make sense if the passenger isn’t working.
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Old 03-16-2020, 08:42 AM   #17
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

I'm glad you found one of those carbs, I haven't seen one in a long time! Don't forget to check those caliper hoses.
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Old 03-16-2020, 12:39 PM   #18
Bkndsdl
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

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Originally Posted by Katrina/10 View Post
I'm glad you found one of those carbs, I haven't seen one in a long time! Don't forget to check those caliper hoses.
It was actually not that hard to find. I found it at all the parts stores I called. I even found it on Rock Auto.

Well, funny you mention the caliper hose........It was in fact the driver's side caliper the PO replaced, so I bought a passenger side. When replaced the caliper, then went to bleed the brakes.......no fluid. Hose was shot. Off to the parts house again we went. Put it on, now the brakes work like a charm! No pulling, no dragging, just like it's supposed to.
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Old 03-16-2020, 12:51 PM   #19
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

One other thing we 'fixed' - the steering wheel cover was cut at one end of it, and the PO covered the hole with electrical tape. Wanna know what happens to electrical tape in the direct heat? It gets reaaaaallly sticky and starts to come off. It was dangling down about two feet. We took that off and replaced it with some brand-new electrical tape.........lol........stop gap measure for sure but got us going without sticky hands.
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Old 03-17-2020, 08:25 AM   #20
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Just didn't want your son driving around on 40 years old brake hoses, they are a common problem. Glad you found a good carb!
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Old 03-17-2020, 09:38 AM   #21
Bkndsdl
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

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Just didn't want your son driving around on 40 years old brake hoses, they are a common problem. Glad you found a good carb!
Thanks, for sure. The PO replaced the caliper and the hose on the driver side, so now it's all good.

He informed me yesterday that according to his calculations we should have the trans fixed soon, so we should be good for Cruisin the Coast this year...lol.....
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Old 03-17-2020, 06:29 PM   #22
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

With all the COVID stuff going around, the boys are home all day. My youngest didn't sit around or play video games all day, he got busy!

Yesterday we blasted and painted the air cleaner. Today, he reassembled it, and installed it. Of course he forgot the gasket (even though I told him a few times not to). Looks good! Shiniest thing in the engine compartment, lol!





Next thing he tackled was the front bumper. Looks good, except for the spot where he stepped on it to install the air cleaner.........live and learn.





Zack said now the truck has bling on the inside AND on the outside, lol.
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Why do we park on a driveway, and drive on a parkway?
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Old 03-17-2020, 06:40 PM   #23
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

I told him we need to do something on the truck every day. Small things some days, big things others, but at least do something. So, after work we got to the seat. It would not adjust, so we took it out to see what the issue was. Turns out, the drivers side slider was bent. I don't know how that coulda happened, but nevertheless, a few turns with a C clamp and a tap with a hammer and it's back in order.

Lookie what we found under the seat!!! Among this mess was a 4-way lug wrench, some horseshoes, and the panel that is missing from under the column.



Quick cleanup and reinstall. He had a time trying to tighten the bolts.....



Got it back in and good as new, and the seat adjusts so he can push the clutch down a lot better.

And now to figure out what to do tomorrow.........
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Why do we park on a driveway, and drive on a parkway?
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Old 03-22-2020, 08:41 AM   #24
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

While we didn't do anything 'to' the truck this weekend, we did do something 'with' it. I was burning some fallen limbs in the back yard, and gave him a choice: Get the mower and the trailer and get the limbs to me, OR he could use the truck. When I said the truck he got a huge smile on his face.

Rosie, the Supervisor, is ever present when he is doing something. These two are inseparable.



Backed it up to the dropoff point like a pro.



Rosie decided to see what the fuss was all about. She's getting old and I had to help her up. She approves!



One other thing I did was fix the gloves on my homemade blast cabinet. The rings are made from the roof of my '64. Although I ground them as smooth as I could, the constant rubbing on the edge took its toll and ripped the gloves at the connection point. I took the door edge trim piece off the truck and cut them to length, then installed them on the edge of the ring. Then I cut the gloves where they were ripped and installed them over the edge trim. Repurposing is a must at my house. It should be good to go now!



Good as new.

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Why do we park on a driveway, and drive on a parkway?
Jake - '67 Short Step
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Old 04-18-2020, 08:54 AM   #25
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Re: 1980 C10 Short Fleet Build

Things are slow right now with all the virus stuff. However, we did manage to get some stuff done on the truck. We decided to tackle the transmission, and see if we couldn't fix the not shifting into third. I can shift it all day long when the truck isn't moving, but when it's rolling it won't go into third, which leads my mechanic brother to the synchronizers need replacing. While they do, we found some significant other issues that need to be addressed. My son sold his drum set, go-cart, and moped to get the $$$ to buy the parts needed: Transmission rebuild kit with new synchs, clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing, pilot bearing, new front cover (old one broken in half), and u-joints. I can't just give it to him, he's gotta make sacrifices!

Putting it up on jackstands. Just not enough room under there with a creeper.



Old man gets the creeper. Lol. My favorite picture. This is where heaven is found.



Driveshaft out! U-joints need to be replaced since we've got it out.



And it's out......notice the front cover is missing something? Wonder how that happened......



First surprise: Missing a bolt. Evidently it's been messed with before.



Second surprise: No front bearing left!! Explains the broken front cover.



The missing bearing did a job on the input shaft gear. I don't believe it's going to interfere with the shifting and the overall performance of the transmission, so I'm going to put this back in.



Everything torn down.



We had to make an order for new synchronizer keys, as one synch has broken keys. Here are two of the three. They are broken in half.



We've gotten this far. Waiting on parts now to finish. Hope to have it all back together this coming weekend.



On another note, I broke my vise while trying to change the U-joints....cheap HF, but it lasted me a good long while. I have since ordered a cast steel one with a lifetime warranty. Can't wait for that puppy to get here!
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