I lifted the hood on the Blazer . . .

[1969k10stepside]

It keeps looking better and better and your progress is still doing better than mine.I am bringing home another K10 just for the drivetrain because it was just rebuilt and it will save me some time on getting the swb K10 on the road.BTW,hows your arm?

[Yukon Jack]

Any progress is good progress in my book. The bursa sack on my arm is still filled with some liquid and the bruising is all still there but starting to lighten. Went to the doc about 1 1/2 weeks ago and he said the bruising is from blood that had collected around the bursa and then worked its way down the arm.

[Burt4x4]

eww you said busted sack hehheee J/K

Keep up the good work!
Did you find a BBC for that bad boy yet?

[vtblazer]

At this rate, you'll be driving it soon.

J/K, go slow, do it right and enjoy the journey.

[Yukon Jack]

Got the rear brake lines finished yesterday late afternoon. Now it is on to the front brake lines. I'm gonna be pulling the spare engine out shortly and dropping in the rebuilt 400 - definitely getting closer! And the nice thing is, from here on out, won't have much more money that needs to be spent, just time getting things done.

[charlie diaz]

Not to add anymore to your project, but are you doing anything to prevent axle wrap in the back??? I read the specs on your 400 and it sounds like its really going to have some low-end grunt. Bad A$$ 400 + lift blocks= axle wrap for sure, if you really get on it. Everything looks awesome though!

[Yukon Jack]

For the time being I'm not planning on any mods that would prevent axle wrap. Have to get it running and see how it does.

Thanks for the compliments.

Got the spare motor pulled last night and the front brakes are now about 1/2 done. Need to make a run to the parts store for some 3/16" line to do more work on the front brakes.

[Yukon Jack]

Thinking I probably better get this think outside and powerwash/clean the engine bay before putting the rebuilt motor in - this engine bay is nasty!

[Mike C]

Lookin' Good Mark! I'm still shopping around for a donor truck for my 8 lug axles, so you're ahead of me! How's the arm?

[bad_turbo]

can never have too many "good" projects

[Yukon Jack]

Ah the arm, bruising is just about gone but there is still fluid behind the elbow. If I reach down in the right way, I have some pain so don't know if something tore or if it is just some deep bruising causing the pain. Overall, doing great though.

I'm skipping out of work early today and hope to put the front axle back in place and push the K5 outside for some engine bay cleaning. It is like 60 degrees outside and gotta take advantage of that warm of a December day!

[Yukon Jack]

Played hookie from work a couple days ago in the late afternoon and got the power washer out. A little Castrol Super Clean and some scrubbing got the bay pretty clean. Then hit a few areas with the sander.

Saturday was the last day that was supposed to be over 50 degrees for a while so I made time to get to the barn and got everything masked off and hit the metal with some black paint. I must say, it looks a lot better but looks better in the pictures. Up close you can see a number of areas that could have used more sanding. I just wanted to get the loose paint off and get it one color and protected, so works for me.



Also pulled the gas tank skid plate from the back of the barn where it has been sitting. I cleaned it up for paint about 2 years ago and, well, just never got it painted. Used the 3M undercoating/rubberized stuff and the finished product looks great. To bad I moved it before it was dry, ended up putting the smudge you see in the side shot. May sand it a bit and touch it up, maybe not





Hmm, looks like next is getting the flywheel and clutch installed and it's time to put the rebuilt motor back in!

[red71cheyenne]

Wow, that new paint really makes a difference! Watch out for the throwout bearing. I put mine in backwards and had to pull the tranny and xfer case to get it right! ha! Looking good, can't wait to see it on the road! Jeff.

[Yukon Jack]

That's funny about the throwout bearing - I was thinking that very thing last night - have to make sure I install it right. Speaking of which, I don't recall right of hand which is the correct way.

[red71cheyenne]

This is how not to put it in... Big side goes towards the clutch plate...

[Yukon Jack]

Today was a great day! A friend came over today around 1:30 pm and we set out to install the 400 sbc.



We first yanked the front axle that was only sitting in place. That allowed us to drop the front end down. Then got to fight the motor into place. Took a bit of urging to finally get the motor lined up and the input splines to mate with the clutch - but we got it done!





Hopefully will get some free evenings this week so I can get the motor install complete and fire it up.

After my friend left I got the front axle reinstalled and then went and unloaded a load of wood from my 69 K20.

Now I need to make a list of what I need to do to get it done - can see the light at the end of the tunnel for sure!

[vtblazer]

Great update, that's a big step in the right direction.

I've always liked your builds, their all straight forward and well thought out.

[Mike C]

Looks great Mark! You're making some good progress. I still haven't found a donor truck that I wanted to spend the $ on, but soon I hope! I've got a new jeep project I'm tinkering with so the JImmy cage will be next I hope!

[Yukon Jack]

Got the power steering pump and alternator installed Sunday along with a few odds and ends. Next up, install the manifolds and I think it is about time to turn the key



Look forward to seeing your cage Mike!

[Yukon Jack]

I'm gonna keep this post going as I finish my K5 project as it gives a good overview of what the project has entailed. A short recap, got the motor fired up a few weeks ago mp3 file and took my first short test drive last Sunday.



I have a short in my wiring and as my engine bay harnesses are in pretty poor shape, I thought I would replace them and see if the short goes away. Got the harnesses two days ago and got them installed. In the process I broke the post off the starter that the purple wire goes too

Sure is nice to get the new wiring harness installed. The prior owners had done some creative wiring and some wires were just loose and I couldn't figure out for the life of me what some were supposed to be for. Now everything is wired up correctly but unfortunately I still have the short. If you pull the headlight switch the tail/stop fuse blows immediately. Headlights and turns signals still work but I loose the parking lights and I think the dash lights. Will work on that problem soon.

Got out again last night and got my throttle linkage straightened out - it was not getting full movement due to interference but it is working properly now. Also got the transfer case shifter installed and the transmission hump back in place after a little metal trimming. The original case was the Dana 20 and the shifter for the NP205 must be positioned a little different. Was out there until 11:30 last night, a bit tired today, but I'm so eager to get this project on the road that it is worth it.

Started to install the starter I picked up yesterday but turned out to be the wrong one - picked up the correct one today.

Should be able to put the driver's seat back in tonight if I get out to the shop and get the carpet back in place - will be nice to have that done.

After that I need to install the power steering belt and see if the pump works. Then I need to adjust the clutch rod a bit. Right now I have to push the pedal way down before the clutch disengages - I assume I just need to shorten the rod a bit.

Also need to install the front driveshaft and start searching for the short. Also need to install the new heater core - figure I will do that while the hood is off. Gonna throw a new heater blower motor in while I have the heater box off.

Almost roadworthy!

[Jtrux]

I was so unmotivated to put a lot of hours into mine but once I fired up that new motor for the first time I was pumped and now I spend too much time working on it.

[Yukon Jack]

Got the starter installed last night and tried to start the truck but it wouldn't fire. Finallly unhooked the hot lead in the new HEI wiring harness and attached my old hot lead to the HEI and fired right up.

Next i went to work on the interior. Got my rear seat brackets in place to raise the rear of the seat up about 1", then laid the carpet back down and installed the driver's seat. Prior owner had the driver's seat installed with wood blocks to raise the rear of the seat and a total of four bolts for the whole seat. Needless to say, it was wrongly installed then and properly installed now.



Next up, finish power steering and hopefully go for another test drive!

[RustyParts]

Gettin" there one piece atta time, don't you ever wish you had everything to put your vehicle together on shelves in your shop.

Doing great, keep plugging away.

[Yukon Jack]

[QUOTE=RustyParts;2100532]Gettin' there one piece atta time, don't you ever wish you had everything to put your vehicle together on shelves in your shop.[QUOTE]

Don't you know it! I have the shelves, but unfortunately they are full of old stuff that I'm keeping for who know's what reason!

[meathead95]

sweet push bar