Wow that rust is a lot worse than it appeared. Good luck and don't get discouraged 
CK5
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1988 K5 Restoration
- Thread starter jpdrake
- Start date
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
i am completley discouraged!! today i really just hope that i can make this happen
79rustyk10
3/4 ton status
I didnt realize how bad that was. from the outside it still looked pretty decent.
Id start on the frame and running gear and keep an eye out for a solid tub while completing other stuff. The fame rot can be patched easily enough.
Id start on the frame and running gear and keep an eye out for a solid tub while completing other stuff. The fame rot can be patched easily enough.
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
i should have listened...
my father told me not to take it out on the beach b/c the salt water will own it one day.
my father told me not to take it out on the beach b/c the salt water will own it one day.
It would definately invest in a new tub and possbily frame. That one is A LOT of work to go. I will keep my eyes open in Washington for a clean tub/frame.
Well I still have the floor, from the middle of the driver floor all the way to the tail pan, I cut off the front part to go with the firewall, and I cut out the hump.
I will take a pic and see if it works for you.
It will be a couple of days till I get to it, most likely by wednesday.
Give me a pm by wednesday night if I don't get back to you.
I don't know how bad your sides are but the floor is pretty much a bolt on if the sides are OK.
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
im not sure if its still worth it. id like to get the frame stripped and sent out to be blasted then look at the body and decide if i can find a donor or learn how to do sheet metal really well!!?
my original plan was to have the frame blasted and powder coated, then mount the body on welded and put whole again and then have the body soda blasted and powder coated underneath and inside then do the body work and paint the finished truck
my original plan was to have the frame blasted and powder coated, then mount the body on welded and put whole again and then have the body soda blasted and powder coated underneath and inside then do the body work and paint the finished truck
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
ive got gm factory 1/4s and cargo floor, my trouble is from the firewall to the rear wheel wells
Do you also have frame parts?
looks like your body mounts on the frame are gone, I have pretty much all th eparts off the frame from an 81 which is identical to yours.
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
no i dont have the frame parts, i was gonna weld in plates, if you have the body mounts great!!
im in no hurry right now im unemployed ill be back to work next month probally have some extra cabbage in the spring. but i truly appreciate the effort and help, all i can buy here in new england is more rust
im in no hurry right now im unemployed ill be back to work next month probally have some extra cabbage in the spring. but i truly appreciate the effort and help, all i can buy here in new england is more rust
I will gather up what I have and go to my storage and take pics of the body, we'll see if there is enough to help you out.
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
your a good person, i really appreciate that. its overwhelming to think about having to fab pieces from sheet metal. this truck has a lot of sentimental value to me. thank you for your time!
magik235
Still Alive
I know wish you could of bought all the stuff I had! The guys I sold it to wouldn't even sell a fender back to me when I hit the deer.
WOW, That is a nice score!
You must have a fortune in just body parts.:roll eyes:
But it is much better to have GM body parts. That is what I used when mine was fixed and painted.
My friend has a Brand new GM hood in the box, in his storage building. what do you think it is worth?
Truck Hoods, GM (81-87), G.I.
$79.00
"G.I. hood fits full size GMC/Chevy Pick-ups (1981-1987) Unused/Unissued."
Call 1-888-478-7758 for ordering information.
http://store.colemans.com/cart/truck-hoods-gm-8187-gi-p-2092.html
When I talked to the over a year ago they were eager to make them all go away!
Yeah, living in the rust belt does take it's toll.
And I know the feeling, no boneyard even has these trucks anymore around here, anything older than 6 or 7 years is too rusted to keep around and they send it off to never-never-land.
I was in envy the first time I took a business trip out to Cali, seeing endless old sheet metal driving around, un-restored, as daily drivers.
I would have killed me to bring another body from the south or west and watch it rust away again..
Which is why I went US Body Source!!
I feel your pain.
I had to give up my DD recently. Litterally, the body shifted off it's mounts when I hit the brakes, and bound up the steering. That's when I retired it.....
But your makin' progress. Don't give up!. That is one sexy two-tone K5!!!!!!!!
And I know the feeling, no boneyard even has these trucks anymore around here, anything older than 6 or 7 years is too rusted to keep around and they send it off to never-never-land.
I was in envy the first time I took a business trip out to Cali, seeing endless old sheet metal driving around, un-restored, as daily drivers.
I would have killed me to bring another body from the south or west and watch it rust away again..
Which is why I went US Body Source!!
I feel your pain.
I had to give up my DD recently. Litterally, the body shifted off it's mounts when I hit the brakes, and bound up the steering. That's when I retired it.....
But your makin' progress. Don't give up!. That is one sexy two-tone K5!!!!!!!!
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Nice grandpa topper, and btw you clearly maintained your drivetrain too well as the lack of oil leaks really took their toll
jpdrake
1/2 ton status
its xmas, one year update
so my first son was born oct 2 so this just became a family projct! today was the first time ive touched it since last winter. i got the gas tank out the rear bumper brackets off the frame, and the last 4 body mounts unbolted so i can take the cab off (im calling it a cab instead of a tub for now bc...well look at whats left of it) ive had no luck in finding a donor tub so im gonna learn how to do sheetmetal work in between ****y diapers and naps! what could possibly go wrong....
![IMG_2950[1].JPG](https://ck5.com/forums/data/attachments/119/119391-cafa2dfb150dccb4ce238d4da67f5ae2.jpg "IMG_2950[1].JPG")
![IMG_2951[1].JPG](https://ck5.com/forums/data/attachments/119/119392-0670f14e2a876a9699e8a61926d08a41.jpg "IMG_2951[1].JPG")
![IMG_2952[1].JPG](https://ck5.com/forums/data/attachments/119/119393-7919b9fcdf5da74326d22f0719d3a8a6.jpg "IMG_2952[1].JPG")
![IMG_2953[1].JPG](https://ck5.com/forums/data/attachments/119/119394-2906d2202e2af1a7d721e90c19746bcb.jpg "IMG_2953[1].JPG")
so my first son was born oct 2 so this just became a family projct! today was the first time ive touched it since last winter. i got the gas tank out the rear bumper brackets off the frame, and the last 4 body mounts unbolted so i can take the cab off (im calling it a cab instead of a tub for now bc...well look at whats left of it) ive had no luck in finding a donor tub so im gonna learn how to do sheetmetal work in between ****y diapers and naps! what could possibly go wrong....
Couple of the guys on here are now hauling good stuff from out west to the east coast and environs. Might be something to consider.
I wouldn't even try to rebuild that...you'd literally be starting from scratch with what is left of your body. You don't even have enough for a truggy.
I wouldn't even try to rebuild that...you'd literally be starting from scratch with what is left of your body. You don't even have enough for a truggy.
