71 K5 CST

[MikeBW]

I'm new to this forum, hoping to find some useful info as I go through it and slowly restore it. It's a 71 CST that I picked up from a buddy a couple weeks ago. It had been sitting for a few years, so far I've just done routine maintenance to get it up and running smoothly.

 

[UpnAdam]

Looks like a clean canvas, looking forward to the updates!

 

[Justin V]

 

[MikeBW]

Looks like a clean canvas, looking forward to the updates!

Thanks! It's definitely a solid truck, it has a bit of rust near the panel beneath the driver's side door, but other than that it's in pretty good shape. So far I've just done a few basics, changed out the spark plugs, wires, oil change, fuel filter, and radiator flush. This weekend I'm planning to swap out the shocks, the set that are in there currently feel pretty soft.

Another pic I snapped from this weekend:

 

[70jimmy]

Looks like a nice Rig!!

 

[MikeBW]

Quick update, I changed out the lights on the front bumper, one of them wasn't working and I got a free pair of LEDs from a buddy.

Also, looking for some advice - the previous owner lost the key for the rear hatch. I asked the locksmith at my work to see if he could get it open, but he said it was stuck to pick. I tried to open it up from the inside, but it seems like something isn't allowing one latch to open. I can move the rods from the inside and make one side latch release, but the other side doesn't seem to budge at all. Anyone who has an idea what the rods do inside the hatch to open the latch I'd really appreciate some input or advice.

 

[MikeBW]

Update - the hatch issue was semi-fixed, I ended up grinding the old handle off and ordering a new one. I can push the rods inside to release the latch for now. I took the truck to get the lower panels beneath the doors replaced due to some cancer, and now it's in the process of being repainted.

 

[ekajkrats]

Update - the hatch issue was semi-fixed, I ended up grinding the old handle off and ordering a new one. I can push the rods inside to release the latch for now. I took the truck to get the lower panels beneath the doors replaced due to some cancer, and now it's in the process of being repainted.

Sweet! What color you going to go with?

 

[MikeBW]

Sweet! What color you going to go with?

I'm going to keep it the same color, a color change would have been out of my price range and that truck has always been yellow so I didn't want to change it too much.
I read through your truck thread and noticed your have fuel injection, but you're still running a 3 speed, how does it do on road trips? I've been wanting to take mine up to Big Bear, but I'm worried about a trip that far with so much incline.

 

[CK5]

Nice! If you don't mind me asking what are they charging you for just the paint job?

 

[MikeBW]

Nice! If you don't mind me asking what are they charging you for just the paint job?

I know him through a mutual friend so I think he gave me a more than fair price. To weld the panels on both sides, paint the exterior, and spray the rubber coating underneath he's charging $4k.

 

[ekajkrats]

I'm going to keep it the same color, a color change would have been out of my price range and that truck has always been yellow so I didn't want to change it too much.
I read through your truck thread and noticed your have fuel injection, but you're still running a 3 speed, how does it do on road trips? I've been wanting to take mine up to Big Bear, but I'm worried about a trip that far with so much incline.

It's been great. I still have the 3.07 in the rear, so it's very tall gears, and it's on 33's. That makes travelling on the freeway fine. The healthy small block 400 also keeps it chugging along even up the inclines. Only dropping to 55 on a long straight haul up a steep incline out of Tahoe.

I've run over to/through Tahoe with it many times, with and without EFI. And the only time the altitude affected the carb was at about 10k feet up outside Bishop. Other than that, all around Mammoth and Tahoe has been a blast, and I would say if yours is road worthy, do it and make it an adventure!

 

[MikeBW]

It's been great. I still have the 3.07 in the rear, so it's very tall gears, and it's on 33's. That makes travelling on the freeway fine. The healthy small block 400 also keeps it chugging along even up the inclines. Only dropping to 55 on a long straight haul up a steep incline out of Tahoe.

I've run over to/through Tahoe with it many times, with and without EFI. And the only time the altitude affected the carb was at about 10k feet up outside Bishop. Other than that, all around Mammoth and Tahoe has been a blast, and I would say if yours is road worthy, do it and make it an adventure!

I think mine is running the stock gearset still on 35s so at highway speeds it feels like the RPMs are a little high. Other than that, it's been running pretty well other than issues with cold starts when it gets a little cooler.

 

[CrpMag122]

Looking forward to seeing your progress on this, beautiful rig!

 

[MikeBW]

Quick update with some pics I took over the weekend. I'm hoping by this coming weekend to have it back.

 

[Truckman4life]

Just call it the short bus! Hahaha. I like yellow trucks.

 

[MikeBW]

Just call it the short bus! Hahaha. I like yellow trucks.

Haha I was actually thinking of getting vanity plates... something with either bus or tonka possibly

 

[MikeBW]

I went to see the progress on friday and he was wet sanding... should be done any day now! can't wait

 

[MikeBW]

Finally finished! A couple pics:

 

[Truckman4life]

Love the yellow....almost as much as an orange one!