76 K5 Build; More Parts....Trucks

[toomany]

the flanges are the stock dodge full time 4wd part. I dont know how those selectro hubs will hold up to 44s tho, I swap my flanges on if I know im going to be using it hard.

That might be the game plan here, I already put the flanges in the toolbox in the truck. I do think the hub will hold up ok for me though. His other set of tires were a set of cut 44" Boggers. Said he only broke one hub when out, but carried the flanges just in case. He had a built BBC too so more power/weight than me.

Great progress I've got a dodge 60 under my truck on 44"s. mine kinda just happened as well never was my intention when I bought my truck for $900. But we all know how it goes haha.

Same here. Once the snowball starts rolling it's hard to jump in front it to slow it down.

Those rods seem to be the most delicate and easy to mess up things on a Quadrajet. Probably got bent during the P.O.'s rebuild when he went to reinstall the top plate and the rods didn't go down in there just right and/or got caught up on the gasket or something.

I'm certain that's what happened. Took me a few tries to get the piston/rods in just right before I put the top back on. I still think I could go to a slightly smaller rod or a bigger jet. Or a different tension spring. The idle screws had to be backed out quite a bit to get the most vacuum .

 

[andyblack]

Have you drilled out the jets yet?

 

[toomany]

No I haven't. To my knowledge they are stock as are the rods. But being 40+ years old who knows what has been done to it by now.

 

[toomany]

Pulled the 60 apart today. Now....before you get to the wall of text bellow understand that in Michigan (especially this area) there isn't much to wheel except mud. And the offroad parks that he went to (and I go too as well) are mainly big mud boggs. So I'm not too surprised by what I found. Basically what your parts look like if you don't powerwash/disassemble to clean regularly. If you've never been in mud and only wheeled rocks then this might be a big shocker, but it's just part of the game around here.

It was a battle the entire time. The allen bolts holding the cover on were way too tight. Had to get the impact driver out to break them free. Two of the bolts stripped out. Cut a slot in them and used a chisel to turn them. Would have welded a nut to them but someone borrowed my tank. Once the cover was off it was a frozen oily mess inside (garage was still warming up). It was clear that it had been underwater in the past.

Started on the passenger side first. After I figured out how to take the calipers off...they came off relatively easy, muddy but no struggles. Removed the bolts holding the lockout on and it wouldn't come off, it'd wiggle but not come off. After looking at my extras and pulling the other side I discovered it was seized/broken. Both the body and the internal sleeved part were busted. No big deal, I've got extras. Spent a little over two hours grinding and prying before I was down to the wheel bearing nuts on that side. Didn't have a socket big enough to get at them so I used a screwdriver (and by the marks on them...so did he). Nuts came off easily. Was expecting the hub to come off with no problems, not the case. Tried using a big 3 jaw puller to budge it but couldn't get it to stay on the end of the axle shaft. Ended up using so wedges between the rotor and the bracket to nudged it off. The wheel bearings were rusted solid and there was no grease in there. Just a bunch of black dirt that may have been grease in a previous life. Zipped the nuts holding the caliper bracket/spindle off and knocked those off. The axle shaft was stuck inside the spindle from all the mud packed into it. The tube was also full of crud.

On the bright side, the drivers side hub came apart easily. Even had fresh grease inside. Could probably reuse the bearings/seal if I wanted to. The long side tube was packed so full I had to use a pry bar to start moving the shaft, then tap it out once the joint was past the knuckle. It did spin fairly easy though....so I'm guessing it carved out a tunnel for itself.

Judging by what I found in the diff and in the tubes. It looks like the inner seals did there job. As the oil was only watered down, not muddy.

The kingpins looked good and like they had been greased somewhat regularly. None of the zerks were broken off either. I'll probably weld some tube around them to help protect them. Didn't find any shims, so hopefully I won't have any death wobble issues.

On the list of parts to replace, wheel bearings/races/seals (both sides), brake pads, inner axle seals and u-joints (they felt tight, but I'm this far into it). Since I've got to pull the carrier to do the seals I may as well try to find a locker for it. Either full case or lunch box. If I do full case it'll get new bearings. They feel ok when spinning the pinion by hand, but we'll see once I get it out.

(Edit): Forgot about the spindle bearings. Add those to the list too.

That's mud packed into the piston.




Mud packed around everything. Brake pad still on there. Note the vanes of the rotor full.




Ice chunks flowing out of the diff. Almost works as a marking compound.




Drivers side




Passenger side. Inner bearing stuck on there with the seal behind it. Note the brown color. Everything on the floor came from around that area.




What was floating around in the hub. In side of rotor was packed full when I started.




I believe I got the good, non-neckdown shafts...so a plus there. That's not rust on them...again mud/grime. Spindle still stuck on the short side. Probably put it into the press to get it apart.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Well most of that stuff will just be a lot of work cleaning up. Hopefully the bearing and seal surfaces on the shafts aren't pitted up. Get some emery cloth for all those surfaces. Wire or plastic wheel the rest. Some new bearings and seals and you'll be rocking in no time!

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Check out extremeaxlesales or PM Highonda on Pirate. I got all my 60 bearing kits through him cheaper than Autozone. Dont forget all the little bearings and seals in the spindle too.

 

[toomany]

Well most of that stuff will just be a lot of work cleaning up. Hopefully the bearing and seal surfaces on the shafts aren't pitted up. Get some emery cloth for all those surfaces. Wire or plastic wheel the rest. Some new bearings and seals and you'll be rocking in no time!

Check out extremeaxlesales or PM Highonda on Pirate. I got all my 60 bearing kits through him cheaper than Autozone. Dont forget all the little bearings and seals in the spindle too.

The seal surfaces looked like they were fine. When I go to clean everything up I'll take a better look.

partsmike looks to have the best price on wheel bearings/seals ($115.95 for both sides). Spindle bearings and inner seals I'm still shopping around on. I'll check with Highonda over on Pirate too.

Just went through your thread a little bit ago. I like how you did the sliders, might end up doing something like that down the road.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

As long as your trails are open they are great! I love being able to stand on them as well as climb up because my doors don't open anymore, but they are really starting to limit my ability on the trail because they are so wide. I love the design and put a lot of time into them to protect the body, but you can see how well that worked lol

 

[andyblack]

I've seen the same problems you just showed. Mud is a beast man. Those spindle bearings are hard to find too. As far as where the bearings go on the spindles, I've had bearings seize up there before and I just got on the spindle with some emery cloth until the new bearing would fit. They may look pitted but they still work. It took quite a while though.

 

[toomany]

As long as your trails are open they are great! I love being able to stand on them as well as climb up because my doors don't open anymore, but they are really starting to limit my ability on the trail because they are so wide. I love the design and put a lot of time into them to protect the body, but you can see how well that worked lol

I hope I've got awhile before mine gets that beat. Our trails are fairly open so I should be good. I'm mainly looking at it for the step. Once I go up another inch and add the 44's it'll be up there.

I've seen the same problems you just showed. Mud is a beast man. Those spindle bearings are hard to find too. As far as where the bearings go on the spindles, I've had bearings seize up there before and I just got on the spindle with some emery cloth until the new bearing would fit. They may look pitted but they still work. It took quite a while though.

Looked at them some more this morning. I think I can save the passenger spindle. Appears to be just the dirt locking it on there. Found the spindle bearings...like $30 a side. Be easier if I just order everything. Parts stores around here would only have one bearing or race and have to order stuff in. Unless I went around to all of them and mixed/matched brands....which is something I'd rather not do.

 

[toomany]

Spent some time with the 60 earlier.

Went out in the garage and picked up a little bit. cleaned off the benches and put tools away (I'm usually really good about that, but with it so cold out lately I've just been tossing them back on the bench). Moved my tires to the corner on the otherside of the garage out of the way. Decided to start cleaning the axle up some. Scraped out the tubes and wire wheeled it well enough to take a coat of paint. Still have to do all the brackets and shafts. While I had the grinder out I shaved some of the lip off the bottom too.

I worked some overtime last week so I'll have extra money this week. Parts should start rolling in then. Think I'm going to end up doing kingpins eventually. Probably wait till I have the axle in the truck though, seems like the easiest way to hold the axle in one place. Going to do a locker before I put it in too, most likely a Spartan.

Got brave and brought my camera out in the garage...so these pics might be a little bit better than the phone ones.


Found my BOM number. Comes out as a 85-88 Dodge D600 or D700 axle.




Before shave.






After some time with the grinding disc and flap wheel. It's not much, but it should help some.








Stack of 44's. No fun getting the top one up there by myself. I'm 5'9" and maybe 140#. So each one is probably close to my weight. Stack is taller than me too.

 

[jekquistk5]

76 K5 Build; D60 is apart

Spent some time with the 60 earlier.



Went out in the garage and picked up a little bit. cleaned off the benches and put tools away (I'm usually really good about that, but with it so cold out lately I've just been tossing them back on the bench). Moved my tires to the corner on the otherside of the garage out of the way. Decided to start cleaning the axle up some. Scraped out the tubes and wire wheeled it well enough to take a coat of paint. Still have to do all the brackets and shafts. While I had the grinder out I shaved some of the lip off the bottom too.



I worked some overtime last week so I'll have extra money this week. Parts should start rolling in then. Think I'm going to end up doing kingpins eventually. Probably wait till I have the axle in the truck though, seems like the easiest way to hold the axle in one place. Going to do a locker before I put it in too, most likely a Spartan.



Got brave and brought my camera out in the garage...so these pics might be a little bit better than the phone ones.





Found my BOM number. Comes out as a 85-88 Dodge D600 or D700 axle.









Before shave.













After some time with the grinding disc and flap wheel. It's not much, but it should help some.

















Stack of 44's. No fun getting the top one up there by myself. I'm 5'9" and maybe 140#. So each one is probably close to my weight. Stack is taller than me too.

Awesome more than I did today. Didn't leave the house at all. Already another 3" of snow today and it hasn't stopped snowing. Keep up the good work! Looks like you have a bitchin wood stove for your garage!

 

[toomany]

Awesome more than I did today. Didn't leave the house at all. Already another 3" of snow today and it hasn't stopped snowing. Keep up the good work! Looks like you have a bitchin wood stove for your garage!

Thanks!

We've only gotten a light dusting so far today. We usually get less than you do in your area. I've only left to take the dog for walks. Hoping we don't get much...if any at all. I've got to be to work at 7am tomorrow and not looking forward to doing the sidewalks before we open.

I've had that wood stove for 12 years I think, even had it in the house for a year before I got my pellet stove. Garage is only 20x20 with a 7' ceiling so not that much area out there. Once I get my pole barn built I plan on putting it out there. Best part is, I got it for free. Guy had used it for the longest time to heat his house with, was getting married and the future wife didn't like it and made him get rid of it.

 

[toomany]

I had every intention of going out in the garage and cleaning some more 60 parts....but I bought another truck instead.

Way back when, I started a thread (http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266081) in the Body Shop about doing floors in a cab I had picked up. The body of my K5 at the time was gone and I was going to do a trazer. Got all the cab supports, floors, rockers and cab corners in and was ready to drop it on the frame. A deal came along on a Corvette that I wanted. Liquidated a bunch of things and parted out the K5 (hot 355, 465/205, 4.88's, 37's, lockers....the works) I was left with a few parts and the cab. Well that deal ended up falling through, I was royally pissed, but I had a pocket full of cash and a straight cab. I needed the garage space back so I through it outside on a pallet and a tarp over it.

A couple years later a friend of mine gets the idea to build something. About the only thing we didn't have between the two of us was a frame. He sourced that along with front sheet metal. Nothing special, mid 80's frame with stock springs 12b/10b, 3.08's. I gave him my cab and a ton of other parts (400/203, drive shafts, 33's, box, doors, interior, gas tank, radiator, steering column)...after all I wasn't using them and would rather see someone using them rather than rusting away.

Over the course of a few weeks we put it together. Worked the bugs out and got it drivable....ugly but drivable. The he got layed off and it just sat in my yard.

Fast forward to last night. He txt's me and tells me he found another truck, like the one we put together...but cleaner (for lack of better words). Asks me if I want to buy the one he (we) was working on. We agree on a price and some trade items.

Now, if you're thinking why would I buy the parts back that I gave him. He's a good, lifelong friend. I gave him the parts and got a few things out of him for the deal (a couple parts for my K5, some for my 78 TA). So I think it's a fair deal for the both of us if I outlay some money. Plus there are many new parts on there that you don't think of, fuel lines, brake lines, calipers, etc...the small stuff.

The deal, $200 and a Th350 from me...he gets to keep his motor and 35's that he put on.

What I ended up with. Mid 80's longbox frame, clean 80's cab, clean manual doors, 74 front clip, half ton axles (3.08's, new brakes all around), 400/203, decent 33's, some metal to build bumpers, basically a running truck minus motor.

The plan. Not much, I don't really need another truck. I'm going to rob the parts I want for my K5, mainly the front trim (I like the 74 style better than my current), the manual window regulators to replace my non-working powers, the mirrors to replace my tri-pods, and some other small things. Will grab the tailgate/hardware too (mine sucks, going the truck route). Eventually I may snag the rear springs for the front of mine. With what's left I may build into a yard beater. Shorten the frame, plow, cut it and make a trailer...I don't know yet. I've got another motor I can drop in so that's no big deal. Still thinking about it.

Will get pictures of the abortion tomorrow, along with the one he just bought....as they are both stuck in my back yard in the snow (we were using one to pull the other). If you just can't wait...I think you can sort of see the front of it in one of the pictures of me stuck in the pool/sand.

 

[andyblack]

Sounds like a plan.

 

[toomany]

As promised, pictures. Only grabbed a quick few because it's like -5 and windy.


Here they are, stuck in the snow. If the back of the truck looks familiar....it's the box/doors off my 85 K20 that was in some of the earlier pictures.




The grille is actually from my K5. He had one that wasn't broken (or a re-pop like mine was) we traded and I proceeded to break the bar under the hood latch the first time I went to open the hood. The hood isn't bent either. If I do end up doing something with the truck, I've got a set of rust free 81+ fenders, just have to come up with a core support.








Quick shot of the cab, showing that I actually did finish getting the metal in that I started 4 years ago. Clean, rust free doors too.




What he bought. 86 K10. No motor/trans/t-case/bald tires. $600. It is fairly clean, even underneith. It needs a cab mount in the back, which is why it's leaning. He plans to take his motor out of the one and put it in this along with a 350/203. Will use the 35's from the old one too.

 

[andyblack]

Both look like good projects. I can't believe how good those door panels look. Wish mine looked like that still.

 

[toomany]

Wow two months since I updated this.

Got the D60 back together. Ended up just doing the spindle and wheel bearings for now. Decided to hold off on the kingpins until I drive it and see how bad/if it needs it. Did have to replace one of the nylon cones though. Haven't picked up a locker yet. From what I've read, you can install it (Spartan) without pulling the shafts....so I shouldn't need to tear it down again. Shot a quick coat of paint on it, didn't mask anything....just hit it with a rattle can. Found out my crossover parts are ORD parts. Still think I made out good on the axle and steering, even after having to dump some money into it.




Picked these up yesterday from a guy on a local board. Saw them when he first posted them back at the beginning of May for $150. Didn't have the extra cash at the time so I passed, figuring they'd be gone quick. The post got bumped back up a few times and he lowed his price to $100. I jumped on it this time. I'm hoping with the longer shackles I can pull a leaf or two out of the monster pack the PO created.

I had planed on DIY flip brackets from the beginning so I guess it worked out. Did place an order with Kurt for a couple easy inches today...so he still got some of my money.




Found these on the side of the road about a month ago. Saw the guy rolling them out to the curb when I went buy. Thought for sure they'd be gone by the time I came back through. Nope....gonna groove them and find some stock rims, use'm as around town tires. 37/12.5/16.5 Truxus MT Radials. Two are fairly worn and two are ok but I'm not going to complain.




Next weekend (June 7,8) I'll start on the axle swap and getting my steering in. Still need to pick up some u-bolts for the front. Should be able to get the rear dealt with too.

 

[andyblack]

Good scores all around. This is my kind of build so far.

 

[toomany]

Have everything ready to start the D60 install tomorrow. My lug nuts came in yesterday and my order from Diy4x just got dropped off. Going to start with the front end and worry about the back once I get the steering changed over. Probably going to remove a leaf from the rear pack while I'm in there.

U-bolts and other spring hardware.




Pack of 9 leaves the PO put in. Will try removing the one above the overload. Figuring with the easy inch and longer shackle I should be alright to pull one to get a better ride. That one looks like and add a leaf anyways.




Just for referance. This is how it currently sits.