What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

(80 K25) "Nigel" 3/4Ton of Fun

Overview Gallery Discussion
Well, the build is officially going to happen now so I figured I would start a thread. I'm in too deep to back out. Sold my 07 Ram daily to fund the build, and winter is coming so it has to get done.
full

full

full

full

full

I picked up this truck 4 weeks ago. I actually paid $600 but sold a 700r4 and a load of scrap that came in the bed. Ad online said it needed an engine and a ton of work. Talking to the owner it overheated a lot and needed a head gasket. The carb was missing and a valve cover was off. It has rust in the cab corners and fenders but nothing serious. The frame and suspension just have surface rust. When he hands me the title I am surprised to see the original one from when it was bought new in 80. The glove box had the receipt for the tires from back in 87. The truck was "tastefully" modded over the years. factory AC was added, the person wasnt the best with a saw, the holes in the firewall look like someone chewed them out. The interior was spray painted silver. A gauge cluster with gauges that I'm pretty sure isn't the original one is in the truck too. It does have a sweet stereo, equalizer, and CB
full

full


Got it back to my house. I Changed the oil, primed the pump, fixed the timing, adjusted the valves since two rockers were off, and sprayed some starting fluid down the intake hole. It fired right up. I ordered a cheap carb adapter and tossed on the Holley off of my Willys and the thing ran great. I siphoned out the fuel tank and hooked everything up. The truck drove around the block without any problems. Installed an ORD 1" aal to the front so I could push the axle forward an inch. Tossed on some Hmmwv tires and I have been daily driving the thing ever since. Ive replaced a few things, belts, brake caliper(I broke), radiator cap(missing). I have no idea why the guy said the engine was bad other than his lack of maintenance maybe.
full

full

full


After driving it for a week I figured it was good enough to go camping in. Loaded up and headed to the mountains. Only one light on my dash works, the only one that matters. Cooper approves
full

full

full
 
So, for the build part. My goal is to have a comfortable and capable truck. I feel like back in the day, trucks like this were about loading up the family in a trailer or camper and hitting the road. That is a feeling I want to keep. Hit the road, see the sights, go camping, and keep the tires off pavement as much as possible.

Green = C/W Black= In work or maybe someday.

The plan
  1. Drive train
    • 2006 5.3L with LS6 cam. Modified factory harness and tune
    • SM465
    • ORD engine mounts
    • Advance adapters motor mount adapter plates
    • Hooker headers 2313HKR
    • The flywheel BRUTE POWER/PERFECTION CLUTCH 502776
    • Luk clutch 04-064
    • GM 12557583 pilot bearing
    • ARP 134-2201 flywheel bolts
    • ARP 330-2802 pressure plate bolt
    • ARP Bellhousing Bolt Kits 134-0901
    • Griffin CU-00013-ls radiator and fans
    • Radiator hoses, Gates 22826, Continental 60374
    • Belt with vintage air ac brackets Gates K061140. Tensioner Gates 38195
    • power steering hose Gates 353800
    • 2.5" y into 3" out the back MagnaFlow muffler
    • 17" Method 105 beadlocks
    • JB fab twin stick
  2. Blazer tank 31G
    • Dorman Fuel Tanks 576-313
    • Dorman Fuel Tank Mounting Straps 578-011
    • Dorman Fuel Tank Sending Units 692-033
    • Walbro 255 pump #GCA758-2
    • Corvette Filter/Reg.
    • 16mm x1.5 to -6 9894DBJERL (Tank pressure)
    • 14x1.5 to -6 Russell 640820 (Tank Return)
    • x2 3/8 Push lock to -6 Russell 640853 (filter pressure in/rail pressure in)
    • 5/16 to -6 Russell 640863 (Filter return)
    • 3/8 male to -6 Russell 640940 (filter out)
  3. Comfort
    • Vintage air kit
    • Kwik performance ac compressor bracket K10163
    • Dakota digital VHX dash
    • Maybe power windows/locks
    • Clean and refresh the interior
    • Amp and 4 speakers driven by my phone. Head units suck
    • Ipad mount for GPS
  4. Axles
    • Detroit no-spin in rear
    • D60 front with spartan locker
    • Possible rear disk. I haven't decided yet. I need a parking brake.
  5. Suspension/steering
    • 3" front springs, 1" rear zero rate.
    • Crossover
    • Hydro assist maybe
  6. recovery
    1. X20-12K winch behind front bumper, Front recovery point
    2. Haven't decided what to do about a rear bumper.
    3. I do want a tow hitch and brake controller.
  7. Misc
    • Bed needs a spare tire holder,
    • Fuel/water can holder.
    • place to put my camping box,
    • fit dirt bikes while doing all of this
    • Bobbed 13"
    • Energy suspension body and transmission mounts
 
Last edited:
bent72 said:
Hooray for keeping the man tranny
Click to expand...
No automatics allowed in my garage. The previous owner actually had a 700r4 and automatic steering column in the bed. Good thing he never got around to installing it.

Anyway my gas tank and straps showed up today. I already moved the big crossmember back a few inches to fit the tank last weekend. Ill pull the bed again this weekend and put the other two crossmembers back in now that I have a tank to position them. I'm hoping the rest of my parts will be here by this weekend so I can mock up the whole fuel system and start on radiator mounts. I'm hoping I can mock up all the parts so when the engine comes I can drop it in and bolt up all the supporting equipment. Only thing Ill have to figure out will be the exhaust...and everything else I forgot about
full


Do you guys know where I can get a new seat cover like this one? All I can find are the solid color covers and I like this pattern.
full


Also, anyone know what size coupler I need to buy to fit over the 5.3L throttle body? I need to order some parts for the intake.
 
Looking forward to more updates for this one. Love how you've got your plan setup
 
TreeFarm said:
No automatics allowed in my garage. The previous owner actually had a 700r4 and automatic steering column in the bed. Good thing he never got around to installing it.

Anyway my gas tank and straps showed up today. I already moved the big crossmember back a few inches to fit the tank last weekend. Ill pull the bed again this weekend and put the other two crossmembers back in now that I have a tank to position them. I'm hoping the rest of my parts will be here by this weekend so I can mock up the whole fuel system and start on radiator mounts. I'm hoping I can mock up all the parts so when the engine comes I can drop it in and bolt up all the supporting equipment. Only thing Ill have to figure out will be the exhaust...and everything else I forgot about
full


Do you guys know where I can get a new seat cover like this one? All I can find are the solid color covers and I like this pattern.
full


Also, anyone know what size coupler I need to buy to fit over the 5.3L throttle body? I need to order some parts for the intake.
Click to expand...
I got a saddle blanket type last year.

There's a link in my build thread somewhere. There is an index, so you might find it
:haha:
 
bent72 said:
I got a saddle blanket type last year.

There's a link in my build thread somewhere. There is an index, so you might find it
:haha:
Click to expand...

Managed to find it in your build fairly easy thankfully. I was thinking about tossing one of those on for now. I was actually talking about the seat vinyl. I want to reupholster it with a stock cover, but I can only find solid color ones.

I could just go cheap Mexican blanket like I did in my 66
uEe5fIf.jpg
 
It was all I had for help. Maybe someone has a link for the actual upholstery
 
TreeFarm said:
Don't think it wasn't appreciated. I'll take all the help I can get.

Now to stay up all night reading through your build thread.
Click to expand...
I'll apologize in advance for the side tracks and sarcasm
 
Oh. And hydro assist. Not necessarily because you need it. But it does make these trucks steer smooth
 
Nice build, good progress. I've had a few trucks like this that sat for a long time and needed barely anything to be nice driveable trucks. I love DDing my old trucks much more than my newer stuff.
 
Looks like a good start. Wondering how you'll like the LS with the 465. Thinking of doing sometbhing similar in my truck.
 
bent72 said:
I'll apologize in advance for the side tracks and sarcasm
Click to expand...

I read through your thread today, huge waste of time. There were maybe 5 vehicle related posts in the 180+ pages.:D Good thing I did it at work, that way I got paid. I do like your winch mount. I was wondering if I could fit one back there and you managed to take all of the guess work out of it for me. So I will be stealing it. I happen to have a good size chunk of 3/8th plate sitting in the garage, that otta work. oh and the front recovery points...I'm taking those too. I do have a question however. How did you mount the flat winch plate to the curved frame? Just bolt it down and let there be gaps, or make standoffs to level it out? The picture in your build doesn't really show.

Speaking of a winch and your mounting. I bought a Smittybuilt X20-12K today. Should have it Friday.:woot:

kgblazerfive said:
So Northern Utah huh?

Good start on the build surprised it runs
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm in Roy. So not too far from you if your thing is correct.


swettysblazer said:
Looks like a good start. Wondering how you'll like the LS with the 465. Thinking of doing sometbhing similar in my truck.
Click to expand...

I'm taking a modern, high revving engine that makes just shy of 400HP and mating it to an antique chunk of cast iron that was probably formed by the impact of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. In its prime it probably had 150 hp feeding it. It is heavy, clunky, and has tons of rotating mass whirring around inside it. I can foresee many times Ill ride the revs out and try to shift just to have it not go into gear until the revs come down and the trans is happy. On the other hand, I don't see it breaking.


I had all of this junk waiting on the porch for me after work today.
full
 
TreeFarm said:
I read through your thread today, huge waste of time. There were maybe 5 vehicle related posts in the 180+ pages.:D Good thing I did it at work, that way I got paid. I do like your winch mount. I was wondering if I could fit one back there and you managed to take all of the guess work out of it for me. So I will be stealing it. I happen to have a good size chunk of 3/8th plate sitting in the garage, that otta work. oh and the front recovery points...I'm taking those too. I do have a question however. How did you mount the flat winch plate to the curved frame? Just bolt it down and let there be gaps, or make standoffs to level it out? The picture in your build doesn't really show.

Speaking of a winch and your mounting. I bought a Smittybuilt X20-12K today. Should have it Friday.:woot:



Yep, I'm in Roy. So not too far from you if your thing is correct.




I'm taking a modern, high revving engine that makes just shy of 400HP and mating it to an antique chunk of cast iron that was probably formed by the impact of the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. In its prime it probably had 150 hp feeding it. It is heavy, clunky, and has tons of rotating mass whirring around inside it. I can foresee many times Ill ride the revs out and try to shift just to have it not go into gear until the revs come down and the trans is happy. On the other hand, I don't see it breaking.


I had all of this junk waiting on the porch for me after work today.
full
Click to expand...
IMG_1130.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom