So I thought that someone might be interested in following the build of my k5 - The Rhino. So I'll be updating this post time and again as stuff happens. In any case, you can follow a very indepth read of the build at
www.web.pdx.edu/~colbys under the "journal" listing as well as a video/slideshow put to music. however, i'll try and keep my posts here on CK5 strictly technical.
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In May of last year, I picked up my 1983 bone stock 6.2L diesel k5 for $500. It had a good motor, tranny, tcase and front end. The ring/pinion had been busted, so the gears were removed from the housing. The body/interior was trashed - back window smashed, broken glass everywhere mixed with mud, slime, shot gun shells/cartriges, beer cans, all kinds of crap.
I drove it twice before it went under the knife - once to my in-laws' house where i left it for a couple days, and then i drove it about an hour south of where I live to the shop where I'm building it. (I'm a college student at Portland State U., and live in the apartments on campus and have no where to build my truck in Portland).
I bought it as an educational project - I want to understand and master automotive mechanics. So, inspite of it having a good motor, I tore it apart to rebuild it.
So here's the specs so far - you can read the story behind these specs on my website.
Engine.
- Hot tank the block.
- Bore cylinders to make .040 over (had to be done b/c whoever rebuilt the motor before me bored it and didn't get the proper sized piston b/c he bored it to a not so standard size and apparently didn't want to get custom pistons).
- Install cam bearings/soft plugs
- Balance the V8
- Rebush the rods
- Deck the block
- Resize rods (slightly out of round)
- Clean/Polish Crank (mostly b/c he started doing this before I gave permission,so i can't really go back on it now - kinda sux, but in the scheme of things a small problem.)
- Valve Grind
- Valve Guides
- Resurface the Heads (as a side note for other's w/ 6.2s - these motors havestainless steal pucks in them which require a special type of surfacing tool.)
- Standard (not moly) rings
- New Oversized pistons
- Banks Turbo hopefully within the next year.
Drivetrain/Suspension
I picked up some 3/4 ton running gear w/ 4.10 gears to spin what will be 35" tires. Someday I'll replace the TH700r4/NP208 combo w/ tougher gear, but for now, it'll do. And of course I have plans for the rest of the drivetrain as well, but I won't delve into that at this point.
4" Procomp suspension lift.
Body/Interior
I have sanded most all of the paint off of my truck. It was originally the white/red/white combination. I'll be rattle canning it black, painting my k5 logo on the fuel door, painting the lower portions on either side of the hood white, and painting a phoenix on the hood. This will all be done using matte finish rattle can paint and stencils. I figure this way, when the paint gets beat up off road, it's an easy fix. I have the option to use high quality painting supplies/equipment, but i like the rattle can and how easy it would be to fix up scratches which would open the metal to rust.
On the interior, i've installed marine carpet over standard carpet padding, hoping that the padding will insulate some against noise.
Fuel
I'll be producing my own biodiesel for it. I've seen threads here in the past asking questions about it, so with time i'll try and answer some by doing some write-ups sharing my experiences with it.
ok guys, i'll find some pics... i figure you all get tired of me posting pics. 
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