Last edited by a moderator:
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.
Nameless '83 K5 Project
- Thread starter USSkoval
- Start date
Looks like it's got a 6 inch lift on it. Might be a 4 inch, but it has 5.5 blocks in the rear, so I'm not sure.
Plans are fairly basic, nothing over the top at all.
Basic 350 with TBI
th350 or th400
np205
m1008 axles
shackle flip and 56's
39.5's
crossover steering
pickup tailgate and plexi rear window
repair frame cracks at steering box
I'm going to try out running the current front springs and see how they do. I might try relocating the upper shackle hanger and run some longer shackles.
Plans are fairly basic, nothing over the top at all.
Basic 350 with TBI
th350 or th400
np205
m1008 axles
shackle flip and 56's
39.5's
crossover steering
pickup tailgate and plexi rear window
repair frame cracks at steering box
I'm going to try out running the current front springs and see how they do. I might try relocating the upper shackle hanger and run some longer shackles.
Spent the afternoon cleaning all the crap out of it. All of this was in it:
So this is my starting point. It's a pile, but the price was right so it's OK.
Since the tailgate was falling off anyway, I installed my pickup tailgate.
Since the tailgate was falling off anyway, I installed my pickup tailgate.
magik235
Still Alive
Looks like a good project K5.
Picked up a few parts for the K5. Got a set of m1008 axles, a pair of 56's from the same truck, and a pair of the later style seat mounts.
I have a couple questions about setting up the rear suspension to match the front, which I think is 6 inch springs. When I did my Burb, I got an axle from a c30 and rather than cutting off and moving the perches, I swapped in a set of K30 spring hangers and it worked out well... it also gave another inch or two of lift because the hangers. I think I'd like to do the same with the K5, but with a shackle flip. I think the K5 will require more work though (short front hangers at an angle) and not sure if it will be worth the trouble. Has anyone used K30 hangers on a K5 before? I'm worried if I swap front hangers, the rear hangers will need their location figured out for a good shackle angle.
I have a couple questions about setting up the rear suspension to match the front, which I think is 6 inch springs. When I did my Burb, I got an axle from a c30 and rather than cutting off and moving the perches, I swapped in a set of K30 spring hangers and it worked out well... it also gave another inch or two of lift because the hangers. I think I'd like to do the same with the K5, but with a shackle flip. I think the K5 will require more work though (short front hangers at an angle) and not sure if it will be worth the trouble. Has anyone used K30 hangers on a K5 before? I'm worried if I swap front hangers, the rear hangers will need their location figured out for a good shackle angle.
subscribed 
Neat collection of wheels on it! I like where this is headed.
Martin
Martin
Looks like a fun project. I'll watch.
And I like it too! 
Yeah, it looks like the PO stole all the spares from under his buddy's trucks
I'm dying for daylight and decent weather, I really want to get this thing going. I have more than enough parts to get a good start.
After looking at it some more, I'm pretty sure the front springs are 4 inch springs because the drag link is close to level. So I'm going to forget about the 1-ton spring hanger thing.
Got the doors working from the outside. I had assumed the driver's window was rolled down so you could reach in and open the door... turns out the window is busted and gone. The passenger door handle is just plain broke, so I rigged it up so you can pull on a big zip tie to open the door. Looks silly, but it works and there's a good chance an actual door handle would get ripped off by a tree anyway. The outer door skin was bashed in, so I knocked it back out where it belongs.
Also pulled the front diff cover and found a set of Richmond 4.10 gears.
I pulled the front clip so I could work on everything easier. The front bumper was only mounted by the outer support brackets, I found out why when I removed it. The left frame rail is seriously focked from a previous wreck. Then there's the cracks at the steering box and someone's silly "support plate" that needs removed. It's going to take some work to get it all fixed up. I might have to take it to work, I don't know if my little 110v Lincoln welder has the balls to properly repair the cracks and weld in a support plate.
Look at that twist...
Also pulled the front diff cover and found a set of Richmond 4.10 gears.
I pulled the front clip so I could work on everything easier. The front bumper was only mounted by the outer support brackets, I found out why when I removed it. The left frame rail is seriously focked from a previous wreck. Then there's the cracks at the steering box and someone's silly "support plate" that needs removed. It's going to take some work to get it all fixed up. I might have to take it to work, I don't know if my little 110v Lincoln welder has the balls to properly repair the cracks and weld in a support plate.
Look at that twist...
454Sub
5/8 ton status
I welded mine with a small Miller welder, just turn it up to max and go slow, it will burn through it. If you want, you can try on some small scrap pieces and see if you like it. Mine did it perfect, but I wouldnt trust it on anything thicker than that. I also preheated mine as hot as I could get it to help. May or may not help.
My frame rail looks like that, but its from pulling on it when I got it stuck. Which, probably same as me, is what happened to yours (unless it had front end damage). I had to run a strap behind the leaf spring mount and pull on the actual spring bolt after I ripped both my hooks off. I ended up having to cut a new poly body mount down to level the frontend and fix the fender to door gap. No big huge deal.
My frame rail looks like that, but its from pulling on it when I got it stuck. Which, probably same as me, is what happened to yours (unless it had front end damage). I had to run a strap behind the leaf spring mount and pull on the actual spring bolt after I ripped both my hooks off. I ended up having to cut a new poly body mount down to level the frontend and fix the fender to door gap. No big huge deal.
Yeah, it was in a previous accident, with a replacement door/fender/grille/bumper/etc. I'll clean it up and give it a shot with my little welder. I was going to cut the plate off today but I realized I'm out of cut-off wheels for my electric grinder. I also found a big crack in the engine crossmember today.
Got the front axle yanked today...
...and yes, those jack stands work well.
Then goth the Dana 60 shoved under there and bolted up with temporary u-bolts. The left perch needs heated with a torch and straightened out and I'll wait to get u-bolts until I know if I'm going to run zero rates or not.
It sucks working by myself and in the grass with no air, I used to do stuff like this in the well-equipped shop I work at. But at the same time, it's so much nicer working at home. I should have 220 out at the garage and a nice compressor soon though. Hopefully next year I can get a concrete pad and a lift.
Got the front axle yanked today...
...and yes, those jack stands work well.
Then goth the Dana 60 shoved under there and bolted up with temporary u-bolts. The left perch needs heated with a torch and straightened out and I'll wait to get u-bolts until I know if I'm going to run zero rates or not.
It sucks working by myself and in the grass with no air, I used to do stuff like this in the well-equipped shop I work at. But at the same time, it's so much nicer working at home. I should have 220 out at the garage and a nice compressor soon though. Hopefully next year I can get a concrete pad and a lift.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
No updates in 4 years?
Nope, I didn't get much farther than that. The more I got into it, the more I realized how shot the body was. I didn't have much time for it with all my other projects too, so I scrapped the bare tub so my neighbors (my dad and step mom, lol) didn't have to see it everyday. The rolling frame got tucked away into the woods and all other parts are in the garage/barn. Waiting for a little bit better of a tub to come along. Either that or I have a couple other bodies that could wind up on the frame. Like a '92 Camaro or a Celebrity station wagon. But I'd rather a truck/K5 body.
I did get the frame straightened out though.
I'm responding just because I get a kick out of every time this shows up in the featured builds scroll as just a wheelbarrow full of crap. 
Carry on.
Carry on.
