1994 K3500 extended cab dually

[n8in8or]

Last night I got the chassis back down on all fours again.



I reinstalled all crossmembers and brackets that had been preciously riveted with grade 8 7/16-14 bolts and distorted thread locknuts plus red Loctite.

I had a heck of a time getting the torsion bar crossmember reinstalled on Saturday. I even undid the upper ball joint so the lower arm could droop further, which did allow me to finally get the torsion bars to slide into the lowers with some hammer persuasion, but then there wasn’t enough weight on the chassis to get it to lift up enough to reassemble. I finally gave in and purchased a torsion bar unloading tool. $20. So dumb I hadn’t purchased that years ago, it made the task so much easier, and I wouldn’t have had to take any of my previous work apart.

 

[n8in8or]

The Gabriel Max Control shocks I installed when I got the truck together rode nice, and were still working well, but they were already rusting……and I just couldn’t put rusty shocks on this chassis. I decided to go full gooch and put Bilstein shocks on this time. I know they’ll work well, but I also hope they hold up to the elements better. I’m not going to drive this truck in the winter a lot, but the point of this truck is to be the capable truck to use when I need it, so winter driving will certainly happen some.

 

[n8in8or]

This weekend I got the small brackets mounted to the frame first. Next thing I got done was replace the rear wheel bearings and seals as well as the parking brake cables. I really debated about whether I should mess with the bearings or not, but ultimately decided I would regret it later if I didn’t do it now. I’m very glad I did - I found that the driver side seal was leaking even though I had replaced it as well as added a speedi sleeve to the axle on that side. I’m hoping it was just a bad seal and the new seal fixes that because the speedi sleeve looks good still. Final thing was do the rear brake lines.



Front brake lines are next.

 

[n8in8or]

I hadn’t looked at the brake lines on the axle straight on from the rear until I looked at the picture I took. The right one was bothering me. Fixed.

 

[MrMarty51]

I hadn’t looked at the brake lines on the axle straight on from the rear until I looked at the picture I took. The right one was bothering me. Fixed.

View attachment 94481

That bothers Me too. Better replace it.

 

[n8in8or]

Front brake lines are done.



It’s finally time to switch to engine work.

 

[n8in8or]

I went to the junkyard today to get a passenger side fender since mine is crusty. I also got some decent inner fenders.



While taking parts off of the truck, I glanced at the engine again. I already knew it had a 6.5, but it was a DS4 truck, so nothing really interesting for me, but…….I had missed that it had dual alternators! So I grabbed the bracket and harness.



I was already planning on reworking the wiring on my truck some when I got to that point of reassembly because there were some things I didn’t love when I had to take the truck apart, but now I guess I’ll be reworking the fuel system as well since I’ll be swapping to a 96+ accessory drive and the second alternator is going to be in the way of how I did the secondary fuel filter. Totally worth it though.

I also found a 69 or 70 C20 or C30 with a manual transmission on the floor. I have a 70 C10 that was originally a 3 on the tree, so I snagged the steering column so I would no longer have the pivot on the column. Also grabbed the harness and pedals for good measure.



There’s almost nothing better than finding rare and unexpected parts during a trip to the junkyard

 

[jrsavoie]

I went to the junkyard today to get a passenger side fender since mine is crusty. I also got some decent inner fenders.

View attachment 94709

While taking parts off of the truck, I glanced at the engine again. I already knew it had a 6.5, but it was a DS4 truck, so nothing really interesting for me, but…….I had missed that it had dual alternators! So I grabbed the bracket and harness.

View attachment 94710View attachment 94711

I was already planning on reworking the wiring on my truck some when I got to that point of reassembly because there were some things I didn’t love when I had to take the truck apart, but now I guess I’ll be reworking the fuel system as well since I’ll be swapping to a 96+ accessory drive and the second alternator is going to be in the way of how I did the secondary fuel filter. Totally worth it though.

I also found a 69 or 70 C20 or C30 with a manual transmission on the floor. I have a 70 C10 that was originally a 3 on the tree, so I snagged the steering column so I would no longer have the pivot on the column. Also grabbed the harness and pedals for good measure.

View attachment 94712

There’s almost nothing better than finding rare and unexpected parts during a trip to the junkyard

I had a 1968 camper special with a 4 speed that had granny Low. Then 1,2,3 on the knob.

I don't remember if it was a C20 or C30.
It started life with a 240 straight 6. I installed a 327 in it
It was pretty rust free. Sold it around 1980..

 

[n8in8or]

I had a 1968 camper special with a 4 speed that had granny Low. Then 1,2,3 on the knob.

I don't remember if it was a C20 or C30.
It started life with a 240 straight 6. I installed a 327 in it
It was pretty rust free. Sold it around 1980..

I got my 70 C10 in 94. It was from Alabama - not rust-free, but not nearly as rusty as the trucks around here. I was told it was originally a 6 cylinder truck that never had the oil changed, so a 64 283 was installed in its place and that’s what was in the truck when I bought it. The 283 started rod knocking so I put a 350 in it. Then it got a T10. The T10 had bad bearings and it ended up roaching the input and cluster gear. I swapped in a Saginaw 4 speed after that. I loved that truck. I took it apart in 96 to restore it….or at least make it better than it was. I got a nicer cab that was also an AC cab. The frame is cleaned up and painted, but that’s as far as it got. I’m hoping to get back to working on it in the next few years. When I do, I’ll start a thread on it.