I bought a 1979 Chevy K10 a few years ago to use as a GP hauler. I paid $3000 for it. (Yes, I paid to much. I know.) Due to its age & PO's 1/2 doing repairs or mods, it has issues.
Off the top of my head, here's a list of thing I know need to be fixed.
It has an Eddlebrock intake mated with a Quadrajet carb so it runs burn-your-eyes-if you-walk-near-the-tailpipes-at-idle rich.
1 of the 2 fuel tanks is usable, but don't run to low on gas because the crud in the bottom of the tank gets stirred up & tries to clog the fuel pickup.
The only gauge that works is the tach.
The right rocker panel is rusty.
Any system that uses a fluid, except the fuel system, leaks.
The A/C has been mostly removed.
The front shock & spring bushings are worn out or splitting.
The left door is caved in.
I rarely use the truck due to the lack of fuel economy. I'm not sure I could get my money back if I sold it. So, my question to the group is how much, if at all, should I fix it up. It could be a cool old truck. It has aftermarket support and plenty of used parts.
Thanks for the input.
Here's a pic of he turd in question.
If I had time money and talent and willpower, I'd save it. Seeing as how I have none of that....
Setting up a Q jet properly isnt hard.
Sound like a fair amount of stuff could be fixed with little money, but plenty of time.
Give it one hour every weekend for a while and see if you can solve a few ills. No sense selling it. Might as well make it usable.
It is exactly what I would expect out of a mid 70's to late 80's GM product. Most of the problems are just fixing some of the hacks. Some of the others are just elbow grease. The rest are the time consuming money intensive stuff you will never fix.
Keep it. Fix it. Enjoy it.
SillyImportRacer wrote:
It has an Eddlebrock intake mated with a Quadrajet carb so it runs burn-your-eyes-if you-walk-near-the-tailpipes-at-idle rich.
Install Eddelbrock carb, cam, and heads to match
SillyImportRacer wrote:
1 of the 2 fuel tanks is usable, but don't run to low on gas because the crud in the bottom of the tank gets stirred up & tries to clog the fuel pickup.
Remove fuel filter, drive till empty, reinstall fuel filter
SillyImportRacer wrote:
The only gauge that works is the tach.
What else do you need? the truck will die if the coolant gets too hot, the oil gets too low, or you run out of gas. If you're speeding, your friendly LEO will let you know.
SillyImportRacer wrote:
The right rocker panel is rusty.
ah, thats just "chevy rust"
SillyImportRacer wrote:
Any system that uses a fluid, except the fuel system, leaks.
"If it aint leakin, it's out."
SillyImportRacer wrote:
The A/C has been mostly removed.
Remove the rest of the A/C
SillyImportRacer wrote:
The front shock & spring bushings are worn out or splitting.
Bushings are overrated
SillyImportRacer wrote:
The left door is caved in.
Plunger might work. (no seriously)
My vote:
Keep it and enjoy it.
Cotton
Dork
10/30/12 3:43 p.m.
Ranger50 wrote:
It is exactly what I would expect out of a mid 70's to late 80's GM product. Most of the problems are just fixing some of the hacks. Some of the others are just elbow grease. The rest are the time consuming money intensive stuff you will never fix.
Keep it. Fix it. Enjoy it.
This is my vote too. Truck looks good even with the caved door.
Kenny_McCormic wrote:
Setting up a Q jet properly isnt hard.
this is the most true thing posted thus far.. there is no reason for a quadrajet to run rich unless it needs a rebuild- which is easy to do. a well tuned quadrajet on an Edelbrock 2101 intake is one easy path to happiness in a 5000 pound truck. assuming, of course, that the engine doesn't have a flat cam (which is common in those old small blocks) and that you don't have useless 3.08 gears that cause the engine to lug all the time (which is also common).
I will be keeping the truck.
I have a spare Qjet. I'll look into rebuilding it. I was under the impression that adapting a spread bore carb to a square bore manifold was a good way to screw up the air flow. Am I wrong?
Is there a "stop leak" type additive for the transmission and transfer case?
I'll do some degreasing later this morning.
SWMBO has some stuff she wants me to get rid of Friday. So, I can't dig to deep this time home.
BTW, dose anyone want a free queen size, soft sided, limited motion waterbed? Local delivery may be an option.
New seals will take care of the transfer case leaks, pretty easy to do, at least on the 83 I had (205 NP transfer case).
The carb adapter isn't ideal, but many have done it without killing mpgs. You should be able to get decent mileage, about 15 mpg pretty easy. Qjet will help with this.
Body parts are ridiculously cheap for those trucks and there are plenty in the junkyards to get parts from as well. Heck, I have a complete LH longbed bedside if you need one, won't work on my truck (it is a dually).
