1984 K15 rebuild

[dalaigh]

Well, I sold my old K20 last week and picked up an 84 GMC K15 shortly after. I loved having a lifted truck, but I wanted something more practical and efficient, so here we are.
With this new truck I plan on building a reliable, practical, and efficient truck that I can drive everyday on the road, but still be capable of going off road.
It has a rebuilt 305, that I will be keeping till it needs a rebuild again. The transmission is a 700r4, backed by a np208 transfer case. I'm going to do some floor work and replace the doors, fenders and inner fenders. Then paint it Copper Brown Metallic and tan, in a factory two tone paint scheme. I'm not going to lift this truck, just going to put 32" or 33" tires on a set of 8" rallys, and a set of 31" tires on a set of 6.5" rims. When I'm done I want this truck to look original and solid.
Heres a pic of what I sold, most would think I'm crazy, but I'm just tired of having a lifted work truck.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/4/566/3249/38914124024_large.jpg
And here is the new project
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/69/87/15629678_large.jpg
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/69/58/15629685_large.jpg
It's overall in good shape, but it needs some floor work and sills. The box is rust free, I got two solid doors, an extra tailgate, and extra hood.
In the last week I pulled up the old patch panels on the floors, and removed the right fender and inner fender. I had to put some penetration fluid on the left fender bolts for the night, will be getting that tomorrow. Also picking up a new floor pan, going to start the rebuild tomorrow or the next day, depends if it rains. Doing this in the driveway, garage isn't big enough.
Heres the progress I've managed
http://carphotos2.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/01/15634710_large.jpg
http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/11/15634711_large.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/21/15634712_large.jpg
with out the patch
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/39/17/15639371_large.jpg
http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/39/27/15639372_large.jpg
old patch panels
http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/39/08/15639380_large.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/30/15646503_large.jpg
This was the only bad part of the cowl. Once I get the drivers fender and inner fender off I'm hoping it looks like the passenger side.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/40/15646504_large.jpg
Most of the cab is in good shape as you can see
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/50/15646505_large.jpg
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/60/15646506_large.jpg
http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/61/15646516_large.jpg
http://carphotos2.cardomain.com/images/0015/56/71/15646517_large.jpg

[c.diesel26]

Bring an ol 84 back to life is what I like to see!! My original plan was to find an older K-5 or K-10 to fix up but my welding abilities are not quite up there haha. But its good to see someone is trying to bring the old heavy chevys back to life!

[dalaigh]

Just a little update. I took a job that takes me out of town for two weeks at a time, the I'm only home for ten days in between each shift. So, in the interest of keeping this project going I've decide to call around to a few body shops when I get home and have one of then do the body work while I'm away. That way when I come home on those short breaks I can concentrate on every thing else. I've also started collecting parts for the interior and under the hood. I'm planning a pretty stock and clean interior with just a few billet pieces, and the same under the hood.

[dalaigh]

Well, I'm home for the week and have been too busy around the house to do any work on the truck, which is ok. I'm current saving up some cash, so when I get back at it, I won't run out. Anyway I had some free time this morning, and decided to pay the local Chevy dealer a visit. I got them to print out the option list for my trucks vin, because I've seriously been thinking of doing a factory rest on the truck back to the day it rolled off the assembly line. I have already decoded the vin and know it was built in Canada at the Oshawa plant, has a gvwr of 6001-7000, and is a factory 5.0ltr (305). But I wanted to know what RPO codes were assigned to the truck so, if this is the route I go, I can rest it to original condition.

Any way here are some of the key codes. Some I were happy to see as well.
17U = Exterior colour - Light stale metallic (if anyone has pictures of that I' like to see them)
23A = accent stripe - dark blue, light slate metallic (is this just pin striping or does this mean it was two toned once)
23I = Blue inerior
B85 + B96 = Belt molding and wheel opening trim (bright)
BS4 = Back of cab insulation
BY1 = Ornamentation, exterior, body emblem (is this the hood emblem?)
F51 = heavy duty shocks
F60 = heavy duty springs front (would this be part of a snow plow package back then?)
G80 = we all know what that is (happy to see it, but I still might replace it with an aftermarket unit, unsure yet)
GU6 = 3.42 gears (I'm happy with that one, good all around gear for highway driving with some tow-a-bility)
MX0 = overdrive transmission ( glad thats factory cause its stain regardless)
N33 = tilt steering column
N67 = Rally wheels
NL2 = auxiliary fuel tank (this truck is missing its passenger side tank, however the bx has a door and the aux parts are still there, just no tank)
NY7 = transfer case shield
TT5 = which I am assuming is a quad headlight set up
V01 +V02 = heavy duty radiator with heavy duty tranny cooler
V76 = front tow hooks
Z53 = Gauge package (this is the one spot I'm changing regardless, It's getting a tach Gauge set)
Z62 = Scottsdale/SLX decor

Thats not all of them, just the ones I thought were good to see on the spid. There wasn't a lot, but enough that I don't want to type them all out.

[dalaigh]

Some updates...
I pulled the wiring harness out of the core support to get it ready to be removed. I also removed the last of the original interior trim and started to remove the unnecessary wiring previous owners installed. Some pretty shotty upgrades.
I also started looking over the complete tan interior I got for the truck. I'm going to have to clean up and paint some of the pieces, but it's in overall good shape.

http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/36/15734763_large.jpg
Just some labels for memory.
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/16/15734761_large.jpg
I couldn't figure out what this was, but finally found an old tach under the dash that it went to. Going to leave it there till I need to run my new tach wire for the factory tach.
http://carphotos2.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/95/15734759_large.jpg
Took this pic so I can remember where everything goes. I don't need it to work, but Canadian emission laws require it be there. Stupid if you ask me.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/65/15734756_large.jpg
Found this in a local salvage yard, when I was looking for the coloured filaments for my dash, got it cleaned up and working so I'm going to see about putting it in my dash
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/55/15734755_large.jpg
Heres the new dash cleaned up and painted white on the inside to help brighten it up.
http://carphotos2.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/45/15734754_large.jpg
Found this with the clock so I picked it up to, it's solid but needs paint.
http://carphotos2.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/05/15734750_large.jpg
Heres my complete tan interior and brown dash. The dash has three cracks but I'm going to cover it with carpet, so I'm not worried right now.
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/94/15734749_large.jpg
http://carphotos4.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/74/15734747_large.jpg
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/64/15734746_large.jpg
And this is the dash insert for a clock dash, I painted the back white, so I can use it the new tach dash.
http://carphotos3.cardomain.com/images/0015/74/84/15734748_large.jpg


I'm going through the engine bay right now looking at what I can do to clean up the wiring and vac. hoses. I'm hoping to clean it up.