1985 chevy Custom deluxe k30 restoration

[LFR]

So here we go. Got room in the shop to pull the thing in. First get the bumper then box then gas tanks and move up the truck

[dag1450]

Oh no!.....Lorin must have got some tools....or truck parts for Christmas I would say good thing u have that excavator to lift but if i remember two strong people can lift a bed. Although yours is really half a bed......whats left! Good job. Dave

[LFR]

Yeah Dave, it's a short box. Borrowing pops excavator to remove it. I cut bumper bolts today and also to out the tail lamp bezels. here we go

[Oldskull]

This gone be a long journey but as long it make your boys team learning and sharing with their dad, it worth every single penny

Stay focus on your budget is the hard part...

One of the rarest Scottsdale, The Sno chaser sold for $10,900 take a look:
http://www.grautogallery.com/vehicles/2 ... Scottsdale

[LFR]

Wow what a truck. I am working on mine all day today trying to get the bumper off. Then wiring and the fuel system and the box will come off

[dag1450]

Sounds good. I remember those bumper bolts on my Ford where real trouble.....that was before i had a torch, and much experience with rust. Before i got my first pick up the only thing i ever worked on was bicycles and dirt bikes....getting under my 80 F-150 truck with miner rust was a real eye opener to me. Man did i learn a LOT!! Keep the pics coming! Dave

[Oldskull]

Wow what a truck. I am working on mine all day today trying to get the bumper off. Then wiring and the fuel system and the box will come off

Post that just to give you some inspiration

Best loose nut I ever try is a home brew 50% Acetone + 50% ATF mix, nothing better out there but if it's frozen solid , heat/cold water trick or cut them with what ever tool fit the bill! I personally like my little ESAB plasma wen space permitted of course

[LFR]

Yep well I got that bumper off and seeing all the rust made me go get my best friends refilled at Michigan air gas. Haven't used acetylene in a year or so. When I was trying to remove the Cubs axle bushing. Can't wait to rip the box off this sucker

[LFR]

Forgot to mention that it was 156$ to refill both tanks. What a cost.

[LFR]

Today's pros and cons. Pros are I got a lot off the truck today and basically have the bed stripped clean with lack of wiring undone. The cons first thing is that the first 2 inches of the frame are rotted out. So it's not looking good for my truck. I am going to go to a junk yard and find the first 5 inches of frame and weld it to the solid part of my frame. Second I think that I should just twist off my bolts that attach my bed. There rusted tight! Finally. I just want to say that I know I am speaking for all of the guys up here in the salt belt. Especially Michigan. You boys down south think that you got a little bit of rust on your truck.( I'm laughing typing this) what a joke. You guys are respected. But I just would love to see you guys take a thing that has gone on our roads and try to restore down south. Because no amount of elbow grease lacking a cutting torch you do you a bit of good. Not saying you guys are bad mechanics cause you all got experience on me and are better. But this truck is got some rust. And I would love to see you take one apart. It's every single time ou pound on something more rust bounces off the frame. You could sweep it off haha. Hey my question is what do you guys use for frame coating. I don't care how expensive it is I just want to to be tough as nails in salt. I have heard of por-15 and other like coatings like chassis saver. Anyone got a review of sort son what they think is good and bad

[dag1450]

Wow Lorin....If i would say it sounds like a big job....i know that would b an understatement ! I can tell u like to get your hands dirty and r not afraid of hard work. My in laws live in New York state about 2hrs east of Buffalo. They have lots of dirt roads up there and they use salt water on the roads. So that said, i have seen cars and trucks like yours, its not pretty!! Since u started the pros and cons list.....maybe u should make a list of qualities about the truck that r GOOD and a list of BAD. Like i said on one of your other threads, u may want to look for another truck to swap parts back and forth. My fear is u r heading down a long road with maybe no end......! Im speaking from experience..... U could use the best of the best in rust protection paint and coatings and it still will back very quickly when its rusted like yours. When the frame is rusted sometimes all the patches in the world wont work cause the inside is just as bad....and most times worse. When every single: nut, bolt, screw, hose, frame, body panel r loaded with rust it might be time to look for something else with a little more life left in er. Trust me... im not tiring to rain on your truck show......i just hate to see u spin your wheels and spend your money on such an UPHILL BATTLE!

No hard feelings i hope. Dave

[SWilliams]

The problem with rust is that you have to kill it all or it just comes right back. What I have done before is to strip the frame bare (or as close as possible). Now blast it clean. At the joints brush on some Evapo-rust. Let it work. Then wash the frame real well. Now to stop the rust. Go to the hardware store and grab a couple beeswax toilet rings and a gallon of bar&chain oil. A cheap pot and brushes. Melt the rings and stir in the oil until you get a mix that is liquid when hot.
Now to the fun part. Use a heat gun to heat the seam area, This will dry the Evapo-rust and then brush on the mix. The heat will draw it into the seam. When it cools it will harden some and block air/moisture from getting in. You can brush the entire frame with it as well. It bonds to the steel and seals it. Or you can just do the seams and spray the frame with chassis saver.

I also use the mix inside doors, fenders and any other location there are seams. If you use some heat on the seams first it draws in and really stops rust.

(That mix is a less smelly version of WaxOyl )

[LFR]

I think that Dave and mr Williams have a point. What I am going to do is keep working on my truck, but let me finish my statement. I will work on the truck I currently have. But if it gets to the point that there is just no way to save her or its next to impossible. I'll buy another sq body and use the parts off my truck and put them on a new truck. Like the 4wd front axle and the alternator that's been rebuilt and swap it. Dave your right that there not much left of her. But I'm going to try and get her on the road again. She only has 47000 on her and the plow has 2500 miles on it. That all. Po said that he put 5000 on the truck in 25 years and I want a truck that I can say look where it started and look where she is now.I hope I'm right about this. When it's done it will look really great. I'm trying to keep on the positive note. What a trip

[Tom Scott]

Lorin - It is your time and money, so the right decision is the one that is right for you. That being said and out of the way...

I am throwing another vote in to find a truck in better shape. People that restore cars to flip and make money always look for one that has the least rust, because rust is time consuming and expensive. Cutting pieces out of a frame and replacing requires a lot of fabrication work and attention to accuracy. Every thing you touch will need more work. You will likely find that it is worse than you feared as you dig deeper. In the long run, I believe you will spend a lot less to find one in better shape. I would be perusing craigslist in your own area and south of where you are. If you find the right vehicle it will be worth a days drive (or two!) to go get it. You will likely find cheaper vehicles in better shape if you are willing to drive south to get it.

If your engine is in really good shape in this one, maybe you can find one with a bad or tired engine but good body. Just swapping an engine over is easy compared to the rust.

Again, just an opinion. I wish you well with whatever path you take!

[LFR]

Well took your guys opinion and found a supposedly rolling chassis with a 90% rust free body. It's 2 hrs away in Cadillac Michigan. And I also found rust free doors so I can replace those. I'm going next weekend to look at it

[dag1450]

Wow.....Good deal on sniffing something out so quick.lol I know it will seem like a lot of work buying transporting and swapping parts.......cause it is lots of work, but i think of it as fun work and hopefully easier than "rust" work. Pics needed right away Dave

[LFR]

I will, thanks Dave. I want to if I pull the motor paint it mopar hemi Orange lol just to pee off chevy guys

[LFR]

Here's what I came home with.

[dag1450]

What happened? Other truck had more rust than yours Dave

[LFR]

Nope. It was a mud truck. With 43s and a parts truck too! I still got 2 doors for 100 bucks with all the fixings. Didn't make out to bad

[LFR]

Hey everyone here's to February! And the truck

[dag1450]

Looks like u r making progress. How did u tackle the bed bolts ....torch, sawzall, or good old nut cracker? Cause i doubt u were able to spin the nuts off..... Dave

[LFR]

Believe it or not the first 2 broke loose then I just cut the last 6 with grinder not to hard

[LFR]

Well I got engine parts and a door switched to manual stuff. I picked up 2 fenders an a bumper with hardware for 85$ I say that's slick. It's april

[dag1450]

Cool! Next time please install the photo the right way!! My neck is already hurting and this did not help the matter. Dave

[LFR]

Sorry Dave the fenders are the wrong way. But if ya see the truck is like it should be and I have the fenders leaning against the wagon. I will have to get some more pics tomorrow and stuff. Thanks though. Things are coming together

[daraabi]

Sweet truck! Keep it up! Lets just say 1986 was a good year...

[LFR]

Oh someone has a nice truck haha here's to May and progress

[LFR]

The new truck i just bought. 1985 k30 trucking used my other truck as a down payment the guy wanted it and I keep my hood,tailgate, fenders, and doors you guys are going to love it. It has 40,000 miles on a newer gm good wrench 350 crate motor. 4 speed stuck shift

[dag1450]

cool! Is it a dump?.......if yes then Very cool! What plans do u have for this? work truck, play truck, show truck? Dave