K2500 work truck

[Brothajack93]

This is the gem I found just an hour away and will be picking up here soon. She’s a 97 k2500 with no engine, 4l80e/np241 and 14 bolt, 8 lug with 4.10 gears. Once I get it home I plan to start by dropping the trans/t-case and rebuilding/upgrading them. Once those are done I’ll probably source an engine to start rebuilding and do the rear axle first thing in the spring so I don’t have to dig it out of the snow to get at it. I will be doing the rag joint delete while I have a nice open engine bay to make that a little easier before I put the engine in. Gonna want to clean up the frame and patch/paint before things go back together anyway

 

[Dusty Parks]

That’s gonna be a nice project.

 

[RichLo]

Cool project! Are you going to put a factory 454 back in it? or do you have other plans already?

 

[Brothajack93]

Cool project! Are you going to put a factory 454 back in it? or do you have other plans already?

Ironically enough this came from the factory with a cammed 350 for towing… as much as I would love a big block Chevy in a truck I own at some point in my life my wallet just won’t let me right now. Going to be a 6.0 that gives the low end torque them towing gears need! I pick it up today and will be starting my thread in the proper spot

 

[Brothajack93]

Well the moment has finally come! Barely scraped this tow together after the seller found the ownership last minute after we both considered it lost for good…. More money out of my pocket but less headache dealing with service Ontario. Thankful for friends in low places cause if not reconnecting with some of these guys from my younger days I wouldn’t have got hooked up with this tow that was every last dime I had. Happy to pay it. Gotta get it up on stands and remove the driveline to be rebuilt over winter before it gets too cold and I get too busy. Gonna be a rough winter but the reward I’ll receive come spring will be worth it (with a lot more work involved if course)
May I ask a moderator to move this thread to it’s appropriate member build threads category as I messed up by posting in the wrong place. Would rather not litter the platform everywhere. Easier to move the data than to add more if anyone can tag one that would be awesome!

 

[Brothajack93]

Well the moment has finally come! Barely scraped this tow together after the seller found the ownership last minute after we both considered it lost for good…. More money out of my pocket but less headache dealing with service Ontario. Thankful for friends in low places cause if not reconnecting with some of these guys from my younger days I wouldn’t have got hooked up with this tow that was every last dime I had. Happy to pay it. Gotta get it up on stands and remove the driveline to be rebuilt over winter before it gets too cold and I get too busy. Gonna be a rough winter but the reward I’ll receive come spring will be worth it (with a lot more work involved if course)
May I ask a moderator to move this thread to it’s appropriate member build threads category as I messed up by posting in the wrong place. Would rather not litter the platform everywhere. Easier to move the data than to add more if anyone can tag one that would be awesome!

@df2x4 i just realized I can find one online

 

[Brothajack93]

Let’s go! She’s coming to a much better place now. I’ll take good care of it and clean it up a bit and get it back on the road with wheels and gears turning again. Soon as she’s done a bit of work and earned me another set of wheels to suit my needs then she’s going to take a rest for a full clean up/upgrade. Won’t take long either with the market the way it is right now either. Everyone has a neglected truck that you can get good parts/scrap money for and I’d rather capitalize the market than suffer it. Update to come on the things I didn’t catch in the jungle it was living in for a while. Noticed a couple extra things when I was helping to rig it up. No sweat though drivetrain that’s left itself is well worth what I payed

 

[Brothajack93]

Well it was a bit of nightmare with delivery to where it was supposed to go but I got a chance to really go through it with some light, a hammer and a decent amount of time and I’m happy to say it’s not even as bad as I thought! Outer rocker on drivers side and bed are pretty much toast but I knew that already. Cab floors are fine as only the heat shield rotted, core support is questionable but I know where I can get one for cheap so I’ll just replace it. Only one that is upsetting is the front fuel tank crossmember… gonna have to start hitting up local salvage yards cause they’re ridiculously hard to find and expensive to get new ones online… pics will be taken my phone just died is all

 

[Brothajack93]

Hey guys apologies for my absence…. Too many excuses to list but I have not abandoned my project. Have even sourced a lot of parts to start building this beauty first thing in the spring. Have almost all interior panels needed for grey to medium neutral tan swap just can’t seem to find a headliner and roof/dome light panel for single cab to save my life, have door and rocker panel patches for it and the 6.0/4l80e is sourced pulled and half paid for through my new good friend in the Chevy truck salvage market here. Which brings me to my new focus and plan for this truck and that’s to be a salvage tow rig as I’ve found with my obsession and the struggle of the market here in general it to be a great way to contribute in a positive way to the market and make a little extra cash in a labour of love. Also a good opportunity to redefine the word salvage as a lot of guys (my friend included) have created a stigma that associates it too much with scrap. I want to save more and recondition original parts rather than only sell the stuff in the greatest of condition and scrap the rest. Also working on setting up a network of sourcing plastic interiors (especially dashes) to southern U.S suppliers and salvage guys and bringing back body panels. Wanted to try and set up an east to west network in Canada but it seems my friends and family out west have no interest and I don’t know many people from the east coast. Damn shame with the amazing shape and lower price of these trucks in Alberta compared to here. Right now I’m repairing a daily driver for certification I bought to get me by and help out my friend and mentor in the market more often as he lives an hour away. Also gives me the option of scoping vehicles closer to me so he doesn’t waste time and fuel with a 6.0 truck and trailer to see it’s far worse than described and not worth it or negotiable to be worth it. This guy has helped me out a lot for sourcing parts especially my donor truck so I do everything I can to help him. I would partner in his operation but we just don’t see eye to eye on the salvage vs scrap mindset so I’ll be going my own way while keeping him as a close connection and still keeping every bit of respect I have for him. So that’s the general update… it’s been rough for sure. Finances are getting scarce with this being the calmest winter I’ve seen in years and having storage issues and having to source somewhere to park my build after my friends neighbour decided to call the city on her giving me till the end of the month to find somewhere to park it till spring but I haven’t given up. In the meantime I’ll keep this thread going by introducing the sweet deal that I got and rescued from a desperate junkie and what I’m working on right now

 

[Brothajack93]

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This here is my ‘99 c1500 Sierra classic that I got for $720 nicknamed burgundy beauty by my “funny guy” old coworker (other truck is white lightning) will it pass body inspection unlike many of these trucks around here that cost more? Hell yes she will! Is she pretty? Well in my eyes she is cause she’s just my taste colour wise but needs some cosmetics when I am in a better position to do so. Is she another lame ecsb 2wd with a 305? Of course but I can’t have everything good for cheap and she’ll do for now as a daily driver and to scope trucks/make parts runs. She will get her own build thread when she gets the opportunity to be parked for full frame off restoration. In the meantime I’m just doing necessary repairs for safety inspection to get her on the road