1969 Chevrolet CST10: Part Deux

[texan_idiot25]

The gist of the build so far for those who are new to the site:

Bought it in the beginning of 2007 for $500 bucks, and a week later dragged it home and parked it. For two years it's home was my dad's drive way. So long so that it is on google maps and street view Late that year, I had found an engine and transmission for $750, a 'rebuilt' small block 350, and a rebuilt TH350 trans. Paid for it friday, painted it saturday morning, and it was running by that evening. That Christmas broght a slew of parts to get the drivetrain fairly finished. Over the course of the next year though, not much happened. I had a second car, the SlowBird, and was just trying to save money. But, when it came down to it, I had one choice. Sold the Firebird for 2 grand, and went to work for the 2 week xmas break to get'r'done. With a 2 grand budget it was just enough to get things done. Disk brakes parts from a 73-87 C10 "heavy halfton" were used including the spindles, calipers, ball joints, and brake lines to convert the front from drums to disks. The disks are custom made 6 lug versions. This was the most taxing part of the build, 40 year old truck suspension was nothing but trouble to take apart. And I now hate any suspension work to this degree. It was also dropped initally 3in front and 5 rear, but the rear was raised to a 3in drop for some axle clearence (this is still a truck, and it still works like one) Then attention was paid to finishing everything under hood. Engine wiring, various fuel and coolant lines were done properly. New accessory fuse block and wiring were added to keep the new things we added out of the stock harnes. The gauge cluster was painted, rebuilt, and added an '05 Cadillac Escalade clock. All of the garbage wiring done to the truck was redone and the electrics of the truck restored. Interior consists of 1st gen S10 seat belts, and 08 Silverado seats, with welded supports for all new bolt holes. New radio and speakers were added, apart of the new wiring process. Head lights were in finally, and the truck began to look like a truck for the 1st time! Every day from the moment I woke up til I went to sleep was spent on it during those two weeks. And by the end of the brake, I took it for it's first drive. Just a little run to burnish in the brakes and get a little test run in. It needed some odds and ends done, but on Febuary 5th, 2009, tag inspected and taxed, I drove it home and the CST10 was a road worthy machine. Not with out a few quirks, but as to be expected. Currently awaiting body work and a cab swap, and of course, mo' speed. Currently my daily driver with several thousands of miles put on since last febuary. A total joy to drive, and a unique experience with other people make this one of the best experiene/decisions/money pits of my life so far.

The newyears started rather well. A quick scare of crank bearing failure turned out to be a timing problem (the rattling of detonation sounds like a bit like a spun bearing..), but other than that, not bad. New dash pad installed, and gauge bezel. The dash is now done!

The Dash Pad


Gauges

Now it's blingin' inside!

Drive drive drive, come last thursday night, a hidious grinding appears. It's like rocks being chewed up by the rear end. But for the life of me I couldn't figure it out while driving. Not the diff, it drives fine. Lugs are all tight... Drive shaft has no play... Trans shifts fine. It hits again, and once more, nothing appears wrong. I get home, double check everything, nothing's apparently wrong, and goto bed. Next morning, drive into work, no problem. Birthday night, on the way out into Houston for some shenanigans, and the violent rock crushing sound reappears, this time with much more frequency. Enough to make the truck pull left when it grinds... WHEEL BEARING SHYTE!

In theory, a wheel bearing on these older axles is a pretty **** simple job. Pull diff cover, unscrew the lock screw for the spider gears' shaft, remove shaft spider gears, pull axle clips, slide axles out, and knock out bearings.

So, get to the diff... Look for the lock screw... ****.



It's been broken off, and someone has already tried drilling it out. Sonuva*****! The entire axle is locked together by this simple screw. So in effect, my uber badass indestructable Dana 60 is scrap iron due to a $15 wheel bearing and a broken screw. Not to mention it's one of the rarest axles on this generation of truck, the 6-lug Dana 60.

Having no choice, after breaking more drill bits and even stripping out easy out bits (it's a hardened steel screw I might add), I have no choice but to pick up another axle.

On to the GM Coporate 12 bolt! One of the strongest GM axles at the time, but no where near as beefy as the Dana 60 (Once I pull the 60, you'll see). Thankfully it's in **** solid shape inside, and came apart with no problem... Besides that the bolt that holds in the spider gear shaft also was broken! But, it was sheared at a 45* angle, so it was able to thread out almost all of the way, and I was able to get it out.


Perfect fit in the back of the Jimmy!


FUUUUUUUUUU- One of those times where it would be nice to have a cop light and siren.


And the new GM 12 bolt, 3.73 open diff axle. It's not all bad, I was wanting to put 3.73s into the truck later anyways to help with freeway cruising (80% of my driving where I live), and it's an excellent balance of power and economy, even better when I swap in an OD trans later on.


Nice and clean, even if it isn't as monsterous as the Dana 60, it'll get any job done I'll ever need.


And in under 30 minutes I had both axles out, and both axle bearings out. See how god **** easy this would have been if someone else hadn't ****ed up their job when they replaced the ring and pinion on my axle?

Oh well, the surprises you find in a 40 year old truck. The plan is to keep the D60 around and tinker with it. It's the OG axle and a very rare one for the 60-72 Chevy/GMC trucks, so it has some value compared to your dime-a-dozen GM axle. Maybe one day I'll have the heart to just torch it apart, but don't have the time or tools for that now.

Tomorrow it's suppose to rain sleet and be generally ****ty, so I'll rebuild the axle and paint it, and hopefully friday swap them out.

Maybe now my speedometer will count right too!