Dave's 1977 Chevrolet K10 Truck
My Truck
The truck contemplating its next move
This machine has been an ongoing project for 8 years as of this writing. It has an 8" lift, 35" BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KO tires, and the entire locomotive portion of the vehicle (from the engine to the wheels) is pretty much brand new.
After throwing thousands of dollars at it, I still have a driveline vibration problem at certain highway speeds. I've had a hard time convincing people that this is a problem. It is not in my imagination as it eventually loosens the U-joints on the rear drive shaft. Because of this, I hate taking it on the highway, which limits its usefulness.
If I ever manage to work up the desire to shell out some more cash, I may pay to have some experts put it on a dyno and attempt to locate the exact source of the problem. If the vibration were to go away, I would be one happy guy.
Things ruled out so far in the search for the vibration:
- Transmission - replaced
- Transfer case - replaced
- Drive shaft - replaced
- U-joints - replaced
- Differential - checked
- Angle of rear u-joint - altered with shims*
*Though I generally think of the people who did the shims as serious pros, I still believe this is the source of the problem. My readings on the subject seem to back up that theory. If you have any ideas, by all means let me know!
Engine
350 Goodwrench Crate Engine
Goodwrench 10067353 350 "Universal" crate long block. I bought this engine brand new when the previous one reached the end of its life and started knocking.
| Displacement | 350 cubic inches |
| Bore | 4.00" |
| Stroke | 3.47" |
| Compression Ratio | 8.5:1 |
| Estimated HP | 250 HP |
| Estimated Torque | 350 ft. lbs at 3600 rpm |
| Block | Part #10066034 Casting #10066036 |
| Main Bearings | 4-Bolt mains, 2-piece rear main seal |
| Crankshaft | Part #3932444 |
| Flywheel Bolt Pattern | Nodular Iron 1985 and older |
| Connecting Rods | Powdered metal (Part #10108688) |
| Pistons | Cast Aluminum (Part #12514101) |
| Oil Pump | G.M. High Volume Pump (Part #12555284) |
| Camshaft | Low End Torque Oriented Hydralic Flat Tappet w/fuel lobe (Part #14088839) |
| Intake Lift | .383" |
| Exhaust Lift | .401" |
| Intake Duration | 194 at .050" |
| Exhaust Duration | 202 at .050" |
| Lobe Seperation | 112 |
| Cylinder Heads* | Part #14034808, Casting #33417369 1.94" Intake valve, 1.50" Exhaust Valve 76cc Combustion Chamber |
| Exhaust Flange | 7 Bolt Standard |
| Intake Manifold Type | Pre-1986 Bolt Pattern |
| Valve Covers | Perimeter bolt style |
*PaceParts.com notes that these cylinder heads are "very similar to the old #882 castings from the 1970's
Carburetor
Performer 1400.
Edelbrocks Performer 1400 Carburetor. From the promotional material: "Performer carburetors feature two-piece, all-aluminum construction for cooler operating temperatures and less warping. There are no gaskets below the fuel bowl level for fewer leaks, and no plastic parts or power valves to blow out. The carbs use easily changed metering rods for precise tuning, and the primary venturi booster is a bottom-feed design for smoother acceleration and better drivability."
Purchased this through Summit. I am very happy with their service.
| Number of Barrels | 4 |
| Carburetor Flange | Square bore |
| Choke | Electric |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Secondary Type | Air valve |
| Fuel Inlet | Single |
| CFM | 600 |
| Throttle Linkage Type | Universal |
Intake Manifold
Edelbrock Performer 2101
Edelbrock Performer 2101. From the promotional material: "Edelbrock Performer intake manifolds are low-rise, dual-plane designs with patented runner tuning and a 180 degree firing order you won't find with the competition. This combination boosts torque over a wide rpm range, from idle to 5,500 rpm."
As with the carburetor, this was purchased new through Summit.
| Engine Block Style | Stock/OEM standard deck |
| Intake Style | Dual plane |
| Basic Operating RPM Range | Idle-5,500 |
| EGR | No |
Transmission
Hydramatic TH350
Rebuilt GM Hydramatic TH350 Automatic Transmission. This was the first thing I replaced on the truck. That makes it the oldest part in the drivetrain!
| Type | Automatic |
| Gears | 3 |
| 1st Gear Ratio | 2.52 |
| 2nd Gear Ratio | 1.52 |
| 3rd Gear Ratio | 1.00 |
Transfer Case
NP205
New Process NP205. Bought this on eBay to replace the NP207 chain-drive case that came with my truck. I also replaced the drive shaft to accomodate the different length (and perhaps different output spline? I can't remember.)
| Type | Part-Time, Gear-Driven |
| Low Gear Ratio | 1.98 |
| High Gear Ratio | 1.00 |
Misc Part Reference
Here are some random replacement fluids and parts for the truck.
| Part Type | Replacement Part |
|---|---|
| Balancer | 6" or 8" 2:00 timing mark |
| Spark Plugs | AC Delco R45TS gapped at .045" |
| Oil Filter | PF25, PF35, PF1218, or PF35L |
| Oil | Generally 10W30 or 10W40 |