My 1973 K10 Chevy Cheyenne

[ColoJeep]

Question for you folks:

I'm really wanting to swap a manual transmission in this thing. I suspect since it's a column mount shifter I'd have to cut a hole in the floor as well as get a clutch pedal and a few other things. I need to figure out what I need and price it out to see if it's worth it or not.

Let me ask you this though, if I did do a manual swap, what transmission would you install?

It all depends on what you want out of it. You could get parts fairly easy for a CH-465 swap and with a NP-205 T/C it's all factory. However I don't see your truck being use for hard work where the CH-465 shines. You will probably need a "high hump " floor pan for clearance . A TR-4050 would be a good choice , but I have no personal experience , so take it with a grain of salt. I would likely go down the NP-440 rabbit hole given enough time and money .
Lots of cool Tremec 5 spds. for 2 wheel drives that can be quick shifted , however they don't have the same feel of making wide open throttle shifts a Muncie M -21 or M - 22 4 speed with a Hurst Comp - plus shifter !

 

[Chris]

It all depends on what you want out of it. You could get parts fairly easy for a CH-465 swap and with a NP-205 T/C it's all factory. However I don't see your truck being use for hard work where the CH-465 shines. You will probably need a "high hump " floor pan for clearance . A TR-4050 would be a good choice , but I have no personal experience , so take it with a grain of salt. I would likely go down the NP-440 rabbit hole given enough time and money .
Lots of cool Tremec 5 spds. for 2 wheel drives that can be quick shifted , however they don't have the same feel of making wide open throttle shifts a Muncie M -21 or M - 22 4 speed with a Hurst Comp - plus shifter !

Now you see where I'm at. So many options it's hard to even start to think.

A 5-speed would be cool. The truck won't be used for hard work.

Didn't think about the floor pan for clearance. If too much is required in order to do the swap I'll probably just skip it.

Need to figure out why the torque convertor lockup switch doesn't seem to lock the torque convertor. I was trying it today at 70 mph and I didn't hear (or see) the RPMs drop at all when I engaged it.

 

[ColoJeep]

Now you see where I'm at. So many options it's hard to even start to think.

A 5-speed would be cool. The truck won't be used for hard work.

Didn't think about the floor pan for clearance. If too much is required in order to do the swap I'll probably just skip it.

Need to figure out why the torque convertor lockup switch doesn't seem to lock the torque convertor. I was trying it today at 70 mph and I didn't hear (or see) the RPMs drop at all when I engaged it.

I've never had a 700R -4 , I got nothing.

 

[StG58]

Did someone made a custom externally balanced flywheel for this truck ? Factory 400 SBC were only with automatic transmissions .
A 400 SBC is a torque beast.

I can't answer that. It had the 400 SB in it when I got it. Never did the clutch, so I was never in the bell housing. I did replace the harmonic balancer, it was some weird, hard to get thing from the local GM parts dealer.

The truck was originally owned by a logging equipment mechanic up in Mollala. Who knows.

 

[ColoJeep]

I can't answer that. It had the 400 SB in it when I got it. Never did the clutch, so I was never in the bell housing. I did replace the harmonic balancer, it was some weird, hard to get thing from the local GM parts dealer.

The truck was originally owned by a logging equipment mechanic up in Mollala. Who knows.

The torsional damper was different 350 vs. 400 so that makes sense . Maybe the mechanic custom built the flywheel.

 

[StG58]

The torsional damper was different 350 vs. 400 so that makes sense . Maybe the mechanic custom built the flywheel.

If I remember correctly, NAPA and Rock Auto carried correctly balanced flywheels, and I think that someone made an adapter weight that bolted between the flywheel and the crank.

My 400 SB in the '72 Vega was internally balanced when I built it. I'm actually a fan of that engine, siamese bores and all.

We're hijacking Chris's thread...

 

[ColoJeep]

If I remember correctly, NAPA and Rock Auto carried correctly balanced flywheels, and I think that someone made an adapter weight that bolted between the flywheel and the crank.

My 400 SB in the '72 Vega was internally balanced when I built it. I'm actually a fan of that engine, siamese bores and all.

We're hijacking Chris's thread...

400 SBC are stout and can make big power , just not as long as a 350. Sorry Chris !

 

[Rickyd]

400 SBC are stout and can make big power , just not as long as a 350. Sorry Chris !

I think that 396 motor of his is a 383 with .010 more stroke? The specs look pretty roudy

 

[ColoJeep]

I think that 396 motor of his is a 383 with .010 more stroke? The specs look pretty roudy

It is ! , longer stroke but stock 4.00 350 bore. actual displacement works out to 389 c.i.d. but it would rock a light shorty K-10 !

 

[Chris]

Okay, so maybe one of you Chevy guys knows the answer to this.

The truck has power steering but it's a bit "flighty" (for lack of a better word) at higher speeds. It feels sloppy, not very precise, and the faster you go the more sketchy it feels.

I would like to upgrade the steering in such a way that it feels more modern. I'm guessing that the solution to this is a better power steering pump.

I found this one:
https://squarebodysyndicate.com/products/performance-quick-ratio-chevy-k10-power-steering-box

Not sure if that's what I need. Maybe I need to ask around the Chevy forums but I figured I'd pick your guys brains first!

 

[ColoJeep]

Okay, so maybe one of you Chevy guys knows the answer to this.

The truck has power steering but it's a bit "flighty" (for lack of a better word) at higher speeds. It feels sloppy, not very precise, and the faster you go the more sketchy it feels.

I would like to upgrade the steering in such a way that it feels more modern. I'm guessing that the solution to this is a better power steering pump.

I found this one:
https://squarebodysyndicate.com/products/performance-quick-ratio-chevy-k10-power-steering-box

Not sure if that's what I need. Maybe I need to ask around the Chevy forums but I figured I'd pick your guys brains first!

Have you checked the basics ? , Dry wiggle etc ? 73 and up Chevy's had variable ratio power steering . None of our square body's would feel flighty.
I would check things over real well first , My opinion is a faster ratio box in a short wheelbase K-10 might make it " Flightier " .

 

[Chris]

Have you checked the basics ? , Dry wiggle etc ? 73 and up Chevy's had variable ratio power steering . None of our square body's would feel flighty.
I would check things over real well first , My opinion is a faster ratio box in a short wheelbase K-10 might make it " Flightier " .

I'll do a dry steering test and see if I notice anything.

That makes sense about the faster ratio.

Around town you don't really notice it. It's on the backroads here where the speeds are 70-80 MPH where you really notice it.

 

[ColoJeep]

I'll do a dry steering test and see if I notice anything.

That makes sense about the faster ratio.

Around town you don't really notice it. It's on the backroads here where the speeds are 70-80 MPH where you really notice it.

The sector box itself could be worn or have a bad lower bearing , but it's pretty rare with a Saginaw box . Also tire pressure and wheel offset can make things feel weird . You might bump the pressure up and test drive .

 

[Chris]

The sector box itself could be worn or have a bad lower bearing , but it's pretty rare with a Saginaw box . Also tire pressure and wheel offset can make things feel weird . You might bump the pressure up and test drive .

Suppose I ought to check the ball joints and wheel bearing adjustment too just to be safe.

 

[Rickyd]

Have you checked the basics ? , Dry wiggle etc ? 73 and up Chevy's had variable ratio power steering . None of our square body's would feel flighty.
I would check things over real well first , My opinion is a faster ratio box in a short wheelbase K-10 might make it " Flightier " .

Yep,maybe a new standard ratio box,nothing worn out and make sure it has enough caster. Good call on the wheels too. 10" wide? But more caster can help there

 

[Chris]

 

[ColoJeep]

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Really a sharp K -10 ! Now I'm going to ask for a peak under the hood cause I'm a gearhead ! Thanks Chris !

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Whoa - perfect truck for your place, Chris. Vert cool.

 

[Chris]

Really a sharp K -10 ! Now I'm going to ask for a peak under the hood cause I'm a gearhead ! Thanks Chris !

I've still got the photos that Streetside took (I bought it from them on consignment):

 

[Chris]

As you can see, it's got factory A/C including a period correct compressor.

I've got to figure the A/C out though. It blows cold, but not likely as cold as it should. It might have a leak or something somewhere, I'm not sure.