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1978 K-30 single wheel questions.

Vombrown

Vombrown

Mountain Man
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Great Falls mt
I have been in a tizzy chasing down missing packages sent via UPS for the last three days. Made a stop by a farm that has a 78 K-30 sitting next to a barn I have seen many times there. I was completely pissed off and wanted a little stress reliever so I stopped at the farm to talk to the owner.

Truck has been sitting for at least five years and isn't in that great of condition but it is a K-30. Rusty fenders, solid cab, dented doors. Flatbed on the back for a single wheel truck. Dana 60/ not sure wether the rear is a Dana or 14 bolt. I didn't even look. 350/4 speed/ np205.... No idea if it runs, owner says it did when parked there.

First off, how rare are these trucks really, honestly....?
Farmers wife wants me to make a fair offer on it, owner passed away four years ago.
wife says her husband was very proud of the truck as it was really rare. I don't see them every day but I don't think it is rare.
Any idea on value? I didn't take any pics but use your imagination. Decent beater truck.
I have a number in mind but I know there has been a resurgence in favor with these trucks lately and I don't want to lowball the lady but I would like to own the truck. Help me out here guys.
 
I got mine almost the same condition over 10 years ago but it was a drw truck . needed front diff rebuilt . rusted out body . hole in gas tank .

I did hook up a batt and drip some gas down past the carb and she popped off . put a tank on it and she ran fine .

I paid 500 bucks for it . I wound up doing a body swap . but she has lasted me for years . I also had a spare dana 60 with same gear set ratio I just swapped over .
 
There was something odd about the front seat arrangement in the truck. Wife said it was put in the truck the first season it was brought home, they are the original owners. Purchased a bucket seat combo unit from "Sears and Roebuck" that was a custom fit for it new. Seat backs look like a Camaro or something with a console in the middle. Kind of a cool looking thing but it's nearly in rags now. Center console is like a dodge, flips up to make a third seat. Never seen anything like it, wish I had a way to take pictures of it. No modifications to fit it in, it was a direct replacement for the truck.
 
Round headlight k30s started in 77. Pretty cool to have the first of them but a 79 isn't all that interesting really. Just unusual.
 
The K20 3/4 ton versions in this era seemed to be more common by far, at least in my experience. Grew up in a farming community and just about every farmer around had a late-70's Chevy 4wd truck.....swear there would be a dozen of them lined up in front of the coffee house every morning. It was pretty rare to see SRW 4wd K30 and only remember one out of the dozen or so local farmers with one. They actually still have it today and is pretty solid but you don't see it much, just periodically pulling a wagon in the field or something.

So back to the question about being rare......don't think they are really considered a rare vehicle but not nearly as common as either a K10 or K20. Not really anything that unique about a K30 other than the D60 front axle and maybe heavier springs.

Years ago I paid $750 for a very similar truck as described by the OP. It was a '77 with a 350, SM465/NP205 case that had sat on a farm for years. The body was completely shot but it was driveable and I drove it on the trailer. I had been shopping for a D60 for a year and most places wanted $1,000 just for the axle.
 
I was taking some of that into consideration. I was thinking of offering 1500 for it. Allowing 1,000 for the axles, and 500 for the flat bed on it. Just a parts cost figure. I have no idea of actual condition of the engine/transmission. Other than her mentioning it was driven there and parked having recently had a clutch put in it. I am reasonably sure it will run with a tune up and gas tank cleaning. No reason it shouldn't I guess. I'll post pictures soon.
 
If it doesn't start and drive onto a trailer I wouldn't go over $1000. To much could go wrong with all that sitting time, internals could be rusted to hell from the 5 years of hot and cold cycles. Also who knows why the old man originally parked it...
 
I have read that the 77.5 and 78 K30s used a K20 frame and have lift blocks in the rear. 79 got a whole new frame and no more lift blocks. 77-78 hydroboost was an option and 79 it was standard. Please correct me if I am wrong.

$1500 sounds fair if you can drive it away. The rear axle should be a 14 bolt.


I paid $1700 for this old brown farm truck, 79 K30. Must have been a good year for the farmer, it is an automatic with A.C.. Was used to deliver bags of fertilizer somewhere in Oregon. Spent a few thousand fixing it up. Mostly use it to haul parts and take the dogs to the creek.

20170227_173412.jpg
 
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GreenieK30 said:
I have read that the 77.5 and 78 K30s used a K20 frame and have lift blocks in the rear. 79 got a whole new frame and no more lift blocks. 77-78 hydroboost was an option and 79 it was standard. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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nope they got 1ton frames . just had 2wd short front hangers for the leaf springs . this is why the 3" block in the rear .

I have a under 40k mile 77k30 . it also had hydroboost . was a 350/400/203/4.10 combo .

other weird thing was 2 piece drive shaft used . . front half was crazy short .

easy way to spot a first run of gm dana 60 fronts for 77 and some 78 is the cast iron king pin cap on the pass side . NOT a tin cap like most of use are use to having .

and up till 80-81ish the inner axles are neck down shafts unlike later/newer axles being reg non neck down.
 
I spoke with her over the phone and told her I would make an honest effort to come out and get it running. If it runs and shifts I will pay her 1500, if it doesn't I'll give 1,000.00, she said that sounded fair to her. I have some points and plugs in the shop to take over and see what gives. A hot battery and even a rebuilt carb sitting in the box new. Last thing I want is to swindle an old woman, not my thing. I honestly hope it runs and drives. Tires are shot so it will come home on a trailer no matter what. Found out today she has another truck, same year that is a c-10 that will go with it for parts if I want it. Body is supposed to be clean on it. I never saw it.
 
You're having all the luck finding good beater/project trucks. Now we just need pics :waytogo:
 
AbramJ said:
You're having all the luck finding good beater/project trucks. Now we just need pics :waytogo:
Click to expand...

I live in a sea of farm vehicles. Every ranch, farm, house out in the middle of nowhere has two to five sitting outside in a field. I try to be selective on the ones that I inquire about. My girlfriend already has an issue with all the suburbans in the yard. I have five trucks now, the k-30 makes 6. There is a farm I have been reluctant to go visit as I know he has at least 10 old Chevy trucks sitting out there. One of them is a 63?ish one ton 4x4 dually that I know is an aftermarket conversion truck. I spoke with the guy about it after calling about a trailer he had for sale. He said "come on out and look at them, I'm sure you can find one you like". Problem is I know that I will, and just don't need another project truck. This k-30 is a stretch for me but I need to build a truck with a gin pole setup on the back to lift logs for the construction of my new house. I don't think it will take much to get this old k-30 back in operational shape is the only reason I am messing with it.

I could spend all day just riding around buying trucks for likely a month. Nothing rusts here so trucks that are sitting are still in really good shape and that's the damnable part. There are so many that I would like to have but just can't afford to work on them all. Still this is the only K-30 that I have seen. Tons and tons of 10's and 20's....so if you guys are looking for a project, come on out and spend a day or two with me. I'll find you something you just can't live without...HA!

In ranch country like this, farmers will drive something for a while and when it breaks they will park it. Not having time to work on it and go buy another one. Most times with little wrong with it in the first place. It's really odd how often I see that here. A good friend bought a 86 k-30 about two weeks ago. MINT shape, like holy crap....perfection. Been sitting in a hay barn. 6.2 diesel and I forget which transmission but he bought the truck on the spot for 800 bucks. Called me and I went over to take a look at the engine. I originally thought it had no compression when turning over the starter but soon realized that someone had backed all of the injectors out about two good turns. Really odd actually. We replaced the injectors with new ones, new seals and it cranked right up. Injector pump was weak so we swapped it out and he has been driving it ever since. Truck has 68k original miles. I offered to double his money before ever turning a wrench on it, it was that nice. Typical story, dad's truck that son inherited and knew nothing about. Garage kept and never driven much. Family bought it new and used it to haul hay in the spring time and that's about it. The paint on the thing was so nice I called him a liar when he said it was original. Incredible truck but they are out here, for sure. Just have to go look for them.
 
Just sitting but everything is for sale I find. Two are in town behind houses, look like they have been there for a while. The third is in a lot of about 10 other Chevy trucks. One of them could be bought for sure. I have just seen them and noted them, never talked to anyone as i wasn't interested in them myself.
 
sweetk30 said:
nope they got 1ton frames . just had 2wd short front hangers for the leaf springs . this is why the 3" block in the rear .

I have a under 40k mile 77k30 . it also had hydroboost . was a 350/400/203/4.10 combo .

other weird thing was 2 piece drive shaft used . . front half was crazy short .

easy way to spot a first run of gm dana 60 fronts for 77 and some 78 is the cast iron king pin cap on the pass side . NOT a tin cap like most of use are use to having .

and up till 80-81ish the inner axles are neck down shafts unlike later/newer axles being reg non neck down.
Click to expand...
This. ^^^^^

Buddy of mine has a '77 K30 DRW wrecker and it has the short rear hangers and 3" blocks as mentioned. It's definitely the taller frame too.
 
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