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1986 K30 - Rapid Learning

Get 'er cleaned up and solid.
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shima

shima

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shima submitted a new Build:

1986 K30 - Rapid Learning

Well, nearly all of the background information behind my acquisition of this truck can be found in this thread:
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/not-mine-86-k30-4sp-454.338205/

Big thanks to @Bowtiek10 for posting the truck. I wouldn't have it if it weren't for him. Big thanks to the rest of CK5 for pushing me toward buying it. :D

I already have a K5, so why did I choose to buy this K30?

There are a few reasons:
  1. I bought my K5 for snowboarding trips and to learn more about wrenching on vehicles... it works fine for snowboarding but it never needed anything major done to it. It's plenty capable and reliable as is. This K30 has real problems that must be addressed, so I'm excited to tackle those and grow my skills.
  2. The K30 can carry a large camper, which goes back to snowboarding. Once it is solid I should be able to drive up to the mountain after work on a Friday and sleep in the truck. Miss all that Denver Saturday-morning mountain traffic.
  3. This transaction more or less forces me to sell my first car, a Mitsubishi 3000GT. I have known that I should let that thing go for a while now, but I have been clinging to it because of sentimental value. It will be hard, but I think selling it will force me to grow a little bit as a person.
  4. This K30 is just so cool to me. I kept thinking about it and checking to see if it was sold about once a week. It was still up for sale, week after week. I eventually decided to just go for it.
The truck is stock. The config is 454 / SM465 / NP205 / D60 / 14B FF. I can't believe I own a truck like this - a stupid grin comes up on my face just thinking about it.

It has a whole laundry list of issues. Below are rough notes I compiled from talking with the seller. My plan is just to address every issue one at a time. Cross your fingers for me.

Notes:
needs new tires
should do wheel bearings
squeal in front brakes
-nothing urgent there
-probably should bleed
-replaced hydroboost recently
front axle kingpins may need work
has new front shocks
has new front steering stabilizer
tie rod ends seem to be good, but haven't been changed or greased
axle/diff fluid changed recently
drive shaft u-joints are new
transfer case is good. difficult to get into / out of 4wd sometimes.
transmission should be good other than popping out of second consistently
-new bearings are in it
-new clutch is in it
rear main seal starting to leak
carb is new, hasn't been...
Click to expand...

Read more about this build here...
 
Big Block K30 with a man pedal? Right F-ing ON! That's a killer setup. You scored on that one for sure.

Don't sweat driving that truck with a stick. As long as the clutch is decent 465's are easy to get used to. Just don't expect to bang gears like the fast-n-furious crowd. I taught 3 different kids how to drive a stick with my old '75 with the 465.

Congrats on the truck dude!
 
MEMO43 said:
Nice anymore pics of it to share
Click to expand...

Just a couple from the other thread. This is from December when I first saw it in Grand Junction:

'86 K30

'86 K30


This is it parked inside my garage, where it will likely stay for the next year or so:

It Fits!

It Fits!


I think I am going to take this approach to start:
  • Put it up on stands, pop the wheels off. Get the tires replaced.
  • Do the wheel bearings - I just did this recently on my K5 and I have some wheel bearing grease left over.
  • Bleed the brakes.
While I'm there with the wheels popped off, I am going to take close-up pics of the front axle kingpins. I have no idea whether you can tell visually that kingpins need work or not... but it is worth a shot.

@MEMO43 I'll snap some photos of it while I work!
 
Thanks shima
Nice looking rig for sure an it will definitely do everything you want it to do.
Someday I hope to get a k10.
Similar to the one I had in high school
 
Last edited:
Bent77 said:
37s

voting for tire sizes...
Click to expand...

Ha! I only have about a foot of garage door clearance with that camper shell out back. 37s might push me over the edge. Would be sweet though.
 
shima said:
While I'm there with the wheels popped off, I am going to take close-up pics of the front axle kingpins. I have no idea whether you can tell visually that kingpins need work or not... but it is worth a shot.

@MEMO43 I'll snap some photos of it while I work!
Click to expand...

i have posted up a lot on king pins and also looking them over once opened up .

if me just tear it open when your down to the spindle only when you do the wheel bearing service . pop the spindle and pull the axle then pop the 4 nuts and 4 bolts and drop the knuckle and do a full service kit on them and be done with it . almost every on i take apart needs atleast 2 nylon upper bushings and springs .
 
shima said:
Ha! I only have about a foot of garage door clearance with that camper shell out back. 37s might push me over the edge. Would be sweet though.
Click to expand...
Are you planning to keep the shell? One of the things I like about wheeling with a pickup is having the extra clearance above the bed rail versus having a K5 with the topper to worry about.
 
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