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77 K30 on Auction Tommorrow! need advice

P

prairie

1/2 ton status
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Today I found a 77 K30 4x4 Pickup listed on a consignment auction, SELLS TOMORROW!
Talked to the owner and looked at the truck in the dark with a flashlight.
Owner & odometer says 73k, I am assuming at least 173K.
Body is very rough, severly rusted out fenders, big holes in floor, etc.
Has some real home built looking "custom" HD coil springs added on the rear suspension. Was a South Dakota construction business truck.
400 engine with Edelbrock carb, TH400 Tranny?, NP203 Transfer Case?, Dana 60/GM14FF
Lots of oil on engine and oil pan that appears to be coming from valve covers. Carb recently "adjusted/tuned". Starts and sounds OK to my very untrained ear, but wasn't able to test drive it.
Am considering it for a "beater" mud road and snow drift busting farm/ranch use fun/work truck or possibly part it out. If I kept it would probably want to try 40" tires with minimal lift and roll cage. Looks like a good truck to learn off roading on, if we flop or roll it, no big deal, the body is already trash.
Owner has a $500 dollar bottom on it.
What is this thing worth?
What does it cost to convert from Full Time 4X4 to lock outs? Is that even necessary for mainly mud/snow running, with minimal pavement?
 
Front axle alone is worth $1k in denver most times. In the condition you describe, it might be the best part of the deal.

As for the lockout conversion cost, there has to be some prices posted at some of the 4x sites for your best indicator.
 
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but the one tons never got the 203. Always the part time 205 in the 70's.

For that price it's worth it even if it's a 3/4 ton.
 
You're wrong.

1 tons did have the 400/203 options. These D60's ran the solid hub slugs. The 205's were standard behind 465's until 1980 when the only t-case offered in that year was the 205, period.
 
I stand corrected.

Was the 400/205 combination possible in the 70's or were all TH400's followed by the 203's?
 
400's were common in '79 and '80-on up. I've heard of 400's in '77 and '78 but have not once in my lifetime seen this as a factory setup in all my years of dismantling. So I'm not going to confirm that one yet. I can only confirm '79 and '80-on up for positive.
 
The 60 is worth 1K as stated. If you get it & you want to convert it to part time, the best thing to do is sell the 400/203 combo & buy a 400/205 combo, or better yet keep what you have & add a doubler to the rear of it. IMO, Don't waste your time converting to part time if you are going to wheel it.

As far as the real question here, HURRY UP & BUY IT, before someone else does. I got to lean how to wheel in a Yota, & then a half ton blazer. It would be super cool to learn w/ a 60 & not have to worry about breakage!
 
thatK30guy said:
You're wrong.

1 tons did have the 400/203 options. These D60's ran the solid hub slugs. The 205's were standard behind 465's until 1980 when the only t-case offered in that year was the 205, period.
Click to expand...

the BOM on my 60 stated it was from 1980...and had the slugs in it?
 
redneckdude said:
the BOM on my 60 stated it was from 1980...and had the slugs in it?
Click to expand...
Nope, not for 1980. It will have lockouts. Slugs only came on trucks with the 203 t-case.
 
thatK30guy said:
400's were common in '79 and '80-on up. I've heard of 400's in '77 and '78 but have not once in my lifetime seen this as a factory setup in all my years of dismantling. So I'm not going to confirm that one yet. I can only confirm '79 and '80-on up for positive.
Click to expand...
I bought a TH400/NP203 that I pulled from a '77 Crewcab K30. The town I work for has a '78 K30 brush truck at the firehall with 73,000 mi. It's got the 400sb TH400/Np203 in it. It's originally a NY truck w/ no rust (garage kept) SB
 
That begins to confirm my suspicions then.

When GM began the "2nd design" trucks, this is the same year the K30 began, it also started the 400 tranny in the 3/4 and 1 tons. I've just seen too many '77 and '78 years of 3/4 tons with the 350 tranny and more than most had the 203 case in them.
 
All the light 3/4 tons(6800lbs-11" rear brakes) I've seen have the TH350 & the heavier rated(8600lbs-13" rear brakes) ones had the TH400 in them
 
AJMBLAZER said:
I stand corrected.

Was the 400/205 combination possible in the 70's or were all TH400's followed by the 203's?
Click to expand...


Derp, I meant in 1 tons...?:confused:
 
got it bought

Don't know exactly what my plans for it are, except to use it around the farm for while to see how everything works.

My wife was "thrilled with my new purchase. She doesn't understand this pickup "thing", and says it has something to do with testostrone and delayed mental development. She is probably right!

Did notice that the TH400 doesn't shift real smooth from first to second gear.
 
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will post up pics in the next couple of days.
need my wifes help for that, as I am a computer and digital camera idiot.
rusted out pretty bad, could do a Fred Finstone stop, feet through the floor, if I wanted.
 
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