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85 k30 dually...save it, or part it out?...UPDATE!

1-ton

1-ton

3/4 ton status
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Las Vegas, Nevada
I have a 1985 K30 Silverado Dually (454, T400, 205, Dana-60, Dana-70, full gauges, power everything), which I have owned for about 10-years. It was totaled about 5 or 6 months ago. I am not sure if I is worth saving or part it out. The front frame horns are bent about 30 degrees. I could be saved, but I am not sure it is worth it.

I can do the work myself, as I have my own commercial shop (for my own use only…no business is run out of it), which used to be a body-shop, and has chain anchor tie-downs mounted to the floor.

I have noticed one thing NOBODY seems to be in too quick…a-hurry to sell off old, GM, 1-ton anything by the looks of everything I see for sell out there it is ¾ ton or ½ ton parts that are a dime a dozen because the average “Joe” does not lay out the cash to buy brand new 1-ton anything from the dealers.

How much are Dana-60 DRW axles, and T400/205 combo’s going for these days?

This is a picture of it before it was crashed.

images
 
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I'm a long way away from you but here in the Southeast these are average prices for stuff...

DRW D60 ~$800
DRW 70HD ~$350
400/NP205 ~$400-$500

The axle prices are for stock ratio, open diff stuff, obviously, big ratios and lockers add to the value some.
 
nvrenuf said:
I'm a long way away from you but here in the Southeast these are average prices for stuff...

DRW D60 ~$800
DRW 70HD ~$350
400/NP205 ~$400-$500
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yes, that is in line with what most salvage-yards ask (most salvage yards would probably keep this stuff for themselves if they got their hands on it...except for the Dana-70, which are no big deal). I wonder if the demand is there to ask salvage yard prices?
 
I'd fix it if its not rusty...and the frame horns are the ONLY area damaged..sounds like an ideal rig otherwise--big block,dana 60,TH400,NP205,etc..
 
diesel4me said:
I'd fix it if its not rusty...and the frame horns are the ONLY area damaged..sounds like an ideal rig otherwise--big block,dana 60,TH400,NP205,etc..
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This truck has been a Las Vegas, NV truck all its life, so it is rust free. This truck is also not hacked up in any way. It has all the original pieces in working condition, right down to the AM/FM cassette player and analog clock, which was included in the Silverado gauge package. I am still just trying get a gauge on whether this trucks value is worth the effort. If this where a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T, I wouldn't even have to ask, but this is an 85 Chevy K30 Silverado dually. Your average person has no idea what this thing is, but an old truck, which makes the market for it questionable.
 
First, I hope you are okay after the accident. If you are interested in selling the whole truck I would be very interested in it. Thank you in advance.

LT.
 
LT. said:
First, I hope you are okay after the accident. If you are interested in selling the whole truck I would be very interested in it. Thank you in advance.

LT.
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I am good. I barely felt a thing, but the people that drove head-on into me, with a tiny piece of crap Huyndia are not so good. It must have been like driving into a steel wall for them. My truck is actually still drivable. I drove it the 2-miles to my shop, after the accident, and parked it where it sits today.
 
1-ton said:
I am good. I barely felt a thing, but the people that drove head-on into me, with a tiny piece of crap Huyndia are not so good. It must have been like driving into a steel wall for them. My truck is actually still drivable. I drove it the 2-miles to my shop, after the accident, and parked it where it sits today.
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That is great news. Honestly though, if it was my truck I would fix the truck. The reasons are numerous but, top of the list is rust free, minor damage, cant find them like that, tough as nails truck, and it is very costly to replace. And even if you did replace the truck with a newer model it would not be nearly the truck as you have already.

I would really like to be able to talk you out of your truck but, i honestly think you may be better off repairing the rig. Damn, i hate be honest. Lol.

LT.
 
LT. said:
That is great news. Honestly though, if it was my truck I would fix the truck. The reasons are numerous but, top of the list is rust free, minor damage, cant find them like that, tough as nails truck, and it is very costly to replace. And even if you did replace the truck with a newer model it would not be nearly the truck as you have already.

I would really like to be able to talk you out of your truck but, i honestly think you may be better off repairing the rig. Damn, i hate be honest. Lol.

LT.
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At least this other truck of mine did not get slamed (91 Silverado V3500). Man this picture is old. My kid is only 7 in this picture, and now he is a teenager in High School. This rust free Las Vegas truck is also hiding out in my shop.
Truck_Desert_4.jpg
 
1-ton said:
At least this other truck of mine did not get slamed (91 Silverado V3500). Man this picture is old. My kid is only 7 in this picture, and now he is a teenager in High School. This rust free Las Vegas truck is also hiding out in my shop.
Truck_Desert_4.jpg
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Whoa! Nice TRUCK! I would sell off parts of my body for those trucks you own. I am very jealous of those rigs you have there.

LT.
 
I want. Man I almost NEVER see those for sale, and when I do they're pricey and in kinda crap condition.
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I remember when I bought this rig (back in about 2003 or 04), the ad in the paper, under the 4X4 truck section, only said "91 chevy truck for sale". So I took a shot in the dark and called for more info.

I asked him if was a 4X4, he said "yes". Then I asked him if it was a 3/4 ton or 1 ton, he said "I am pretty sure it is a 1 ton, but I am not positive". Then I asked him if it was a single cab truck, he said "it is a 4-door". I said "I will be right over!".

I could not believe my eyes when I turned the corner and saw this truck. I crawled under the truck to see if it had any major frame damage, and when I saw it did not, I paid want he wanted for the truck with no haggling ($4700), and drove it home.
 
Last one I had my eye on was over a year ago at $1800, not the best of shape, not the worst, definitly jerry rigging nonsense and some rot.

Still kinda wish I got it anyway. :D I haven't even seen one since living here, much less for sale, at any price.


EDIT: Oh schnit, got curious and now I gotta eat my words. http://littlerock.craigslist.org/cto/4034215801.html But it is the only one, at my $7k mark I set. Still not a late model. Man I love these things.
 
It would be a shame to part out the dually, after all there isn't many around. The last one I saw for sale was an 88 regular cab dually 4x4, price was somewhere between 5 - 6k.
 
IMO....too many of these K30's get parted. If it is only the frame horns I would fix it. It's hard to find nice uncut K30's.
 
Fix it and enjoy it. Sounds like minimal damage and is still drivable which is a plus. Those trucks are tanks for sure. Probly crumpled the hyundai like a tin can.
 
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Another vote for fix it. Drw's aren't worth much honestly. You'd be lucky to get 400 for it around here. It looks clean and personally I would put a different frame under it. It seems like the one ton axle market has sunk with the spyder axles for crawlers and more and more mud guys going straight for rockwells right off the bat.
 
After closer inspection of my K30. I have found out that this truck is toast. I crawled under it with a flash light, and have found that the left side main rail was pushed back so hard that it popped rivets out of the engine cross-member. Even the engine mounts are turned in the direction of the pushed back frame rail. I am going to have to part this truck out. I am keeping the 454, in order to install in my V3500, but the rest I am not sure.
 
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