Contemplating a build? UPDATE 5/13/2015!!! See post #9+, would you trade??? PICS!!!!!

[blowedupmotor87]

Updated December 30/2015, with a question about some wheels I want opinion on before I spend the $$$! Also, I will try to fix the lack of pics soon, I didn't realize none of them work anymore until just now! Oh, and spoiler: I went with the crew cab only! (wife wouldn't let me get both)

It's pretty normal stuff really but, wanting to get an idea on whether y'all think the prices are fair, and any ideas y'all have. It'd be a two vehicles make one build. The vehicles:

1986(or 5?) K30 crew cab:
350 with some new carb, IDK what kind but not stock
SM 465 (hydro clutch)/NP 205/Dana 60/14bff
Body is okay-ish, lot of rocker rust, some floorboard rust, bed is beat to snot, interior upholster/carpet/dash/etc is completely trashed other than the front bench is in good shape. Paint is pretty much destroyed. Probably just under 200k miles but motor was built out to 383 about 60k ago. it has sat for a year though. Also, it was used by a pool company to tow their Bobcat. Owner is asking $1700obo.

1974 K-5:
350/350/np203 (IIRC)/stock axles, unknown miles. NO TOP.
Body looks to be in great shape, nice paint in an aesthetically pleasing redorange color, interior looks good for the age. Has been sitting for a while, here's owner's description:

I have a lifted 74 k5, last year of the full convertibles, it has a 6in rough country lift kit on it, the motor is a 350 that is bored .070 and stroked .030 an edlebrock aluminum racing intake, a holley 670cfm 4 barrel carb. it has a th350 transmission with a stage 2 b&m shift kit and a b&m bump shifter. hasnt been turned on in about 6months but ran great last time. alternator bracket is snapped and will need to be replaced. has some usual dings and scratches little rust in the fender wells. HAS NO ROOF. would make a really nice off road toy or could be fixed up to be a nice rare older blazer. $1200 obo.

So, I am thinking of buying them both, putting the crew cab's drivetrain and steering column into the K-5, keeping the 203's low range portion to do a doubler sometime down the road, and selling whatever is left over. Also, I think I'd switch to a Tuff Country EZ ride 3" front spring set, crossover steering, a rear shackle flip, and some Ruff Stuff rear spring perches. (I'd do basically the same suspension setup I had on my 87 Jimmy)

What do y'all think of this plan? Any better ideas? What do y'all think would be fair offers for me to make on these rigs? Thanks!!!

 

[307-3+3]

That sounds like a pretty good deal, at least where I'm at. I would offer 1500 and 1000, If they both have good titles. I would think you can sell/scrap what you dont want and get out of it for 1800-2000 and still have some spare parts. Just my opinion

 

[meanboyjr]

My two pennies? I think the K30 would be a good candidate for a flatbed...



Also, tell the owner that '75 was the last year for full 'verts, not '74.

 

[454Sub]

Yep, I personally would do the crew cab. Shorten the bed as radically as I could and run it. If I could find a crew body cheap enough I would cut my Burb frame up and kinda do the Trazer build but with 4 doors.

 

[blowedupmotor87]

That sounds like a pretty good deal, at least where I'm at. I would offer 1500 and 1000, If they both have good titles. I would think you can sell/scrap what you dont want and get out of it for 1800-2000 and still have some spare parts. Just my opinion

Yup, both have good titles. The owner of the crew cab has to get rid of it by decree of his wife. (she is tired of it sitting in the yard) The Blazer, IDK- the guy had it up for sale almost a year ago at $3000 and it didn't sell, I thought about buying it then but he never responded to my questions about it.

My two pennies? I think the K30 would be a good candidate for a flatbed...



Also, tell the owner that '75 was the last year for full 'verts, not '74.

See below and good point on the 75!!!

Yep, I personally would do the crew cab. Shorten the bed as radically as I could and run it. If I could find a crew body cheap enough I would cut my Burb frame up and kinda do the Trazer build but with 4 doors.

I actually was originally thinking of cutting the crew cab down to make a four door truggy!!! That was before I discovered that the interior is completely destroyed and only half of the windows roll up an down! (the two that work barely do) Also, it got broken into at one time so it needs a new vent window and it has been sitting outside for a year with a broken window so the carpet is an interesting green color and the driver's floor board is likely FUBAR'ed! (rocker sure is in that area, can see right through it, can stick a couple fingers through) The door panels, carpeting, headliner, rear bench, and dash are all trash. The front bench is fairly okay, it has had a cover on it for like 5 years. It has been a work crew truck and the interior shows it. I would need to find a donor for a new interior. Also, would need at least two new window regulators, maybe four. Also, the front doors have holes in them from various different mirrors and the rear doors have rust holes in them from trim that got ripped off. So, would maybe need a donor for interior and doors!

Then I saw the K5 which has a nice interior, is a full 'vert (my wife misses driving around in my Jeep I used to have with the top down so, maybe an easier sell to her), and seems to need little to no body work.

Seems like an easier way to go?

Thanks for the responses y'all!!!

 

[meanboyjr]

I actually was originally thinking of cutting the crew cab down to make a four door truggy!!! That was before I discovered that the interior is completely destroyed and only half of the windows roll up an down! (the two that work barely do) Also, it got broken into at one time so it needs a new vent window and it has been sitting outside for a year with a broken window so the carpet is an interesting green color and the driver's floor board is likely FUBAR'ed! (rocker sure is in that area, can see right through it, can stick a couple fingers through) The door panels, carpeting, headliner, rear bench, and dash are all trash. The front bench is fairly okay, it has had a cover on it for like 5 years. It has been a work crew truck and the interior shows it. I would need to find a donor for a new interior. Also, would need at least two new window regulators, maybe four. Also, the front doors have holes in them from various different mirrors and the rear doors have rust holes in them from trim that got ripped off. So, would maybe need a donor for interior and doors!

Then I saw the K5 which has a nice interior, is a full 'vert (my wife misses driving around in my Jeep I used to have with the top down so, maybe an easier sell to her), and seems to need little to no body work.

Seems like an easier way to go?

Thanks for the responses y'all!!!

I just dig the K30 because it's a one-ton crew cab with a manual trans, but it sounds like it has been put through the wringer...and they want $1700 for it?

Of the two, that K5 appears to be the better deal.

 

[blowedupmotor87]

I just dig the K30 because it's a one-ton crew cab with a manual trans, but it sounds like it has been put through the wringer...and they want $1700 for it?

Of the two, that K5 appears to be the better deal.

Given the drivetrain parts, and the fact that the body (although it has issues) is reasonably solid (compared to a northeastern rig, it's showroom fresh, LOL!), it seems a pretty fair price. Could get more $$$ parting it out. But, as a whole rig, I've seen rougher trucks with less desirable drivetrains go for higher $$$.

I think the K5's body with the K30's drivetrain is my best option.

Maybe I'll offer $1k each and see what happens. Worst they can say is no, LOL!

 

[wage92]

the motor is a 350 that is bored .070 and stroked .030

what a combo he has going on here...

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Okay so, here's the trade deal:

I have:
1992 2wd Ram Charger SUV (bought for something between $1000-1200 I can't remember what I paid for it, actual value: I really don't know)
unknown miles (typical for these trucks- busted odometer)
360/auto (engine has a misfire issue and trans is clunky if you romp on it but, it does wrong strong just the misfire shakes the whole truck! Until I switched jobs, I was driving this truck 160 miles a day (monday-thursday) since it gets 15mpg as opposed to the 11mpg of my Power Wagon! So, it is reliable!!!)
dented front fenders and bumper but otherwise perfect body work NO RUST AT ALL!!!
clean (but not quite perfect interior)

What I am contemplating trading for is the above mentioned crew cab:

1986(or 5?) K30 crew cab:
small block with Holley 750 double pumper that leaks like a sieve (said to be a 383 out of an asphalt late model race car)
SM 465 (hydro clutch)/NP 205/Dana 60/14bff
Body is okay-ish, some rocker rust, some floorboard rust, bed is beat to snot, has a sketchy hitch welded on the frame.
Interior upholster/carpet/dash/etc is completely trashed. (literally I will be pulling the interior and throwing all but the benches into a dumpster, then the benches will get new upholstery. Paint is destroyed.
Probably just under 200k miles but motor was built out to 383 about 60k ago. it has sat for a year though. Also, it was used by a pool company to tow their Bobcat.

^about that motor though, the oil is a quart high and smells like gas, and when you get on the throttle and let it off suddenly, smoke shoots out of the vent in the valve cover. Thinking maybe bad rings? Owner's buddy says he think blown head gasket? (no antifreeze in oil or oil in antifreeze though, that I could see) ADVICE as to engine issue, thoughts???? Also, exhaust is complete crap, rusted through.

Trans- seems to work okay, doesn't want to go into granny low readily (but when do they ever?) and it wants to stay in reverse (hard to pop back out of reverse), and is ather noisy in reverse. (clunky)

T-case- might need a new seal at the rear yoke. (or they just lubed the ujoint there way too much way too often, lots of oil or grease slung up under the trans tunnel (didn't get a good enough loom as to which) don't know if 4wd works, didn't want to drive much with fuel leak, LOL! Manual hubs on the front axle turn easily though!

Axles- Condition, gearing, and presence of traction adding devices all unknown.

Tires- all hold air (295/75 R16 tires on some black wagon wheels) BUT, only one tire is actually in driveable shape! (decent tread, the rest are bald)

Interior- garbage

Body- decent, lots of dents, bed is beat, but not much in the way of rust (just the normal spots) EXCEPT for aft the rear axle- the body frame and leafsprings aft of the rear axle look like the truck dropped a boat into the ocean off a boat ramp a lot!

Windows- both vent windows are broken, windshield is busted, and none of the power window regulators work

Electrical- I'll put it this way: I found some house wiring wire nuts in use, I will leave the rest to your imagination based off that!

So, to summarize: a non-running, rolling dumpster (literally filled with trash, bed is full to the rails!!!) K-30 with a decent body (lots of dents, not a ton of rust) for a Ram Charger I paid a max of $1200 for, would y'all go for it????

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Everybody loves pics!!!:

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[rebelgregory]

I would do the deal.

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Mine that would be traded (the other front fender is mashed pretty good, right at the fang area):

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[blazinzuk]

Plans for the crew cab?

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Plans for the crew cab?

Wheeling rig, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG slow build as trickling budget allows. (don't let the impressive list fool you, this is gonna take a decade!!!):
Put all trash directly into dumpster (bought a Bagster, they are AWESOME!!!!)
Get it running!!!! I wanna drive this thing!
Fix what ails it.
Shortbed (five foot or maybe six and a half but, leaning toward five foot BUT, 6.5' would be easier and my buddy will sell me his perfect one for $300 so... IDK, we'll see)
rock sliders and rollcage (already have the tube and DIY4X's cage to frame mounts! just need some staked cage flanges!)
inboarded fuel tanks (custom or mini pickup tank between rails, custom or K5 tank aft axle, really depends what fits in the spots)
Delete A/C and convert to heat only and run an air compressor in place of the A/C compressor
37-40" tires, debating between H1s, or something in a 17" wheel
bedline the floorboards
either fix all the windows or remove them all and cap the doors (but new windshield either way)
eventually:
fuel injection
203/205 triple stick doubler
something in the way of a lift (maybe 52s up front with DIY4X A-bomb? and rear shackle flip with zero rates? Or maybe 3" lift springs all around???)
ARB front/Detroit rear, PSC hydro assist and crossover (5.13 gears?)
Big Superwinch up front!
Basically (for the most part) a copy of my (sorely missed) Blue Jimmy but, in crew cab form!!!
Contemplating going wild: 73-75 windshield cap, lop the roof off, full cage, and shortened wheelbase down to about 126" but, IDK about all that, truck was originally dark gold (almost copper) and that hits me with nostalgia (we had a dark gold crew cab 79 2wd and a two tone gold 74 regular cab 4wd when I was growing up) so, may go a little more conservative than that plan. (the roof chopping plan may get the ax, LOL!)

 

[76zimmer]

Id go for it
Looks like a decent start for your ideas
Sounds like the axles may need full rebuild with gears that will be minimum 3-4k right there
The engine sounds like a great start and perhaps a bearing ring and gasket rebuild will get that in great shape again
Make no mistake your plans for a trail rig will turn into a moneypit
Do you have a reliable dd in the meantime?

 

[blazinzuk]

I agree a little beat up body perfect for a wheeler.

 

[82355]

The pictures look a lot better than your description.

Martin

 

[blowedupmotor87]

Id go for it
Looks like a decent start for your ideas
Sounds like the axles may need full rebuild with gears that will be minimum 3-4k right there
The engine sounds like a great start and perhaps a bearing ring and gasket rebuild will get that in great shape again
Make no mistake your plans for a trail rig will turn into a moneypit
Do you have a reliable dd in the meantime?

Money pit indeed!!! (my wife's exact comment on it as well, with the words "oh great, here's another truck that will be another...")

Yeah, the axles are definitely going to be expensive. Since they are ones tons (beef) of unknown condition, I shall refer to them as mystery meat for the time being. That may be the project name- "project mystery meat"!!!
Reliable DD? Check! It's also a wheeling rig too! 2012 Ram Power Wagon with Carli suspension and 37" Nitto Trail Grapplers.
Pics of its good side taken getting ready tow the K30 home today:

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A LOOOONG combo, LOL! (K30 was hanging off the end of the trailer, that was the farthest it would go on, wouldn't start/run to move forward a touch more):

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Most recent trail shot (sorry for the dark pic, was an evening recovery effort, was helping to get my buddy's Range Rover off the trail that burnt to the ground out at Uwharrie):

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(Actually I will be going to Uwharrie tomorrow morning too, for volunteer trailwork day!!!)

I agree a little beat up body perfect for a wheeler.

Yup!!!! That's the idea!

The pictures look a lot better than your description.

Martin

The truck is extremely photogenic!!! It is WAY rougher in person! Here's a shot of the trash that was in the bed. Underneath the trash was a rubber bed mat, underneath the rubber bed mat was about 1-3" (varying depth) of mud mixed with rust. They apparently put the mat in the bed without making ANY cleaning effort prior, I still can't wrap my mind around that one, LOL! I estimate about 1000lbs worth of trash, scrap, and dirt. There was a BUNCH of trash in the cab too, especially crammed under the seat:

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Ran into a bit of trouble unloading the truck, had to clutch move it since it wouldn't start and ended up with it falling off the side since I couldn't steer fast enough. Was square on the kingpin bolt, had an interesting time figuring a way to move the truck! (Also, on a side note- a K30 crew cab is a HEAVY truck to be pushing into the driveway!!!)

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close up:

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[76zimmer]

that's unique!
Welcome home mystery meat!

 

[blowedupmotor87]

that's unique!
Welcome home mystery meat!

Thanks! Yup! That'll be the truck's name!

So, went to peel the die cut vinyl decals off the sides of the bed, the paint peels with them, down to what appears to be surface rusted original paint. Get a really strong chemical smell when peeling it so, I think that whoever applied the current color to the bed applied too thick of coats with not enough time between the first coat and subsequent coats so the first coat never truly dried. (hence the smell of old paint and solvent when peeling off the paint)

If it isn't too expensive- I think I may get the bed blasted (soda, media, or walnut shell, I don't know, I will have to look into pricing and effectiveness) before I bob it and shorten it, just to not have to deal with the nasty paint, and the rampant layer of surface rust in the bottom of the bed from hauling dirt/sand/gravel/etc for years.. If I go that route, I will have to have it fully primed and painted but, since I don't care about the body work (I'll be doing any body work that I feel necessary (mostly just the shorten and bob, maybe a tiny bit of straightening and filler here an there) myself), I don't reckon prime and paint should be too bad $$$? (I will price everything out before I start. The bed will then not match the truck, because I will get the bed painted the original color, Nevada Gold (I think that's the name?) but, I don't really care whether it matches or not since I like the original color better! If the blast/prime/paint route is too much $$$, I will just have to do my best to remove the nasty paint and surface rust from the areas I will cut/weld. I also plan to delete the passenger side fuel door by cutting it out during the shortening, then I will add it to the driver's side of the bed behind the wheelwell to allow filling of the aft axle tank I plan to switch to.

SO, made a cool find today- the option code sticker in the glovebox is intact!!! So, that'll be cool to look at what all the truck has. (was too busy today to look through it) Was disappointed to see G80 though- will have to get an open carrier to be able to install a Detroit locker in the rear.

One SNAFU- Not going to be working much on the truck for the next two weeks. Found out the owner lost the title so, going to be waiting until that's resolved (also not going to be trading until that is resolved) the truck will be sitting in my driveway waiting to be worked on until then.

One pleasant surprise- Remember the leaking carb? The owner says he will throw in either a completely rebuilt or new (depends on which one he grabs off the shelf in the garage) replacement! So, I hope he really will!