Ok, taking both of your replies into account.
I have 0 experience in pre-running or dunes, BUT, as with just about every application except for pulling, weight is going to screw you, and you just have to build more power to make up for it. Light parts = expensive, power = expensive.
If you truly want to build a full size, by all means, go for it. I'm sure it'll be a blast. However, if you're looking for something as light as possible and pretty affordable, I think you're starting with the wrong platform. From a quick google search it looks like the curb weight of a 2WD K10 is ~3500 lbs. I'm getting results that vary from 3000 lbs. all the way to 5000 lbs., so I'll use 3500. For comparison's sake, a '90-'94 Toyota in the same trim is ~2500 lbs. That's 1000 lbs. difference to begin with. Strip 100 lbs. in junk out of the fullsize and 75 out of the 'Yota, now you're at 925 lbs. difference. The Toyota now weighs 70% of what the fullsize does. 30% is a HUGE difference. Now, drop an SBC into the Toyota and add 300 lbs...the Toyota still weighs 83% of what the Chevy does. Not huge, but enough to make a pretty big difference.
My K5 with SBC/700/241 'tons and 40's weighed in the 7,000 lb. neighborhood without a top and with a stripped interior. So, I would be more apt to lean towards the 5,000 lb. estimate. If you start with that, the Toyota weighs 55% of what the fullsize does, you have a fully boxed frame to start with, and a rear axle that is as strong as a 10 bolt but has a dropout third and a housing that you can truss extremely easily. You would have to nearly double the output of a small block to make up for the weight difference.
I'm sure running dunes would be fun no matter what vehicle you chose, but weight is a killer, and if you don't need the cab space I think you'd have a vehicle that performs better if you started with a different platform.
I have 0 experience in pre-running or dunes, BUT, as with just about every application except for pulling, weight is going to screw you, and you just have to build more power to make up for it. Light parts = expensive, power = expensive.
If you truly want to build a full size, by all means, go for it. I'm sure it'll be a blast. However, if you're looking for something as light as possible and pretty affordable, I think you're starting with the wrong platform. From a quick google search it looks like the curb weight of a 2WD K10 is ~3500 lbs. I'm getting results that vary from 3000 lbs. all the way to 5000 lbs., so I'll use 3500. For comparison's sake, a '90-'94 Toyota in the same trim is ~2500 lbs. That's 1000 lbs. difference to begin with. Strip 100 lbs. in junk out of the fullsize and 75 out of the 'Yota, now you're at 925 lbs. difference. The Toyota now weighs 70% of what the fullsize does. 30% is a HUGE difference. Now, drop an SBC into the Toyota and add 300 lbs...the Toyota still weighs 83% of what the Chevy does. Not huge, but enough to make a pretty big difference.
My K5 with SBC/700/241 'tons and 40's weighed in the 7,000 lb. neighborhood without a top and with a stripped interior. So, I would be more apt to lean towards the 5,000 lb. estimate. If you start with that, the Toyota weighs 55% of what the fullsize does, you have a fully boxed frame to start with, and a rear axle that is as strong as a 10 bolt but has a dropout third and a housing that you can truss extremely easily. You would have to nearly double the output of a small block to make up for the weight difference.
I'm sure running dunes would be fun no matter what vehicle you chose, but weight is a killer, and if you don't need the cab space I think you'd have a vehicle that performs better if you started with a different platform.
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