Help me find or pick the "perfect" truck

[Jesse Jaymes]

Looking for thoughts on getting me into the perfect truck. I am somewhere in between an absolute moron in terms of fixing a vehicle and a Shade Tree mechanic. Just didn't grow up with it around me. I've installed Lunch Box lockers, hubs and lift kits, but never pulled and installed an engine.

The problem lies in a vehicle or vehicles I've had prior.

What I THINK I want is a 3/4 K20 long bed with a 350ci, SM465 Tranny, and the 14 BFF.

The truck I had before was an '84 K20. I installed a 4" lift, added new 35" BFG's on 15X10's after grinding calipers. Truck had the 465 tranny, and a 208 transfer case. Rear was the 14 SF and no lockers.

I really loved this truck. Sad story, forced to move, middle of a divorce that I never suspected thanks to Scott the Fireman, and Budget having their heads in their butts forced me to "give it away" for $850 (was ugly, but strong)

What I THOUGHT I needed to replaced it was a 1986 Military CUCV which I have. 6.2L starts everyday. I guess it runs OK. Limited to about 45 mph. In reality, it's a dog. Dissappointing. I do know the value or greatness of the 14BFF with locker, the mighty D60 front, the 4.56 gears, and the 208 is not a terrible case. I just don't think it will ever sling mud or chirp a tire like my former truck.

I am not too certain on the TH400 tranny.

Aside from this, I also have a '74 K5. Runs daily, and I am toying with it at the same time. 35's, and just threw a locker in the rear. Have a 205 getting ready to replace the sucky 203 with sometime 4X4. And a rebuilt Quad going back on it.

I guess what has me put off or chasing my tail is that damn tranny. Man, that thing was a blast. I think the 6.55 to 1 low gear was awesome. It really put the power to the ground. And a semi moded 350 with headers and custom cat-less exhaust really helped.

So the delima....I had a 1977 K20 that I was set to purchase today. Guy backed out. Was a good deal and would have gotten me what I think I needed.

Point being, or the real question. What do I do? I would sell the CUCV/K30 if I bought another pickup (single guy doesn't need 4 vehicles).

I live in the desert and ramble in the trucks a lot. A small amount of rock crawling or wash running, and some mud after the big rains. But I do not live in the South and mudbog, or sand dune. Point being, I am not sure I wheel hard enough to really NEED the D60. And I do not think I would ever go bigger than 35-36 inch tires. So I am thinking a 14BFF with a locker, the correct gears, and a D44 would be sufficient for my needs.

My questions are-

Is the SM465 tranny really that great?

Is the TH400 a piece of junk?

And is a K20 from 1973-1979 pretty much the truck I am looking for?

I really don't think I could put a 350ci in the CUCV for under $2000. Thoughts? When I could buy a whole truck, running, with the 350 for $1500ish.

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I am trying to not sink money into a hole, just to give it away if I choose to sell the CUCV, or sell the CUCV when it can easily be made to perform as I am expecting.

 

[jonrpick]

Why not just put a 465 into the CUCV???

If you absolutely love gas motors, build the K5's motor and swap it into the CUCV.

Sounds like you already have what you need to build what you want. 465's are cheap and readily available.

TH400's definitely do NOT suck.

 

[Stomis]

Yeah TH400s are strong transmissions but like any slush box its still operated on fluid which can over heat and then you go nowhere. The sm465 on the other hand could practically run on a couple quarts of motor oil and get ya through the day of wheeling and home.

If your going to stick with 37s or smaller I would say stay 3/4 ton but at the 36in tire range you may want to be looking at a front 60. I run a 10.5 (full floater center) 6 lug semi float converted 14bolt with a locker and a locked dana 44 with stock shafts and u-joints.

Those 6.2s arent terrible motors and can certainly be spruced up especially with a 6.5 turbo setup.

If I were to looking into a buying a new rig to start with I would definitely go 1 ton though. Probably 37s, shorten it with a tube bed shackle flip the rear with 64s, 52s up front, lockers and lots of armor.

 

[broncoman6524]

The 6.2 in the cucv is all torque, no HP. And with the deep gears, and small tires that truck will be limited in it's top speed.

I would also swap the sbc/465 into the cucv.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Not sure what swapping the 465 into the CUCV would get me? Would it free up a noticeable amount of HP?

Not sure how much of a PITA a swap would be? I know there is a Tech write up on the home page, but it seems to me adding a new row of pedals and chopping holes would be difficult?

I intended to look up the cost of a Banks Turbo upgrade for the 6.2L before posting. Thought that might sway me one way or the other.

 

[79rustyk10]

The 6.2 in the cucv is all torque, no HP. And with the deep gears, and small tires that truck will be limited in it's top speed.

I would also swap the sbc/465 into the cucv.

This is what I would do as well. I would try to find a complete parts truck with the 465, that should make the swap alot easier.

I am also considering a sm465 swap into my truck, but I might just get a 205 to go behind the th350.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Well a Banks Turbo is out, at $2300.