What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Just got a 81 3/4 ton 4x4 Silverado Camper Special

G

gm guy

1/2 ton status
Joined
May 1, 2004
Posts
151
Reaction score
0
Location
Vancouver Island but work in Ft Mcmurray Alberta C
My new toy, finally! I had a rust K5 a few years ago but it rusted away...

I found this 81 3/4 ton 4x4 Silverado Camper Special that I'm really happy with but need to swap in a fresh 350. The truck sits too tall for me to use my normal cherry picker, but I do have a big swing set style setup but even that will be a tough pull unless I remove the front grill ect...

How are you all swapping engines in these big trucks? And yes I've done a half dozen 350 swaps in GM vehicles just not a lifted truck...

Advice, tips, bring em on!!!:bow:

random056.jpg


random055.jpg


random047.jpg


random049.jpg
 
beautiful! and you can let the air out of the tires and/or take the core support out. i have also used a tall picker before.
 
Okay, so how do i go about removign the core support, can the fenders stay?? Rad ect has to go first but then what? Good tip about letting the air out of the tires, quicker than removing the wheels.

Oh, and how do I tell if it has danna 44s like the guy said it did? Also how do I tell if it has a 203 t-case or not? He said it has 4:11 gears and it feels like it revs high with the 33s (no tach yet). I'm familiar with GM 70s cars but not these trucks so please bear with me....:bow:
 
its got a d44 front and a 14 bolt rear axle.

for the 203 check under there and look at the tcase if its cast iron and only has two big ol bolted on circles on the back its a 203.

if its a 205 its got two big circles bolted on with a tiny one in the middle.

oh and the core support just comes out without taking off the fenders. youve got the body mount bolts and a few in the front of the fender and it ought to just come off with a quick wire disconect hood latch and small things like that.


if it looks like this one its a 203. that little tag if youve still got one will say 203 on it:
000_0048.jpg
 
That is a beautiful truck man.

As for the engine swap well if you dont wanna take the front of the truck just get some super low profile roller tires, thats what i would do anyway
 
That is one sweet lookin' truck. I like the house and the Cutlass as well, even though I can only see a tailight in one pic and a front fender with some IROC wheels in another.:D
 
Beautiful truck! Ya just take the tires off and it'll be a better height.
 
gm guy said:
Okay, so how do i go about removign the core support, can the fenders stay?? Rad ect has to go first but then what? Good tip about letting the air out of the tires, quicker than removing the wheels.

Oh, and how do I tell if it has danna 44s like the guy said it did? Also how do I tell if it has a 203 t-case or not? He said it has 4:11 gears and it feels like it revs high with the 33s (no tach yet). I'm familiar with GM 70s cars but not these trucks so please bear with me....:bow:
Click to expand...

Probably a 10 bolt front. D44 front was pretty well gone by 79. Doesn't matter. Its just as strong (tube thickness not the weak spot the bust the pig when they fail not bend tubes).

If you A/C is toast then pulling the front clip is the easy way to go.

1. Remove hood and hinge brackets.
2. remove grill and front bumper
3. remove 2 bolts that hold core support to the frame brackets
4. remove cowl to access one bolt top of each fender to cowl NOTE SHIMS!
5. remove bolt from center of the wire block next too booster and unplug front harness
6. disconnect radiator hoses, Transmission cooler lines and A/C lines at core support.
7. Remove bottom bolt for fender to tub and note shims.
8. Block up the rear of the fenders so that they wont shift and let the fender hit the doors.
9. remove fender bolt near upper door hinge and NOTE SHIMS.
10. Remove two bolts inner fender to fire wall each side.
11. Lift nose up pull fenders slightly out at rear and walk it away from truck


That is actually easier then trying to pull that core support out.


Fact is if you take the wheels off you can set the knuckles on some blocks of wood and as long as you choke up tight on the engine you should clear the core support.
 
BulldogK5 said:
That is one sweet lookin' truck. I like the house and the Cutlass as well, even though I can only see a tailight in one pic and a front fender with some IROC wheels in another.:D
Click to expand...

Yeah thats my brothers cutlass but I have a 85 Buick Regal, 78 Buick Skyhawk, 76 Buick Century, 75 Buick Regal, and 73 Buick Century, 77 vega ect ect

1BURN.jpg


sky1.jpg


076.jpg


Promo20Online20Size.jpg


All my Buicks have Buick 350s, and the Skyhawk is getting my twin turbo 800 hp Buick 350, cage ect.... 10 spare Buick 350s inthe shop....
 
So you need to chand=ge your user name to buick guy. My neighbor was like that. My all time fave was his '78 Regal with a 454. It would just flat out get it. :D
 
Grim-Reaper said:
Probably a 10 bolt front. D44 front was pretty well gone by 79. Doesn't matter. Its just as strong (tube thickness not the weak spot the bust the pig when they fail not bend tubes).

If you A/C is toast then pulling the front clip is the easy way to go.

1. Remove hood and hinge brackets.
2. remove grill and front bumper
3. remove 2 bolts that hold core support to the frame brackets
4. remove cowl to access one bolt top of each fender to cowl NOTE SHIMS!
5. remove bolt from center of the wire block next too booster and unplug front harness
6. disconnect radiator hoses, Transmission cooler lines and A/C lines at core support.
7. Remove bottom bolt for fender to tub and note shims.
8. Block up the rear of the fenders so that they wont shift and let the fender hit the doors.
9. remove fender bolt near upper door hinge and NOTE SHIMS.
10. Remove two bolts inner fender to fire wall each side.
11. Lift nose up pull fenders slightly out at rear and walk it away from truck


That is actually easier then trying to pull that core support out.


Fact is if you take the wheels off you can set the knuckles on some blocks of wood and as long as you choke up tight on the engine you should clear the core support.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the details, I'll see what I can figuer out tmrw and get this started!
 
BulldogK5 said:
So you need to chand=ge your user name to buick guy. My neighbor was like that. My all time fave was his '78 Regal with a 454. It would just flat out get it. :D
Click to expand...

Well yeah I'm a Buick guy but I LOVE my new Chevy! So please be patient with me since I 'm new to these trucks but not new to wrenching or the terminology so keep up the great help!
 
We'll be patient...noob.:D

Fill out your profile and help us help you too. Like, where are you from?:wink1:
 
Dabba said:
Very sharp truck, though id swap out the grill for the other stock gm grille on the 85-87s.
Click to expand...
Screw that. Get a billet grill and with that 1 year only Bumper (turn signals) it would work out slick.
 
Wow, that truck is super nice. Man I'd love to have an old truck that clean. Gorgeous!
 
Thanks for all the compliments! I bought the truck with a great running 350 that had a comp cam, alum intake, headers, holley, gear drive timing ect but it was not a good truck engine... It had no torque down low in the rpms and only came on above 3000 rpm... Then it started knocking so its time for a truck engine!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom