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Project Snow Bear K20!

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So I may have lucked up this morning. I called a local friend that works for a mechanic in town and they have a dead 2005 truck with everything I need on it that I can most likely go and pull for cheap. They are parting it out and the motor is shot so they aren't going to sell it. Going to take a look today, motor still runs but has something major wrong. Should get all the parts for 200 bucks including the harness and the ECM, I just have to do the work.
 
OK so just to get caught up here.

All the parts are ordered for the 5.3l connection to the sm465. Clutch, flywheel, arp bolts and GM pilot bearing. I'm heading into town tomorrow to pull the harness from the donor truck and HOPEFULLY...pulling the 350 this week. I was hoping to have everything to get the LS engine in at the same time but it just isn't going to happen. I went ahead and sold the 350 so the guy wants it....go figure.
 
got so caught up in the swap stuff and just remembered the reason this engine was pulled from the original truck...a noisy (collapsed) lifter. So before I can set it down in the truck I need to pull the damn heads and replace the lifters. Good thing it's sitting on an engine stand?
 
So here is a VERY important question. What COLOR should I paint this LS engine! I'm thinking OD green....It's my signature color.
 
The rest of the truck will be CARC 383 green so orange.....well, I just don't think it's going to jive. Might just have to be basic black. All that shiny aluminum will set it off...
 
Vombrown said:
The rest of the truck will be CARC 383 green so orange.....well, I just don't think it's going to jive. Might just have to be basic black. All that shiny aluminum will set it off...
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Well after the 70's Chevy engine became black to work with all colors so black is good.
 
Orange, always orange.

Why downgrade from an NP208 to an NP205?

If you get the 325/85R16 Michelin XML's, be warned, they are big. And heavy. They are much taller and wider than a 37x12.50R16.5 military take off tire. Mine were as big as Ebke's 39.5x13.50x16.5 Iroks.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Orange, always orange.

Why downgrade from an NP208 to an NP205?

If you get the 325/85R16 Michelin XML's, be warned, they are big. And heavy. They are much taller and wider than a 37x12.50R16.5 military take off tire. Mine were as big as Ebke's 39.5x13.50x16.5 Iroks.

Martin
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Iroks are Interco so even though they are 39.5's, they probably measure 35.
 
Yeah the military take offs are only about 35.5" tall. The 325-85-16's measure an even 37" when mounted and aired up. I have run them on MANY trucks in the past I am looking for tall and skinny. Heavy they are for sure.
 
82355 said:
Orange, always orange.

Why downgrade from an NP208 to an NP205?

If you get the 325/85R16 Michelin XML's, be warned, they are big. And heavy. They are much taller and wider than a 37x12.50R16.5 military take off tire. Mine were as big as Ebke's 39.5x13.50x16.5 Iroks.

Martin
Click to expand...

If by downgrade you mean from aluminum to cast iron, chain driven to gear driven, slip yoke to u joint....then yeah, I guess I am down grading. The only thing about a 208 that can even be construed as "better" is the slightly lower ratio. I have a 208 behind my shop that I dropped on the soft dirt and cracked....that has never happened with a 205. Opinions vary but for me the 205 has been indestructible. The 208 is a lightweight.
 
He's referring to the gearing of the 205. @82355 isn't a fan of the 205 unless it's part of a twin case setup.
 
Vombrown said:
If by downgrade you mean from aluminum to cast iron, chain driven to gear driven, slip yoke to u joint....then yeah, I guess I am down grading. The only thing about a 208 that can even be construed as "better" is the slightly lower ratio. I have a 208 behind my shop that I dropped on the soft dirt and cracked....that has never happened with a 205. Opinions vary but for me the 205 has been indestructible. The 208 is a lightweight.
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Everything you said is true about the 208 being weaker than the 205 but 208 has some advantage like the gearing and shift on the fly.
It also reduces weight.
In my suburban that just goes on the road some snow or mud I have the 208 and my other suburban a 241.
I am preparing to build an overland vehicle and I am thinking about a doubler with a 205 or 241
 
imiceman44 said:
Everything you said is true about the 208 being weaker than the 205 but 208 has some advantage like the gearing and shift on the fly.
It also reduces weight.
In my suburban that just goes on the road some snow or mud I have the 208 and my other suburban a 241.
I am preparing to build an overland vehicle and I am thinking about a doubler with a 205 or 241
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It's actually rare that I need anything lower that Granny Low in 4L on 205. I'm not a rock crawler. What I do need from time to time is raw wheel speed churning up this mountain in the snow and especially the ICE. Ice is the great equalizer. I have said it here many, many many times but if you think you have a badass rig, I can show you a place where a stock truck with little skinny tires will make all of our built rigs look stupid. Another reason lockers are out for me unless they are selectable. I just can't take the chance on the icy roads.

The 205 is geared higher, it is heavier....BUT it takes a LAWT of torque to tear one up. If you toss a big rock under the truck clawing in 4H it can and will crack a 208...ask me how I know. Point is this, for me a 205 is just a better hammer for the nail that I have. Nothing wrong with the 208, run them for years but if I have a choice, and I do, it's the 205 for me. The last reason is the PTO output. I'm old school and although this truck is going to have a PTO driven from the transmission, the ability to add one to the transfer case is a plus in case I change my route for the driveshaft or run into interference. Options man, options.
 
OK back on task:

Pulling the engine on the k-20 today. I'll pull the bed at the same time so I can get under there and do some of the structural welding I need to support the PTO winch under the bed. Then add a plate for a cool little bed mounted hoist I found in the salvage yard for 40 bucks. It will lift 3,000 lbs supposedly, looks like it will I guess we'll see.

Buddy of mine asked my why I bought a k-20 to put one ton axles under instead of just finding a k-30 to buy. I thought that was funny actually as k-30 trucks around here are like hen's teeth. Much easier to find one ton running gear and toss under there. LOL...
 
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