This thread is for the general discussion of the Item R20 to V30?. Please add to the discussion here.
CK5
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So I was given this R20 crew by my FIL. It was truly a cowboy Cadillac at one point pulling trailers to the rodeo. it came equipt with a tbi 454 (l19?) and a th 400 and 4.10 gears. At some point someone swapped in a edelbroke carbed 350 supposedly in the name of mpg but who knows. It was very nice but after my brother in law and farther in law were done it, was much more dog eared. I felt bad they had rode it hard and put it away wet so many times it was finally parked with a "head gasket" out. So I offered to buy it and my father in law gave it to me. I picked it up and with a jump, drove it on the trailer. Pretty sure the real failure is a huge heater core leak. I brought it home, cleaned out most of the trash and "tools" my father in law had in it. Still working on the colony of mice.
I was originally just going to but a Big Block back in it and maybe swap the rears for 3.42s and drive it. Still I have been longing for a k30 like my old blue 79 I drove all over, beat like a rented mule, and it took it all with out single problem. Ruby my 02 8.1 still runs great but is the entropy on the body is really starting to get to it so at some point it will have to be retired.
So the concept came to me that I could 4x4 swap this. I have never done it but I guess there is always the first time.
So I am starting to collect parts. First it will get a stroked 454, likely a gen iv. I have a stroked stock forged crank in the garage. I don't have a core 454 yet but my father in law has one in a truck. Not sure on heads yet. The "blue" k30 has a gen 6 454 with 781s on it currently. That motor is hurt so I may pull it and swap in another gen 6 I have to get it going again. Then I can use the fresh heads on this build. it may get peanut ports. I want to be able to pull it in a class at the tractor pull I go to every year that has a "stock" class requiring all cast iron intake, heads and exhaust. Plan on porting a early 60s high rise qjet or holley cast iron intake and using a set of vortec 454 manifolds that will get at least some cleanup. The compression will be 9ish and the cam will likely be too small but it is in the garage. Comp xr264hr with 212/128 duration 110 lsa and 510 lift on in/ex. It isn't a fireball but I have it and it should be good for towing.
The front axle will be a 60F because that is what Jesus would do. The one I have a line on is 4.56 gears if I remember correct (I sold it to him) so not sure it will stay that way. Probably get into that on the tire/lift discussion.
I am trying to decide how to get the spring hangers. Buy new from ORD or the like or get a core frame. I will need Front Front spring hangers (not sure if the 81-88 is different) rear shankle mount. I also figure I would replace the rear front spring hanger to bring it up without doing blocks or springs in the rear.
Not sure about transmission/transfer case. Originally I was planning on a 400/208 just because it would seem simplest. I think a 4l80 would be cool but not excited about a controller. The 208 seems the simplest and has a decent low range. Not set on that but I know the 400/208 is common ish. Thursday I saw a local kid had hydro pedals for sale and I bought them. So I may be thinking about a manual which could be a 465/205 or 465/208. The 208 would be better but it I wanted a tr-4050 someday I would likely have to use the 205. Either is really fine since this will likely be a tow rig not a crawler. Only using the low range on the track or when really needing to yank something.
So the last part to consider is lift/tires/gears. I wasn't going to lift it at all since a working towing truck. The problem is I think 35s are likely the tire I am headed toward and thinking 4.10s to keep the rpms down on the highway. The 489-496 should make enough torque to just lug along at 2500-3000 so I am leaning to 4.10s. So that leaves me at 2-3" of lift.
Otherwise just plan to clean it up, pull a dent or 2, get the ac working and use it on the farm but also pull a chevelle and maybe go to some squarebody show stuff if it isn't too ugly. I have a cats eye grill it will likely get and since I seem to hit stuff I will be looking for a cucv grill guard.
There Marty, happy now?
I was originally just going to but a Big Block back in it and maybe swap the rears for 3.42s and drive it. Still I have been longing for a k30 like my old blue 79 I drove all over, beat like a rented mule, and it took it all with out single problem. Ruby my 02 8.1 still runs great but is the entropy on the body is really starting to get to it so at some point it will have to be retired.
So the concept came to me that I could 4x4 swap this. I have never done it but I guess there is always the first time.
So I am starting to collect parts. First it will get a stroked 454, likely a gen iv. I have a stroked stock forged crank in the garage. I don't have a core 454 yet but my father in law has one in a truck. Not sure on heads yet. The "blue" k30 has a gen 6 454 with 781s on it currently. That motor is hurt so I may pull it and swap in another gen 6 I have to get it going again. Then I can use the fresh heads on this build. it may get peanut ports. I want to be able to pull it in a class at the tractor pull I go to every year that has a "stock" class requiring all cast iron intake, heads and exhaust. Plan on porting a early 60s high rise qjet or holley cast iron intake and using a set of vortec 454 manifolds that will get at least some cleanup. The compression will be 9ish and the cam will likely be too small but it is in the garage. Comp xr264hr with 212/128 duration 110 lsa and 510 lift on in/ex. It isn't a fireball but I have it and it should be good for towing.
The front axle will be a 60F because that is what Jesus would do. The one I have a line on is 4.56 gears if I remember correct (I sold it to him) so not sure it will stay that way. Probably get into that on the tire/lift discussion.
I am trying to decide how to get the spring hangers. Buy new from ORD or the like or get a core frame. I will need Front Front spring hangers (not sure if the 81-88 is different) rear shankle mount. I also figure I would replace the rear front spring hanger to bring it up without doing blocks or springs in the rear.
Not sure about transmission/transfer case. Originally I was planning on a 400/208 just because it would seem simplest. I think a 4l80 would be cool but not excited about a controller. The 208 seems the simplest and has a decent low range. Not set on that but I know the 400/208 is common ish. Thursday I saw a local kid had hydro pedals for sale and I bought them. So I may be thinking about a manual which could be a 465/205 or 465/208. The 208 would be better but it I wanted a tr-4050 someday I would likely have to use the 205. Either is really fine since this will likely be a tow rig not a crawler. Only using the low range on the track or when really needing to yank something.
So the last part to consider is lift/tires/gears. I wasn't going to lift it at all since a working towing truck. The problem is I think 35s are likely the tire I am headed toward and thinking 4.10s to keep the rpms down on the highway. The 489-496 should make enough torque to just lug along at 2500-3000 so I am leaning to 4.10s. So that leaves me at 2-3" of lift.
Otherwise just plan to clean it up, pull a dent or 2, get the ac working and use it on the farm but also pull a chevelle and maybe go to some squarebody show stuff if it isn't too ugly. I have a cats eye grill it will likely get and since I seem to hit stuff I will be looking for a cucv grill guard.
There Marty, happy now?
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Do you sand blast those? Or paint them? None of my intakes look like that. Lol
Ah very Ebke of you to go over the top just for storage lol.
Should be fun project. I would just go ORD for all the swap brackets. I think they even have the rear spring front hanger for exactly this conversion you are doing.
I personally think the 2" lift and 35s looks outstanding on these trucks. But i understand some people like them taller for 35s so they dont have to trim anything. If you push the axle forward 1.5" you only have to trim the front "fang" for clearance.
I personally think the 2" lift and 35s looks outstanding on these trucks. But i understand some people like them taller for 35s so they dont have to trim anything. If you push the axle forward 1.5" you only have to trim the front "fang" for clearance.
Glad you are back, ORD all the way with the swap. If you can do coil overs and link it.
But you already know what you need to do, you are not new to these trucks.
But you already know what you need to do, you are not new to these trucks.
