Redneck RV, 1987 k30

[joshuak]

Greetings folks, don't have a thread for this here. Fellow member asked about it in a different thread and to not clog that one up, figured I'd put something together for your entertainment and my motivation.

Day she came home. Stock suspension, wheels and drivetrain (6.2/th400/np208).



Somewhat current. 3" lift, 35's, crossover steering and 4bd1t/nv4500/np208 drivetrain.

 

[joshuak]

Lift was typical 3" TC HD for the front and shackle flip + extended shackles for the back. ORD spec Bilsteins all around.

While I was there, I played the clean, prime, paint and rebuild game. Removed rust with wire wheel, then phosphoric acid, a couple of coats of Rustoleum's rusty metal primer and their semi gloss implement paint. New seals, u joints, brake components, etc.





The rear leaf packs were broken down and painted too.



For steering, I got a new box from PSC and crossover from diy4x.



Replaced the rag joint on the steering column.



Had to shorten the shaft to make up the difference.



Primed, paint and repacked with grease.



First time out the driveway after the lift, on 37s.

 

[nvrenuf]

That's a really cool truck! Can't wait to see the inside.

 

[joshuak]

That's a really cool truck! Can't wait to see the inside.

Thank you, the back is an area of opportunity and where I need some motivation to shit or get off the pot so to speak.

Pic of the e trac that I installed on the floor in back is what brought this thread to be. (Sorry for the cross post)



In use.



Backing up a bit though, the ambulance box was missing the original kit it had when it was in the Armed Forces. It’s life in law enforcement left me with the bench seat and the diesel fired compartment heater.

I gutted the box and replaced fiberglass insulation with foam board insulation, filled in gaps with expandable foam.





1/2" expandable foam glued to the back of 1/4" luan boards coated with a couple coats of poly something to finish it off.



A few circuits back here needed a box so I put this together.



Interior light switch on top, USB charging ports on the side.



And that's where I've stopped. At times I want to make it a pop top, other times I think I'll just lower the roof, other times I want to make it a flat bed and put the body on a trailer.

 

[joshuak]

Pic. bellow is one of the reasons I changed the drivetrain, she smoked like a banshee.



Out came the 6.2/th400



And in came a 4bd1t and nv4500, thank you redEOD and Capt. Ron.





Tranny went off for a 4wd conversion with a pro.



In the meantime, I rebuilt the 208.





Hardest part was not losing these guys.

 

[nvrenuf]

I like the inside, that could really blossom in to a great camping set up. Might be tight for 2 people though by the time you add any storage or comfort items.

 

[Truckman4life]

Love it! I've wanted to build a medium duty box truck rv but the 4wd aspect is nice too. I require lots more room though for 6 people.

 

[muddybuddy]

Its way cooler in the flesh!

Still thinking about going dually for stability? 4 skinny 37’s on back…That would be sweet. I know where a 70HD is….

 

[tarussell]

Its way cooler in the flesh!

Still thinking about going dually for stability? 4 skinny 37’s on back…That would be sweet. I know where a 70HD is….

A set of four skinny’s wrapped around an H.D. 70 always looks great !
Those are 38’s just for reference.

 

[Big Ray]

Nice rig!

Subscribed!

 

[joshuak]

I like the inside, that could really blossom in to a great camping set up. Might be tight for 2 people though by the time you add any storage or comfort items.

That’s were the project paralysis starts, unless it’s modular it gets tight quick and if going modular, why not lose the air drag tax and make it a pop top.

Pics. I’ve saved of what others have done.














Pic showing pop top concept…



Or make a trailer out of the box from here



And end up with something like this…

 

[joshuak]

…

Still thinking about going dually for stability? 4 skinny 37’s on back…That would be sweet. I know where a 70HD is….

If the full box stays I need to do something, it’s a big sail.

Duallyed out has potential, I know it’s a dodge but still looks cool IMO.





I’m almost there…

 

[Chickntrk]

Dually looks more proportional....I guess it comes down to will you use it enough to justify keeping the box as a camper? If not I vote flatbed if you'll use it and enjoy it more. I admire a driveway engine swap. I was in a debate with myself recently about getting a truck bed camper or just getting a bed cover and a roof top tent that I can add or take off when I want to camp....

 

[joshuak]

Dually looks more proportional....I guess it comes down to will you use it enough to justify keeping the box as a camper? If not I vote flatbed if you'll use it and enjoy it more....

That's where I am at currently, I don't take vacations and in it's current configuration it's not very convenient to stop for coffee on the way to the lumber yard for building material or whatever the mission is.

... I admire a driveway engine swap...

Challenging at times. Plywood helps make the engine hoist roll, but doesn't do much when Lake Chevrolet floods.

I was in a debate with myself recently about getting a truck bed camper or just getting a bed cover and a roof top tent that I can add or take off when I want to camp....

A trip with similar waypoints to the pic. bellow is on my bucket list, I need to do it before I can't. RTT would do that just fine.

 

[joshuak]

Tried to make the dash look less bad with some short haired glass.

 

[joshuak]

Cooling package, ebay IC and rad for 350 with OEM shroud. Lined up nicely with the mechanical fan on the 4bdt. Hindsight being 20/20, should have stuck a larger IC in there.

 

[Truckman4life]

That's a 4 cyl turbo Izuzu engine? Not familiar with them.

 

[joshuak]

Yep, 4cyl turbo diesel. GM had Isuzu power before Duramax lol, attached to NPR trucks/ Chevy 4500. This one is directed injected, after ‘91 they went to an indirect injected model due to emissions. Similar #s to a 4bt.

https://www.dieselhub.com/specs/isuzu-3.9l-4bd1.html

Fits like it belongs there IMO.

 

[Truckman4life]

I've seen guys do a similar 6 cyl version also.

 

[joshuak]

I've seen guys do a similar 6 cyl version also.

I'm happy I didn't have the extra length to deal with, I do wish I had the extra cubes.

Even after I compound this, equally geared mostly stock 6bt powered trucks will run circles around it.

It's all good. Just slow, like me.