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View Full Version : Old school Chevy truck guys....



MILD THUNDER
02-11-2010, 11:03 AM
I found a real nice old k30 dually locally. Truck is perfect, except for one thing. It has a 350CI. 4x4, 4spd, real clean, but think it would be way underpowered to tow 10-11k lbs...

How big of a project would it be to install a 454?? I know the tranny would bolt up, more concerned with accesories, mounts, etc.

SO far i have found two real clean trucks. One is a 454/auto 2wd, and the one above. Same price, same options. But the 2wd truck is about 350 miles from home. The 4x4 one has under 60k original miles and was a municipal fire and rescue truck......

pullmytrigger
02-11-2010, 02:38 PM
your right in a truck that big a 350 is not the way to go......your also right...the accesories can be a prob with the 454 swap.....I have seen guys on ebay selling various brackets etc for swaps so you may want to check that but from what I have seen is you may have to fab up an A/C comp bracket since the sb is typically on the drivers side and the bb on the pass.....but then not always...post pics of the trucks

RebarBox
02-11-2010, 03:07 PM
I had a 2000 Chevy one ton, two wheel drive with the 350 Vortec and 4 speed. I was pulling a 28' cig on a steel trailer maybe...9500 to 10000 ibs??? I hated every flippin highway mile!!! About 63/65'ish mph max.

If you only tow in town - fine. You will not like the highway though. The truck got 11 mpg empty.

Good Luck!

insanity
02-11-2010, 05:20 PM
I would think that you could find any of the accessory brackets you would need at a local salvage yard to conver to the big block. Problem is all the junk yards thing their junk is worth its weight in gold anymore...:rolleyes:

Dude! Sweet!
03-03-2010, 06:26 PM
There's a good website for old Chevy stuff. I sold my '68 C30 race hauler on there. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1792

That truck was a small block truck and it hauled just fine and got decent (for what it was) milage. Guy I sold it to drove it from LA to Florida to pick up another 70ish K10 and then drove it back to western PA. As you see it in the pictures. Great trucks!

TurboJoe
03-04-2010, 05:35 PM
You could take it one step farther, and do what I plan on one day.

Swap a 12valve turbo charged cummins in it. They make all of the mounts and adapters necessary. Use the dodge power steering pump and alternator, possibly the AC compressor with new lines. Would probably have to change the evaporator to the dodge part also.

The dodge transfer case comes up the left side, so you would need an adapter from the dodge trans to the chevy t-case. All of this stuff exists and has been done already.

Can pickup a 12v cheap now, and all it needs is power to start, alternator feed, and fuel shut off to run. No electronics.

nthdegree
03-04-2010, 06:42 PM
The mounts are in the same location on the small/big block Chevy's....

Dude! Sweet!
03-05-2010, 03:21 PM
You could take it one step farther, and do what I plan on one day.

Swap a 12valve turbo charged cummins in it. They make all of the mounts and adapters necessary. Use the dodge power steering pump and alternator, possibly the AC compressor with new lines. Would probably have to change the evaporator to the dodge part also.

The dodge transfer case comes up the left side, so you would need an adapter from the dodge trans to the chevy t-case. All of this stuff exists and has been done already.

Can pickup a 12v cheap now, and all it needs is power to start, alternator feed, and fuel shut off to run. No electronics.

That is very interesting... I've been sniffing around a bit for a 62 - 68 Suburban (although have a couple other projects that have to clear out first) and a diesel option would be great. Any links to the company that does the adapters?

TurboJoe
03-05-2010, 04:27 PM
This is one place, they specialize in ford swaps obviously, but they have expertise to do it on chevys. I'm sure there are other places. Its not a hard project really.

http://www.fordcummins.com/chevrolet-cummins-conversion.html

Dude! Sweet!
03-05-2010, 04:32 PM
Thanks man.

Trim'd Up
03-06-2010, 12:50 AM
That is very interesting... I've been sniffing around a bit for a 62 - 68 Suburban (although have a couple other projects that have to clear out first) and a diesel option would be great. Any links to the company that does the adapters?

I am going to look at a 72 C20 4x4 with a 402 BBC in the morning, supposedly rust free which would be a miracle around here. I love the 67-72 chevy's. I am wanting to do a crew cab short bed conversion with it for an old school tow rig. Torn between a cummins or just a 540.

insanity
03-06-2010, 02:23 AM
I am going to look at a 72 C20 4x4 with a 402 BBC in the morning, supposedly rust free which would be a miracle around here. I love the 67-72 chevy's. I am wanting to do a crew cab short bed conversion with it for an old school tow rig. Torn between a cummins or just a 540.

Nice! I think those are the absolute best looking trucks, would love to find a cherry old one. Only thing I like better than the trucks is the Blazers, unlike the later years the hard top went all the way to the windshied. I always though one would make a great summer ride w/o the top on.

BUIZILLA
03-06-2010, 08:17 AM
I am going to look at a 72 C20 4x4 with a 402 BBC in the morning, supposedly rust free which would be a miracle around here. I love the 67-72 chevy's. I am wanting to do a crew cab short bed conversion with it for an old school tow rig. Torn between a cummins or just a 540. I've had 3 '72's and a '71, all shorty's.... I am dying to get my hands on a C20 4x4 with a 402, lemme know if you pass, and why please...

DAREDEVIL
03-06-2010, 10:33 AM
I found a real nice old k30 dually locally. Truck is perfect, except for one thing. It has a 350CI. 4x4, 4spd, real clean, but think it would be way underpowered to tow 10-11k lbs...

How big of a project would it be to install a 454?? I know the tranny would bolt up, more concerned with accesories, mounts, etc.

SO far i have found two real clean trucks. One is a 454/auto 2wd, and the one above. Same price, same options. But the 2wd truck is about 350 miles from home. The 4x4 one has under 60k original miles and was a municipal fire and rescue truck......

There is a company here in the us, they swap u a Cummins diesel in there !!!!!! :cheers2:

Thats what i would do !:USA:

hotjava66
03-06-2010, 10:43 AM
Nice! I think those are the absolute best looking trucks, would love to find a cherry old one. Only thing I like better than the trucks is the Blazers, unlike the later years the hard top went all the way to the windshied. I always though one would make a great summer ride w/o the top on.

I agree, have always wanted a blazer with the soft top, couple rows of race seats, and a killer aluminum big block. one of these days :driving:

Trim'd Up
03-06-2010, 11:20 AM
I've had 3 '72's and a '71, all shorty's.... I am dying to get my hands on a C20 4x4 with a 402, lemme know if you pass, and why please...

Will do. Can't go look at it today like I planned the guy had something come up. This one looks pretty descent from the pictures, nothing perfect but a driver. Just an old country boy's truck and stock. He says it has a rod knocking, but I don't care since it will be getting a heart transplant.:sifone:

When I was a kid my old man had a 71 blazer on 35's with a soft top. I loved that truck. I still have a scar by my eye from falling on the rocker trying to climb into that beast.

pullmytrigger
03-08-2010, 10:51 AM
I looked into a Cummins swap for my 94 3/4 ton Sub for some more power....in the end the costs added up too much for a truck that just sits there 90% of the time.....so I bought this '85 with a carb 350.....I have an alum head 400sb that I was going to swap in but guys are telling me I can make lots of power with a good 350 and I could keep the 400 for the racecar......

pullmytrigger
03-08-2010, 10:55 AM
you guys mean Subs like this..????

Trim'd Up
03-08-2010, 11:51 AM
you guys mean Subs like this..????

Those are bad a$$!

Trim'd Up
03-08-2010, 11:51 AM
The guy hasn't called me back on the k20 yet. I hope it's not sold.

BUIZILLA
03-08-2010, 02:24 PM
I had a butterscotch '71 3 door 2wd like the one on the right, 350, 4.10's and 16.5's... :sifone: rolling whorehouse.. :bump:

Bertram38
03-15-2010, 05:43 PM
I own two 3/4 ton chevy trucks with 350s in them, I haul 14,000 lbs with them both. The two wheel drive gets 11 mpg on flat land, the 4 wheel drive gets 8 mpg haulin 14,000 lbs. If you are in a hurry, buy a diesel or BB gas.
mouse motors can only do so much, i cruise at 65 mph safely. that is it. I am happy with outcome.
And you said it, sits 90% of the time. not worth the $$$$$$ to let it sit.:iagree:

Dude! Sweet!
03-22-2010, 06:36 PM
you guys mean Subs like this..????

Awwww yeah! :sifone:

Dude! Sweet!
03-22-2010, 06:41 PM
By the way, if you guys know anyone selling... I'd be up for trading my 24 Pantera with twin 200 Yammy o/bs for a decent early Suburban/carryall.