Author Topic: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build  (Read 252236 times)

Offline 1983stepside

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #30 on: March 03, 2010, 08:40:16 PM »
this is a cool build i cant wait to see more of it should be a real nice pullin truck 8)

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #31 on: March 06, 2010, 08:32:44 PM »
Hey guys!

Sorry I haven't replied to my thread in awhile, I see that there have been a few comments since I was on here last. I will try to address everyone's comments, but first......

Here are my latest updates......

The first picture is of my manual steering setup. I don't know how this will work on a 4x4 puller, but I am going to give it a try. I kept all of my power steering equipment should this way prove to be too big of a hand full.

This set up should free up a few ponies from the crankshaft. Every little bit helps when you are trying to win. :)





I just scored this baby off of eBay.  :D
It is a Dana60 35 spline Power-lok. It is better than the normal Trac-Lok that Dana used in the front of some of the Chevy K-30s. The P/L has 4 spider gears vs. the T/L's 2. The Power-Lok has 2 sets of clutches instead of only one like the Trac-Lok has. Best part of it all was that is was only $199.00.  ;D



79K30guy- Yes, that two tone brown truck is my oldest son's '79 K-30. With cab lights.  ;) Look elsewhere for a thread on the bed we bought for it today.

Everybody else:

Stay tuned, I am still trying to make headway with the floor board in my cab. I'll post pics when that is done. I have had to cut pieces out of an older '77 K-30 so that I can fix some much needed "dog house" repairs.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:23:50 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #32 on: April 16, 2010, 09:29:50 PM »
Here is where I am at right now........



Most of the crossmembers, hitch parts, and rear axle trusswork has been cleaned, stripped, and primed waiting for paint.

I am about to take my frame to a body shop to have it sandblasted.

I just finished building a set of solid motor mounts that replace the squishy rubber ones. The ones that I made will work with the factory 454 clam shells.

The Dana60 front axle will be next in line to get the treatment. I will install all new seals, Dana/Spicer cold forged, non-greaseable, axle u-joints, and possibly Yukon chromoly 35-spline stub axles. At the very least I will get the Dana70 35-spline stubs. Also, at this time, I will drop in the PowerLok. A 1350 series pinion yoke will go on too. And I will also install all new knuckle king pins, bushings, and bearings as well.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:24:54 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline levisjohnson

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #33 on: April 18, 2010, 03:44:59 PM »
nice build
Levis

88 6.2L Diesel 3+3 3/4 ton

Offline SMiller

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #34 on: June 05, 2010, 06:43:29 PM »
Please keep this thread going, I love gas truck pulling and it is really cool seeing one being done from the ground up! Great job!!!

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #35 on: June 22, 2010, 08:11:34 PM »
Thanks for the replies, and sorry that there hasn't been any recent updates.

Been really busy lately so there hasn't been much time for work.

Most of the work that I have done recently are small detail items that don't require a huge time investment.

Since my son plays baseball, that takes a lot of my spare time. Not to worry though, I still get the itch to work on it occasionally.

I can say that many of the frame parts are now in primer. And I have repainted the shocks.

I also aquired a 32 spline front output shaft for my NP205, and a 1350 yoke for my Dana60 front. This will allow me to use my original 1350 series u-bolt style u-joint yoke and rear drive shaft as the front driveshaft. I will be building a completely new 1410 rear driveshaft when the chassis is reconstructed.
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline rmauto1

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #36 on: June 23, 2010, 05:56:21 PM »
great build man!!!!!

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #37 on: July 07, 2010, 08:37:35 PM »
Man, have I been busy. July 4 weekend, 14/15YO baseball tournament, (which we won 1st place!!), working 40+ hours a week. To bed by midnight, up at 6AM just to do it all over again, and yet I somehow found time to work on the ol' pullin truck.

14-bolt cleaned, primed, and ready for paint:



Dana60 before:



Dana60 as of today:



Still need to get the pinion out, and replace the king-pins. Then it will get the treatment like the 14-bolt has. New king-pins torque to 600 ft/lbs. Removal of the old KPs will probably exceed 800 ft/lbs breaking torque.  :o

Just a pile of parts:

« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:28:56 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #38 on: August 25, 2010, 08:30:02 PM »
I have another update.

I have been tossing around the idea of having all of my frame, spring, and axle stuff sandblasted, but I was a little concerned about what that cost might add up to. I thought about buying a sandblaster, but couldn't deceide on what to get. So, I finally closed on the idea of building one from some plans that I found on the internet that came from an old 1958 issue of Popular Mechanics.

I think my sand blaster turned out great. I have been buying blasting sand for $3.95/75#, so I think in the long run I will come out better on the money end.

My sand blaster is the full pressure type made from an old 30# propane cylinder, and hose, and fittings bought from a local farm supply store. I have some new ceramic tips coming that I bought off of ebay. The local flea market tool dealer tips don't last for more than one tank of sand.  ::)

Compare before vs. after:



After I sand blast my Dana60 housing I will be ready to start rebuilding it. I found a machine shop that has a caustic tank big enough to hold an axle housing of that size, so I had them cook all of the crud out of all of the tight spots. Now it is all nice, and fresh.

I am really getting sick of staring at a pile of parts. All of my buddys are pulling, while I just watch. Man I am really getting the bug. I have to get this truck back together ASAP.  :D

So whatcha guys think? Is the home made sand blaster a keeper? :)
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:30:45 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Roughshod

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #39 on: August 25, 2010, 09:19:37 PM »
Looks great, please share the plans or a link to them for the sandblaster!

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #40 on: August 25, 2010, 09:24:00 PM »
Looks great, please share the plans or a link to them for the sandblaster!

Here you go.......

http://www.vintageprojects.com/metal-welding/SandBlaster-plans.pdf

I am sorry, it was "Mechanix Illustrated", not Popular Mechanics. And it was 1953, not 1958.

Silly me. LOL!
« Last Edit: August 25, 2010, 09:26:35 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #41 on: August 28, 2010, 08:39:21 PM »
Yup, I think the home made sandblaster is a keeper.

After caustic tank, before sand blasting:



After sand blasting:







Before I sand blasted the D60 I torqued the king pins into place. Those babys torque to 600 ft/lbs.  :o  Not 60 ft/lbs, 600!

Now some primer, and paint, and we can start the reassembly.  :D
« Last Edit: August 05, 2015, 06:33:14 PM by Engineer »
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30 Project
« Reply #42 on: August 28, 2010, 08:41:51 PM »
Oh yeah, I forgot to add that it took me $8.00 worth of sand to do the D60 housing.

It would have been less, but the el-cheapo flea market tips keep wearing out, and when that happens there goes your sand.   >:(
2002 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 8.1/ZF6sp RC/LB
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0/4L85E EC/SB
1997 Chevy Blazer 4x4
1994 Chevy K-2500 4x4 C6P 5.7/4L80E
1979 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10
1977 Chevy K-30 4x4 4sp 4.10 454

Dad of an Eagle Scout, and a Life Scout

Offline Canadian 4X4

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Re: My '77 K-30 Sled Puller Restoration
« Reply #43 on: August 28, 2010, 09:46:43 PM »
put a ball valve in just before your gun then when the tip goes you just shut the valve off it saves a lot of sand especially if you are using cheap tips.

Offline screamin86

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Re: My '77 K-30 Sled Puller Restoration
« Reply #44 on: August 31, 2010, 12:03:48 AM »
great build im latching on to this one :)
86 k10 lwb 4x4:350 .040 214/224 444/466 112lsa performer rpm 1406 lt's summit racing th350 2800stall
03 yukon xl:tint debadge full boltons
86 ta:lm7 hot cam boltons