Author Topic: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build  (Read 252247 times)

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #405 on: January 25, 2018, 06:57:56 AM »
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/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #406 on: February 04, 2018, 03:19:37 PM »
Hey gang!

Finally have time to drop in for a little update.

Are you guys checking out the Maiden America Monster Truck Facebook page? The throw-back-Thursday post this week was really popular with the old school monster truck crowd. Just a reminder that some things on the Facebook page wont be posted here and the technical side of this build will seldom make it from here onto the Facebook page.

Here is the latest.

Picked up 2 more Firestones lately. I now have 3. These aren't suitable for an ag application but would be perfect for an old school '82~'93 Chevy S10.......





Picked up a few more parts for the 6-71 blower install. Originally I had planned to modify a factory GM points type distributor with an electronic pick-up module but decided to just buy new. The blower is not compatible with an HEI so it takes changing to a small cap style. The cost to rebuild and recurve a GM points type would be about the same as what I bought. Additionally this unit allows me to continue to use my multi-spark ignition box that I came to love.



The chrome bracket is to mount the alternator so that it will run with the pulley system on the short/Corvette water pump. I will be fabbing the rest of the alternator bracketry, and power steering brackets before I install the blower. I'll post pics as that happens.

The harmonic balancer in the picture is made of steel. Since I don't plan on running a ton of boost I could probably get away with just using a stock or even a nodular iron balancer. The reason for the steel balancer is because the extra load placed on the keyway of the balancer by the blower drive. On a cast iron balancer there is a risk of the key camming out of the keyway under heavy loads. Steel balancers resist this.

Originally I was looking for standard steel harmonic balancer. I didn't have a need for an SFI approved unit, so I was reluctant to pay a $100 premium for same. Imagine my surprise when my balancer showed up and it was etched with the SFI logo. Obviously there is no "DFI" spec. Certainly these are blems, but good to know the safety margin exists just the same.



And the ever so critical timing marks that are totally necessary to tuning a blower engine.



Right now my focus is finishing a set of tires to transport the truck. Right now my metal wheels wont get the job done. First of all it won't climb my ramps to get up on the trailer. I have a couple of other finishing projects that have to be done in the next few weeks. If the weather is hospitable I have a show to take the truck to toward the end of this month, so, there is a sort of urgency.

Remember to check the facebook page. For the forseeable future there will be some really cool throw-back-Thursday posts every Thursday.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2018, 03:25:20 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 jptiger

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #407 on: February 07, 2018, 08:15:41 PM »
Love it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1977 GMC Sierra Grande K15 swb
1992 GMC Sierra K1500 ext cab

Offline Engineer

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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/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #409 on: February 13, 2018, 08:54:38 PM »
Not much to report. Many other distractions........mostly stuff that was neglected while trying to get the monster up and running.

Built some transporter tires recently:



Needed something so I can crawl up my trailer ramps. Also the bare steel wheels were marring up my shop floor.





And this week's bonus is another tube frame square monster:

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 Irish_Alley

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #410 on: February 13, 2018, 11:09:39 PM »
gotta love the visor, right vile????
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #411 on: March 15, 2018, 06:58:42 AM »
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 VileZambonie

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #412 on: March 22, 2018, 09:49:58 AM »
Hahaha. To each their own! I just wish some things never made it into the J.C. Whitney hall of fame  ;D On that note I found some old catalogs and was laughing as I went through them. I remember when everyone wanted a ZR1 roll pan, visor, razor back, molded side steps, cab handles, running boards, headlight covers, CB antenna's and of course a rebel flag somewhere on their truck. It's all good, heck I'm working on my 74 again and going, what was I thinking when I did that? and I haven't even finished it yet! lol

So what did you bond your retreads with?

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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Jason S

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #413 on: March 23, 2018, 12:24:11 AM »
Vile this week’s tbt post is for you:

Checked out the facebook page. Maybe I forgot you were a B-17 fan... Thought you might like this

Got to see Liberty Belle in Tulsa a few years before an engine fire forced her down and she burned up in a corn field. She was a beautiful plane. I've got several photos of her in Flickr.

1973 GMC K2500, Super Custom, Camper Special, 350, TH350, NP203, 4.10's
1974 Chevrolet K10, Custom Deluxe, 350, SM465, NP203, 3.73's

"1) Peace through strength; 2) Trust but verify; 3) Beware of evil in the modern world"

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #414 on: March 26, 2018, 07:53:46 PM »
Vile this week’s tbt post is for you:

Checked out the facebook page. Maybe I forgot you were a B-17 fan... Thought you might like this

Got to see Liberty Belle in Tulsa a few years before an engine fire forced her down and she burned up in a corn field. She was a beautiful plane. I've got several photos of her in Flickr.



Jason thanks for sharing.

If you check out Scott Thompson’s website I gave him some pictures that he posted on his B-17 pages.

The pictures are of the Liberty Belle BEFORE she became the Liberty Belle. The pictures are from Tom Reilly Aviation waaaay back in the 90s. The Liberty Belle was a derelict at that point. It is amazing to see how they were able to make a beautiful Fortress from the hulks that were what I took pictures of. Heck, who knows, Scott may have included those pictures in the latest version of his book "Final Cut”.

http://aerovintage.com/b17news11.htm



Anyhow, it is a shame that the Liberty Belle was destroyed.

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20110613X14032&ntsbno=CEN11FA383&akey=1

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/NTSB-Final-Report-On-Liberty-Belle-Crash-221975-1.html

Many B-17 veterans had signed the interior of the Liberty Belle and those were lost forever after the forced landing and fire.

Heartbroken, sad.
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/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #415 on: March 26, 2018, 08:01:55 PM »
Hahaha. To each their own! I just wish some things never made it into the J.C. Whitney hall of fame  ;D On that note I found some old catalogs and was laughing as I went through them. I remember when everyone wanted a ZR1 roll pan, visor, razor back, molded side steps, cab handles, running boards, headlight covers, CB antenna's and of course a rebel flag somewhere on their truck. It's all good, heck I'm working on my 74 again and going, what was I thinking when I did that? and I haven't even finished it yet! lol

So what did you bond your retreads with?



Carriage bolts between the tread lugs.

I’m posting from my phone. I have some more mechanical updates that I’m not planning to add to the fb page. I was hoping that the rain would abate one of these Saturdays. If I can get a dry day I’m going to get the truck out for some better pictures and a video or three. If that doesn’t happen soon I’ll post some work I have done on the blower drive sooner rather than later. I have some videos of the truck driving around from back in January but they aren’t the best.
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/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #416 on: April 09, 2018, 06:16:31 AM »
Here is a video that we took back in January. I was hoping to get a better video by now but the weather has not been cooperative. We had snow showers all weekend.........

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=423809704709738&id=387330345024341
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/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #417 on: April 22, 2018, 06:46:49 AM »
Here is a view from the cab. A little bouncy. If we had it out more these bias ply tires wouldn’t be so prone to flat spots.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=428770684213640&id=387330345024341



Also, check back here or on the Facebook page on Tuesday the 24th. I have some big news that I have been sitting on that should be official by then. The “higher ups” assure me that the details will be finalized by noon on that day.

-Eng
« Last Edit: April 22, 2018, 06:53:18 AM 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 VileZambonie

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #418 on: April 22, 2018, 07:01:41 AM »
Looks like fun
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Engineer

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Re: My '77 K-30/V3500 Monster Truck Build
« Reply #419 on: April 22, 2018, 08:55:05 AM »
Looks like fun

Haha! Yeah it’s a blast. There’s a private road near my house that I can use that allows us to stay off public roadways. You should see the reactions I get when I meet other motorists.
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