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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: rmauto1 on July 18, 2009, 04:38:53 pm

Title: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 18, 2009, 04:38:53 pm

Here is my new project. 1978 chevy k20, ex fire truck. 15,000 orginal miles. was a 400, turbo 400. now a 468 turbo 400. converted 203, dana 60 front and 14 bolt out of of a k30. just found a really nice solid step side for it. still have some stuff to do but it is getting there. i am building this truck as a stock class puller, and a summertime daily driver.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 18, 2009, 04:46:39 pm

I almost forgot to mention, this truck had a blown up motor. and i only paid 1600.00 for it.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: hotrod24 on July 18, 2009, 04:56:30 pm

nice man i have a 78 k10 that i am restoring good luck

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 18, 2009, 05:23:06 pm

thanks a lot, good luck with yours too!

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: exilous on July 18, 2009, 06:59:06 pm

I noticed you took those older tires off. I hope you didnt throw them away its getting hard to find those older tread styles. Other than that beautiful truck looks great.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: Irish_Alley on July 18, 2009, 11:28:39 pm

nice truck. what happend to the 400 ::)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 19, 2009, 12:50:00 am

Thanks a lot. No, the fire department took those off before I got it. I do have two other sets of good, old bias 16.5's. I got a good clean set of, white, steel, 16x7 wheels with the one ton axles. just have to find the right tires for them. I'm really going for the lumber wagon look with this truck. I'm thinking about 255/85/R16. What do you guys think?  as for the 400; the fire department ran it out of oil, and wrecked the crank, block, and three pistons. there was literally 5 pounds of metal shavings in the bottom of the oil pan when i took it apart. Really a shame. i couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. it just takes up space in the corner of the shop. still looks like a new motor from the outside.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: Irish_Alley on July 19, 2009, 03:23:02 am

silly FD oil in a engine. who would of thought, idk if i would depend on them to put my house fire out. lol probably one of those deals that the person who was driving it for the day thought the person who drove it yesterday check the oil cause its on there check list they checked it and it was OK.(http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules/Forums/images/smiles/BangHead.gif)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: 79K20 on July 20, 2009, 05:18:41 pm

Quote from: rmauto1 on July 18, 2009, 04:38:53 pm

dana 60 front and 14 bolt out of of a k30.

You sure that's a Dana 60 front axle? Sure looks like a 10-bolt to me.

Not trying to be critical, I just see lots of people inaccurately touting their "one-ton" drivetrains when trying to sell their trucks, and I certainly wouldn't put it past a FD to try that same method.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 20, 2009, 06:49:10 pm

yea, i'm sure. the 60 has not been installed in those pictures yet. when i got it, it was just a 44. I bought the new axles out from under a one ton crew cab truck.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: Engineer on July 21, 2009, 05:58:10 pm

Quote from: rmauto1 on July 20, 2009, 06:49:10 pm

yea, i'm sure. the 60 has not been installed in those pictures yet. when i got it, it was just a 44. I bought the new axles out from under a one ton crew cab truck.

Yup, that's a D60F alright.

Over the years I have had 5 Dana60 front ends. 3 SRWs, and 2 DRWs, one of which was converted to SRW. If you break a D60 you really done something wrong.

BTW, and this is just me talking here, you may find that you like how your truck pulls the sled if you drop a 4 speed SM465 in there with a NP205 behind it. Of course, that 468ci/SM465/NP205 works best with a 4.10 rear axle.

I have that exact combo in my '77 K-30, and I have hauled home a ton of trophys with it

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 21, 2009, 09:49:48 pm

yea, i have one out of a 70 gmc. i am hoping exilous will sell me the pedals and linkage out of the c 30 he just scraped. the auto leaves a little bit to be desired. i pulled 250' last summer with street tires, the automatic, and 3.73 gears. i'm hoping to do a little better this year.

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on July 28, 2009, 09:46:03 am

We'll, I had some time to work on my truck last week. I pulled the running boards off of it, really made a big diffrence. I also shiped it off to the body shop to get the new box painted. I can't wait to see it all one color!

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: 78Scottsdale on August 06, 2009, 01:11:36 pm

What rims are you planning on putting on it, I'm having alot of trouble finding a 16x8 Steel or Aluminum rim that's 8x6.5 and has a big enough center bore for that Full Floating axle.

Good Luck

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on November 13, 2009, 10:07:24 pm

well fellers, here is an update on my project.
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/pullerpaint5.jpg[img]
[IMG]http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/pullerpaint6.jpg)
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/pullerpaint2.jpg)
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/puller9.jpg)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on November 13, 2009, 10:09:49 pm

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/pullerpaint6.jpg)
(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/pullerpaint5.jpg)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on May 05, 2010, 10:56:28 pm

here are some new pics, will get some more pics when i get the time.

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/SprintPhoto_byz3v0.jpg)

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/SprintPhoto_bruct0.jpg)

(http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad310/rmauto1/SprintPhoto_b0wpu0.jpg)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: Captkaos on May 10, 2010, 05:37:20 pm

Nice!

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: Engineer on June 22, 2010, 08:20:10 pm

Looking good.  :)

Title: Re: 1978 k20
Post by: rmauto1 on June 23, 2010, 05:53:27 pm

thanks guys!!!