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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: Mr. Lee K30 on February 15, 2008, 02:17:07 am

Title: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on February 15, 2008, 02:17:07 am
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1219.jpg?)

Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: 79diesel on February 15, 2008, 06:08:58 am
looks like a good starting point...what are the plans?
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: plowking_90 on February 15, 2008, 04:10:49 pm
nice lookin truck leave it stock :)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: VileZambonie on February 15, 2008, 04:46:53 pm
No way! pimp that ride!
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: xtremjeepn on February 15, 2008, 08:25:04 pm
Nice. I have been waiting for more people to resto-mod these old crew cabs, especially with the cost of a new one.


Here is mine.....in progress.(have to go a few pages back to get to the crew cab)

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=4725.0
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on February 16, 2008, 03:17:38 am
So far the plan is to back on the road (been sitting for a few years) and make sure everything is working good and all.  When I changed the oil some radiator fluid also drained out with the oil :(  So we'll see what happens when I fire it up this weekend, might have to already look for another motor or something.

Then...
-Put on some wheels and tires to replace the stock ones
-Redo the interior including installing High Back Bucket seats I got from a '78 Blazer (once I find the right brackets)
-Bodywork & rust removal/prevention
-Paint job  ;D

Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: JRConnieK10 on February 16, 2008, 09:22:43 am
I like it. I think when I get done with the truck I'm workong on I want to build a crew cab next.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: SUX2BU99 on February 19, 2008, 11:32:51 am
There is a local truck around here that is a dumped crew cab with a windowless shell on the back. The cool part is he limo'd it by adding on the back 1/2 of another crew cab, so it's a 6 window.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: bake315 on February 28, 2008, 03:38:04 pm
So far the plan is to back on the road (been sitting for a few years) and make sure everything is working good and all.  When I changed the oil some radiator fluid also drained out with the oil :(  So we'll see what happens when I fire it up this weekend, might have to already look for another motor or something.

Then...
-Put on some wheels and tires to replace the stock ones
-Redo the interior including installing High Back Bucket seats I got from a '78 Blazer (once I find the right brackets)
-Bodywork & rust removal/prevention
-Paint job  ;D

Sounds like you're headed in the same direction I'm in.  I'm in the process of looking for a good 3+3 resto candidate, and plan to take a sort of "slow boat" approach.  I actually got a lead on a K30 crew last night that sounds promising, and only about 50 miles away. Who knows, we might end up comparing a few notes before it's all said and done.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on March 04, 2008, 03:11:17 pm
Hey that sounds good  :)

Well I got some nicer wheels and tires on it.  Tires are 265/75/R17 (32") BFG Rugged Terrain T/A's (Les Schwab takeoffs) & 17x8 Rims.  $500 out the door, tires are good enough to get by until I can afford some new rubber.

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1261.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1262.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1263.jpg)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Captkaos on March 04, 2008, 03:36:41 pm
New pics should go here not the projects page.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on March 04, 2008, 08:08:40 pm
No prob Capt  ;)

My "Stock" 400 Motor
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1268.jpg)

I just sold my bucket seats to a coworker for his '73 K20 so I'm definately gonna keep the bench seats, maybe replace the front one with something a little nicer.  Hopefully this weekend I'll get the inside and out cleaned up, the new fuel pump and hoses installed and fire it up again...

(Edit: Haha bought the seats back as I found a matching rear bench seat and took the time to find the correct brackets from a late '70s early '80s Suburban)

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/BucketSeats.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/MatchingBackSeat.jpg)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Captkaos on March 05, 2008, 01:50:24 pm
Sweet!, BTW, this is YOUR thread, so you can put the whole build up here.  If you start a specific project on it, you can detail it in the project forum.  IE, Carpet Install, Seat Cover how to etc...
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on March 23, 2008, 10:48:58 pm
Well I was able to fire up the truck again after having to replace the bad fuel lines and some other items.  Suprisingly no white smoke whatsoever, even after it fully warmed up.  The carb is gonna need a rebuild as it had to be tweaked to keep it running at idle among other things.  Took a test drive on the back roads with my buddy and it did alright with the exception of the cruise control sticking  :o (thankfully only going 30 mph).  So now I'm gonna concentrate on all the little mechanical things (and disabling the cruise control for now  ;)), then onward to other fun stuff  :D
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: BC3+3 on March 27, 2008, 02:38:19 am
Lots of potential there.  I've been planning a build of one of these for awhile and will finally be ready to buy one this summer.  Sure they burn fuel, but parts are cheap and plentiful and easy to work on.  What axles and gear combo does your truck have?
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 08, 2008, 08:25:22 pm
Well its been awhile so...

Was driving the Crew Cab around for a couple of weeks until it kept running hot and pinging like crazy.  I found multiple vacuum leaks on the motor in just about every place and decided to park it.  Then my coworker wanted to sell his '77 with a rebuilt 454 (with only 1500 miles) for the price of building up the 400... so I decided why not  ;D

In the next couple of weeks I will pull the sb400 from the Crew Cab, prep the engine bay and then pull the 454 from the other rig and drop it in the Crew Cab.  Gonna also try to do a good write-up on going from small-block to big-block with pics  ;)

Oh... and sometime I will get the wiring figured out for the dash cluster swap going from non-tach to tach cluster from a '76?
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Prong on August 09, 2008, 06:29:53 am
You need a 77 cluster because the number of warning lights and printed circuit traces are different between the 76 and 77.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: 06gsxrman1000 on August 11, 2008, 12:04:37 pm
i love the 3+3's
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 12, 2008, 11:21:56 pm
You need a 77 cluster because the number of warning lights and printed circuit traces are different between the 76 and 77.

Thanks for the info! 
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 29, 2008, 01:10:26 am
This weekend...

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/Chevy%20Truck%20Stuff/IMG_1640.jpg)

ENGINE SWAP!!!  ;D


Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: BigHemi353 on February 15, 2009, 03:00:33 pm
update?  ;D
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on February 18, 2009, 10:37:02 am
The engine swap is... still in progress  :-[

I took on a side project for a couple of months which haulted progress and now I'm finally getting back on the ball.  Currently working on painting up stuff on the motor and getting the engine bay cleaned up and painted.  I FINALLY found the correct bucket seat brackets for my Hi-Back seats and got them mounted up in the cab.  Also debating on whether to loose the NP203 transfer case in favor or a NP205.  Will post up some pics later this week  :)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Captkaos on February 18, 2009, 11:52:48 am
I thought you disappeared.  Where's the pics :D?
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 06, 2009, 11:25:03 pm
Okay the ball is still rollin' on this beast and I fixed all the missing pics in previous posts.  The engine swap is almost complete and I have plenty of pics for your viewing pleasure :)

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1689.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1699.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1696.jpg)

Painted the Firewall black
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1718.jpg)

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1729.jpg)

Out came the Big Block
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1759.jpg)

Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 06, 2009, 11:34:30 pm

Decided to tear off the front sheetmetal as it all was pretty rusted and made putting in the 454 much easier

Here's the Super Beefy Motor Mounts from DIY4x4
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_1797.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2119.jpg)

Prepping the 454 and in it goes...
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/UpsideDown454.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2137.jpg)

Painting brackets and other misc stuff:
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2370-1.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2368-1.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2350.jpg)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 06, 2009, 11:55:08 pm
POR-15'd the bottom of the Core Support... then painted
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2139.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2142.jpg)

Custom Stainless Steel Sleeves for the front body bushings
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2146.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2145.jpg)
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2149.jpg)

Complete 454 ready to go!
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2407.jpg)

I spent HOURS cleaning and painting stuff and really liking it so far.  Still have lots to do including the rest of the sheetmetal, electric fuel pump install and gas tank cleaning, the rest of the body bushings and more...
(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2410.jpg)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: cowboy63645 on August 07, 2009, 12:25:17 pm
Looks great!!  What are you using to paint all of your brackets and such?  Also, I noticed in a earlier post, you were thining of swapping transer case's...they sell a part time kit for the 203, then all you would need is new lockouts for your front axle and your done!! 
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: 79K20 on August 07, 2009, 02:42:00 pm
Lookin Good! Keep it up!
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: 78Scottsdale on August 07, 2009, 11:02:41 pm
What size rims were on that truck before you put those Cragars on it, and what size are those Cragars?  I'm so glad I seen that picture, because I didn't think the cragar center bore was large enough to fit over that full floating axle.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 11, 2009, 07:38:21 pm
I've been using mostly Dupli-color engine paint and Rustoleum primer paint.  The 203 has already been converted over to part-time and have decided to stick with using it.  The wheels are Les Schwab brand (maybe made by Cragar???) but yeah they fit over the front & back hubs with some room for center caps. 

Recent work includes dropping the driver side gas tank and cleaned it up.  Got the wrong sending unit (outlets point the opposite direction) so now I gotta order the correct one.  Later I will have pics of the gas tank install plus mounting and plumbing the new electric fuel pump and filter on the frame...
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: 78Scottsdale on August 11, 2009, 09:34:34 pm
Hmm, these are Cragar 342's they look exactly the same as what you have there.. http://www.wheelsmaster.com/rt_wheel.jsp?brand=Cragar&model=342

Does your truck have any lift at all? because it sits so high, maybe because its a K30. Is there any way you can fit a 16" rim on your truck?

And can you do me a huge favor and measure the diameter of your rear floating axle end there.  That would really help me out.
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: Mr. Lee K30 on August 25, 2009, 08:25:40 pm
Ah some progress, gotta love the woodgrain  ;D

(http://i633.photobucket.com/albums/uu59/Darknight455/The%20Battletank/IMG_2419.jpg)

Got the right tank sending unit, gonna reclean the tank, install sender and reinstall in truck.  Might of found someone with nicer doors as mine are pretty rotted out.  Will try to get some more pics of the other progress I've been slowly making...  :)
Title: Re: '77 K30 Crew Cab Longterm Restomod
Post by: bake315 on December 10, 2009, 09:02:13 am
Looks like you're a couple of steps ahead of me there - looking great!  Say, where did you pick up those stainless sleeves?

bake315