Author Topic: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?  (Read 4638 times)

Offline PSuarez

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83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« on: April 01, 2015, 07:25:23 am »
Hi, I found a 83 K10 4x4 1/2 ton with manual trans.  It has no motor looking at it for a donor truck for my 78 K10.  Hoping to swap the manual in it for my auto.  What should I look for as far as compatibility? 

Offline Captkaos

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2015, 10:17:16 pm »
Cab wise everything is basically the same in regards to the transmission and related parts.

Offline PSuarez

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2015, 04:16:00 am »
Awesome thanks! He hasn't returned my email but hopefully!

Offline Irish_Alley

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Offline roundhouse

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2015, 01:44:19 pm »
We swapped a NV -3500 from a 2006 silverado in place of the Stock SM 465

It's light years better
If you're goon a swap to a manual I'd reccomend skipping the factory 4 speed granny and get the 3500

You do have to use a NP-208 t case though


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Offline PSuarez

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2015, 08:23:12 pm »
I'll check that out thanks!

Offline PSuarez

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2015, 06:03:25 am »
Did you men have a donor truck or did you find the parts to complete the swap pretty easily...  I found the tranny and transfer for 500 *have not bought it*.  Where did you get the rest for the swap?  Thanks for the info in advance :)

Offline roundhouse

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2015, 08:56:22 am »
For our NV-3500 5 speed swap I bought the parts separately
Found the Trans on car-part.com
Found the 208 locally
Modified the stock 77 clutch/brake pedal to work with a hydraulic  clutch

If I had it to do over I would buy a 85-87 clutch brake pedal assembly

And I might buy a wrecked 4x4 97-07 silverado  for the engine and Trans
Since the LS engine is such a great swap

The only thing with the 208 is it has to be from behind a 4 speed or a TH-400
Or you have to at least find the 32 spline input shaft and swap it in to a 208

Most 208s were behind TH-350 or 700R4 and has a 27 spline input

The 97-07 5 speeds in the full size 4x4 pickups  are the best design  internally.  And will bolt right up to a 32 spline 208

You can also use a NP-241 case from a 88-91 blazer or burb

The stock t case behind the 97-07 5 speed should be a NP-241 but it has a driver drop instead of passenger side drop.  However the input shaft will easily swap right over to a 88-91 NP-241.  Making your search easier





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Offline roundhouse

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2015, 09:04:22 am »
We paid $600 for the 5 speed from a '06 silverado
We found it on carpart but was only 3 hours away do we went and picked it up instead of shipping it

   And $200 for a 32 spline 208 locally From a military K-30  .far as I know  All the military pickups had TH-400s
  We also grabbed the driveshafts from the K-30

We took the 5 speed with us to make sure the 208 would bolt up    We also got the crossmember and used it although your current cross may work

Ours didn't since the truck already had a 4 speed in it

We had to have the driveshafts modified


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Offline PSuarez

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Re: 83 k10 donor truck for my 78 k10 parts?
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2015, 10:14:38 am »
Ok thanks for the info!