83 GMC K30 CC SB

[Captkaos]

I would brace the current frame and ditch the 06 frame then.
If you don't do that you could section the bed over the hump if you don't need the bed space.

[SMiller]

You will pretzel the frame, do yourself a favor and box it now.

[SmokeShow]

Got going on it more yesterday with the help of a friend.

Like stated previously, the cab et al had already been removed from the 06 so we pulled the engine/trans together. NO I'm nor running the Allison but my zf6 is being stored at a friends place & I couldn't get to it so we used the Allison for clearance check be use I'm pretty sure it's atleast as big as the zf6 if not quite a bit bigger.

So we have engine/trans out of 06 chassis & pulled the doghouse off the 83. To my amazement, thx engine/trans fits surprisingly well between the frame rails. Had to pull the oil filter but that's it. The mount on drivers side sits right down on the 83 engine mounting plate that bolts to the frame. They don't match good though. Hafta make an adaptor between the two to bolt it all in. The pass side doesn't match up as good but pretty close. Again, an adagor will hafta be made between the 83 mounting plate & the Dmax mounts. May have to notch the front crossmember just a tad for comfort. It's a little less than 1" away as it sits but will be tighter once the mounts are modified & it sits down a little more. There is adequate clearance between the oil pan & front diff!

The coolest thing is that GM rocks for not changining things for decades at a time!!  The trans mount for the 83 sm465/np205 is exactly the same as the allisone & zf6. Just might have to move the crossmember back & redrill holes. Aldo might have to space it up a tad. But that's all a load easier than building a new crossmember & mount!!

So that's where it's at after 1 day. Engine/trans is sitting in the frame.

In short order is to get harness shipped & modified & back do we can see if it runs. I've got to figure out exactly what to do for brakes. The other conversions I've seen use the hyd assisted setup rather than vacuum. I'm just not sure about how they plumb it into the pump on the Dmax or adapt the old pump to the Dmax?  The other big items are getting an adequate clutch master cylinder that'll bolt to the firewall & have proper fluid dispersion to operate the zf6 clutch. I can't seem to find answers about bore size & rod travel of the mc in the gm800 Dmax trucks with zf6's. . And finally is how to mount up the throttle pedal setup.


All of that has been done before with exception to the master cyl stuff so it shouldn't be too bad to figure those things out.

Then there's LOTS of little things to iron out.



I'll get some pics up when I get them from my friend.


Later

[1HI4x4]

Great update Smokeshow, I need to get by and check you guys out one afternoon. I've got a little delay in getting my transfer case. I guess that makes more time to clean up the Cummins.

[SmokeShow]

Yep, trucks over at a buddies shop in Georgetown right now. We've done about all that we can there. Gotta have some fabrication tools now so I'm begging my good buddy Garrick go let me park it in his shop at his house & help me with some of the fab work. He's agreed to as soon as he gets his floor heat finished! Awesome!!

You're more than welcome to come check it out but be careful, we might stick a wrench in your hands if you stand too long. LOL.

Just messin. . Io would like to spock your brain about mounting these late model seats in there tho.


Later

[SmokeShow]

a few pics...

06 Cab coming off


Ready to pull Dmax/Alli


Dmax/Alli Out (Yes, the engine hoist is cheap and over taxed with the combo )


Front Clip off 83


Ready for Dmax


Going in


Almost there! :rock:

[SmokeShow]

Wow, 2.5yrs ago was the last post I made on this.  The good news is, y'all haven't missed anything.  Sadly enough, that's also the bad news     nothing has changed.... until now.  Got all my studying done for & passed the prof. Engineering (civil PE now  ) so I'm back to focused on this!!!

I've pretty much given up on this truck being a pulling truck exclusively and as such, I purchased a second donor truck last week and will be selling off much of what I had acquired for the other one.  The new donor is 2001 chevy extended cab short bed 4wd with duramax/allison & leather LT interior.

The plan is to do the chassis swap & attempt to incorporate the 01 steering column & gauge cluster.  Comparing the two columns shows that GM hasnt changed the mounting of the steering column location in relation to the steering wheel in a long LONG time.  The 01 column is shorter than the 83 after the mounting tab though so I'll have to figure something out there as well as how to adapt the large square plastic column pieces to the 83 bezel/dash.

Hope to ear into this very soon!

[79brent]

That's gonna be a sweet ride . Are you gonna swap the whole dash out of the donor? I always thought that would be cool.

[SmokeShow]

I've looked into it online and it's not looking likely although I'm with you and think it'd be cool.

[79brent]

Is there a lot of fab needed to make it work?

[Irish_Alley]

so?

[Got Smoke?]

Mitchell has that 'ol cricket band playing! lol

[bairleafarm]

And a couple years later it's finally about to start...




Thats both trucks loaded on a 40' trailer being pulled by an 05 zf6 dmax.  He's gonna help with the conversion for some parts off the donor. So excited to finally actually get this thing going.  We're gonna try really hard to have it together for a pull here in Dec. if they'll invite me.  The final verdict was to do a body swap, not put the drivetrain in the 83 chassis.  The main factors in deciding to do that is (1) the much stronger 06 frame compared to the 83; (2) the engine, ZF6, transfer case, and rear end all BOLT INTO the 06 chassis and (3) making body mounts is hopefully gonna be a great deal easier than making engine and trans mounts and stiffening the 83 frame.   So, the 06 cab should be off by the end of the weekend.  The allison et al already has a purchaser.  06 seats are going in the 83.  Then we'll fit the 83 cab to the 06 chassis while the harness gets modified.

Good looking trailer.   I remember loading them up.   I also remember swapping dirty axles when I coveted that truck to dually.   How's this project coming?

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