Flat Pat's '78 Crew Cab

[Flatpat]

It'll be a little while before I get started on this but figured I'd go ahead and start a build thread. Picked up a 1978 K30 4x4 single wheel rear, 400 ci, TH400 and (looks like a) NP203 a little over a year ago. I was in Afghanistan at the time and I saw it on Craigslist. I had been looking for almost a year at this point. Seeing how hard it is to find clean 73-80 crews with the exterior trim in any shape much less good shape. I had my Dad go get it the second I saw it on CL. I didn't see in person for 5 months after I bought it. After looking it over I was really pleased with it. The gentleman I bought it from had put in a re-manufactured short block and had the heads rebuilt a few months prior to selling it. He couldn't get it to run right so I believe this was the main reason he let it go. When I started to mess with it it seemed it needed a tune up (prior owner reused the cap, rotor, wires and plugs) and probably needed to be timed. Did a tune up and tried to get it timed in. The mark on the balancer was a little off from when #1 blew my thumb off (best way I know for finding top dead with the motor complete and in the vehicle). Well I went one tooth each way on the distributor and ended up back where it was originally. Still couldn't get it to run right. Checked the vacuum lines, they seemed good so Dad suggested it might be the carb gasket. Well I pulled off the carb, it probably needed to be rebuilt but I had an extra Carter 4 barrel from another truck. In the process of swapping the carbs I then noticed that the big vacuum port on the back for the booster (it has hydroboost so I didn't even think of this) vacuum was wide open. Well swapped carbs and changed the gasket. Now this thing runs like a dream. Shifting was a little sluggish, did a filter kit and now it runs and shifts great. Enough text for now on to pictures.





















The exterior is in pretty good shape. Only a couple of dents. One in the bottom of the passenger rear door.



One on top of the passenger fender.





One on the hood on the drivers side towards the front, it's pretty small.



It has very little rust. One same spot on the driver's side a pillar.



The rest is in the bed where the floor meets the sides.







All of the rockers and jams are in pretty good shape. The doors don't sag and the open and close pretty good.





The trim is all there, it's had some screws added in a few spots but it's in pretty good shape otherwise. The only bad spot for it is on the tailgate.



Cargo light is there but it's busted so that's on the list.



The interior is mostly there and isn't in terrible shape but most it probably would need to replaced for it to be nice.









A shot of the underside D60 back.



A couple of the engine bay, nothing special.







Build sheet



Bonus it has some pretty good tires on it.





Here's what I planning to drop in it.



'97 12V Cummins. I have a 2wd Allison I was going to put behind it using Howard's adapters but I'm going to go with simple NV4500. Other than the drivetrain the rest of it is up in the air for what I want to do. The focus is my 454 SS right now.

Thanks for looking and hopefully I'll get to it soon.

Patrick

[91V3500]

Sweet! Gotta love those crewcabs, especially the 4x4's!

[Flatpat]

Originally Posted by 91V3500

Sweet! Gotta love those crewcabs, especially the 4x4's!

Yes sir, I have quite a soft spot for them. I catch myself wanting to buy all that I come across.

[Flatpat]

Well finally got around to working on it. Got the engine, trans and t-case in. Ran all the wiring and fuel. Went to start and no fuel. The rack in the p-pump is stuck so I guess it's time to get a rebuilt one. I'll try to update as I keep making progress.







I did get a crossmember figured out. Used one for a round pattern 208 with dip and skid plate. Used a piece a plate to offset the mount to meet up with the trans.

[COS399]

I'm all in. Going to be a nice combination.

[Flatpat]

It's alive

https://youtu.be/oDz6KZWUG8A

[Flatpat]

Well, it is starting to look like a truck again. I did not like the factory lift blocks in the rear so I switch to the taller springs mounts then did a rear shackle flip. It didn't like where the axle sat so new perches to move the axle back an inch it was. I got my fuel tank/toolbox mounted and all the hoses ran. Slowly but surely.

[ProudSoul]

Nice looking crew cab. I like the direction your going and nice touch on the diff cover!

[Flatpat]

Not the fanciest front cross member but it should get the job done.

image hosting over 5mb

[Flatpat]

Finally got some work done on the truck. Got my column shifting of the 47rh worked out with an Ididit cable kit. Got the wiring ran for the Compushift Mini trans controller. Ended up switching out the dodge np205 1410 rear yoke for a 1350 off one of my GM 205s. The intermediate driveshaft from the '78 had a 1310 yoke. Went searching through my parts trucks and the intermediate shaft from my '90 R3500 had a 1350 yoke. Got it cut down to proper length. Going to pick up new ujoints tomorrow to get it installed and then work on fitting the rear driveshaft. Slowly by surely.

[Flatpat]

Started to get some things done on it. Installed the condenser coil for the Vintage Air system. Installed the filler panel on the firewall. I tacked it to the firewall and then went around it with a seam sealer. Once it dries I will put a little black paint on it to dress it up some. Finished installing the CompuShift mini for controlling O/D and converter lock up on the 47rh. Started mock up for the intercooler. It looks like it is going to fit nicely. I had to move it up from my original placement to clear the hood latch support.

[Flatpat]

A little notching of the hood latch support (with a little reinforcement to the support) and it all fits very nicely.