One benefit of open differential is when you’re driving and the rear tire breaks traction, only one tire is going to spin. The other tire will have no power spinning it and will keep its traction helping the truck to drive straight. If you break traction with a locker, both rear tires will spin...
I went thru everything on my 1979 k30 3+3 before I fixed the death wobble. A good alignment shop will be able to tell if your steering has too much play or if the leaf spring bushings are too worn to stay in spec. I had the wheels n tires rotated and balanced a few times but that only seemed to...
@Dooley You are correct about needing a big block power steering pump bracket. I have the psc pump and external reservoir now, not sure which bracket will work.
@Bextreme04 You are correct, the 8.1 uses a tall deck block unique to itself. I was misinformed about it sharing the 502 block. I’m...
As far as I know the 8.1 vortec uses the 502bbc block which is based on the 454 big block, not LS* based. 8.1L is 496ci and no LS based block can be bored and stroked to that large of a displacement. 8.1L uses normal sbc/bbc engine mounts and bellhousing bolt pattern
The 8.1L should mate to...
Recently found an 8.1 vortec for a good price. Wanting to swap it into my 1979 k30 with 350/sm465/np205. I’m still doing research and collecting parts. Id appreciate any recommendations for a shop in Colorado to help with the swap.
That’s a C3500HD not a regular C3500.
https://www.dieselhub.com/rigs/c3500hd.html
Gmt400 is a great platform. The price is really going up on them as they start to become the next classic truck. Gmt800 is very similar to gmt400s except you get ls based engines and better brakes. Im not a fan of...
I’m not sure what style of lug nuts the Alcoa’s use.
After talking with tech support a few times the best answer I was given is the 4.60” hub bore wheel is not recommended for 4.56” hubs but many people run the wheels anyway
https://buytruckwheels.com/products/gmc-chevy-3500-16-alcoa-wheel-package?currency=USD&variant=6966286155812&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmIuDBhDXARIsAFITC_59OZCIu5_qZWEZ8cTA1ccLbFSefZ8dqLUHJKh5rE7_iYsky6xN_MEaAo_yEALw_wcB
Been waiting for these...
Do you have a link to a crate motor you would recommend?
I wanted to big block swap the truck but after getting another k30 crew with factory 454/sm465 ac/tilt I decided itd be cool to build the 79’ into something different. Big block would be an easier swap. Here’s a pic of the 84 k30
I also thought $5,600 was alittle high for a used 12valve. I asked about rear main, gov spring, valve springs etc to make the cummins more driveable as was told all that would be on top of the $23k. CPP sells low mile take outs for $4,495...
Last spring I had planned to big block swap my 79’ k30. Ended up loosing my job in April so I put the swap on hold for a bit. Things are doing better now and decided to invest $10-$15k on a new motor n 5 speed. I have another k30 crewcab that’s factory big block, so I’d rather not build the same...
This truck has the tuff country 2” HD front leaf springs. With a small block and stock front bumper it sits alittle taller and rides kinda rough without a load. Never really thought about the front shackle being slightly forwards of vertical. Truck also has the ORD hd front shackles. I have...