My Starting Over/Midlife Crisis '83? C/K 20/30 Death Trap

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hungry4knowhow

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Location
Kansas City
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
Wow...so about a year ago, actually damn near to the day now looking at it....anyway, I wrecked my 2015 GMC 3500 DRW Denali with 71,000 Miles on it. Heart break. Its the only vehicle I've ever purchased from a Dealer, the only vehicle I've ever purchased brand new, and I of all people, got one over on the dealer. The truck was my, "I've turned my life around, become successful, and things are going well" thing.

Anyways, the truck just happened to be paid off a week before the accident, and (stupidly) I had removed insurance from it, then drunkenly (again stupidly) floored it in reverse and smacked a tree. 10k quote to fix. I didn't have the money, and didnt need that much truck anymore. Not to mention I could get 40k cash for it in the condition it was in (thank you covid? I think?).

I sat on the truck for a year, hem hawing over what I would use the 40k cash on. I had to get it right. I had recently (over the course of the last 3 years) went from being on top of the world to just low low low. Divorce, business closing, debt, co parenting...yada yada. (Its not all doom and gloom, made a lot of strides in the right direction over the last 6mths, and entered a healthy relationship with a longtime bestfriend around a year ago!)

Well, I didn't use the money to the "best" of its ability. Instead I decided I was going to buy another older truck and learn how to do all the work on it myself.

Sold the Denali, put a large down on a new '21 Suburban RST. Sold some of my Model Trains (I NEVER use them, just collected them and stored in boxes) and bought a Square Body as well as an older daily run around/parts picker for when the Square is down or gas hits 6.00/gal.

Found it a couple weeks ago in Chicago, Il.

1983 K30
454 bored .030
Holley Sniper EFI w/ Hyperspark Ignition System
SM-465 Transmission
Dana 44 Front
Dana 80 Rear
NP-205 Trans Case
Edelbrock RAM Max Intake
8" Rough Country Suspension Lift
35" Tires
4.10 Gears

And thats about all the info I could get out of the previous owner. Its definitely a 50' Truck. Upon arriving in Chicago it had a clear spray can paint job. The body all looked "decent" (very minimal rust, but this was definitely somones Mud Toy), oil leaking everywhere, everything just kind of looked half ass put back together in my ignorant mind.

I bought it from $8500. I have alot of questions about this truck. The guy I purchased it from didnt know anything about the engine build. He's only had the truck 6mths. Thinks it may have 150k on the engine.

My goal with this truck is to slowly completely redo it over time. I have always wanted to learn more about vehicles. Its a glaring weakness of mine. I'm excellent with my hands after a career in construction. I have also accumulated a TON of high quality yet very lightly used items in other hobbies that I never even got into which will be used to trade/sell and buy things for this truck. I need to downsize my "stuff" and throw myself into one hobby and concentrate on it. Work towards completing SOMETHING. And hopefully drink less LOL.

/EDIT: Did I mention that I do not know how to drive a stick, but have always thought it would be very fun? LOL

Anyway without further ado? adu? whatever, here is Death Trap (ex/mother of my daughter's name for the truck).
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Last edited:

animal

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:welcome:
 

Bennyt

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Welcome! I think you need to do some research on what all the truck has in it. The axle combo doesn't seem to be correct. I might be wrong but I believe it should have a D60/ 14BFF combo.
 

Babs

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shiftpro

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Thanks for joining Steve. Too bad you didn't enter the party before you bought this truck, we never would have let you spend that much. Anyway, now you have it and you will find lots of help here going through it and setting things right.

Are you interested in off roading this truck for real? Let us know what you want to do with it, that will help us help you.
For example, if you want to off road this truck that D44 front diff is not enough with 35" tires. But for street or winter driving in 4 wheel it is fine.
 

Craig 85

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Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
:welcome:
 

80BrownK10

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1980
Truck Model
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Engine Size
350
Wow...so about a year ago, actually damn near to the day now looking at it....anyway, I wrecked my 2015 GMC 3500 DRW Denali with 71,000 Miles on it. Heart break. Its the only vehicle I've ever purchased from a Dealer, the only vehicle I've ever purchased brand new, and I of all people, got one over on the dealer. The truck was my, "I've turned my life around, become successful, and things are going well" thing.

Anyways, the truck just happened to be paid off a week before the accident, and (stupidly) I had removed insurance from it, then drunkenly (again stupidly) floored it in reverse and smacked a tree. 10k quote to fix. I didn't have the money, and didnt need that much truck anymore. Not to mention I could get 40k cash for it in the condition it was in (thank you covid? I think?).

I sat on the truck for a year, hem hawing over what I would use the 40k cash on. I had to get it right. I had recently (over the course of the last 3 years) went from being on top of the world to just low low low. Divorce, business closing, debt, co parenting...yada yada. (Its not all doom and gloom, made a lot of strides in the right direction over the last 6mths, and entered a healthy relationship with a longtime bestfriend around a year ago!)

Well, I didn't use the money to the "best" of its ability. Instead I decided I was going to buy another older truck and learn how to do all the work on it myself.

Sold the Denali, put a large down on a new '21 Suburban RST. Sold some of my Model Trains (I NEVER use them, just collected them and stored in boxes) and bought a Square Body as well as an older daily run around/parts picker for when the Square is down or gas hits 6.00/gal.

Found it a couple weeks ago in Chicago, Il.

1983 K30
454 bored .030
Holley Sniper EFI w/ Hyperspark Ignition System
SM-465 Transmission
Dana 44 Front
Dana 80 Rear
NP-205 Trans Case
Edelbrock RAM Max Intake
8" Rough Country Suspension Lift
35" Tires
4.10 Gears

And thats about all the info I could get out of the previous owner. Its definitely a 50' Truck. Upon arriving in Chicago it had a clear spray can paint job. The body all looked "decent" (very minimal rust, but this was definitely somones Mud Toy), oil leaking everywhere, everything just kind of looked half ass put back together in my ignorant mind.

I bought it from $8500. I have alot of questions about this truck. The guy I purchased it from didnt know anything about the engine build. He's only had the truck 6mths. Thinks it may have 150k on the engine.

My goal with this truck is to slowly completely redo it over time. I have always wanted to learn more about vehicles. Its a glaring weakness of mine. I'm excellent with my hands after a career in construction. I have also accumulated a TON of high quality yet very lightly used items in other hobbies that I never even got into which will be used to trade/sell and buy things for this truck. I need to downsize my "stuff" and throw myself into one hobby and concentrate on it. Work towards completing SOMETHING. And hopefully drink less LOL.

/EDIT: Did I mention that I do not know how to drive a stick, but have always thought it would be very fun? LOL

Anyway without further ado? adu? whatever, here is Death Trap (ex/mother of my daughter's name for the truck).
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
If you can't drive stick how did you get it on and off the trailer, ride the starter in gear:Big Laugh:. Or did your girlfriend have to get it on and off their for you:Big Laugh::33:

Just messing with you...but the first question is serious!
 

1973c10

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Oregon
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Don
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
454
Welcome aboard :boti:
 

Turt13

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Location
Wyoming
First Name
Travis
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Putting all your eggs in one basket, great thinking.
But if your like me, that basket gets full quick

Tools, parts, and oil jugs as far as the eye can see....
 

SquareRoot

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Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Dana 80 you say?
 

scrap--metal

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Location
MN
First Name
Calvin
Truck Year
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Truck Model
K10, K20
Engine Size
305, 350
Welcome!

Tools, parts, and oil jugs as far as the eye can see....
^^^ Look out for the oil jugs. They can certainly take over some valuable garage space if you're not careful. Parts are usually worth keeping, but the oil jugs can be hard to justify to your significant other.
 

Turt13

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Location
Wyoming
First Name
Travis
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Ive
Welcome!


^^^ Look out for the oil jugs. They can certainly take over some valuable garage space if you're not careful. Parts are usually worth keeping, but the oil jugs can be hard to justify to your significant other.
I've been saving oil changes for a while, heard from the grapevine it can be heated and mixed into asphalt. I have No shop, garage or even parking pad. I got a dirt drive in a dirt road and nothing to work on but astroturf ed plywood, and sand. Its wearing on my tools, and my patience. All she hears is my daily bickering about how I need something built, and all I hear is how costly it'll be to put one up, and the grit grinding in my rachets. Oil and sand=free(ish)
 

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