new to me K-30

[Ontheboulder]

well I just picked a new to me 78 K-30 dually flatbed. runs decent, good brakes and 350/ 4 speed, full time 4x4. I know that somewhere on this site is the info to change out the hubs to manual locking hubs and what is needed to go from dually to single tire set up. front axle is king pin Dana 60 transfer case is a 205.Can anyone point me to a thread that covers some of this?? I am going to put my Kaiser /Jeep M-715 body on this frame.should be a fun project!!

 

[nvrenuf]

With respect to swapping DRW to SRW, you’ll need to identify if it’s originally a pickup or cab & chassis. The difference is in the wheelbase (probably not an issue for you) and the rear axle width, a pickup has a wide 74” WMS D70HD and a C&C will have a narrow 63” 14 bolt. Obviously, either axle will work so this will be about the aesthetics of the rear tire stance.

For the front, the dually “spacers” are a cast part of the bearing hub so you’ll need to swap the bearing hubs for SRW units. The remaining parts all interchange however the holes in the rotors will need to be enlarged slightly to allow the studs to pass through otherwise you may crack the rotors

The np205 is a part time tcase so you can simply buy / install locking hubs on the front axle. The np203 (full time tcase) was not used on a 4spd beyond ‘75 so that truck was never full time 4wd.

 

[Grit dog]

@Ontheboulder
Hope you’re safe from the fires. Feel like I’ve gleaned that live out here in NE WA somewhere as well.
I remember you getting the Kaiser. Though it was in pretty cherry running condition as it sat. Maybe I didn’t remember that correctly. Sure looked nice though.

 

[Ontheboulder]

@Ontheboulder
Hope you’re safe from the fires. Feel like I’ve gleaned that live out here in NE WA somewhere as well.
I remember you getting the Kaiser. Though it was in pretty cherry running condition as it sat. Maybe I didn’t remember that correctly. Sure looked nice though.

the body is nice but the running gear needs to be gone thru completely and parts are hard to come by. I got the motor running and it runs good, I think doing the body swap will be the easier and now cheaper way to get it on the road after this winter.The Bradeen fire is over the hill from us and they seem to have a good handle on it!! no major blowouts during the wind that tore up spokane with fire!!

 

[Ontheboulder]

With respect to swapping DRW to SRW, you’ll need to identify if it’s originally a pickup or cab & chassis. The difference is in the wheelbase (probably not an issue for you) and the rear axle width, a pickup has a wide 74” WMS D70HD and a C&C will have a narrow 63” 14 bolt. Obviously, either axle will work so this will be about the aesthetics of the rear tire stance.

For the front, the dually “spacers” are a cast part of the bearing hub so you’ll need to swap the bearing hubs for SRW units. The remaining parts all interchange however the holes in the rotors will need to be enlarged slightly to allow the studs to pass through otherwise you may crack the rotors

The np205 is a part time tcase so you can simply buy / install locking hubs on the front axle. The np203 (full time tcase) was not used on a 4spd beyond ‘75 so that truck was never full time 4wd.

Thanks, the guy i bought it from said it was a 205 but in order to make it partime 4x4 a gear in the transfer case needed to be changed, I will confirm exactly what t- case it has when i get it home!! its a 4 mile drive to here and it runs so should be no problem!, I will get the correct rotors for it when I do the swap at some point

 

[Ontheboulder]

@Ontheboulder
Hope you’re safe from the fires. Feel like I’ve gleaned that live out here in NE WA somewhere as well.
I remember you getting the Kaiser. Though it was in pretty cherry running condition as it sat. Maybe I didn’t remember that correctly. Sure looked nice though.

I figure upgrading to more modern running gear- disc brake etc would be a good thing for what I am going to be using for and easier to get parts if anything goes wrong! it isn't going to be a wheeler, maybe some gravel roads up here on the boulder!! plus power steering will be a nice touch too!

 

[nvrenuf]

Thanks, the guy i bought it from said it was a 205 but in order to make it partime 4x4 a gear in the transfer case needed to be changed, I will confirm exactly what t- case it has when i get it home!! its a 4 mile drive to here and it runs so should be no problem!, I will get the correct rotors for it when I do the swap at some point

I gotcha. All 205’s are part time so there’s no modifying it. I guess I would verify what the tcase is just to know. The likelihood of you have a 4spd/203 is extremely low based on the fact it was only used 2 years.