Re: 72 K30 Build
 

The group at Semi Service are top notch for sure.

I have dealt with them a lot over the years when I plowed snow. They were always Johnny on the spot for repair or parts.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Hey Mike, thanks! It is really tough to find all the time required to do a complete build (especially if you’re working full time and raising a family). Also, there is the burned-out factor, some people never get past those two. You my friend have made it thru both and just keep going. The truck is important to you for several reasons and just a little effort when you can give it the time and eventually you will get there. You know a wise Nike once said “Just do it!” :gmc::D

No kidding, nothing but good stuff to say about the Semi Service group! :metal:

Good news it looks like they are going to! :two:



Flatbed update; For obvious reasons CM wasn’t initially on board with the whole bed replacement idea. It was decided that the K30 would get a face to face meeting with a CM big wig that was coming to town to congratulate Semi Service for meeting or exceeded a sales goal with CM (something about taking delivery of 700 CM beds!), they were being treated with a Taco truck lunch for the whole crew (dang it, my meeting was in the morning so no taco for Brett)! :lol:

Nova (the Semi warranty rep) felt that if he saw the truck and the issues in person that perhaps a replacement bed could happen for us.
A few days later we did take truck back out and met briefly with Billy, CM’s National Fleet Director and some of the Semi folks, after going over the issues he agreed to a replacement and promised to personally inspect it prior to shipping! Sahweet! :bann: Going forward we’ll just continue using this bed while waiting for its replacement to arrive. Semi will remove and reinstall the new, repair and then sell the old bed.

CM is really coming through for us and making it possible for a complete do over. Thinking our replacement bed will get a little larger tool boxes and a cargo light installed after the bed arrives. Most everything else will remain the same.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Great to hear that they are going to come through for you on the bed. Bet you are enjoying the heck out of driving it!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Brett, that's great to hear! Here's to bed #2 being perfect before it goes on!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thanks guys, didn’t really expect a do over but CM is really standing behind their product. :flag:

Rick, I was really enjoying it very much right up until the 250-mile mark when it ate another front seal! Freakin’, fracken’, aarrrgggghhhh! :censored:

Here’s what I know, one, these things usually don’t fail, two, Ding Dong, that’s me used a second Felpro seal that I’d saved from back when Noah loaded the ark. Actually, it was about 15 years or so ago that I’d acquired both of these after buying a couple of complete rebuild gasket sets. Thought they were still good but with 2 failures in a row and nothing else to point to thinking it’s got to be the age (maturity :lol:) of the seals.

Getting kind of tired of replacing these buggers and sprung for a super high heat heavy duty Viton seal for the next go around. It’s made out of the same material as the one installed in the rear main earlier for those that have been following that long. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sce-21302

Currently the K30 is on time out for bad behavior while we finish up a front room remodel project that’s been going on with Mrs. 7dee2.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Dang, I've really started to hate do-overs!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Sorry to hear of the #2 bad crank seal. That is no bueno.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Truck looks great, By any chance could you post a side profile picture?

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Me too! :agree:

Thanks rgreathouse, I really don’t have any dead-on profile shots yet, but this one from a couple of months ago is as close as I've got. The rear axle sets back a little like a wrecker and is perfect in relation to the goose neck bucket in the bed..

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Very nice project! Love all the attention to detail, this will be a solid,clean & rattle free truck for years to come! Thanks for all the pics & info

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thanks 72 tigger, I really appreciate your kind words. Or is it 72 t-i-double-guh-er? :lol:



No truck updates yet but my part of our front room redo is all done. Mrs. 7dee2 has wanted built in shelfs on our front room fireplace wall, and of course new furniture, rug, dining room set, etc, etc, etc. I'd make some wise crack about her wood handling skills but she'd kill me, so we'll let that one go! ;)

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

The end tables and dining room table are kind of interesting, we built all the bases and put hand hammered copper tops (fancy schmancy) from Mexico on them. :ito:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Damn nice work!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Looks very cool. missing the big screen TV though

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Looks good- you're a man of many talents! Did you do the stone on the fireplace? Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Wow, you sure a handy guy! That front room looks sweet! Where did you source the hammered copper tops at? I really like the shelves and fireplace too. I think that would look cool in our dining room.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

That's pretty funny. My mom named my Dad's 69 Longhorn Dick because every time she drove the truck it wouldn't start for her or had some issue. :lol:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thanks Mike!

Thanks, I'm guessing we did a good job of hiding the projection system then. There's 7.1 surround mostly in the ceiling and a pull down 100"+ screen, I'm a big, big fan of big screens! :lol:

Thanks, it's faux stone panels. Wrapped some columns out front with the same stuff years ago and it's really good stuff. You go back and caulk some areas (screw heads, gaps, seams, etc.) then paint with there touchup paint and tada, yur done, easy peasy! https://www.fauxpanels.com/

Thanks Ryan, here's a ebay link to the same vendor they have the end tables also. Pre-made hand hammered copper stuff is crazy expensive so when we found this vendor it was go time. :metal:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mexican-Rou...72.m2749.l2649

:haha: Sounds like us, funny stuff! :haha:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Very nice job on the room remodel! I like the copper table tops. I need to do something like those for my back porch.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Outstanding build! Such quality workmanship.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thanks Rick, can’t take the credit Mrs. 7dee2 spent many hours putting this together (it was a garage hijacking!) I was just her flunky. :lol:

Thank you, Yukon Jack, I really appreciate the compliments. Mentioned you and your friend’s truck in the second post of this build and hope you didn’t mind me stealing pics of your guy's kool trucks?



Our K30 (El Rae or Ray, short for the Rancho El Rae motorhome cab donor) has made it back into the garage and the first order of business was to fix that crank seal. After pulling the belts and just prior to pulling off the crank pulley I noticed it hadn’t flung oil all over the right side like it had last time. It looks like something is eating the paint on the left side this time? :confused:

A few seconds later the light bulb went off and I realized it’s brake fluid not oil, a little taste test next, yep, it’s brake fluid. I’d miss diagnosed earlier, in my defense, it was leaving a trail and puddling exactly as before and there is a very slight oil trail (not enough to drip) coming from that seal. Must admit the two very PO’d seconds spent diagnosing earlier might have had something to do with it? :mad::censored::mad:

Next to verify further fired the truck with no belts and let it run until the radiator fans kicked on. Crank seal is still OK, that is the good news. Had my boy lightly push on the brake pedal without any boost and watched brake fluid run out of the 2nd new CPP PV-2 proportioning valve we’ve installed. Fluid is coming from the metering valve pretty freely, leaking from the center of the fitting around the pin. After some internet research, I’m finding a few folks have been having trouble with this particular part (chinese knock off?) from this particular vendor.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Well, at least it isn't the crank seal. That is a bad deal about the prop valve.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Not really a hard part to replace but bleeding the rear brakes again without the use of our 4-post elevator should make for a good time. Yes, I do need some cheese to go with that whine! ;)

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Don't feel bad, since I parked my truck to do the metal work the new passenger front caliper decided to spring a leak so once I do get the body together I'll have to replace and re bleed, it was a pita last time.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Yeah, they sure can be glad we figured out how to bleed the rear earlier, there's just no room between the backing plate and the spring pack without dropping the diff out…. Gotta say I do love the narrowed cab and chassis dually rears so the pain is worth it for me.




Brakes were really great before the failure but El Rae is gonna stop on a dime again! Ha, maybe as good as this kid on his skate board? ;) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrRWoo1Wiug

Installed a 4-wheel disc, PV4 (Summit brand) combination/proportioning valve this time around and eliminating the metering valve part that failed so quickly. That particular part of the combination valve slows brake fluid to the front disc brakes for various reasons (softens nose dive, allows the rear drums to get a head start, etc.)

Those who have been following a while may remember we had to enlarge the inner prop valve bore (see the 4th pic) to get the rear brakes to function correctly in the first place. The 3+3 donor had a much larger bore in the main body as well as the prop valve. It’s brake setup ran a secondary ride height prop valve in the rear that we eliminated (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=395).

The PV4 prop valve has a larger inner bore to start with and don’t think it’ll need to be messed with, also adding a Wilwood manually adjustable valve to the rear line this time for some control if needed.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thinking it's a really good time to add a helper fuel pump and different fuel filter arrangement (pulled the old spin on deal we had been running :waah:). Also swapping out one of the Flowmaster 50’s, it’s an earlier version prior to the built-in resonator, this will give Ray a matched set. :mm:

Flatbed update; Got a phone call last week from Nova @ Semi Service the replacement CM bed is in! Somebody better get their truck back together pronto! :metal:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Hmm, where have I seen that helper pump recently? :) Are you planning to run this with the rocker switch in the cab like on Blue? Would there be a downside to simply run it always with ignition on? Hope the new bed is flawless.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Man, I despise those carter style lift pumps. Good luck with it. I've put a lot of those in the trash can. :lol: Maybe they work better in gas apps? Haha

Very good news on the new bed though. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Brett!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Yep, that is a head scratcher! ;) Yes, for now it’s wired to a rocker (our cargo light rocker worked nicely) and it will be on an ignition circuit. Had to hurry and button up the truck so I’ll have to come back to the wiring after the bed replacement but it is functional, just not idiot proofed yet! Thinking about a relay using the electric fans 12v ign trigger so if the fans have an issue the pump won’t work also.

Downside? An additional safety feature is a pressure switch, no oil pressure no fuel pump deal (see diagram). Some folks don’t like the noise of an internal/external electric pump, these are fairly quiet as they are insulated against the mounting bracket (I do like to turn mine off if it’s not needed, hot days and cheap gas just don’t mix). They are an inexpensive pump and I wouldn’t buy the knock off’s get an actual Carter brand if you’re going down this road.


Happy Thanksgiving Ryan! I’d assumed diesel fuel pressures were much higher than these things can produce? I do know a guy who runs a small fleet of classic carbureted cars running E10 fuel and no mechanical pumps just these low-pressure pumps. He’s got one that’s a little finicky that he uses to drain tanks/move fluids (I’ve borrowed it now and again also) for 20 years. Since we are running one on each truck I did get an extra for the shelf so I guess my borrowing days are over… :lol:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

No, on the dodges that have those carter pumps, they are all below 10psi. All the 5.9 24v Cummins VP engines had those pumps on them as lift pumps.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Kool, I’d heard that it was an OEM pump just couldn’t remember which application, thanks Ryan. Out of curiosity what do you replace these with?



Flatbed update; Went out and looked at the new CM bed, very nice! It was raining lightly at the time so they brought it in the building so we wouldn’t get wet (Ha, no we don’t melt!). Went all over the bed, top, bottom, under, it’s much, much better than the first one. Nova even jumped up and down on that sucker to see if it would rattle! :lol: Billy the CM National Fleet Director authorized this deal and told us he’d inspect the bed personally before it was powder coated, you know I’m thinking he did because we couldn’t see anything wrong, perfecto! :ito:

Had a decision to make, since they gave us the tool boxes earlier they’re not too excited about crediting them towards new? Which means they are going to be removed and reinstalled, or we might keep’ em for Blue (or?) and go for a new set of these Buyers boxes #1703703. Old boxes are 15” high x 12” deep x 24” long, the new boxes will be 14” high x 16” deep x 30” long. Thinking these'll fill the space better and won’t hang down too much, 14” or 18” high were really my only options from this vendor. I'm liking the stainless steel doors and more room for stuff. :clap:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Brett, the stock lift pumps usually get replaced with an airdog or FASS, Sometimes holley blues depending on the owner.

I like those boxes, but..... Is the latch housing plastic in the door?

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

No, they’re some kind of die cast with a gasket. My question was do they lock, apparently there is a lock cylinder hiding behind the handle. Here’s a link to the Buyers site that describes the new handles. https://www.buyersproducts.com/product/846-ll9000




It’s been a week or so and El Rae does stop on a dime once again (even w/o the pretty girl ;))… Can’t really tell a difference so far and have left the adjustable valve all the way open.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Cool, that is much better than plastic. :lol: Good to hear on the brakes, weak or bad brakes are no bueno.

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Flatbed update; Just got back from dropping off Ray to get the new CM bed installed. Thought I’d take a few pics for you guys. I’ve asked them to swap out the harnesses so we’d keep the colored lens (not really into the Euro look for this truck) and the LED resisters that make it all work.

Just getting going on the 67 Camaro Build thread for those who would like to follow along. (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=751594) Stoked to get going on it after all these years. :metal:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Can't wait to see it all come together!

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Nice. Those white base led's are actually pretty nice at night. There's no silver so they don't look as euro as bad. :lol:

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Thanks Mike me too!

Man I'll tell yah, with the lights it had it would give a you a sun tan when we hit the brakes! :lol: Just like the colored lens as it matches the old style ones on the cab.




Yesterday while out running some errands we stopped out at Semi Service to see how things are going, here’s some pics going from the old, new bed to the new, new bed… Dee J is doing a great job and added 2 more mounting points in line with the bucket (that makes 8 total)!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

Love the truck Brett. You did a great job!!! I hope you get it back soon and get to enjoy him!

Re: 72 K30 Build
 

How did you go about welding the holes shut on the frame? I am doing the same to my Longhorn and am about to that step. Your truck turned out great and reading your thread got me motivated. I started my first build thread on my project called Big Bird.