72 K30 Build

[7dee2]

I have a very nice 72 RV body (with a small hole in the back) and a not so pretty 84 GMC Crew Cab CC K3500. I would love to end up with a 72 K30, what do you guys think?

[7dee2]

I want it to look like Yukon Jack's friend Tony’s C30 when done.

[7dee2]

Does anybody think having the Crew Cab chassis will make it easier to adapt the earlier cab? I am under the impression that the frame kick up and the rear cab mounts are the biggest issue?

[71blksuper4x4]

Rear frame kickup won't be too big of a deal if you put a flat bed on it, it will be longer though because of the length of the crew cab chassis. You could cut it down to make it the length you need though. Trevor

[7dee2]

I like the look of a 127 or 133 inch wheel base like the white 69-70 above. A flat bed and a shorter wb is the plan. I have a 5th wheel trailer with a gooseneck adapter that this truck will pull.

[71blksuper4x4]

I think Tony's was a 133" Longhorn chassis converted to 4x4. I think you will have to build a few mounts for the cab (might be able to bolt 72' cab mounts to your frame, but I think they might be a tad wider?), and then the front supports for the flat bed. Trevor

[DWilbur]

The width of the frame should be the same. I install D60 and a 14 bolt from 79 under my 71 frame no modifications to spring pads.

[7dee2]

Thanks for the info DWilbur, I had hoped that was the case. It should make installing the axles a lot easier if I have to go for plan B.

Still researching info on the square body frame. Located some good info on a square body forum and here. http://brochures.slosh.com/index.shtml?year.shtml

Dang the K3500 is looooong at 164.5" WB and 239.3" Overall +/-.....

[7dee2]

Removed the pipe rack front & rear bumpers, also unbolted the flat bed (2 hand tight bolts are all that’s holding it on) and pulled all the bed wiring. Relocated taillights to the frame the truck has a date in a few days with a 2 post lift at a friend’s shop to lift the bed off for me.

[DWilbur]

are keeping it a dulley. if so the spring pads I think are different than single wheel axel.

[franken]

What are the rear spring pad center to center measurements on each truck? Or measure outside to inside of the springs. I'd think about knocking the rivets off the spring frame mounts and bolting them to the 72 frame if the pad measurements are different...
What's the plan for fixing the small hole in the cab?

[7dee2]

Franken that's exactly what plan B is all about. Transferring all the spring hangers and several cross members to the Blue 72 C/30 flatbed in my avatar. I'm hoping that won't be the solution but I'm leaving it open.

The little hole in the back is a problem and I have several ways to go on this. I bought some patches last year from budnikguy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=599155&page=2 thread #'s 33 & 34.

[7dee2]

Another solution to the pass thru is use a spare 69 cab I have that is not in as good a shape. It has a little rot in the cowl on both L & R sides & pass outer rocker. 2wd low hump non clearance light cab. The very last option is back to plan B and use the Blue 72 C/30 cab. Also in pretty good shape.

[7dee2]

DWilbur I am keeping it a dually, I've got 2 Eaton HO72's (one is posi) and a 14 Bolt all narrow cab & chassis style. I'm going to finish scraping the K3500 down to the chassis and then see what I've got and what is going to work best.

As a retired truck driver I think dually's & clearance lights are tough!

[DWilbur]

I like the dually and clearance light direction. I going to install clearance light on my truck.

[7dee2]

Time to start tearing down the RV cab, removed the grill and surround first so it would not get damaged. A/C was still holding lots of pressure and the compressor was not seized, sweet! Lots and lots of great parts on this truck (bit of a greasy pig but that’s ok).

[mjensen]

I think I missed the part where you tore the camper apart...did that just not work out?

[7dee2]

Hey Mike that’s a whole nother story, kinda sad to. Short story version behind RV is that I purchased a very expensive yard stick from Sharpie1972. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528599

We drove it home from Grand Junction, CO and started to restore the camper part immediately. It had been hit on the right rear passenger side of the camper and needed some updating badly. But still very, very cool retro RV!

[7dee2]

So we gutted it and redid the cabinets, walls, ceiling, light fixtures, some sub floor and acquired all new faucets and toilet. Really lucky in that another RV (67 C30 Ranch El Rae) a few blocks from us was being scraped and had the same skin as ours. We repaired the passenger rear corner with skin salvaged from the other camper.

[swamp rat]

I'm pretty interested in your RV cab and how you fix it, hoping to see you use the patch panels you bought, I have a 67 project waiting in the wings that has a pretty rusted out cab, all that is left that's good is the back wall and glass. I found a 67 RV cab for it with the same walk thru cutout, when the time comes i'm planning on doing the same type of repair. Of course i'd like to see somebody do this before i ever attempt it myself.

Welcome to the board too.

[7dee2]

Hey Swamp rat thanks, I'm pretty sure this can be done successfully. I will document the good, bad & ugly as we go.

[7dee2]

A little more progress on the demo of the K3500. Saved the windshield (it was perfect) and the clearance lights. Pulled the grill and started getting the front clip ready to pull.

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice project you have going on here! I had a hodge podge truck about 10yrs ago that was a 69 body on a 78 K10 chassis. If I remember correctly, the 73 up frame is 2" wider or so than the 67-72's under the cab. I'm sure you can rework the cab mounts to get the 72 cab on there and be nicer than the truck I had. I'd think fixing that cab with the patches you have will be easier than swapping cabs IMO. Heck, I'd give it a shot. It's great practice if nothing else.

[swamp rat]

I believe Dieselwrencher is correct on the frame widths. That said there are 2 different rear spring width dimentions on the 67-72 trucks. I know my K20 rear is wider than a 2wd rear with springs. My frame widens behind the cab. If i recall corectly mine is 42.5, the other is 40 i think. So obviously different spring pirch widths on the axles too. If that helps ya any...

[7dee2]

Thanks Dieselwrencher! Pretty impressed with all you have done in your builds. Getting close to the measuring things up stage but so far looks like it's a go. Goal is to repair the old RV cab regardless and of course I luv body work practice!