1982 K30 Firetruck Disassembly

[stickshift_or_walk]

The 40-year old pumps, seals and hoses of the brush pumper rig are no longer serviceable, but the K30 underneath has 14K original miles, so it's moving on to its second life on our ranch. It's a 454 / SM465 / 4.56 geared workhorse.

So, now comes the task of separating the two.

Hoping there was some documentation available on the fire system, I have reached out to the manufacturer (Pierce) and their dealer for my area. They didn't have any information that old that they knew of or would tell me about.

I've removed pickup beds and flat beds before, but nothing this involved. I thought I'd ask the board if anyone here has any experience with such equipment, and might offer any advice or pointers about uninstalling the Pierce bed.

Thanks...Paul

[old Rusty C10]

I buy municipal vehcles al the time. I am not sure if youre looking to do this pretty to sell the units or just to get the service body off or what so that being said i usually take a grinder or a torch and cut the floor off the utility box and then i have access to blots or what i need to get to. If you take the rear bumper assembly off you should be able to lift the body up enough to slide the truck out. I do realize there is a pump unit in therebut they could be removed seperately Firetrucks are usually in good shape i tend to buy stuff that was in the water department or roads department so the beds are shot . I hack on stuff except the chassis. I also have a mini excaator to lift stuff and plenty of cribbing to rest stuff on

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

I am not sure if youre looking to do this pretty to sell the units or just to get the service body off or what so...

Thanks! I'll start at the backend and cross my fingers.

The utility body is in such pristine condition, it would be against my nature to hack it up. I don't think Pierce would have welded it straight to the frame but I just don't know at this point. When I get it home I'll clean up the underside and hopefully it's fairly straightforward. I may post back or ping you if I encounter obstacles.

I plan to invite my VFD to come check it out, too, in case there's something they can make use of.

[pound41]

This was many years back but i got a utility body off. Tow truck extended its boom had chains on the corners like a big engine hoist. lifted it up pulled the truck out

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by pound41

This was many years back but i got a utility body off. Tow truck extended its boom had chains on the corners like a big engine hoist. lifted it up pulled the truck out

Sounds like fun.

Lifting it off is one part of the job that should be covered, with access to a gantry crane and a couple of tractors with front end loaders.

I plan to use the gantry crane to test lift front or back of the box body once I have unbolted what I can find from the truck frame. Since I'll be doing it by myself, that lets me go slow and easy and see what snags turn up.

Then it will be on to the hydraulic, electrical and water hose/pipe plumbing. I'm hoping I can put some spacers in between frame and body to help undo that mess.

At least, that's how it's shaping up in my head.

[Willowrun]

Cool truck! Please take some pics and post them as you disassemble. I for one have always wondered how the K30’s were made into pumper trucks. I’m assuming it runs off a PTO?

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

Cool truck! Please take some pics and post them as you disassemble.

Thanks...will do!

Originally Posted by Willowrun

I for one have always wondered how the K30’s were made into pumper trucks. I’m assuming it runs off a PTO?

Yep, PTO driven. It's a Chelsea PTO hanging off the left side of the SM465. Then a driveshaft goes back to the pump. You can see the pump and driveshaft in this pic, right center. Ignore the rusty exhaust pipe that looks out of place....someone hacked them both off mid-truck.

[Greg58]

Is that truck from Hopewell TX?
We visit friend that live a few minutes from there, we drive right by the Fire Station.
just west of Paris TX.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by Greg58

Is that truck from Hopewell TX?
We visit friend that live a few minutes from there, we drive right by the Fire Station.
just west of Paris TX.

Good catch, but wrong state. A wide place in the road - not the main road - Hopewell, OK.

[Greg58]

Well Hopewell TX is not any bigger, not an incorporated town just a collection of houses on big lots. They have a cemetery and a Fire Dept.
I'll keep watching.
Greg