81 K30 Flat Bed

[77K10Silverado]

Thanks! Keep up the solid work and posts!

[youngblood78]

Why can't I ever find these awsome deals i'm just trying to locate a k30 with in a hundred miles of me lol great thread tho

[farmall]

The rear end is back in with new springs, a 1" block from an overload spacer, new seals, new shocks, the Velvet Rides, and the diff cover i got off Allentown CL for $100. I also removed all the unused exhaust hangers that were not riveted. It looks a lot cleaner and it has a nice rake to it now.

I went over the Cascades this weekend and picked up a smooth aluminum Pro Tech 60" in bed box for $350 off of Salem CL. I am going to polish it to mirror finish. I will post before and after pics.

Next I need to work on the flatbed metal and lighting.

[MTCK]

Nice work looks great.

[Joesjunk]

Great build, can't wait to see that polished bed.

[MTCK]

What springs did you get for the rear? I've seen several different weight ratings for these trucks and those look like a lot of leafs.

[y5mgisi]

Im assuming they dont make those velvet ride shackles any more right?

[farmall]

Thanks guys again.

Here is the new stance. It used to be slightly lower with no load in the rear. I read that the Velvet Rides could lower the ride hight some which is why I put the extra 1" block in there.
There is a huge difference in ride quality compared to the few miles that I drove around on all the worn out hdw that I replaced. I am very happy with it and cant wait to get a few cords of wood in it.

Marcus, the rear springs are 8 over 1. I called Oregon Spring to get mine rebuilt and rearched and they said it would be cheaper to get new rather than rebuild because of freight and the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere.

It was 8 over 1 or 9 over 1 which is the heavier gvw for these trucks. I said great give me the p/ns and I will call back after counting the leaves.

So I took the p/ns and hit the internet and found the cheapest to my door. They are Dayton/Stanley springs.

Joe, its the Aluminum tool box that is going to get polished and the bed painted. I wish it was the other way around.

y5, those Velvet Rides have been sitting in my garage for 9 years and 11 months according to the receipt. I heard they were sold to another mfg and then fizzled. I wish my air bags would fit this c&c layout but there is no room between the brake backing plate and the leaf.

[MTCK]

Thanks for the info. Looks tough!

[86454k30]

Do those overload spacers you used for blocks have center pins or just a open hole in the center?

[farmall]

Center pin. Its a 1" overload spacer then the 8 over 1, then an overload spacer doing what its supposed to do with the overload on top of it and the center pin through them all.

[farmall]

The bare spacer just has a hole through the center.

[youngblood78]

Any more work on the truck?

[farmall]

Working on the bed.

Restoring the clearance light bodies that are getting new lenses.

I was given a free set of used mud flaps and I am sizing them for spring clearance at different loads and final length. Oregon requires 27" from surface and my other home, Texas requires 8". I plan on some fancy artwork on the new set after I figure the final fit and use the used ones as a pattern.

Removing a primer surfacer and three coats of black paint. I have about 1/4 done.

[farmall]

And the last so far pic.

[y5mgisi]

Good work!

[Seventy468]

any new updates?

[farmall]

Originally Posted by youngblood78

Any more work on the truck?

I am still working on the bed as time allows, stripping the doner truck, and I have been pulling my hair out over a no up shift except via the goverener which turned out to be my downshift solenoid fell apart and was hanging by its wire.

It shifts great now and it even downshifts. Man I love this truck.

[youngblood78]

Its one sweet truck cant wait to see it finished and working haha

[rs74]

Did the Velvet rides change your ride height any? Was there a big difference in how it rode after the install. I had never seen these before.

[farmall]

I can't say if the ride height was changed because I installed brand new spring packs and an extra overload spacer at the same time.

I did not drive it long enough before the installation to tell you how big of an improvement they are.

After X amount of weight is put on the bed the knee action locks out and it becomes a solid shackle.

Because this truck will actually be used to carry weight and I did not want it to be nose high when loaded I put in the spacer and new springs.

As I said before, I sure wish my air bags would fit.

I can tell you one thing though. It rides great with about 750 lbs back there.

[farmall]

Did any of these cab and chassis trucks come with a rear sway bar?

Would a CnC sway bar be the same as a 3/4 or 1 ton rear sway bar?

[farmall]

Picked up a Reunel winch bumper off of C/L today. It will probably go on in place of the chrome Warn. $200.00

[MTCK]

That looks tough. What does it weigh you think?

[farmall]

MTCK.
With 2 scales underneath I came up with 220 lbs with no winch.

Today I finally installed the electric choke on the 4160 and adjusted the floats and idle mixture.

The TH400 kickdown does not work. That is next on the list.

I need to get 84+ grill and lights so I can put the bumper on.