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

[7dee2]

Doesn’t sound too bad Trevor?? I've been looking for threads that cover this, a 67-72 cab to later chassis swap and I'm sure it has been done many times but the only one I found I think they gave up.

Seems like this would be easier than plan B? So plan B, would be to convert my 72 C30 like JJorgensen52 did here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=573671&page=3 Man he did a great job on that GMC dump bed & 4x4 conversion!

I've got so many orphan parts and I really like my old blue 72 just way it is. So much so that I think I need 4x4 big block version. Then maybe I could let somebody else enjoy old blue when I get the new version done.

[7dee2]

I've read that this body swap can be a problematic because the 73-87 chassis kicks up under the cab requiring the use of a body lift to level out the 67-72 cab? I thought perhaps I could get around that problem because I'm starting with a crew cab and the rails stay level longer?

Also I am concerned with the core support mounts and being able to use a 67-72 front bumper.

Still looking for a good thread where this was successful?

Here is a link were special-K talks about it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...20&postcount=7

And again special-K. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...78&postcount=2

So what you were saying Trevor about the flatbed works well.

[7dee2]

Would have been nice to find a thread on this swap (I'll keep looking) but I need to make sure plan B is better before I commit to cutting up the K3500 frame for scrap. In hind sight I wish I had not been in such a hurry with my 72 157" RV frame but space was limited and I did not have the 4x4 plan or the 84 that time.

So all I can find that looks useful so far on the 84 frame dimensions is this link. http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/framespecs.html Anyone have better info? I would like to start making comparisons of the 67-72 to 73-87 while I scrap the 84 cab & bed?

[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.

[7dee2]

While doing this repair I found some of the camper frame structure was rotten so I replaced it as best as I could. As the project moved forward we found more and more of the camper frame was rotten. We also ran into a lot of trouble trying to get the roof to stop leaking.

Finally came to a crossroad that we would have to completely strip the outer skin including the roof. Make all the necessary repairs to the wooden frame structure and re-skin with new special ordered skin which was available.
We decided to cut our loses and keep the truck parts as best we could with the limited space I have here.

[7dee2]

And more....

[7dee2]

I hated killing this truck/RV and have been scratching my head ever since as to what to do with what was left.

I kept all the suspension, hangers and cross members in case I needed something to support my other C30.