Did I just get too excited!?

[papa's_68]

I've got a nice duramax for a daily driver but have been needing a good old wood hauling truck/hunting truck so I picked up this '76 K20 that has D44, 14 bolt FF, 350, th350 to a 203 t-case for $1,400. It's not a bad truck as it does run pretty good and I bought it knowing it needed some things. The biggest thing being tires. Not cheap either as its sitting on 315/75R16's. I also knew it was going to need some steering and suspension attention. These things werent a big deal to me since I have some good connections on getting good used parts for cheap. So, I brought it home and me and my dad tore into it. Someone did a nasty job of lifting it. They had stock springs front and rear with a 3" block under the front springs, and a 3" Ford block on the back. They also used some jacked up U-bolts. All 4 shocks were blown as well. So I picked up a set of 4" lift front springs off a friend, and a brand new drag link off of him as well for practically nothing. Then went to a local 4wd shop and got 4 new shocks for 4" lift, 4" lift steering arm, spring bushings, and all new U-bolts. Installed new seals in the front axle, and repacked the bearings. Replaced some ball joints, a tie rod, new front brake hoses, and new driveshaft on the rear. Put it all back together and its a night and day difference! Really tightened this old truck up!
My dad has a part time conversion kit for the 203 we are going to put in it and I'm getting a set of Ford high boy lockouts off of my cousin. To finish it off I'm going to buy a steering stabilizer, 4" blocks for the rear and new U-bolts, get some new M/T's on it and call it good for now. So, would anyone else have popped on this truck for $1,400? I at least know what I got now, since I've tore into it.

[vectorit]

Just looking at the picture, sure.
But one never really knows what is hiding until the deal is done.

Sounds like you had it all planned out for saving money on the obvious things, but then looking back at all the labor involved in getting a hundred little things taken care of it can be hard to stave off buyers remorse.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Is it rusty under that orange paint? Looks like the rocker is.

[papa's_68]

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

[76k10]

I didn't think trucks like this were ever for sale that had the suspension and steering already fixed up. If it were fixed up, people don't want to sell them.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Originally Posted by papa's_68

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

If thats the case then ya did good. Out here in the rust belt I would be all over it.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by OLDCHEV4X4

Is it rusty under that orange paint? Looks like the rocker is.

Originally Posted by papa's_68

Yeah that rocker is a little rusty and it has rust elsewhere but it aint too bad. There isnt any gaping holes. Someone has also put all new body mounts on it so all in all its pretty solid, minus a few minor rust spots.

I can see daylight through that rocker I consider that a gaping hole... Other than that looks like a great foundation!

[papa's_68]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

I can see daylight through that rocker I consider that a gaping hole... Other than that looks like a great foundation!

Thats not through the floor though. That is just that small thin amount of metal below the actual rocker itself.

[bilfman]

A little tip for your 203 part time kit. Wait, maybe I'll just start from the start, some of this you may already know but if not it is really good information.

NP 203's DO NOT run gear oil, a straight 30 weight is good, but you can vary this depending on the climate that you live. 203's are meant to be spun to be oiled properly, putting in a part time kit can be a problem because of the case not turning and oiling properly. The most common cure for this is engaging your hubs or tcase every 100 miles or so for a few miles. This gets oil to the top of the case.

I found this to be a real pain, especially if the wife ever had to drive it (because she would never even consider doing it even if on a 1000 mile trip) So an old grinder that ran a transmission shop gave me a real great tip to help this. It costs about $5.

All you need to do is buy some 1/2 inch pipe pieces and extend the top filler bung a couple of inches. So parts needed are a 1" nipple, 1" 90 degree elbow, 2" nipple and cap, all of these are 1/2 of course. This in essence allows you to put another couple inches of oil in the case and keeps things oiled in partime mode.

[76k10]

Originally Posted by bilfman

A little tip for your 203 part time kit. Wait, maybe I'll just start from the start, some of this you may already know but if not it is really good information.

NP 203's DO NOT run gear oil, a straight 30 weight is good, but you can vary this depending on the climate that you live. 203's are meant to be spun to be oiled properly, putting in a part time kit can be a problem because of the case not turning and oiling properly. The most common cure for this is engaging your hubs or tcase every 100 miles or so for a few miles. This gets oil to the top of the case.

I found this to be a real pain, especially if the wife ever had to drive it (because she would never even consider doing it even if on a 1000 mile trip) So an old grinder that ran a transmission shop gave me a real great tip to help this. It costs about $5.

All you need to do is buy some 1/2 inch pipe pieces and extend the top filler bung a couple of inches. So parts needed are a 1" nipple, 1" 90 degree elbow, 2" nipple and cap, all of these are 1/2 of course. This in essence allows you to put another couple inches of oil in the case and keeps things oiled in partime mode.

Interesting idea. I wish someone had more of a scientific explanation to why this improves part-time oiling.

I only have experience with a part-time 203 and so far I am a big fan. It has given me no troubles at all and I have run it pretty hard with 35s and 3.31 gears.

[Redcap]

Smallblock/TH350/NP203 truck with blocks in front, none of which being things I want in a truck? Personally, I wouldn't have given $1400 for it but...I live in an area where these trucks are plentiful and generally cheap.

I have about $1200 into mine total, with a 6" lift, rebuilt SM465/NP205 and a 60,000mi 454 under the hood.

[bilfman]

203's are a full time case, their design was to be spun at all times, thus GM incorporated an oil pump into them, this oils the top rear of the case. When in part time mode the pump is not spun, this eventually starves the top rear of the tcase of oil. If you drive hard, up and down hills, bumps etc, this can cause enough slosh to get oil up there, but a straight highway drive in partime can fry the case. Also as I said engaging the case or hubs will provide oiling as well.

Here is a link to a 203 part time rebuild, note the pics where the oil pump gear is put back on. The 203 has an oil pump that only turns with hubs or case 4wd engaged.

[papa's_68]

That is a pretty slick idea of putting an extension on the filler. I believe I will have to try that! Thanks!

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by bilfman

Here is a link to a 203 part time rebuild, note the pics where the oil pump gear is put back on. The 203 has an oil pump that only turns with hubs or case 4wd engaged.

No link?