Starting to Look to buy a 91 K30. Anything I should watch for?

[walkerb]

So I've decided to sell my Cummins. My economic status has changed and I don't need her as much anymore.

I'm going to buy a K30 crewcab. Somewhere.

Hoping for:
350 or 454
auto
Dana60
205
SRW
No rot

I know its kind of a tough combo

So I'm hoping for a 91? Tbi and the newer t400( 4L bahabah) whatever.

Any suggestions on the 91 to look/watch for? Is 91 the best year?

[bojak]

Mine, in my opinion, was a solid good start. Here's a list of what it has needed so far:
Rebuilt d60 kingpins
new brakes on all 4
new tires
new front bench
full tune up
all fluids flushed and new
all new lights and lenses
new headlight harness (highly recommend this)
All interior panels redyed
rust repair at floor pans ( minor but still adressed it)
new tnk selector switch
new drivers side fuel tank
New front springs ( equaled 2" lift so not really that upset about that one)
new stereo
new door and window seals
new carpet kit and diy sound deadner
New brake hoses for the hydroboost

good news is all that is not as much money as it sounds and can be done by most themselves if they want. I've done more but thats the quick list. Model specific issues? Kingpins on d60, column on tilt equiped, then typical old truck stuff.

[72freak]

All of my late 80's early 90's GM trucks had a lot of electrical quirks as the aged. Switches, gauges, lights, radios, etc. All fixable but a nuisance. You would think they were all made in England with Lucas electronics.

[dieseldawg142]

Originally Posted by walkerb

I know its kind of a tough combo

So I'm hoping for a 91? Tbi and the newer t400( 4L bahabah) whatever.

Any suggestions on the 91 to look/watch for? Is 91 the best year?

all K30 crews from 81-91 are the best trucks as far as i'm concerned!
i have that exact combo in my SRW crew (454/400, 205, 14b & d60). you are right, it can be hard finding one not rotted out. where you are, you should at least have a decent selection, where i live, i looked for 2 1/2 yrs, & only 3 trucks came up that were worthy of going to look at. i went 800 miles each way to get mine!
as mentioned, typical old truck stuff will go wrong, no diff really than any other older vehicle
check the "B" pillars carefully. water quite often gets past the seam sealer there or the drip rail holes, & makes a real mess of the metal
i can honestly say my crew never broke down or left me stranded.
i work on my crew not because it needs it, i work on it because i want too

[Gregs71]

1991 is kinda rare. You could get a 87-90 that has tbi and install your own 4l80e.

[joe231]

FYI, technically 1991 is a V3500.
I have one with a 6.2L diesel, 4L80E, and NP205.
I love it! As far as I'm concerned I found the holy grail
I stumbled upon it less than a mile from my house and bought it for less than a grand with no rust. I have been slowly making it more comfortable inside, it was a no frills, no options truck.
Good luck with the search!!!

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by Gregs71

1991 is kinda rare. You could get a 87-90 that has tbi and install your own 4l80e.

That's what im finding (or not finding!) Super rare. That might be the way I have to go. Are the 4l80e hard to find also? I have no experience with the electronic trannys.

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by joe231

FYI, technically 1991 is a V3500.
I have one with a 6.2L diesel, 4L80E, and NP205.
I love it! As far as I'm concerned I found the holy grail
I stumbled upon it less than a mile from my house and bought it for less than a grand with no rust. I have been slowly making it more comfortable inside, it was a no frills, no options truck.
Good luck with the search!!!

That's what I'm hoping happens! But all the trucks around here are Fred Flintstone vehicles! All in need of floors, rockers, inner rockers, cab supports, fenders, inner fenders, bed sides, etc! OH the list!

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by 72freak

All of my late 80's early 90's GM trucks had a lot of electrical quirks as the aged. Switches, gauges, lights, radios, etc. All fixable but a nuisance. You would think they were all made in England with Lucas electronics.

I wouldn't mind the electrical stuff ( I say that now) as long as I had a super solid platform to start with. That's seems to be the hard part.

[walkerb]

I need this http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/4297992954.html

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by walkerb

That's what im finding (or not finding!) Super rare. That might be the way I have to go. Are the 4l80e hard to find also? I have no experience with the electronic trannys.

there in every hd truck since 91 till 10 minus the allison trucks. though if i was going to the hassle of swapping a 80e idk if i wouldnt goahead and get a 6.0 4l80e trucks guts and swap it all.

[mckustomfab]

If you decide to swap in a 4l80e you should just plan to do a LS swap too, otherwise you will need a stand alone controller for it. The ECM's with the 80e trans is different then the 700r or turbo400 and so is the connector. You could always pickup a 81-90 and swap in a cummins and a stand alone controller.

[nekkidhillbilly]

if i was going cummins id just grab the 47re/48re from the dodge too. it will bolt to a 205 and wouldnt need an adapter or controller

[mckustomfab]

Originally Posted by nekkidhillbilly

if i was going cummins id just grab the 47re/48re from the dodge too. it will bolt to a 205 and wouldnt need an adapter or controller

Sounds like a good plan!

[walkerb]

I would do a p pump in a heart beat. Its the trucks down time that is the problem. Im selling my Cummins now. And wouldn't mind replacing it. Always good to have a Cummins in the line-up