1981 GMC K2500 Long term build

[81k]

My most recent project, although I've owned it for a number of years now, is a 1981 GMC K2500. This truck is in a long-term build status as even though I make plans every year to finish it up, life always seems to give me other plans at the last minute. The truck hasn't been registered for road use since 2004, but it did run and drive from a makeshift fuel tank when I bought it. The previous owner was using it primarily as a farm / plow truck, and the plow came with the truck as a package deal.





The main goal on the build is to refresh the truck yet maintain it as a work vehicle that will be capable of hauling, towing, plowing, and being daily driven.

[Bears63]

That is a nice looking truck. What does it currently have for a drivetrain?

[81k]

It has the C6P heavy suspension option (8600 GVWR) which allowed it to run the non-pollution controlled LT9 350.

350/TH400/NP205 10b/14b sf 4.10:1

[Bears63]

I was wondering what the C6P in your signature meant. Thanks for that info.

[MTCK]

Cool truck. What kind of plow is it? Looks like it has power angle.

[81k]

Originally Posted by MTCK

What kind of plow is it?

Thanks for checking out my build thread MTCK! I believe the plow is a Fisher Speedcast unit as the online images for that model seem to match up with what I have. However, I really need someone with an experienced eye for older model plows to take a look at it to confirm my suspicions as the stickers for it have either peeled off, been painted over, or are faded to the point of being illegible.

[81k]

I did another pass at the truck looking for issues while I was pulling fenders. Along with the damage that was listed in the first post I uncovered a failing cab floor support and a failing cab mount frame bracket.





I'm not enthused about doing a full replacement floor support. I may grind it back and see if I can get to good metal and just weld in a patch instead of ripping everything apart. The cab bracket will get swapped out with one sourced from a local parts yard so that the new mount bushings will have an easier time.

[daddyjeep]

If that is all you found for rot, then you are pretty fortunate for your part of the country. Looks like a pretty solid truck.