85 K30 7.3L diesel swap

[Tex_50613]

had to be around the shop today so I re-located a tailgate handle and filled the tailgate to make a smooth one for the truck

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

Originally Posted by Tex_50613

it needs help, here's the drivers (lack there of) floorboard,


the truck needs some TLC for sure, being as it was a old farm truck and had a plow on it

hey are you planning on using the sleeper???

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by CowboyProtectionUnit

hey are you planning on using the sleeper???

yep, bought it bout a week before I picked up the truck, although the bunk I really want has a back that opens up like the upper window on the back of a topper but i haven't found one yet

[CowboyProtectionUnit]

Cool... I was thinking I wanted one and if you weren't gonna use it... (hadn't looked if it was in previous pictures...) I'd see, since your less than a state away... if you wanna get rid of it lol

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by CowboyProtectionUnit

Cool... I was thinking I wanted one and if you weren't gonna use it... (hadn't looked if it was in previous pictures...) I'd see, since your less than a state away... if you wanna get rid of it lol

no problem but I'm keeping it for the time being

[Tex_50613]

I will re-cap that I am either too critical or just too detail oriented to be a body man, I'm on day 4 and still don't have the bondo rite on the tailgate but it's getting closer

[Eyegore]

Whats the matter with that floor board, Barney & Fred used it for years with no trouble.

[BIG V]

ok ive been playing with doing this conversion for a while now. Lets see some pic's i want to see how big it actually is in the engine compartment. How the exhaust clears how much it sags the springs.

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by BIG V

ok ive been playing with doing this conversion for a while now. Lets see some pic's i want to see how big it actually is in the engine compartment. How the exhaust clears how much it sags the springs.

they will be comming I have a few more parts to accumulate then I'll take the pics

[andrewmp6]

The 7.3 is about the size of a big block and none turbo the exhaust shouldn't be a problem i don't think.If the springs sag too much denver spring will custom make leafs to handle the weight.The only problem i know he will have is making motor mounts maybe a engine crossmember then a trans crossmember the rest is cake really.

[Tex_50613]

had my friend Jason stop by last night and show/tell me what I was doing wrong on the tailgate, so a week later it's in sputty and ready to start hand sanding, there are way more steps in body work than I knew, but here are a couple pics of the tailgate yesterday and today




and a couple before I started

[Tex_50613]

2 coats primer and 2 coats of Victory Red paint and here's how she looks now



, bake the paint, a little sanding and then I'll be ready to pinstripe the tailgate, I'm hoping to find a good pic of the Heartbeat (EKG) pinstripe that I had seen on a few Chevys to duplicate it on the tailgate
I also have to get a price on a negative vinyl of the 30's/40's Chevorlet to stencil the tailgate

[Tex_50613]

need to get a stencil to paint the lettering still but here's how the gate turned out

[68Timber]

I had a 7.3 powered Ford once and loved it. Love the truck and engine choice - I'll be watching the updates.

[Dieselwrencher]

Your tail gate looks awesome! Great job!

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Your tail gate looks awesome! Great job!

thanks and thanks for the hookup on the parts they put me a little closer to getting the swap done

[Dieselwrencher]

No problem man. At least some one will get some use out of the stuff. I'm glad I dug those out today. I happened to find another ZF5 4x4 diesel trans I forgot I had.

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I happened to find another ZF5 4x4 diesel trans I forgot I had.

its usually good to know what ya have for spair parts when ya need them lol

[Blue Chevy 1987]

sweet! ive always wanted to put a cummins in my truck

[Tex_50613]

hung up a little temporary wall art on the wall above my bench in the shop

seemed like a good safe place to store it till the truck is ready for it, other than the flat black paint, the bowtie not being the rite one for the grill, and 1 little crack above the hood release hole it's in beautiful shape.

[Tex_50613]

here's a little of what I got done over the weekend



hopefully the box will be in primer and paint before too long

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking good!

[Tex_50613]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Looking good!

thanks Ryan, the only bad places on that box were a quarter size rust hole in the rear drivers side quarter and the drivers fender being a little broke the rest of the box is beautiful, I should replace the drivers fender but it's gonna be fixed for now with a little fiberglass and bondo. as soon as I get a clutch and flywheel (probably after the 1st of the year) the 7.3 and drivetrain will be swapped, the body would be on hold if I didn't already have everything for what I'm doing(bondo, fiberglass, primer, paint, sandpaper, ext.), the cab will have to wait till I find a replacement or get all the replacement sheet metal (cab corners, rocker pannels, lower a&b-pillars on the drivers side, drivers floor, ect)

[Tex_50613]

getting a little closer to paint





I know that it seams anti-productive but I haven't had to spend any money to do what I've done so far, now once I have a clutch and flywheel I'll get to work on getting the drivetrain in and put the body on hold.

[Dieselwrencher]

I can get you a clutch cheaper than your home town guy. Just reminding you again.