72 K30 Build

[MTCK]

That truck looks amazing! The flat bed is right at home. I have about 44 pages of reading to do now... Nice work.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Hey at least they're going to back their product! I'm a firm hater of E10 for carbureted, I will use non Ethanol any chance I get with the rat, I just hope my truck will start back up after this latest sit time even with the non Ethanol....

The bed repair list has been growing and I’m curious as to what CM is going to do? Not a big fan of E10 either, but really don’t want to fuss trying to find non-ethanol in a pinch or on a trip. If it’s been awhile maybe you should try and start it adding some fresh with some fuel stabilizer if you’re thinking it might still be a while before your done?

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I've really been considering a Fitech for my only gas powered project. I listened to a lot of guys pissed on power tour because they couldn't find any good octane gas. Most of our area doesn't have any higher than 87. Bad deal for all those dudes. No big deal for this dude. Haha sorry to hear about the bed, but at least they are wanting to fix it.

Dude, spark plugs! General consensus is that it wouldn’t even be a deal if the K30 was currently a work or farm truck, but somebody made it just a little to flashy!

Originally Posted by MTCK

That truck looks amazing! The flat bed is right at home. I have about 44 pages of reading to do now... Nice work.

Thanks Marcus I appreciate your kind words, hope you enjoy the build thread…



Flatbed update; The K30 was getting lots of attention while out at Semi Service, they parked it right in the center of the shop in front the shop foreman’s office for safe keeping. We left it out there for a few days so they could work with CM on exactly what is going to the best course to make some repairs. After mentioning some other issues, its looking like the repair direction is moving towards a complete bed replacement. WOW, didn’t see that one coming!

Nova, the warranty gal at Semi Service has been all over this from day one going above and beyond! So very, very impressed with the whole crew out there.
In this time when customer service seems to be nonexistent it just floors you when you run into a company like this.

Ball is back in CM’s court more to follow.

[mjensen]

Such a great looking truck Brett. I really need to figure out how to get some forward progress going again. I know, action creates motivation...just can't seem to generate action LOL

[Dieselwrencher]

Brett, I bet you had everyone there coming to check it out. Anyone I know would.

Good deal on the bed. Hopefully CM comes through now.

[Zane M]

The group at Semi Service are top notch for sure.

I have dealt with them a lot over the years when I plowed snow. They were always Johnny on the spot for repair or parts.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Such a great looking truck Brett. I really need to figure out how to get some forward progress going again. I know, action creates motivation...just can't seem to generate action LOL

Hey Mike, thanks! It is really tough to find all the time required to do a complete build (especially if you’re working full time and raising a family). Also, there is the burned-out factor, some people never get past those two. You my friend have made it thru both and just keep going. The truck is important to you for several reasons and just a little effort when you can give it the time and eventually you will get there. You know a wise Nike once said “Just do it!”

Originally Posted by Zane M

The group at Semi Service are top notch for sure.

I have dealt with them a lot over the years when I plowed snow. They were always Johnny on the spot for repair or parts.

No kidding, nothing but good stuff to say about the Semi Service group!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Brett, I bet you had everyone there coming to check it out. Anyone I know would.

Good deal on the bed. Hopefully CM comes through now.

Good news it looks like they are going to!



Flatbed update; For obvious reasons CM wasn’t initially on board with the whole bed replacement idea. It was decided that the K30 would get a face to face meeting with a CM big wig that was coming to town to congratulate Semi Service for meeting or exceeded a sales goal with CM (something about taking delivery of 700 CM beds!), they were being treated with a Taco truck lunch for the whole crew (dang it, my meeting was in the morning so no taco for Brett)!

Nova (the Semi warranty rep) felt that if he saw the truck and the issues in person that perhaps a replacement bed could happen for us.
A few days later we did take truck back out and met briefly with Billy, CM’s National Fleet Director and some of the Semi folks, after going over the issues he agreed to a replacement and promised to personally inspect it prior to shipping! Sahweet! Going forward we’ll just continue using this bed while waiting for its replacement to arrive. Semi will remove and reinstall the new, repair and then sell the old bed.

CM is really coming through for us and making it possible for a complete do over. Thinking our replacement bed will get a little larger tool boxes and a cargo light installed after the bed arrives. Most everything else will remain the same.

[rgunlock]

Great to hear that they are going to come through for you on the bed. Bet you are enjoying the heck out of driving it!

[Dieselwrencher]

Brett, that's great to hear! Here's to bed #2 being perfect before it goes on!

[7dee2]

Thanks guys, didn’t really expect a do over but CM is really standing behind their product.

Rick, I was really enjoying it very much right up until the 250-mile mark when it ate another front seal! Freakin’, fracken’, aarrrgggghhhh!

Here’s what I know, one, these things usually don’t fail, two, Ding Dong, that’s me used a second Felpro seal that I’d saved from back when Noah loaded the ark. Actually, it was about 15 years or so ago that I’d acquired both of these after buying a couple of complete rebuild gasket sets. Thought they were still good but with 2 failures in a row and nothing else to point to thinking it’s got to be the age (maturity ) of the seals.

Getting kind of tired of replacing these buggers and sprung for a super high heat heavy duty Viton seal for the next go around. It’s made out of the same material as the one installed in the rear main earlier for those that have been following that long. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sce-21302

Currently the K30 is on time out for bad behavior while we finish up a front room remodel project that’s been going on with Mrs. 7dee2.

[rgunlock]

Dang, I've really started to hate do-overs!

[Dieselwrencher]

Sorry to hear of the #2 bad crank seal. That is no bueno.

[rgreathouse]

Truck looks great, By any chance could you post a side profile picture?

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Dang, I've really started to hate do-overs!

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Sorry to hear of the #2 bad crank seal. That is no bueno.

Me too!

Originally Posted by rgreathouse

Truck looks great, By any chance could you post a side profile picture?

Thanks rgreathouse, I really don’t have any dead-on profile shots yet, but this one from a couple of months ago is as close as I've got. The rear axle sets back a little like a wrecker and is perfect in relation to the goose neck bucket in the bed..

[72 tigger]

Very nice project! Love all the attention to detail, this will be a solid,clean & rattle free truck for years to come! Thanks for all the pics & info

[7dee2]

Thanks 72 tigger, I really appreciate your kind words. Or is it 72 t-i-double-guh-er?



No truck updates yet but my part of our front room redo is all done. Mrs. 7dee2 has wanted built in shelfs on our front room fireplace wall, and of course new furniture, rug, dining room set, etc, etc, etc. I'd make some wise crack about her wood handling skills but she'd kill me, so we'll let that one go!

[7dee2]

The end tables and dining room table are kind of interesting, we built all the bases and put hand hammered copper tops (fancy schmancy) from Mexico on them.

[swamp rat]

Damn nice work!

[DWilbur]

Looks very cool. missing the big screen TV though

[72 tigger]

Looks good- you're a man of many talents! Did you do the stone on the fireplace? Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

That's pretty funny. My mom named my Dad's 69 Longhorn Dick because every time she drove the truck it wouldn't start for her or had some issue.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Damn nice work!

Thanks Mike!

Originally Posted by DWilbur

Looks very cool. missing the big screen TV though

Thanks, I'm guessing we did a good job of hiding the projection system then. There's 7.1 surround mostly in the ceiling and a pull down 100"+ screen, I'm a big, big fan of big screens!

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Looks good- you're a man of many talents! Did you do the stone on the fireplace? Yes, my wife named my truck tigger because he's bouncy

Thanks, it's faux stone panels. Wrapped some columns out front with the same stuff years ago and it's really good stuff. You go back and caulk some areas (screw heads, gaps, seams, etc.) then paint with there touchup paint and tada, yur done, easy peasy! https://www.fauxpanels.com/

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Wow, you sure a handy guy! That front room looks sweet! Where did you source the hammered copper tops at? I really like the shelves and fireplace too. I think that would look cool in our dining room.

Thanks Ryan, here's a ebay link to the same vendor they have the end tables also. Pre-made hand hammered copper stuff is crazy expensive so when we found this vendor it was go time.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mexican-Rou...72.m2749.l2649

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That's pretty funny. My mom named my Dad's 69 Longhorn Dick because every time she drove the truck it wouldn't start for her or had some issue.

Sounds like us, funny stuff!

[rgunlock]

Very nice job on the room remodel! I like the copper table tops. I need to do something like those for my back porch.

[Dieselwrencher]

Wow, you sure a handy guy! That front room looks sweet! Where did you source the hammered copper tops at? I really like the shelves and fireplace too. I think that would look cool in our dining room.

[Yukon Jack]

Outstanding build! Such quality workmanship.

[7dee2]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Very nice job on the room remodel! I like the copper table tops. I need to do something like those for my back porch.

Thanks Rick, can’t take the credit Mrs. 7dee2 spent many hours putting this together (it was a garage hijacking!) I was just her flunky.

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Outstanding build! Such quality workmanship.

Thank you, Yukon Jack, I really appreciate the compliments. Mentioned you and your friend’s truck in the second post of this build and hope you didn’t mind me stealing pics of your guy's kool trucks?



Our K30 (El Rae or Ray, short for the Rancho El Rae motorhome cab donor) has made it back into the garage and the first order of business was to fix that crank seal. After pulling the belts and just prior to pulling off the crank pulley I noticed it hadn’t flung oil all over the right side like it had last time. It looks like something is eating the paint on the left side this time?

A few seconds later the light bulb went off and I realized it’s brake fluid not oil, a little taste test next, yep, it’s brake fluid. I’d miss diagnosed earlier, in my defense, it was leaving a trail and puddling exactly as before and there is a very slight oil trail (not enough to drip) coming from that seal. Must admit the two very PO’d seconds spent diagnosing earlier might have had something to do with it?

Next to verify further fired the truck with no belts and let it run until the radiator fans kicked on. Crank seal is still OK, that is the good news. Had my boy lightly push on the brake pedal without any boost and watched brake fluid run out of the 2nd new CPP PV-2 proportioning valve we’ve installed. Fluid is coming from the metering valve pretty freely, leaking from the center of the fitting around the pin. After some internet research, I’m finding a few folks have been having trouble with this particular part (chinese knock off?) from this particular vendor.