83 GMC K3500 build thread

[86ktwenty]

Heres some shots of My 83 GMC K3500 that I scored for $500.

[Maxxd07]

From the middle of no where? How did you find that sweet score?

[86ktwenty]

Heres some shots after what I've done so far. Runs surprisingly well after sitting un-touched in a rural Nebraska pasture for 5 years. Replaced the fuel filter, drained the tanks and changed the oil, filled it with some new gas, and put in a battery, and it fired right up and made it the 60 mile drive home. Replaced the drivers window, as it was missing when i got it, had to steal one from my K20, as my supply of spares had been exhausted. Replaced the missing far left clearence light on the cab (although its not in these pics), and wired up the clearance lights in the tailgate, 4 out of five work. Swapped the dry-rotted tires with the ones from my wrecked 98 1500, and swapped the stock am radio and speakers for a sony head unit and x-plod speakers.

[alwaysbroken]

nice truck.

[86ktwenty]

Heres a pic of the push bar/grill guard that I built, 1/4" uprights with 1/8" x 1.5" flat weldet to the front, and 1/8" main bars and wrap arounds. In these shots, its on the front of my K20, but has sinch been removed and added to the K3500, as the K20 is gonna be my dedicated mud truck. The fog lights are some Wal-Mart specials that were lovingly donated by my 90 Blazer before I sold it.

[86ktwenty]

Originally Posted by Maxxd07

From the middle of no where? How did you find that sweet score?

I asked a buddy what he had for 80s something Chevys and he told me bout this one, I said how much?, he said $500, I said I'll come get it.

[86ktwenty]

The John Deer sticker is goin bye bye when I swap the windsheild. At the moment it is a "load-bearing sticker" to keep it from cracking worse, or at least thats how I justify adding a $5 sticker to a broken windshield. Next add ons are some sort of zero-rate add a leaf for the front springs, like the ones that Off-Road Design makes, to level it out a bit, and some more aggressive 285/75r16 tires, and some engine mods.

[Gordonr1973]

Pretty cool!

[86ktwenty]

Here's my 86 3/4 ton, got a bad trans in it, gonna donate the rear axle to the one ton. It's got 3.73s in it, which should ease the pain felt in my wallet every time i fill up due to the p*ss poor milage. Should be a pretty straight forward swap, as the axles are the same. The only difference is the gears. Gonna swap the front gear set to 3.73s when i got the cash. The front springs on the one ton have a bit of a negative arc due to bouncing through pastures, but I have a spare set that are damn near new, should level it out a bit.

[86454k30]

The rearend swap isn't a direct swap. You will have to cut and reweld the K20's spring pads, K30's spring measurement side to side is narrower by about 1.5"s.

[86ktwenty]

thanks for the info.

[86ktwenty]

heres some engine shots

[86ktwenty]

Interior shots

[75ChevyGuy]

Looks like a real solid truck! Any rot issues?

[86ktwenty]

Not any major ones, the cab corners have a little surface rust, but they are saveable without patching, everthing else is very solid, you don't see them like that around here very much.

[86ktwenty]

Yesterday I raqn to the farm to pick up some scrap iron, and headed home. Got a half mile from town and blew a head gasket. Building a new engine, will post pictures.

[86ktwenty]

Got a line on a 454 big block, RV cam, edelbrock performer 750, headers, should make for a pretty decent to rig. Lemme know what you think.

[75ChevyGuy]

Sounds like a very torquey motor. Nice choice for a tow rig.

[Greenlee]

Wow, so I guess it has a Dana 60 in the front since it is a k3500! Around here the front axle is worth more than you paid for the whole truck.
Posted via Mobile Device

[86ktwenty]

Originally Posted by Greenlee

Wow, so I guess it has a Dana 60 in the front since it is a k3500! Around here the front axle is worth more than you paid for the whole truck.
Posted via Mobile Device

I got offered $1600 cash the same day I bought it, for that item alone.

[ghettoluxury]

Originally Posted by 86ktwenty

I got offered $1600 cash the same day I bought it, for that item alone.

And you didn't sell it!

You can pick up 60's around here for $500 all the time.

[86ktwenty]

Originally Posted by ghettoluxury

And you didn't sell it!

You can pick up 60's around here for $500 all the time.

Eh, I got plans for this one, I figured I'd keedp it lol.

[86ktwenty]

Here's some newer pics.

[86ktwenty]

Thought you guys might like this one, It's my 3 year old son helping me twist wrenches.

[86ktwenty]

Headache rack I built today.