My new project, lets take a vote for the direction it goes!

[93FatBottom]

I found this beautiful truck in the backyard of an old friend of mine. It was his neighbors, and years ago we used go over and help him work on it and his K5, the K5 received the 454 from this beast after he blew a hole in the block, and then it sat. For two years I kept trying to get him to sell it, but 2 grand for a truck with no motor was not something I was interested in. Then one day I went to my friends for the first time in months, he was back from school, and I went to see him. I was at his house for 2 whole hours until we went out back for a cigarette, and there was my dream. Sitting. I called him a whole mess of rude names, but it was his dads, not his, he owed him money from side work he had done, and he was broke, so he offered the truck, and he took it. After a night of drinking and bullspitting, he had a 100 dollar deposit and I had the title signed into my name. Once he gets the rest of the cash, she'll be dragged three miles home to me.

1980 Chevy K20, TH400, NP205, 14 bolt full float rear, dana 44 up front (it had a dana 60 back in the day, turns out he pulled it and put it in the K5, and swapped the 44 from the K5 to the K20, I was so disappointed haha) has dual fuel tanks, non a/c, non cruise control, non power windows/locks, but lucky for me it has a tilt wheel which is good for me, I'm 6'10, 330 pounds. She has an aftermarket bench and fold down center console, but theres still plenty of room behind the seat, so I'll be modding that to better fit me soon as shes home safe.

Now heres where you all come in. I'm trying to decide what to use for a motor. I was torn between a 396 and a 454, both of which I have access to for 700-800, but then I was offered a cummins 12 valve motor out of a 93 dodge, comes with a getrag 5 speed, 2 wheel drive, would no doubt ax it for an NV4500, but he wants me to trade a TBI small block with a 4L80e trans that I was saving for a rainy day in one of my other trucks, and I don't know that I'd want to part with it, theyre both rebuilt, 20k on em both, pulled from a family members truck after it was totaled by a hit and run, and he wants 500 on top of it. I need a group vote!

1969 396
1978 454
1993 Cummins 12 valve

I had previously priced out the mounts needed to put a 12 valve in this body style truck, and its about what it would cost me (if I used brand new parts) to get either of the big blocks in the truck, but the Cummins might cost me a little. I'm currently in the process of selling my Dually and cabover camper to finance the purchase of a 73-91 Suburban K20/V2500, and thats the truck I would like to do the 12 valve swap in, due to me moving out of state mid to late next year, my girlfriend will be driving my work truck towing my little car behind it, and I'd like to drive a Cummins powered Suburban pulling my new monster behind her. High hopes for how broke and in debt I am, but hey, do something crazy and dumb, while your still young, right?

[old Rusty C10]

454 or diesel either would be a kick bottom truck

[Zebb]

I would drop the small block in it and make it run. Or maybe the motor out of the suburban that you want to put the 12v in.

[Your41Plague12]

Call me crazy, but I say go with the 396. That truck will scream if it's built right. The smogger 454's I've had experience with weren't incredibly powerful. Sure they were strong, but I think the 396 would make at least as much power and probably use a little less fuel.

[SBTork]

i'd say either big block.

Good luck with the project, sounds fun!

[jimboh247]

Holy Moly! I am in serious lust

That is exactly the truck I want! Just get it running, then worry about the next step.

How do you manage to get in there? By your post, you're a big guy. Are there grab handles or do you grab the steering wheel and pull yourself up?

[ghettoluxury]

Big block it, or use your injected small block to get her on the road.

[meter swinger]

If your pockets are thin id do the BBC. ive got two friends in middle of cummins swaps and it is not a cheap road to hoe
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[andrewmp6]

A cummins would cost the most but would give you the best mileage out of anything.The motor mounts ain't that bad priced http://www.avalancheengineering.com/new_products.html and http://www.autoworldmt.com/ autoworld you gotta email for the price but both have a bolt in crossmember and mounts.

[yousesteers]

I did the Cummins and I woudl recommend the TN Diesel Conversion Mounts and Cross Member it is about $500 but uses the Stock Chevrolet Isolators and makes it super easy to install

[jitteryguy]

396 and save the Cummin's for another project.

[andrewmp6]

I just looked on tn diesels site his 4x4 kit is 500 and 48 to ship avalancheengineering is 399 plus shipping but its height adjustable.