1978 Chevy K20 future build any help would be Appreciated!!!

[Cowboy Crash]

My grandfather gave me his first new truck when i was 16 and lets just say i beat it... bad... I regret it cuz not only is my truck closer to being a pos it also hurts my grandfather seeing it like that. After i return from army basic training in November i will have roughly $15000 to play with for a budget. It currently has an np203 transfer case (this has to go) a hydromatic four speed automatic tranny from the 60's(also has to go) and a 2002 chevy 350 vortec with the ecm (this is my arch enemy it will go even if i have to cut it into a million pieces.) it has dana 44's front and rear and needs new fenders and a new bed. I am thinking of putting a 383 pushin 5xx horse or a cummins?, a built turbo 400? and a gear drive transfer case(any suggestions). I am going to find new axel shafts(suggestions? I would love to have a lifetime warranty) posi's front and rear. I have rims that run 33x12.5x16.5 and would like to run 37" humvee tires so then comes the question how much of a lift do i need? truck sits at stock height.

Currently this is a farm truck that is used mainly for towing and off rouad use and is also my daily driver. I want her to be better than she was in her former glory and be able to see my grandpa look at his old truck and know its in good hands. pics coming soon. any further suggestions tell me and any questions feel free to ask. thanks Cowboy Crash

[nekkidhillbilly]

why do you want rid of the 350 votec and what is it out of lsx engines started in 99 and the last vortec engines where in 2000 iirc ....unless its from a van or something oddball?

best bang for the buck is a lsx 6.0 and 4l80e stuck to a np205 transfer case. 15k you could do what ever you wanted. i think 6 inch is what you would need for those hummer wheels. i wouldnt want them to daily drive though. going to beat you to death and get horrid gas mpg.

[Cowboy Crash]

That 350 has caused to many electrical problems and is not set up right. It came out of a bread truck that was an 2002 it is warn out. So yes it was odd ball lol. And i hate newer electronic controlled stuff. I really dislike the lsx motors never had any luck with them have had 3 trucks with them in it they where 5.3's but still. I know how to work on sbc stuff and find it to be simpler and more bulletproof. np205 is what i was thinking but was unsure. i dont care about ride at this point it rides like a hay wagon as it is and gas mileage can't get to much worse the vortec has never ran very well and it gets about 8 or 9 as it sets. another reason i dont like it i cant set it like i can a sbc.

[Cowboy Crash]

The electrician who is supposed to be the best around this area did not do a good job when grandpa had him put that motor in often using whatever wire he could find often tying wires together only with electrical tape... wires that are exposed to elements... not trying to sound like an a**hole but i dont like any of the electronic controlled stuff and wont have it in my truck... i like simple... three wires to the starter and one to the distributor alot easier than... well yall know

[Cowboy Crash]

Heres some pics

[Cowboy Crash]

Heres some pics

[TheBlueBomber]

What MOS? When I got out of IET training after 8 months I had estimated I would come out with roughly the same amount of money... I even saved as much as I could (aside from the occasional 1/5th of jack) And boy was I wrong... lol.

If you do have that much to invest in the truck you'll definitely have a good looking truck when your done. When do you ship?

[nekkidhillbilly]

then rebuild the vortec stroke it and stick a carb on it. efi isnt rocket science but if you dont want it you have other options. you can wire a 6.0 up with a about 4 or 5 wires though if you did want one. carbed lsx engine is another idea. to daily drive though a carb kinda is annoying ie cold weather. i dont see a 383 making 500 hp though. 400 would be about tops.

[Cowboy Crash]

Ship July 8th for fort Benning GA. For 92f petroleum specialist (ie. Glorified gas station attendant) good bonus and benefits for school so I can go officer hopefully. The bonus is 15,000 over four years going into the truck. And I'm a farmer so carbs are ok cuz I know what I'm doing lol. The vortex flooded itself yesterday because of the cold... Hoping just a temp sensor... Anyone ever stuck a 5.9 Cummins in one of these? Great motor especially for the application I just think it would be too heavy for the application... And not old enough to drink so that'll ave me some money at basic :P

[Malo83]

GM did a build on a 78 to showcase the new E-Rod 5.3 engines, Grandpa would be proud seeing something like this
https://theblock.com/news/vehicle-sp...mpaign=fuel+11
As a 22yr NAVY Vet. Thank you for your service.
FLY NAVY

[Cowboy Crash]

That would work but it would have to be more than a 5.3 or 6.0... do the lsx come any bigger? i kno nothing about them.... what about a dmax? never heard a good thing about them but it should bolt up... i think...

[Cowboy Crash]

also does chevy or anybody for that matter make a wiring harness to fit the lsx? i dont want wiring done like it has in the past plug and play would make me a happy camper

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Crash

That would work but it would have to be more than a 5.3 or 6.0... do the lsx come any bigger? i kno nothing about them.... what about a dmax? never heard a good thing about them but it should bolt up... i think...

E-Rod 6.2


http://gmhorsepower.com/E-Rod-LS3-Crate-Motor.php

[TheBlueBomber]

Painless wiring makes harnesses. Lots of work in doing a cummins swap but is doable and I've seen a few. What do you want to do with the truck? fast street rod? tow truck? resto-mod?

Supercharged 6.2 FTW!!!

[Cowboy Crash]

well im a farm kid so gunna be overloaded frequently and off road if pastures and what not so don't want to be super heavy... not worried about fast but hey i won't complain thats why im thinking the dmax cuz it would be somewhat lighter than the cummins and i believe the motor mounts are stock chevy small block? so mounts should fit? would that 6.2 still get at least double digit gas mileage you think? i cant afford to feed anything that doesn't get atleast 10 mpg lol.

[Cowboy Crash]

well that 6.2 deffinetly has the torque... about 100 ft/lbs more than my daddy's 7.3 idi... has anyone put an allison behind it?

[andrewmp6]

You probably have 10 bolt axles that look just like a dana 44,But either way with a 37 inch tire and that kinda power you want a dana 60 and a 14 bolt rear.As far as diesel swaps the 6.2 would pretty much bolt in the truck.The other almost easy one is a 12 valve cummins but that takes some pricey swap parts unless you can make your own motor mounts.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Crash

That would work but it would have to be more than a 5.3 or 6.0... do the lsx come any bigger? i kno nothing about them.... what about a dmax? never heard a good thing about them but it should bolt up... i think...

a dmax is solid as hell. after 04 no injector problems. the engine would bolt in but your looking at alot of money to put one in. 4k for a used one and i wouldnt run one without the allison behind it. a 6.0 would make more power than a 383 stroker. easy 400 hp motors.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

You probably have 10 bolt axles that look just like a dana 44,But either way with a 37 inch tire and that kinda power you want a dana 60 and a 14 bolt rear.As far as diesel swaps the 6.2 would pretty much bolt in the truck.The other almost easy one is a 12 valve cummins but that takes some pricey swap parts unless you can make your own motor mounts.

hes looking at the gas 6.2 lsx

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Crash

well that 6.2 deffinetly has the torque... about 100 ft/lbs more than my daddy's 7.3 idi... has anyone put an allison behind it?

to do allison in a sqaure is a pain. you have to either build a custom adapter ring, rebuild a 205 with the 29 spline inputs, and have a seperate tune for 4wd low or use the left side drop transfercase and a ford axle. not cheap either way. the 4l80e or 6l80e are as strong if not stronger than your th400, are right behind the 6.0 or 6.2, and will bolt right up to the 205 transfercases. just fyi the 6.0 makes around the same tq as a 454 did in the trucks. a 6.0 4l80e you could find the whole thing used for under 2k. its pretty easy to bump the 6.0 up to over 400hp.

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Crash

well im a farm kid so gunna be overloaded frequently and off road if pastures and what not so don't want to be super heavy... not worried about fast but hey i won't complain thats why im thinking the dmax cuz it would be somewhat lighter than the cummins and i believe the motor mounts are stock chevy small block? so mounts should fit? would that 6.2 still get at least double digit gas mileage you think? i cant afford to feed anything that doesn't get atleast 10 mpg lol.

how much weight are you pulling. 6.0s and 6.2s are what gm uses in there duallys. your truck is a bit lighter on top of that.

[Cowboy Crash]

First off i know they are dana 44... had to change both axel shafts already -_- and my father owns a waterjet so making parts is no problem... and with 15000 for a budget that dmax is sounding better and better. and weight? lets just say it has over 2.5 ton in the bed rather frequently. this truck is by no means weak. and grandpa is an iron worker for 30 years if i need to make mounts or anything or beef the frame up it can be done easily but i dont want to have to build a special transfer case... id like to be able to find one out there if the one in the truck blows up lol. so allison is out. and that 6.2 from gm crate is just over 7k so its also expensive. yikes. would that d max tear apart an np203 transfer case? i mean we had one that withstood a built and i mean built 454 i am acutally kinda fond of the full time four wheel drive(as long as its working lol) up here in northern Indiana especially in a winter like this one we just had/are having thanks

[68post]

Originally Posted by Cowboy Crash

i am acutally kinda fond of the full time four wheel drive(as long as its working lol) up here in northern Indiana especially in a winter like this one we just had/are having thanks

Looking better all the time aren't they ?

[68post]

Just build a mild 496 with ported factory oval port heads ( the good ones) ,or aftermarket aluminum heads. If you want to spend to make it new school add fuel injection and a roller cam. You don't have to go all out or cam it up, they sell cast steel 4.25 stroker cranks very inexpensive, and there are great deals on quality heads too if you buy right.

I'm sure that with the above and a properly tuned quadrajet carb and setup hei ignition will deliver what you'd want in a truck.
What you save can be spent on other great things a truck always needs, and you'll never be dissatisfied with nearly 500ci. For better mileage make it 454 or slightly smaller.

Playing with Allisons and Duramaxs will get real expensive real fast , but you'll get good mileage (stock) or 900 ft lbs of TQ (modified) - but not both. After all that you could've just bought a stock slightly used newer diesel truck, but.... there you go...


Many ways to turn ! $0.02

[Cowboy Crash]

I was waiting for someone with ur mentality on here more power bigger and simpler... The only gas mileage would kill me... n that's making me think dual four barrel Quadra jets