Finally found my truck - 1985 K3500 4x4

[tip]

Well, after many months of searching and years of dreaming, I finally found my dream truck. Ended up being only 20 minutes from my house.

I had an 86 C30 dually that I thought I would be keeping forever, but I just need to have 4 wheel drive and I didn't have room to get another truck. So I sold the C30 and went on the search, hoping to find a nice 4x4. I had no idea this would pop up, and for the price I had to jump on it.

It was a grandpa truck most of its life. The 350 was replaced with a 400 a few years back. TH400/205/D60/14FF, 170K miles, bone stock other than motor, wheels and tires. Stack of reciepts. Needs some work, tires immediately. Paint is original, but if you've seen my other thread, you know I will get this paint to buff out.

Anyway, here are the crappy-taken-in-a-downpour pics for now:

[SigFTW]

Very nice!!! Congrats!

[crashz]

Beautiful Truck! Congrats!

BTW - I love the wheels and stance. Proud but not gawdy. That is the look I'm going for in my 83.

[special-K]

Nice one! Congratulations

[motornut]

looks great ,lucky to find it that nice

[1963c-10]

nice truck...congrats on the new purchase.

[TheBlueBomber]

Looks awesome!!!

[old Rusty C10]

now that is a cool truck Im a grandpa myself and lol I don't think id have given it up if it were mine lol

[Grumpus Monkus]

Nice find.

[BONUSCAB]

I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but you sure that's a D60 up front? The hubs look small, and they also look like auto hubs?

[tip]

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by BONUSCAB

I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but you sure that's a D60 up front? The hubs look small, and they also look like auto hubs?

They are auto locking hubs. I was confused about that but I googled my head off and found that some did come with auto hubs. Most have been converted to manual by now. I am certain its a D60 because of the absence of the inner u-bolt on the diff side... I was told that was a sure sign it was a D60.

Now you have me worried though, I will have to recheck.

[dman1982]

sweet ride

[BONUSCAB]

Sweet!

[Cheng]

Georgeous truck.

I think I have its Chevy Cousin

My 85 K30 also has those smallish auto locking hubs but it is definitely a D60.

[hartbraker]

if there isn't an inside u bolt on the pumpkin side, it's a d60. no questions about it. there will just be a bolt head showing that goes down into the pumpkin housing if i remember right.

[tip]

Originally Posted by hartbraker

if there isn't an inside u bolt on the pumpkin side, it's a d60. no questions about it.

That's what I wanted to hear!

[Greenlee]

Nice truck! I learned something new. Never seen a Dana 60 with the automatic hubs.

[legendman]

Nice 1-ton

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Good looking truck.

What size lift, and tires do you have now?

I am trying to get my 4x4 project going, and do not know much yet.

[tip]

No lift, just re-arched factory springs. 33x12.50 BFG's

I have some time to figure where I'm going to go with this too, but its still up in the air.

I'm thinking 4" lift with 35's. ORD shackle flip and front springs. That's about as big as I would want to go. Looking for a tall, skinny 34-35 and possibly some newer GM HD 16" wheels. Haven't seen too many squares with those wheels yet. But they are only 6.5" wide, so that might be a problem.



I've also thought about staying with a 33" tire, maybe like a 255/85R16 and no lift. But to me, these trucks just look "right" with around 35" tires. Just me I guess. I definitely don't want to go bigger. I had an '81 with 6" lift and 36" swampers when I was 16... was fun but definitely out of that stage and into my own 'grandpa truck' stage, LOL

[Chevy3+3]

I will see if I can get my pics posted on here. I had an 87 GMC 3/4 camper special with 4" lift and 33x12.50x16.5's. I also have a pic of it with 255/85/16's on it. Either set looked just right with 4" of lift. It just depends what look your going for. Tall & skinny was a cleaner look I thought and handled better but the 33x12.50 was the tougher look. That's just my personal opinion though. I will see if I can track down the pics.

Oh...and personally I'm not a huge fan of the newer wheels on the older trucks. Mainly because to me they don't look factory. If you want tall & skinny I would throw a 4" lift and factory white steels with the hubcaps wrapped with 255/85/16 tires. It would look tough, clean and factory at the same time. Just my opinion

[tip]

Find those pics, I'd love to see 'em!!!

I agree about the newer wheels on older trucks. These wheels are the only newer ones I could see using. I had some on my old 2500HD and they were so clean.

I hate just about any aftermarket wheel now a days and my only other real possibilty would be white steelies, just like you mentioned. I prefer the "OEM+"" look for my vehicles.

[y5mgisi]

So sweet!

[Chevy3+3]

Here are a few pics. I like the 33's with a 4" because it has room for wheel travel. This was my 87' GMC 3/4 Camper Special fully loaded w/4" lift and 33x12.50x16.5. I no longer have it. I bought it twice years apart and sold it twice. I regret that now, lol.

[OldCreek]

Careful with some of the newer wheels. The center hole are too small and will not slide over 1 ton hubs. This is especially true if the wheels came off a 2wd.