Worth the Work?

[kwmech]

So I bailed on the big block flatbed deal, truck was too contractor trashed out for me to invest my time into. BUT.............

Going to look at another 'deal' friday. 1987 crew cab 2wd dually, tbi 454, t400, just about completely loaded. 4000.00 Seller says 30k on the speedo, interior really nice, blah blah, 30k, 130k, 230? (5 digit speedo so I'll have to take a guess) says it runs strong and shifts really well. Have a kinda friend that is selling an 88 4x4 crew cab frame with a partial body and bed for 500.00. No drive train-----engine, trans, diffs are gone along with the front clip. Frame, springs, fuel tanks are intact--lots of parts avail. Head is spinning on whether or not to take the jump into this. I will need a complete dually 60 front assy along with a t-case (have this). May jump into a 4L80 at the same time. Just what I need is another 'project', but this is falling into my lap so to speak

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

If you have the more of the important parts honestly that is up to you. As you may need to get Suburban parts to dress up the interior. They often come with power windows, and door locks which are extremely nice on a crew.

One thing is that with no motor it maybe easier to go with the EROD swap now because you maybe missing alot of the smog pieces needed for smog check. If you do finish the work one engine or another. It will be worth 10K plus at least based on what I see K30's go for.

On a side note I am heading to Colfax right now to pick up a car for a friend of my dad's.

[kwmech]

I have the complete engine and trans from the 2wd, along with the dually rear. Just need an adapter, rear output swapped from the 400 and a t-case ( which I already have). Basically doing a frame swap

[focusedontheprize]

I was in your situation a year ago. I picked up a 1986 Chevrolet C30 crew cab dually with the intentions on converting it to a 4x4 setup. The body on mine was in worse condition that originally expected so I abandoned and picked up a much better platform (1988 Chevrolet V30 crew cab dually).

While I was in the process of planning out the conversion of the C30, I was amazed how straightforward it was with having the right important parts like Ziegelsteinfaust said. If you have line of sight to a real 4x4 chassis you will be in the clear. Between ORD and DIY4X any parts or shackles you need are just an order away.

Good luck, let us know how it shakes out.

Also I don't know the route you will go (lifted or not), but keep your hands on the 2wd steering box as that is what a lot of 4x4 people are using.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by kwmech

I have the complete engine and trans from the 2wd, along with the dually rear. Just need an adapter, rear output swapped from the 400 and a t-case ( which I already have). Basically doing a frame swap

Then it sounds like it will be more or less plug, and play.

It's going to take time, but since you have the parts. I feel you can pretty much get your money out of it if need be.

Get it running first. That is the biggest motivator for a project.

[Honest Bob]

I'm doing a similar job on a single cab longbed and I'm 3 months deep. Either you have $10-16k to drop or your willing to sacrifice most of your spare time for 6 months.

[kwmech]

Well....looked and drove the truck. Interior needs about a grand worth of work, upholstery, missing door panels, missing ac vents, missing visors, power windows inoperative, dash pad, stereo missing etc. Truck is lowered with drop spindles in the front, longer shackles in the rear where they cut the bottom of the bed to make them fit. Tail gate seriously bent, front of bed was bent ..almost touching the cab. Rear fenders missing chunks of fiberglass, needs a serious paint job. Door hinges drivers door. My guess has 230k on it. Water pump was leaking, broken windshield. AC compressor froze up, power steering leaking. genuine fixer upper. I offered and said at most it was a 1500.00 truck. Lot nicer crew duallys out there near the same 4k that hasn't been trashed. We'll see