Old truck still knows how to work...

[GCncsuHD]

It was raining out, and my 03 Duramax had just been washed/waxed, so I decided to put the 78 K30 to work. Don't worry it got a bath after I was done as well.




Only loaded picture I got. Not too heavy of a load, but it pulled like a dream.

Not surprising though, since it carried 250 gallons of water, pumps, and hoses in the bed for the last 30 years.
This is the only picture I could find of it in it's heyday, about a year before I bought it.

[old Rusty C10]

nice looking truck..if it had FD duty it was prolly speced pretty good to begin with

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

nice looking truck..if it had FD duty it was prolly speced pretty good to begin with

I had the liberty of keeping up with the maintenance duty of this and our other trucks once about every other month for the last 6 years (checked at least once a week by someone in the FD) so I know it inside and out.

Its just a base, 350, sm465, NP205, 4.11 gears, no ac or any of that nonsense, but is in great shape, and runs/drives great with only 75k mi. Runs too good to touch as is, but when I get the extra time and money, I plan to swap in a big block or possibly a 12v Cummins, maybe a nv4500 5spd if I can find one for a decent price, and a mild lift with 35s all around. Just enough so that it is still capable for weekend tow rig duty.

[Hottrucks]

I thought you said old truck well heres my kinda old truck.with 3/4 cord of wood on her...3 or 4 loads a day I have about 7/8 cords to move ......I'm going to be worn out first I think.....I'm 6 years older than the truck and I have taken care of me worse then the last PO's took care of the truck...that doesn't say much

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by GCncsuHD

I had the liberty of keeping up with the maintenance duty of this and our other trucks once about every other month for the last 6 years (checked at least once a week by someone in the FD) so I know it inside and out.

Its just a base, 350, sm465, NP205, 4.11 gears, no ac or any of that nonsense, but is in great shape, and runs/drives great with only 75k mi. Runs too good to touch as is, but when I get the extra time and money, I plan to swap in a big block or possibly a 12v Cummins, maybe a nv4500 5spd if I can find one for a decent price, and a mild lift with 35s all around. Just enough so that it is still capable for weekend tow rig duty.

Nice truck!
What size tires/wheels on this truck? Standard equipment on a K30 in 1978 was 9.50/16.5's. If you have these switch them out for the optional 16" wheels and run at least a 235/85 series tire. I have a T400 with 3.73 and get 10-11 mpg on the freeways. I run 255/85's,(33.3" tall), on my 86 K30 with 4.56's. No lift required for these tires. Interco has some 34's which should work also. The taller tire will help your cruising mileage.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by Dooley

Nice truck!
What size tires/wheels on this truck? Standard equipment on a K30 in 1978 was 9.50/16.5's. If you have these switch them out for the optional 16" wheels and run at least a 235/85 series tire. I have a T400 with 3.73 and get 10-11 mpg on the freeways. I run 255/85's,(33.3" tall), on my 86 K30 with 4.56's. No lift required for these tires. Interco has some 34's which should work also. The taller tire will help your cruising mileage.

It had 9.50R16.5's when it had FD duty, and right after I bought it. They were tinnnny.


I swapped them out for a set of 16s with 235/85/16s. I don't know exactly how many rpms it turns at highway speeds, because well it doesn't have a tach, and I'm too lazy to calculate it from the gear ratio/tire size. I was looking at the buckshot mudders in 305/85/16 (36/12.00/16). I am using dodge 16" wheels which have a larger offset than GM wheels, so there is currently about 2.5" between the tires in the rear so tire rubbing should not be an issue with that width, although I have thought about 255/85's as well.

[gchemist]

I'd rather drive the 78 over the 03. Install the I-6 Cummings turbo diesel.

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by gchemist

I'd rather drive the 78 over the 03. Install the I-6 Cummings turbo diesel.

How about a 3208T and an Alison......

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by gchemist

I'd rather drive the 78 over the 03. Install the I-6 Cummings turbo diesel.

Na, I drive 3 hours to school and back every weekend, Ill keep the 22mpg, AC, ipod hookup, Bose radio, smooth and quiet ride of the 03 over the 8mpg, blistering heat, 1 speaker radio, bouncy ride, and 4000 rpm wound out 350 with no overdrive and 4.11 gears down the interstate of the 78.

Although it is bout impossible not to have a huge grin on my face when I hop behind the wheel of the 78.

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

I thought you said old truck well heres my kinda old truck.with 3/4 cord of wood on her...3 or 4 loads a day I have about 7/8 cords to move ......I'm going to be worn out first I think.....I'm 6 years older than the truck and I have taken care of me worse then the last PO's took care of the truck...that doesn't say much

Well old to me, it's 9 years older than I am. And I'd say rolling with over 2500lbf in the bed for almost 30 years, never once being unloaded until this past year, with at least 50% of it's life spent off the road in the woods, it's had its fair share of hard work. I'd like to think of it as working through it's retirement easily.

[Pyrotechnic]

6.0 LS + ZF 6 speed manual. Useful AND fun.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

6.0 LS + ZF 6 speed manual. Useful AND fun.

If I get my hands on a ZF6, first place it goes is behind either my Dmax or my 01 6.0.

Besides, the LQ4 6.0 + T56 plan is for my 68 c10 one day.

[Pyrotechnic]

Yeah it's a shame that ZF6 Duramax trucks were so rare, and that they just discontinued them all together.

[thirdstreettito]

Nice 78!

[Driveway Dreams]

Very nice truck!! When I read the title, I pictured a beat up old truck working its guts out. Then it opened and I saw a very nice (as you would expect based on it's history) truck just doing light duty work for ya. Very nice truck though.

[JCampbell]

Nice rig, Man.

Lots of reg cabs popping up lately.

[cochino12]

Nice truck

[grinch4om]

so jealous....

[truckfan]

Killer.

If any of you saw my posts about trucks for sale on www.govdeals.com these trucks are out there. i have even passed on some 3/4 tons that were sweet (and reasonable) because they were too far away.

get a chrome front bumper. that would just finish it off

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by truckfan

Killer.

If any of you saw my posts about trucks for sale on www.govdeals.com these trucks are out there. i have even passed on some 3/4 tons that were sweet (and reasonable) because they were too far away.

get a chrome front bumper. that would just finish it off

We have purchased an 98 F150, 2000 E350 Van, 95 Chevy 1500 off of gov deals, and turned each of them over for a profit, there's plenty of good deals and interesting vehicles on there.

I plan on getting a chrome front and rear bumper, but for now the silver paint will do.

[willett]

thats a beautiful truck,
i love the look of single cabs with duellys

[Damien]

Do they ever forget how to work! That truck is super nice. I wouldn't mind having an old FD truck, They are always so clean. Too bad you didn't get the light bar with it.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by Damien

Do they ever forget how to work! That truck is super nice. I wouldn't mind having an old FD truck, They are always so clean. Too bad you didn't get the light bar with it.

Actually I have it, its sitting in storage at the FD.

[Damien]

Nice, That and the gold leaf lettering would make it look sweet.

[Keith Seymore]

These old trucks can still git 'er done....

Here's "lil Red", overworked and underpaid, from last Saturday -



Picture taken at Milan Dragway during a tune & test session.

K

[JohnC]

That's a sharp looking truck GCncsuHD.