1985 C-30 Dump Truck Project

[Scouten45]

I have a 1985 frame/cab/drive train, it was originally a just a flatbed. I have a 2 or 3 donor trucks. The one has a chelsea pto and another has a electric pto. My goal is to have a nice work truck. Which a decent paint job on the frame and box (winters in erie pa are rough on vehicles). I have done a partial restoration before but i was looking at a body off restoration. What i am looking from you guys experienced in this sort of thing are helpful hints tips and maybe suggestions. I have a decent spending budget but im not looking for a street rod just a work truck. thanks!

[RuralRoute C-30]

Check you pm and good luck with the project. Sounds like you are on the right track.

Don't forget to get an oem manual. Worth their weight.

Mark

[GM72K10]

Any questions feel free to PM, just went through this.

[Pop's C-10]

You can have a looker that's a worker..

Welcome to tha site...

[K30_dump]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum, some great guys here .

I'm in the process of building a very similar truck, only mine being a K30. Mine started when I planned to swap 3/4 ton axles under my '78 K10. Found out the frame was worse than I thought, then found an '80 K30 dump sitting in a swamp (no axles and the body was trashed, but the dump and hoist were there). Frame appeared great, no rust at all. Was broken before though, so a lintle was welded over the rear axle on the LH rail. Also found a few small bends, as the truck was used and abused (plowing, salt spreader, etc).

Then I found an '84 K30 ambulance chassis, 454/TH400/NP205, only 38k original miles. Frame had a little rust and a few somewhat thin spots, but overall was much more virgin. Very straight, no bends or extras welded on. Decided to use this frame, so I had it sandblasted and painted it with Rustoleum satin black. Being the metal was clean, I think it'll hold up for a long time.

Anyway, didn't mean to turn this into my build thread . My point is this though, that the longer I've waited, the more "goodies" I've found. Also found a set of 19.5s from a P30 chassis (8 lug, nearly impossible to find around here). I've been working on mine for 5 years now, thought it'd be a one year swap. Have had two children since then though so I've been sidetracked . Having no garage space either means I have to quit in the fall ...

I think we're on the same page though, just a good tough work truck. I don't really care if the body is perfect, etc. Mechanically she'll be new though. What type of hoist are you planning to use? Any pics?

Good luck, wish I could help more. Sorry for the rant ...

Joe

[GM72K10]

I'm lucky, my conversion took a little less than a year. Used a K30 fire truck chassis and a 86 C30 Dump chassis and made a 1 out of two. Got new skins for the back last week and finally have an appointment for the cab to be painted next week. My truck spent most of its life on an army base as a fire truck, bought the truck minus the fire truck body at a gsa auction, took quite a while to re wire the engine compartment since they just cut most of the wires when they removed the fire truck electrical apparatus. Needed a new GPR, glow plugs, re routing of exhaust on the driver side, re fabrication of the basket to hold the resevoir, lights, a new dash, etc, but am using it almost every day as a back up work truck/daily driver. And btw, compaired to my CUCV, this thing rides quiet! (what a difference insulation makes)

[K30_dump]

Looks real nice Gerry. Almost makes me wish I would have stuck with the '84 front clip. Always loved the round headlights, but the single squares look real tough with a dump body. Excited to work on mine again, hopefully this PA weather breaks soon . Anyway, nice truck!!

Joe
Posted via Mobile Device

[Scouten45]

Originally Posted by K30_dump

Hello,

Welcome to the forum, some great guys here .

I'm in the process of building a very similar truck, only mine being a K30. Mine started when I planned to swap 3/4 ton axles under my '78 K10. Found out the frame was worse than I thought, then found an '80 K30 dump sitting in a swamp (no axles and the body was trashed, but the dump and hoist were there). Frame appeared great, no rust at all. Was broken before though, so a lintle was welded over the rear axle on the LH rail. Also found a few small bends, as the truck was used and abused (plowing, salt spreader, etc).

Then I found an '84 K30 ambulance chassis, 454/TH400/NP205, only 38k original miles. Frame had a little rust and a few somewhat thin spots, but overall was much more virgin. Very straight, no bends or extras welded on. Decided to use this frame, so I had it sandblasted and painted it with Rustoleum satin black. Being the metal was clean, I think it'll hold up for a long time.

Anyway, didn't mean to turn this into my build thread . My point is this though, that the longer I've waited, the more "goodies" I've found. Also found a set of 19.5s from a P30 chassis (8 lug, nearly impossible to find around here). I've been working on mine for 5 years now, thought it'd be a one year swap. Have had two children since then though so I've been sidetracked . Having no garage space either means I have to quit in the fall ...

I think we're on the same page though, just a good tough work truck. I don't really care if the body is perfect, etc. Mechanically she'll be new though. What type of hoist are you planning to use? Any pics?

Good luck, wish I could help more. Sorry for the rant ...

Joe

I have an electric and a Chelsea pto i would rather use the pto (a little faster, not as had on the electric system) and once i get all the trucks bought ill probably get pic as i go a long