Thread: 1976 Chevy K30 Crew Cab Short Bed Just finish it!

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During the process preceeding our home purchase, I sold a lot of things. One of which was my only running and driving 4x4 truck. I had planned to get the 72 to drive until the winter. I don't want to drive it in the winter unless I absolutely had to. My plan was to use half the money from the sale of the ford to pay bills, and the other half to buy parts for this truck. I actually used the money and purchased a 64 Corvette roadster. Then upon searching for parts for the vette, sold it back to the previous owner of the guy I had baught it from. Then paid more bills than what money I had from the sale of the ford, and purchased as money parts as I could with the remainder.

Ok, a little run down on the truck. My Dad purchased the truck when I was 16. It started out as a 2wd 1 ton dually. We repaired and replaced the bottom half of the cab. Lower b-pillars, inner and outer cab corners, inner and outer rockers, front half of the floor, and all the doors. Replaced the front clip, bed, my Dad tracked down a lower fiberglass spoiler for it and Lund razor back. My old boss's shop painted the cab forward. My dad rebuilt a 396 TH400 for it and the truck was 80% done. One day we decided to put a 7.3 IDI in it and I purchased the 396. A month later I found Dad a 91 F350 crew cab diesel, and I baught this truck from him. I then converted the truck to 4x4 and it has had several different engines in it, and different stances etc. It has been driven few times since I've had it. It's just been an extra truck/project. Here are some pics over the years.

Well, I had to get the truck back to a practical user. This was around the time we found out my wife was pregnant with my daughter. I decided to bring it down from the sky, and get it to reality. Haha

I also decided to make it a short box. I figured why not? I've never owned a short bed truck and it would help in parking lots.

Here it is as the crew cab short box. I still have to box the frame where I spliced it, and I need to reshim the cab. I haven't done that since I removed the body lift. I also rebuilt some engine mounts and put a 24v in it.

The front doors were thought to be GM's when we originally restored the cab. It turned out they were taiwaan crap. I sourced some rust free ones and stuck them on. This kind of brings us to current. In this past January I purchased a lot more parts for the truck. I'm currently in planning and buying mode for this truck. I need to have it drivable by November. So I decided to quit working and adding money to my 72, so I can concentrate on this one. I only have one other customer project before this truck to do so hopefully I'll have bith of these at my house in August and work will commence. After this truck the 40 comes home. Here's a list of parts i purchased for the truck lately.

New cowl hood
NOS GM front fenders
New inner fenders
Rust Free core support (That I'll be hacking to put an intercooler in)
New bed sides
Tonneau cover
Rust free tail gate
New 2.5" lift leaf springs
35's with 200 miles on them
Steering box weld on brace
Sway bar drop brackets
Trans rebuild kit, single billet torque converter and other trans parts
New to this truck seat belts
New led marker lights
New head light rings and hardware with springs, cowl screen, hood hinges and springs
23 spline np205
Rust free rear doors

I've purchased a 94 12v 5.9 cummins from a customer's truck. I have to finish paying him and then I can get the engine for this truck. I'm going with a 47rh and NP205 in this truck. It currently has a Dodge D70 in the rear, and a chevy D60 in the front. Both have 3.54 gears, and the rear is a limited slip. The truck will have 35's as well. I'm trying to decide on a color. I wanted to go black, but I might go forest green or patriot blue. I think I'm going to ditch the sun visor too. The interior will be tan because I have decent tan seats for it. My plan is to keep it simple. Use the factory gauges, hook up the factory tach etc, and use what I have on hand for boost and trans temp. This build will have to be a true low budget build with all the house stuff we have going, get it ready for fall, and everything else. I'm trying to hold true to not going and getting a loan for another vehicle if I can help it.

So now I'm compiling a list and working extra to get the money to buy these parts to get this truck going. I already got the gaskets and seals I'll need for the engine too. Here's a list of the big stuff I still need for it.

Spider gears for the front diff (Currently they're welded)
16x10 wheels
Reman steering box
Shocks and small rear block due to the new 2.5" lift front springs (currently the truck has a shackle flip and no block in the rear)
Driveshafts will need altered
Trans cooler
Paint, primer, and or clear
Carpet
Maybe a front bumper like my 72 has
Time (Haha)

I also have a donor cab with newer wiring. I was going to buy an american auto wire harness for this truck, but they are $600. I am half tempted to use the wiring from the 87 cab I have because it is power windows and locks. Plus it has ato fuses unlike this 76 that still has glass fuses. I'll just have to see when I get that far.

The old truck's been through quite a life, and it sounds like it's getting ready for another transfusion from the fountain of youth. Hope it all works out to get done before the snow flies.

Yes sir it has. Thanks, hopefully it isn't an early winter. You never know with how unusual the weather has been lately.

Nice job!!

This weekend the 72 is going to storage and the 76 should be moving in. Time to get it home so the fun can begin!

Nice little tag at the of your lines, it's always pleasing to have a statement that ryhmes.

Not sure how I missed all this progress until now?? Wow, you've been busy! Kids and a house too?!?!?

Your setting a high standard , I gotta make sure my wife never sees this thread!

Originally Posted by 34_40

Not sure how I missed all this progress until now?? Wow, you've been busy! Kids and a house too?!?!?

Your setting a high standard , I gotta make sure my wife never sees this thread!

My wife is ready for another kiddo too. I'm okay with that, but it'd be nice to have 2 more potty trained first. I'm running out of arms the way it is. Haha

HMmm.. another kiddo? Yep.. you need to sell a cleveland!

Originally Posted by 34_40

HMmm.. another kiddo? Yep.. you need to sell a cleveland!

Are you coming to the midwest again?