All4squarebody
Junior Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2022
- Posts
- 3
- Reaction score
- 22
- Location
- Fruitland, Idaho
- First Name
- Mel
- Truck Year
- 1983
- Truck Model
- k30, crew cab dually
- Engine Size
- no current engine--wanting to put a 1994 cummins 12 valve
Hi everyone. I am 63 years old, bought my first square body (3/4 ton 4wd single cab) with 3 miles on it for $9,999.00! Drove it for23 years, then had 4 kids, so bought a beat up 1979 crew cab 1 ton in 1995 for $2995.00 (454, dana 60 front, made it a 4sp, installed a 205 transfer case) and still drive it today. My wife had a 1973 gmc suburban 4wd that was her daily driver for 18 years. We bought it for $1500 in 1982, and I completely restored it, but have since sold it. in 1993 I bought a single cab rolling chassis that was a 1 ton dually with a dana 60 front and dana70 rear (for $300 delivered). The axles are now under the 1979 as I have a flatbed on it with a camper that I just leave on it ready to go. In 2010 I bought a 1 ton crew cab 4wd with a 4 speed, 205 transfer, dana 60 front and rear, and 454 for $1500. I cleaned it up, painted it, and put a flatbed on it, and it is my daily driver. Also, in 2003, I bought a 1981 single cab, 1 ton 4 wd with a service bed on it ($2500) fixed it up a little and painted it, and it is my service truck for portable welding jobs to this day. It has the dana 60 front and rear, a 350 engine, 400 th, and a 205 transfer case. Sorry for the long story, but wanted to give you a history of my love for square bodys.
I have always done all of my own maintenance and repairs on them, but now I am stepping in to a field I am completely unfamiliar with. I bought a 1983, 1 ton dually, crew cab, that was just a cab and chassis, and want to put a 12 valve cummins in it. I bought a 1994 dodge with a 12 valve, nv4500 and not sure what the transfer is. I pulled them, and bought a nv5600 to go behind it, and am currently still looking for a dodge 205 or other 205 options to merry up to it.
I still work full time, so I know it is going to be a long process, but I want to do it right, as I am sure it will be my last build.
At present I have the chevy frame stripped, sandblasted, primed, and painted. So I guess my first question would be about boxing the frame. if I am understanding it right, the frame should be boxed. Has anyone done this and have pictures of how to go about it in the front end and engine area? I have a welding and machine shop, and sell metal, and realize they make kits for doing this, but I seem to be completely lost as far as boxing the front.
I feel very fortunate to have stumbled on to this site, and hopefully get a lot of good guidance on my project.
Thank you.
I have always done all of my own maintenance and repairs on them, but now I am stepping in to a field I am completely unfamiliar with. I bought a 1983, 1 ton dually, crew cab, that was just a cab and chassis, and want to put a 12 valve cummins in it. I bought a 1994 dodge with a 12 valve, nv4500 and not sure what the transfer is. I pulled them, and bought a nv5600 to go behind it, and am currently still looking for a dodge 205 or other 205 options to merry up to it.
I still work full time, so I know it is going to be a long process, but I want to do it right, as I am sure it will be my last build.
At present I have the chevy frame stripped, sandblasted, primed, and painted. So I guess my first question would be about boxing the frame. if I am understanding it right, the frame should be boxed. Has anyone done this and have pictures of how to go about it in the front end and engine area? I have a welding and machine shop, and sell metal, and realize they make kits for doing this, but I seem to be completely lost as far as boxing the front.
I feel very fortunate to have stumbled on to this site, and hopefully get a lot of good guidance on my project.
Thank you.
