MTBR12
Junior Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2024
- Posts
- 2
- Reaction score
- 3
- Location
- Montana
- First Name
- Mike
- Truck Year
- 1986 1987
- Truck Model
- K30 K3500
- Engine Size
- 454 454
Hello all,
I will try and keep this short, but will definitely fail. The first truck I got to drive when I turned 16 was dad’s 77’ C20 LB 454 TH400 Bonanaza, then my first was a 77’ K10 SB FS 4spd 350 custom deluxe (rolled), then a 72’ Jimmy 350 Auto (sold needed a p/u), so bought an 84’ K30 SW 4spd 350 also custom deluxe, then felt I needed more power for towing. So sold the 84 (dumb) bought my first 1998 Dodge CTD 12v SB, CC. I’ve always said I had Cummins, not Dodge. Sold that (also dumb). Years later replaced it with another 1998 12v SB CC only a little nicer Laramie (still have). Needed a LB, so bought a 2007 5.9 CTD Dually put in some power for towing (still have). Then needed a plow truck so back to a square, found a very low mileage under 100K used at a nursery 1986 K30 Dually Flatbed 4spd 454 (still have) for $5K for truck and plow. Plow was worth $2500, took off the plow cuz truck was too nice, no rust, put it on a neighbors rusted 82 K20 sacrificial lamb that we share. Then couldn’t pass up another square a 1987 GMC K35 or I guess V3500? 454 TH400 SW also pretty low mileage 104K, owned by the sheriffs department. Has some rust to fix in the floors. (Still have). Oh and a 1977 Bronco, and a V8 4Runner. So not bragging, more like truck poor. You can add up all my junk and it wouldn’t be as much as a new truck, and I like the old stuff better for some reason. So as much as I know, you guys know way more, and I’ll appreciate being able to use this knowledge base.
Side question, the new to me 87 has a droning harmonic vibration above 60mph. Driveline and u-joints look good, but could be out of balance, tires are studded and not sure of their balance. Hubs unlocked, in 2 hi.
Now on to the opinion part. Being a fan of bigger and stronger, and already having and have had one of every kind of bed, and wanting something shorter. I’d like one of three options to do with this 87. All require some frame work. First(easiest) is to just cut as much off the end of the frame as possible and build a custom 7’ flatbed, I do like a flatbed. Second is to section out the middle of the frame and put on a 6’ flatbed. Third is to section out the middle of the frame and put on a step side bed which I’ve never had. I guess could have found a K15 and rounded up a Dana 60, a 14 bolt, and a 205, and finding a decent step side bed might be a chore, but it’s what I got to work with and the wife might start to question things if I look for yet another truck. Plus a nice 87 step side would be pretty pricey these days. I got this thing for $4700. Any and all opinions appreciated.
The first 3 pics are what I got, the rest is what I’d like.
Nice to meet everyone,
Mike
I will try and keep this short, but will definitely fail. The first truck I got to drive when I turned 16 was dad’s 77’ C20 LB 454 TH400 Bonanaza, then my first was a 77’ K10 SB FS 4spd 350 custom deluxe (rolled), then a 72’ Jimmy 350 Auto (sold needed a p/u), so bought an 84’ K30 SW 4spd 350 also custom deluxe, then felt I needed more power for towing. So sold the 84 (dumb) bought my first 1998 Dodge CTD 12v SB, CC. I’ve always said I had Cummins, not Dodge. Sold that (also dumb). Years later replaced it with another 1998 12v SB CC only a little nicer Laramie (still have). Needed a LB, so bought a 2007 5.9 CTD Dually put in some power for towing (still have). Then needed a plow truck so back to a square, found a very low mileage under 100K used at a nursery 1986 K30 Dually Flatbed 4spd 454 (still have) for $5K for truck and plow. Plow was worth $2500, took off the plow cuz truck was too nice, no rust, put it on a neighbors rusted 82 K20 sacrificial lamb that we share. Then couldn’t pass up another square a 1987 GMC K35 or I guess V3500? 454 TH400 SW also pretty low mileage 104K, owned by the sheriffs department. Has some rust to fix in the floors. (Still have). Oh and a 1977 Bronco, and a V8 4Runner. So not bragging, more like truck poor. You can add up all my junk and it wouldn’t be as much as a new truck, and I like the old stuff better for some reason. So as much as I know, you guys know way more, and I’ll appreciate being able to use this knowledge base.
Side question, the new to me 87 has a droning harmonic vibration above 60mph. Driveline and u-joints look good, but could be out of balance, tires are studded and not sure of their balance. Hubs unlocked, in 2 hi.
Now on to the opinion part. Being a fan of bigger and stronger, and already having and have had one of every kind of bed, and wanting something shorter. I’d like one of three options to do with this 87. All require some frame work. First(easiest) is to just cut as much off the end of the frame as possible and build a custom 7’ flatbed, I do like a flatbed. Second is to section out the middle of the frame and put on a 6’ flatbed. Third is to section out the middle of the frame and put on a step side bed which I’ve never had. I guess could have found a K15 and rounded up a Dana 60, a 14 bolt, and a 205, and finding a decent step side bed might be a chore, but it’s what I got to work with and the wife might start to question things if I look for yet another truck. Plus a nice 87 step side would be pretty pricey these days. I got this thing for $4700. Any and all opinions appreciated.
The first 3 pics are what I got, the rest is what I’d like.
Nice to meet everyone,
Mike
