1977 GMC K3500 - Built To Suit
#1
04-01-2008, 12:00 AM
1977 GMC K3500 - Built To Suit
1977 GMC K3500 - Built To Suit
Kim Miner's 1977 GMC K3500 has had a long life. Purchased in 1992 from its second owner, Kim used it as a work truck almost immediately. In '95, he figured that if he was going to drive something daily, it might as well be nice, so a complete frame-off restoration was performed. At the time, diesel performance wasn't mainstream, so he did what everyone else did at that time: He stuck in a 350 Chevy gas motor with a mild cam, intake, and carburetor. However, the GMC tipped the scales at a hefty 7,500 pounds, so the 350 didn't provide as much "go" as was hoped. In fact, Kim found himself having to shift down from Fifth gear into Fourth every time he hit a hill, otherwise the mild small block would start to lug. To make matters worse, he was getting about 10 mpg while driving and a miserable 6 mpg when towing. Clearly, a solution had to be found.
Almost immediately, Kim knew what it was: a Cummins diesel. He knew they produced more than enough torque to move the truck, and climbing hills was more important to Kim than blasting down the highway. In 2001, the swap was made after he acquired a 215hp 12-valve engine out of a '97 Dodge. Kim said that although the swap wasn't that straightforward, it wasn't too hard either. He started by using the stock Dodge frame mounts, which made things easier, but required notching the GMC's frame as well as its crossmember.
Next, a 2-inch body lift was added to clear the big Cummins. The front radiator core support is custom and uses all Dodge parts. The radiator, hoses, and even the fan shroud are all off of a donor truck, and they work to keep temperatures under control during heavy-duty towing. The NV4500 5-speed transmission then sends power back to a 3.73 geared GM 14-bolt with an Eaton Posi and an open-differential Dana 60 up front.
Of course, after Kim had completed all of this work, he couldn't just leave things stock. The engine was upgraded with a set of Stage 3 Diesel Dynamics injectors, a 3,000-rpm governor spring kit, an aftermarket fuel plate, 60-pound exhaust springs, and a timing advance. The result was about 100 horsepower more than stock, while also maintaining great maneuverability for hauling and towing. When we saw the truck at the J&H event in Redding, California, it broke during the sled pulling event. The 10-spline input shaft to the NP205 transfer case gave way, and prompted Kim to perform another series of upgrades. A 32-spline shaft was then installed, along with a South Bend 3250 dual disc clutch, and the input shaft to the NV4500 was upgraded from 11/4 inches to 1 3/8 of an inch.
But the drivetrain is where the modifications stop, right? Nope, not even close. Kim put a 21/2 inch lift on the front to help balance out the weight of the diesel engine, and built his own custom springs for the rear. One of his favorite additions is a set of in-cab adjustable Rancho RS9000 shocks that allow the truck to be supported when loaded, but aren't so stiffly sprung that they beat him to death on the highway.
What's really amazing, though, is the little stuff. Kim's influence can be seen on every single part of this truck. He and his dad custom-made the dump bed and rear bumper, and Kim even welded up a set of custom front wheels so he could have the proper backspacing, and still fit 33x12.50x16.5 tires. He put in power windows, remote entry, and air conditioning when the truck was restored. Almost every part on this GMC truck was modified in some way by its owner.
In the end, Kim came out on top with a reliable GMC truck that can haul up to 3 tons, yet still rides and drives like a regular pickup. Gone is the 6-mpg towing figure of the gas engine, as the truck now gets 13 mpg when towing and 15-17 mpg around town. Not one to rest on his laurels, Kim plans on installing a more aggressive fuel plate and fabricating a new front bumper for his workhorse. With over 400,000 miles on its body and frame, this truck's lifeis just beginning.
A Real Work Truck
Kim's truck was so clean and nice that we were surprised to learn that it was a real honest work truck when it wasn't drag racing or sled pulling. Kim works in construction, which explains one of the truck's most striking features: its bed. The dump bed was built entirely by Kim and his father, with a hydraulic system taken off of "some old Chevy truck." They didn't have any specs on the rating of the lift, but the truck is able to unload tons of concrete, gravel, or wood at a time. Not only that, but the tilt aspect gives the truck a high enough point that the bed can be used as a ladder, or to put shingles or lumber on top of a house. The bed has a remote activation switch and power source to run various types of tools. The entire bed was also Rhino Lined for protection and fitted with powerful lights for night work. We asked Kim about the air compressor in the back, and he laughed and indicated that it was to air his tires up and down for the sled pull and drag race. It was one of the most useful modifications we have seen in a while, and Kim's dump bed takes versatilityto a whole new level.
Photo Gallery: 1977 GMC K3500 - Custom Truck - Diesel Power Magazine
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Kim Miner's 1977 GMC K3500 has had a long life. Purchased in 1992 from its second owner, Kim used it as a work truck almost immediately. In '95, he figured that if he was going to drive something daily, it might as well be nice, so a complete frame-off restoration was performed. At the time, diesel performance wasn't mainstream, so he did what everyone else did at that time: He stuck in a 350 Chevy gas motor with a mild cam, intake, and carburetor. However, the GMC tipped the scales at a hefty 7,500 pounds, so the 350 didn't provide as much "go" as was hoped. In fact, Kim found himself having to shift down from Fifth gear into Fourth every time he hit a hill, otherwise the mild small block would start to lug. To make matters worse, he was getting about 10 mpg while driving and a miserable 6 mpg when towing. Clearly, a solution had to be found.Almost immediately, Kim knew what it was: a Cummins diesel. He knew they produced more than enough torque to move the truck, and climbing hills was more important to Kim than blasting down the highway. In 2001, the swap was made after he acquired a 215hp 12-valve engine out of a '97 Dodge. Kim said that although the swap wasn't that straightforward, it wasn't too hard either. He started by using the stock Dodge frame mounts, which made things easier, but required notching the GMC's frame as well as its crossmember.
Next, a 2-inch body lift was added to clear the big Cummins. The front radiator core support is custom and uses all Dodge parts. The radiator, hoses, and even the fan shroud are all off of a donor truck, and they work to keep temperatures under control during heavy-duty towing. The NV4500 5-speed transmission then sends power back to a 3.73 geared GM 14-bolt with an Eaton Posi and an open-differential Dana 60 up front.
Of course, after Kim had completed all of this work, he couldn't just leave things stock. The engine was upgraded with a set of Stage 3 Diesel Dynamics injectors, a 3,000-rpm governor spring kit, an aftermarket fuel plate, 60-pound exhaust springs, and a timing advance. The result was about 100 horsepower more than stock, while also maintaining great maneuverability for hauling and towing. When we saw the truck at the J&H event in Redding, California, it broke during the sled pulling event. The 10-spline input shaft to the NP205 transfer case gave way, and prompted Kim to perform another series of upgrades. A 32-spline shaft was then installed, along with a South Bend 3250 dual disc clutch, and the input shaft to the NV4500 was upgraded from 11/4 inches to 1 3/8 of an inch.
But the drivetrain is where the modifications stop, right? Nope, not even close. Kim put a 21/2 inch lift on the front to help balance out the weight of the diesel engine, and built his own custom springs for the rear. One of his favorite additions is a set of in-cab adjustable Rancho RS9000 shocks that allow the truck to be supported when loaded, but aren't so stiffly sprung that they beat him to death on the highway.
What's really amazing, though, is the little stuff. Kim's influence can be seen on every single part of this truck. He and his dad custom-made the dump bed and rear bumper, and Kim even welded up a set of custom front wheels so he could have the proper backspacing, and still fit 33x12.50x16.5 tires. He put in power windows, remote entry, and air conditioning when the truck was restored. Almost every part on this GMC truck was modified in some way by its owner.
In the end, Kim came out on top with a reliable GMC truck that can haul up to 3 tons, yet still rides and drives like a regular pickup. Gone is the 6-mpg towing figure of the gas engine, as the truck now gets 13 mpg when towing and 15-17 mpg around town. Not one to rest on his laurels, Kim plans on installing a more aggressive fuel plate and fabricating a new front bumper for his workhorse. With over 400,000 miles on its body and frame, this truck's lifeis just beginning.
A Real Work Truck
Kim's truck was so clean and nice that we were surprised to learn that it was a real honest work truck when it wasn't drag racing or sled pulling. Kim works in construction, which explains one of the truck's most striking features: its bed. The dump bed was built entirely by Kim and his father, with a hydraulic system taken off of "some old Chevy truck." They didn't have any specs on the rating of the lift, but the truck is able to unload tons of concrete, gravel, or wood at a time. Not only that, but the tilt aspect gives the truck a high enough point that the bed can be used as a ladder, or to put shingles or lumber on top of a house. The bed has a remote activation switch and power source to run various types of tools. The entire bed was also Rhino Lined for protection and fitted with powerful lights for night work. We asked Kim about the air compressor in the back, and he laughed and indicated that it was to air his tires up and down for the sled pull and drag race. It was one of the most useful modifications we have seen in a while, and Kim's dump bed takes versatilityto a whole new level.
Photo Gallery: 1977 GMC K3500 - Custom Truck - Diesel Power Magazine
Read More | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us
More...
