1980 K100 Cabover Project/daily runner

You are killing me. I ran by that 79 mentioned. The guy has a bit of money and has a garage full of restored cabovers. 2900 for the 79 and includes the parts truck

 

Fluids may look great but, fact is dirt will settle over that many years. Fooled with to many antique tractors and engines over the yrs, seen clean motor oil and after tractor setting for 10 years, get it started and running it would be black as all get out. Any rubber air line probably going to be a problem, seals, oh yea might as well figure on replacing the seals in the hubs, yokes, and rear of transmission. Check the wheel bearings ... If the races look like they are porous or have a dimpled look, although you can't feel it the hard metal is pretty much gone. My truck only been off the road 3 yrs and rear differential yoke seal started leaking just moving it around on the lot.

 

We have IR at the shop but also have a couple harbor freight "earthquake". The both seem to be holding up. My money would be harbor freight for just a 1 truck operation.

 

Sorry, gave you all the info I had. I know it was not much?

 

Aluminum has no fatigue limit. Beyond some point of constant flex steel will no longer continue to weaken. Aluminum however will flex and weaken with every flex until it breaks.

When aluminum frames came out in like the 50's the trucks were considered a disposable tool. As loads and engine torques increased, finding that fatigue limit in aluminum frames started happening before anything else on the truck wore out.

Add to that, it is possible, even if not recommended, to weld and repair a steel frame when cracked. Localized heat treatment and normalization can provide some additional life to a cracked frame. Aluminum looses all it's heat treatment when welded. With aluminum you got the never ending fatigue situation, corrosion at steel mount points, and no ability to repair.

Aluminum frames are still an option most the manufactures list. Just no one springs for them due to all the issues.

Aluminum frame truck would be cool to restore but use as a hard working field truck, maybe not.

 

Very nice truck. I would massage that right light back into shape. Does not look that bad from here. I drove a '88 KW COE with aluminum frame and never had issues and was generally pulling a 5 axle or b-trains. Definitely a fine piece of equipment.
As far as compressor get one big enough to meet your needs. I think 12CFM @ 90. I have a RK 5HP 18 CFM@90. Never had issues.