this is new..chevy 3500 hd

[jeffb]

just out. original master by uptown automotive hobbies. updated by motor city resin casters

[hjracing]

Looks nice! They cast the bed too?

[Chuck Most]

Very cool!

There's a local truck I've been wanting to build for a while... this one isn't an HD, but the version I want to build is.

Edited September 27, 2014 by Chuck Most

[mikemodeler]

Cost and availability? Donor chassis?

I have a resin flatbed that would look great behind that cab!

Edited September 26, 2014 by mikemodeler

[Chuck Most]

Looks nice! They cast the bed too?

The 3500HD in this era wasn't offered as a pickup. It only came as a chassis/cab, stake bed, dump, etc.. The regular 3500s came as pickups, though.

Mike- any of the MPC/AMT Chevy 1500 kits could supply the needed parts, though you might want to do away with the rear half of the chassis- ever understood why they molded the bed floor to the chassis on these kits.

[Chuck Most]

Probably should mention this too...

The 3500HD had a slightly different frame than the lighter duty trucks- hence the 4" spacer between the bumper and grille. They also had a solid front axle with leaf springs. That being said- the MPC/AMT frame would be the best starting point short of scratchbuilding your own. Very few had the 350- most had either the 454 or 6.5 diesel. GM kind of slaps the HD name on a lot of their heavier duty pickups nowadays, but during this era, HD meant it was basically slotted above the regular 3500s and the below the Top Kick/Kodiak medium-duty trucks.

[Nick W.]

All I want is that grille!

[Chuck Most]

I've actually been doing quite a bit of research on these, and so far here's what I dug up. (Note, some of the info here has already been mentioned, but what the hey...)

The C3500HD had a special chassis, an 8" C-channel design which was available with reinforcing plates. The GVWR was 15,000 pounds, and three wheelbases were offered- 135.5", 159.5", and 183.5". The rear frame rails were flat and spaced at 34" wide. This special chassis necessitated the spacer panel between the grille and bumper, and the flared fenders. All 3500HDs were sold as cab-and-chassis trucks.

Until 1996, only a standard cab was offered. A crew cab variant came for 1996. An extended cab model was never offered. The cabs used the "grab bar" type outer door handles used on the Kodiak/Top Kick medium duty trucks, and came with standard rooftop clearance lamps. The interior was upgraded with the rest of the C/K series trucks for 1995, unlike the Kodiak/Top Kick, which kept on using the 1988-style "flat" dash.

The 3500HD could be ordered with pretty much all of the options, packages, and colors available on the regular C/K series trucks. Only the ultra-lux options like full leather seating were unavailable. They could be ordered with the halogen-lamp equipped Silverado/Sierra package grilles.

Being a C series, no four-wheel drive version was ever offered from the factory (that would make it a K3500HD), though several aftermarket companies produced four-wheel drive versions. These conversions had a Dana 60 or 70 front axle.

These were produced until 2002, making them the last of the GMT400 generation to be built.

Available engines:

5.7 (350 small block) V8 (1991-1995)

7.4 (454 big block) V8 (1991-2000)

8.1 Vortec V8 (2001-2002)

6.5 Turbo Diesel (1992-2002)

Available transmissions:

4L80E (Automatic) All Years

NV4500 5-Speed (Manual) All Years

Front Axle:

Solid axle with leaf springs, disc brakes, five lug hubs

Rear Axle:

Dana 80 with leaf springs, disc brakes, ten bolt hubs

(A few may have been built with a GM "Corporate" 14 bolt full floater with heavier duty axle tubes and hubs.)

Wheels:

19.5" steel ten-lug- obviously they're interchangeable between the five-bolt front axle and ten bolt rear axles.

I'm hoping maybe Bill (Longbox55) will chime in here- he probably knows more about these things than I do.

[mikemodeler]

I might have an AMT Extra cab dually kit that this would fit under. Not exactly correct but would save some time scratch building a front axle and changing the frame, although if I use this for a flatbed wrecker, the kit chassis would need to be extended. Hmmmm, decisions, decisions!

[Longbox55]

Looks like your research is spot on, Chuck.

[Chuck Most]

Good to know, Bill!

I've been thinking of building one of these as a welding rig.

[mikemodeler]

Paging JeffB, paging JeffB !

I tried to message you, but your box is full!

What is the cost on this fine piece of resin?

[Chuck Most]

Not Jeff... but the price is $35.00 plus shipping.

[mikemodeler]

Not Jeff... but the price is $35.00 plus shipping.

Thanks Chuck!

[av405]

Am I doing something wrong or is this piece not listed on their website just yet?

[jeffb]

it wont be on the site for a little while..webmasters out of commission for a bit

[av405]

Thank you for the prompt response Jeff! I spoke with Jim from uptown a few months ago and he told me that you would eventually be making these products available. Can we expect the W/T grille sometime soon as well?

[hjracing]

I'll need the grill too!