72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I have been working on my truck for about 6 years. Started taking it apart on my birtyhday, Jan.25, 2007. Tore it all down in about a week. Sandblasted frame after removing al hardware. Painted frame and then project sat. Found a replacement cab in June of 2008 at a swap meet in Amherst, New Hampshire for $350. Worked on it till Feburary, 2009. Then started a full blown restoration on my 32 Ford dumptruck. THat lasted until summer 2010. Then I began working on 72 again and haven't stopped. Now it is Feburary and all body work is finished and it is time put it back together.

Where do I start? What do I do next? Or does it matter?

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Looks great! I love when vehicles first come back from the paint shop, and nothing else has been installed yet. They look llike they were dipped in color:)

As far as putting it back together, I like to start with the wiring and work up from there.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

It does look sweet. That makes sense. Thanks

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I installed the hubs that I purchased on ebay. They are sweet but were expensive.
I have been working on restoring heater parts, insulating cab, installing gas tank. I spent a long time trying to bolt the 72 gas pedal linkage to an earlier cab and realized it doesn't fit. I ordered the adapter from a member and ordered the wiring harness off ebay which is made by American Auto Wire. I watched the video on youtube and it looks to good to be true.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Here are rest of pics of progress.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

oJust got my AAW harness in the mail, nothing stopping me now!!!

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I started installing the AAW harness and I am having way too much fun. It really was worth the investment. New ignition, new headlight switch, Hi-low beam switch. Im impressed. The only problem I ran into was that the kit tells you to drill 2 #10 holes to support the fuse holder and it was too big of a hole for the screws they supplied so i found some other screws that worked.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

nice. The putting back together is the hard part. I just hide the parts that are left over and nobody will know the difference ;)

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Nice truck! Love the color. It looks like it's coming along nicely. I agree putting them back together is the hardest part, and seems to be the most expensive. :lol:

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Looking good,keep the progress going forward & the pictures coming.Keep on Truckin' :metal:

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Nice truck! Is that hugger orange??

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

man she's looking good

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Yes , hugger orange. I wonder when the name of the color changed? My glove compartment says Chevy red-orange. Thanks

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

This is my first complete restoration, so it is one puzzle after the next. It is enjoyable but Iam constantly scratching my head. Right now I am trying to find the plug on the harness for the marker lights. Thanks

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Here are some more pictures. Wiring is going slow but successful.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Radio is in. Bought from retro sound. Speakers should be coming soon.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Yesterday the the brake and clutch pedals went in. Clutch is hooked up and adjusted. Windshield washer hoses and sprayers installed. Emergency brake cable attached and conected. Power steering hoses connected. Today the carburetor is going on and start wiring the engine harness. It feels good, my goal is to have truck on the road by April 15th.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Nice project! Whats the engine like? I'm also rebuilding a 72 K20 so I will be following your thread.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

It is the original motor. 72 350 4 bolt main. Rebuilt it to a stock engine, though put in a camper cam and eagle crank. Dam mice got in and pissed oall over clutch and it pitted the rear main. All I got to say is buy zip loc bags and take a milloin pictures. I did not take enough and paying for it now. Good luck.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I second that - It's funny that pictures are easier then ever to take and store, yet some how we never seem to take enough!

Good luck with this bad boy. I look forward to watching your progress! Ronnie

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Today I took off propellor on rear end to replace seal. It was difficult to get that seal out but I got it. i have started wiring up back of truck. Soldered all connections. My speakers came in today so i will install them next. Woohoo.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Nice truck glad ya decided to finish it..

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Today I put seal back on rearend, and installed some tail lights and bu lights

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

sweet truck !

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I finished splicing the wiring connection at rear of truck and was notimpressed with AAW plug that I had to put together. It just did not fit well. I will splice in original plug later on.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

subscribed. Looks great! Hugger orange got the name because of the "road hugger" camaro. It was an advertising slogan for I believe the 69 camaro, and because of the popularity of the orange color, it became hugger orange.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

It is my understanding,Hugger orange(Camaro), Red/orange(truck), Carousel red(firebird), same color. It all depends what it is painted on. Mine is Hugger orange, because thats what everyone knows ( and it sounds cooler:metal:).

Very nice truck!!!


Oops, bundeber posted the same thing while I was messing around.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Thanks for the history lesson. I like the color no matter what it is called. I am getting closer and closer to the finish line. This weekend i installed exhaust manifolds, hooked up exhaust pipes. Installed starter and wired starter and new mallory distributor and coil. finished hooking up brake lines and installing new master cyllinder. Talked to a friend and decided to go with a later alternator with the voltage regulator within. We are thinking about a 1978 or 80 alternator should do it. The rear drive shaft was installed and now I am waiting for a delivery from LMC to finish cab and exterior lights. I purchased a nos rubber mat on ebay a while ago and come to find out it is a low hump mat and I need a high hump floor mat. I will need to sell the one I sold. Sorry for running on, but much was done and I will post pictures soon.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Sweet! Love everything about this build especially the fact that it is an orange K20!!

Nice job Wrwelton. Also used the AAW rewire kit and was very happy with it. Finished the rear wire harness yesterday and everything worked perfect. You and I are finishing our K20's at about the same time. Looking fwd to more pictures.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Here are the pictures I promised.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Nice work, what did you do the rams horns? They look good.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

i used por15 high temp paint. i hope they stay that way for a while.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Here is my progress today.Rubber floor down, glove compartment installed, instrument panel wired and installed. Man, I am loving this build.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I decided to put the seats in my truck to see what they will look like. They came out of a 2006 suburban. I found them at a junk yard last week. Iam most happy.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Seats look great...and comfortable. Nice having headrests!

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

I have not bolted them down yet, but I did sit in it and it seems like it is going to work just fine. I paid $100.00 for them. I am not sure Iam going to keep the center console. i am thinking of building one that will give me some storage space and a couple of speakers.

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Lookin good!

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Great work and good score on your seat!

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Yesterday I installed radiator support and radiator and topped off all fluids

Re: 72 4x4,Time to finish it !
 

Well its time to work on the grill. I removed the center and coated it with oven cleaner. Wow that stuff works great. I have sanded it down with 600 grit where scratches were bad and now I am sanding it with 800 grit, wet sanding the whole way. I think I will go with 1000 grit and see how it looks. I am putting the windshield and slider in this weekend. Should be stasrring the truck next week.