86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I bought this truck 2 years ago to use as a rat plow truck. Of course, as with everything I do, the more I get into it the more I love it. I was originally planning to replace this with a newer truck after 2 years, but why take on a payment? Plus these trucks are so easy to work on (at least after you get rid of the rusty bolts and other parts). I already replaced the engine in this after the truck sat all summer last year and the rear main dry rotted. I was dumb enough to drive it in the fall without checking the oil. BOOM went the engine! I was able to pick up an exact duplicate 350 off of craigs list for $200 so I decided that was too good to pass up. The truck got me through the winter with the replacement engine! Of course during the very last 18inch snow storm we got the driver side U-Joint on the front axle decided to retire while I was plowing and the yokes on both the axle and the outer stub shaft ground themselves off. I just got those replaced and decided -- Hey--let's just tear this apart more and make it as capable as possible for the future! I decided to get rid of the dump bed (doesn't have the hydraulics for it anyway), and it's a real pain to plow when you cant see out your back window. I'm doing a parts swap with another member on here to get a clean bed and replacement cab! I am also planning on setting this up with dual tanks! Plowing burns gas fast!
I am also working this build at the same time as another which I have named Project "Pops".

These first pics show us in process of getting the dump bed lifted off.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I think this device was originally some kind of load leveling system to charge up some air shocks. Anyone know if this was original equipment? Are replacement parts still available? Obviously mine hasn't been used in a long time.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Front Clip part way off!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

That piece changes the amount of pressure going to the rear brakes based on the amount of load you're carrying. Looks like a nice truck.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Upon further inspection it seems the previous owner did everything they could to conceal the total rust through of the cab floor. They tacked in replacement panels over top of the rust everywhere! I am getting a replacement cab for this truck. Unfortunately I am getting a 2WD cab for a 4WD truck. I am thinking the tranny tunnels are different sizes and I will need to swap them out. Anyone have experience with this?

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Ah! That makes perfect sense! If it was a load leveling system I couldn't figure out where the air tank would have been mounted. Thank you for the feedback. Do you know if replacement parts are sold for this? I didn't see anything about it in my LMC catalog.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Hey I am kicking around the possibility of dropping a 454 in this truck. If any of you know where I can get a good used one for cheap please let me know.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I just picked up this bed/cab combo from another member. (FATHOE---Great guy).

The bed in this pic will be used for Cletus.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I am considering changing out the square front end of this truck for the earlier model 73-80 front clip. I actually have 2 81-87 clips in decent shape I would like to trade. I guess my next step is to become a supporting member and post a WTT ad.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Anyone else out there ever tried to fit a 2wd Cab onto a 4wd Truck? I'm pretty sure I need to swap out the tranny tunnels, but I would sure love to hear from any of you that have the voice of experience.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I just junked an 81 cab n chassis well it was on a 79 SWB 4x4 my plow rat....

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I got the rest of the front clip off. Those body mount bolts were rusted beyond imagination. I had to cut one off with the grinder and ruined the passenger side rad support mount. Anyone have a replacement they want to sell me? (for a 4wd). I still need to snap a pic. Things will start moving more quickly on this build now as I need this truck done by 10/1.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Here are some pics of where Cletus is at. Including the busted rad support body mount. It seems like it is exclusively for the 4WD truck. It has a box configuration that bolts into the top of the front leaf spring perch. If anyone has one of these mounts in surplus let me know!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

My next step is to remove the cab, and strip it down so I can cut the hump out. The replacement cab that I have is from a C10 so I need to install the K20 hump into the C10 cab. That makes me nervous!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Well I did some more work tearing Cletus down yesterday. There was a heavy rain so I didn't got to the house to get my camera until today. I was hoping to get some "during" pictures while pulling the cab.

You can tell this truck has been sitting around for a while by the amount of scrap wood that has accumulated on the rear of the frame where the dump bed was.

I also found some SERIOUS patchwork that had been previously done to the floor of the cab. Nice big orange pieces of sheet metal were used as the patches and sealed in place with sheet metal screws and bondo. I prefer to do things a bit more permanently and will be using a nice fully rust free cab!

Oh--I forgot the best part!!! A dead mouse under the seat! Too bad I didn't have the camera with me. I just wanted to get the little bugger out of there ASAP! I've owned the truck for about a year and a half and I'm thinking he was there for a good while longer than that! (or so I hope)

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

A couple more pics. I forgot to mention in the last post that I think I broke my distributor cab during the cab removal. :lol: These things happen I guess. Removing the cab was rough going. Only 1 of the 4 cab mount bolts still had enough of it's original shape to turn it. The front 2 didn't really matter---as soon as I started lifting up the sheet metal just came right apart due to the advanced rust. The passenger side rear cab mount--well let's just say there is a little piece of floor still on the frame around that one. Fun for later. Major rust really complicates things.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

In the next step I will be cutting the 4WD hump out of the old cab and installing it into my donor cab. The donor cab also needs some minor work to the cab corners and one small rust spot on the passenger side floor board...other than that it is solid. Then I will take the cab and the donor bed to my buddy's house and he will begin the body work while I start getting the frame/suspension/drivetrain sandblasted and painted. I hate to farm out the body work, but I need to have this truck done by October 1st and I can't do it all by myself in that short time frame. As you can see---I have a lot of work ahead of me!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

yep snow flies in october up there...lol

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I'm hoping we get a bye till November this year, but planning on October to be safe.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

My dads cab had rust in it or was that the other cab you had? I didn't see any rust. Musta been hidden :)

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

:lol: Nah---not the one I got from you. I have another parts cab laying around. That is the one that needs a little repair. I am saving your cab for my "Pops" project. That is going to be the more detailed higher end restoration so it gets the better cab.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I built a rack to set the cab on today. I started stripping the cab down. I cut out the 4WD hump to be transplanted to the donor cab. I removed the windshield. I still need to pull the dashboard to transplant into the donor cab as well. I took pics but I will have to upload them later as I am having some trouble with it at the moment.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

My goal is to have the donor cab off to the sandblasters by the end of the week. I still have to repair a small hole in the passenger side floor board, swap the hi-hump, replace the cab corners, swap the dashboard, and strip the cab down completely.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Were you able to locate a rad. support/leaf spring mount yet? That is the same piece on the K10's in case your looking for one still.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

No---no luck yet. If you know of anyone with one to sell I would appreciate if you would hook me up. Thanks!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Here we see the pics from where I cut the hi-hump out of the four wheel drive cab.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

And---For the first time ever--I am offering a sneak peek at my super secret parts truck! This is a minimal rust cab on an absolutely rust free frame and an absolutley rust free bed! This truck was originally a state fleet vehicle for the state of Delaware. They must not used road salt in Delaware because this thing is in great shape--Very rare to find in my area! I picked up this truck in a planning ahead phase of my life about 3 years ago! It has a factory 4.3 V6 which is non-functional, but is backed up by a TH400 tranny. It won't hurt my feelings to have a spare TH400.

The cab from this truck will be used for Cletus. The frame and bed will be used for my "Pops" C10 project.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Got the old cab just about stripped down. I decided to drill out the spot welds of the dash and remove the whole thing. And I discovered why my shift indicator never worked - most of the needle is missing!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Also started stripping down the donor cab. I ran into a little trouble with the cab mount bolts. The front ones came out without too much trouble, but when I got the back ones a little lose they just started spinning in place. I'm a little nervous about what that means. I tried to lift up on the cab with the crane, but it is still attached in the rear of the cab. I guess I need to grind off the bolt heads next. :lol:

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

that sounds about right man.... youre on the right track

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I know I am derailing my own thread for a moment, but I just wanted to share this work I did on my daily driver last night:

Last night I stayed up late and installed a B&W Turnover hitch on my truck! I love it!

I bought the thing on ebay for $380 and was trying to find someone local to install it for me. No luck. The only place to actually quote me a price was $338 + Tax. No thanks. I took my time, paid attention to the instructions and 3-ish hours later I was ready to go with my new hitch. (minus the safety chain U-Bolts. I will do those tonight because my kit was missing one of the lock nuts and I didn't have the 1/2" drill bit to drill the holes).

Anyway...here are some pics!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I got the donor cab removed from the donor truck. I have a little more work to do than I was hoping. There is a rust hole on the driver side so I will need to order a replacement panel. It is also rusted through on the bottom of the kick panel where it meets the floor pan. Fortunatley, the rockers, etc are in great shape. I also have to replace the cab corners, but I'm not very concerned about the difficulty level of those.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Here is a shot of all 3 of my remaining cabs I am working on. The two on the far left are the donor cab, and original (junk) cab for my "Pops" project. The one on the right is for Cletus.

Also a shot of my buddies gooseneck dump trailer that he is very kindly sharing with me. This is coming in handy for my runs to the scrap yard to haul away rusted truck cabs and other parts. The rest of the time I will be using it for my rental property business that I run with what is left of my spare time after my regular job, facilities responsibilities at church, and truck projects. :lol:

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

That dump trailer is nice. I think I'm gonna build a trailer like that outta the dump bed I got from you

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Thanks Chuck. Yes, I'm very pleased with it. It has a 14K capacity and twin piston lift. Now that I have a gooseneck hitch installed on my truck I am all set.

Although, when I sandblast the frame for this truck (hopefully within the next couple of weeks I am planning on sandblasting and repainting this trailer as well.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

And please post of pics of the trailer project as you build it. I would love to see it!

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I'll definitely be making a build thread for the dump trailer but it'll probably be in the alternative tinkerings forum here. I don't know whether I want to leave the front lip that would go over the top of the cab ion the dump bed or plasma cut it off. I need to look at some pictures of dump beds to get an idea.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

I'm betting you will want to cut that front lip off if you make it a trailer. I can't imagine any benefit of keeping it if you are not mounting it onto a truck.

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

nice build

Re: 86 k 20 project "cletus"
 

Thank ya. It doesn't feel nice yet because I am still dismantling old crappy parts, but we'll get there pretty quickly. I am planning on working some late nights this week. My goal is to have the cab and bed off to the painters by week's end! I need to strip the cab completely, swap dashboards with the original cab, replace the driver floor pan (assuming the new one shows up in time), swap the transmission hump with the original 4x4 cab, and change out the cab corners. Lot's to get done this week!