1971 K20- project just get driveable!!

[hgs_notes]

Brakes are for quitters. Go for it dude!

[Dieselwrencher]

You better just stick with that spark plug thingamajig for now. You'll really be shuffling and busting tail if you want to do a cummins swap before the white stuff flies. And PS, keep all that stuff would ya?

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

You better just stick with that spark plug thingamajig for now. You'll really be shuffling and busting tail if you want to do a cummins swap before the white stuff flies. And PS, keep all that stuff would ya?

Hoping for a snow free thanksgiving at Moms in spirit lake IA, so will do my best! I'm still thinking get it going for now with the 350, then keep an eye out for an oil burner. Sometimes I think about a 6.2 GM, but not sure if that would be good for towing. I think this truck would be a good tow vehicle with the 4whl discs, heavy duty factory rear springs, 4spd, and especially if I put the gearvendors in. We'll see if I get the plow on before we get too much snow, probably just have to keep using the open station deere 2020 to plow....

[Dieselwrencher]

I can't recommend a 6.2 after having 5.9's. Good luck with the no snow. I don't want any right now either.

[Ol Blue K20]

I don't want to be a kill joy but it's almost 80* here......

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I don't want to be a kill joy but it's almost 80* here......

Low 60's here in Kalispell - 60 miles shy of Canada!

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Low 60's here in Kalispell - 60 miles shy of Canada!

Do you miss New Mexico yet??? How are you liking the new place??

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I don't want to be a kill joy but it's almost 80* here......

Too Late.....

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Too Late.....

Sorry...

[Vintage Windmills]

Got the power steering fixed, put new hoses on. I made my own return assembly since the replacement steel portion wasn't even close to the right bend. Also had to shorten, bend and reflare the pressure line since it wouldn't fit either. Has anyone ever found one to fit like it should?????? I've checked three brands on the last two trucks I've done and they all need to be reworked!!!

Good news is it seems to be working smooth- quiet, and one finger ease of turning. Fluid already looks dirty but I'm hoping its just the micro bubbles in there and that they will resolve.

[75gmc454]

Great build thread. Really like the truck. Nothing better than getting one back on the road!!

[DeadheadNM]

Jud - we had a problem with the first set of pwr steer lines. I suspect the parts guy gave us one for a 2wd not 4wd - the 4wd one fit nicely. Pete

[swamp rat]

I had one once with the return in the wrong place and it was the correct part number for my year model truck, i blame the rebuild company's.. The auto parts guy eventually found a correct one but i don't know any part number any more.

[DeadheadNM]

Wes Hepp (Classicheartbeat) gave me the correct part # IIRC...

[Vintage Windmills]

Pics of the power steering hose that was the return one for a 4x4 up top. Middle is original and bottom is the replacement I made from scratch.


The flaring tool sure is handy but you need at least a good inch of straight at the end, plus another 1/2" for the nut. Again, I had to rework the pressure line and had to make the entire end about an inch long, so had to get creative with the vise and striking the tool with a hammer.



Anyways, that's enough about the steering hoses. Here's the current parts pile, with more stuff from brothers 65% off sale not yet in the pile.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Pics of the power steering hose that was the return one for a 4x4 up top. Middle is original and bottom is the replacement I made from scratch.

The flaring tool sure is handy but you need at least a good inch of straight at the end, plus another 1/2" for the nut. Again, I had to rework the pressure line and had to make the entire end about an inch long, so had to get creative with the vise and striking the tool with a hammer.



Anyways, that's enough about the steering hoses. Here's the current parts pile, with more stuff from brothers 65% off sale not yet in the pile.

Dang your going thru what i went thru! but i didn't get any brothers 65% off sale anything!

Cant remember now if your doing stock springs and new shocks or if you have a lift? I was gonna ask what part numbers your shocks are if its a 4"

[Vintage Windmills]

Went to an auction and picked up some goodies. Got a high lift trans jack, old standard gas station sign, and a air compressor. Prices were good since the sale wasnt' advertised well. Got a upscale trans jack for use with the lift for $50, two floor jacks and two engine stands for another $50 total! One jack is scrap but the other is nice and made in the US!


There was a dump truck there with no rust that a scrapper bought. Keep thinking I could have used it for the $900 it sold for! Even if it is a dodge... Needs an engine but the sheetmetal is all in the box. I am coping by telling myself I could get a classic Mack or GMC someday though I know deals like this won't come around too often. Tires weren't even dry rotted and the 11yd box was in nice shape. Could actually use something like this for the landscaping and dirtwork on my hobby farm. Its still there and a little voice in my head says "leave a note in the cab to buy it" ....

[Vintage Windmills]

Now back to the K20. I'm working on the box and tailgate. Here is a pretty straight gate with no rust through I've had that may work well on this one. Fished a mouse nest and junk out of the gate after 30 mins with one of those little flex claw grabber tools. Biggest thing to fix are the holes for the aluminum factory trim this one had.


All the crap that was inside. Somehow it didn't lead to much rust at all. Must have been stored inside


Got the trim off the box, but kept burning through with my wire feed and 0.030" wire. I now have some 0.023 that hopefully will fix that issue. Just a few other areas to weld on the box as shown below. Otherwise pretty solid box I was using for a trailer. These will get a coat of flat ochre to match the rest of the truck.







Debating if I should replace this bedside with a straighter one I've got from a parts truck. Will be painted ochre so may not be too noticeable when sprayed? This is a work truck/driver so I don't want to go too far with making it real pretty.

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Cant remember now if your doing stock springs and new shocks or if you have a lift? I was gonna ask what part numbers your shocks are if its a 4"

Just a 2.5" up front to level out with the HD rear factory springs. It is back end high about 2". Shocks are for 2" lift but may tolerate a 4", they look pretty long. Just go to summit's site and see if they're the same PN for both.

[Vintage Windmills]

welding trim holes shut around brakelights


and patching the few rust spots in floor

[y5mgisi]

Love the build so far! Now, did i miss the part where you switched from just getting it drivable? Or does drivable include decent beds and rear disc breaks???

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Love the build so far! Now, did i miss the part where you switched from just getting it drivable? Or does drivable include decent beds and rear disc breaks???

it seems one thing leads to another! at least the rear discs can be blamed on no available drums for the one year only ho52 brakes. The other upgrades, no excuse for

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

it seems one thing leads to another! at least the rear discs can be blamed on no available drums for the one year only ho52 brakes. The other upgrades, no excuse for

But it's gonna be one fine rig.....who needs an excuse!!

[y5mgisi]

Im certainly just making fun of that thing we all do. Its called the the "Might As Well" syndrome. I can tell you im glad you are doing the things you are doing! Super excited to see it done!

[Vintage Windmills]

Spent the weekend finishing up the bodywork on box and painting it.

Stupid trim holes...


Welding holes shut with "nail" trick


Primered welded areas and sanded original paint:


I should try to dig up the pics of the box before we straighten out around the taillights. It was pretty bad, and toomuchstuff (Eric) helped me with his studgun a year or so ago.

Painted box. Too shiny, need to dull it somehow to match rest of truck.