Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Alright, finally UPS figured out where my inner roof piece was and I got it. I was able get the new one burned in and was able to start shaping some new roof pieces that I found were rusty. I have 4 more pieces of metal I need to replace on the cab before it is finished. Hopefully I can get that knocked out this week.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Past few weeks have been crazy around the house. But I've been trying to bend up the upper inner door jam replacement pieces and after a handful of failure pieces. I'm finally putting in the towel and taking it to a metal shop to have the pieces bent up.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

I finally got time and the few pieces of metal back for the rest of the rust repair on the roof. Had a buddy of mine bend up the upper door jam pieces. The side of the roof piece I was able to use a pipe and bend to the contour of the roof. Like everything else once its all burned in just gotta grind it smooth. Still have the passenger side to put in, should have that done later this week.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

That is a lot of repairs on the cab. I had to replace the right A pillar on mine and couple patches in the floor.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Lot's of good sheetmetal work - it'll be worth all the time and one tack at a time.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

You're showing those rust worms who's boss. Looking good, keep up the good work.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Thanks guys, its been a rusty dream digging into the cab. Something I thought wouldn't take very long turned in to a pretty extensive project. This shows how much I had to take off the passenger side roof. Got all the metal burned in and its time again for grinding of the welds. Hopefully I can get all the welds ground down and the bottom of the cab sand blasted, seam sealed, and a nice coat of primer.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Finally got the cab finished up, took the last few days off of work and got her all done. Just have to get it back on the frame and can continue on with the build.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Looks really good, you’ve got a nice solid cab now

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Thanks 72_tigger.

Got out this week and cleaned up the shop and re organized a bit, since I've been working on the other side for so long. Got the doors remounted, coming up with a game plan for all the rust on the doors, shouldn't be to difficult. Passenger seat and center console is mounted for now, need to get the driver side done and get the floor reinforcements installed.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Figured I'd give an update since its been a bit. Had to take a break from the old girl, step dads truck that I LS swapped fuel system failed. So I decided to completely redo it. Tried making both saddle tanks work with the fuel injection system and ran just ran into too many issues. Hopefully I can get back on my truck in the next week or two.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Any progress?

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Unfortunately not, right after that last post I was in the lake helping take out a boat lift and got a slight cut on my leg which let a bacterial infection in which took me off my feet for a while. Trying to get caught up on yard work and so on so forth before I can get back on the old girl.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

How about now? I'm interested to see how you manage the steering on the new frame...

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Well, I've finally been able to get back to working on the old girl. Had some health issues that kept me out of the shop for a while. Got the seat risers finished up and welded in place. Been working on the fire wall, patching holes and cleaning it up. I dug the center high hump out of storage and started fitting it, it doesn't fit right now that it has all new floor panels, gotta come up with a solution for that. I'll try and get more pictures in the next few days.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

So I mocked up the steering the other day, the tail of the column lines up with the center of the frame rail. I'm planning on using two racing style steering joints in the intermediate shaft. I'll have a slight angle to the steering gear but overall it wont be too bad. I'll make sure to take pictures the next time I'm working on the steering.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

After looking through the thread I realized I never posted pictures of the completed roof repair. The others are of the seat mount risers that I made up.

Last night I was out fitting the fenders and core support for the first time on the new frame. Looks like the bolt holes for the forward mounts will be center frame. Debating if I want to french the core support mounts like I did the forward cab mounts or just move the bolt holes. I might chew on it for a few days before I start cutting and welding.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

After having the core support on the truck for the first time I was able to see how the mounts needed to get made up. I took the forward cab mounts off the old '67 frame and cut them down so I could use them on the core support. The forward hump of the frame where it curved down into a flat section was in the way of the core support so I cut the frame back quite a bit to make clearance.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Pics Continued

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

These you can see how the support sits on the mounts.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

The final product, all that's left is to grind everything smooth. The inner piece is at an angle to shed water so it can't just build. Also what you can't see is that I added some extra plate to the inside of the frame.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Been able to get out in the garage a few days in a row. Got the core support and fenders on and figured out fitment. I got a hood about two years ago from a junk yard, thought the hood was possibly tweaked a bit, but it looks like it fits pretty good. Was able to get the front axle somewhat in place as well so I can start building the 4 link system. Still have to square it up, wanted to put a set of tires on it to see where the wheels would fall in the bed and the fenders. So now is on to building a 4 Link for the front and bed mounts for the rear. Once its sitting on its own with out help of jack stands, I'll get the motor and trans mounted in and start making cross members. Was messing around with paint chips the other day in our body shop and I think I landed on a color so I got a sample of it and tested it out.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Making good progress. That color will look sharp. Thanks for posting

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

I see a lot of hard work there, looking good! Are you fabricating everything for the front four link? Was thinking about using the ORD kit or at least the axle mounts for my truck.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Richard, I have a buddy that runs a laser table, so I designed all the brackets and mounts for the 4 link. Its based off of a kit a saw on a website, I couldn't find a kit that was exactly what I wanted so that's why I'm building a one off kit. For the heim joints I bought some Ballistic Fab forged joints, they are heavy duty and rebuild-able, got the tube ends from them as well. I'm still debating about if a set of Dodge front coil springs will work up front or if I should just bite the bullet and get a set of coil over shock from FOA.

ORD makes some killer stuff, if I didn't have access to a laser table I would have bought a kit.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

So I ran into a slight problem, after replacing the floor panel pieces, the high up panel didn't fit at all. Since I'm used to working on late model trucks where thats not a option, I decided to modify my hump panel and just welder in.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Ended up taking the cab and dog house back off the frame this weekend. Tried doing the frame plating on a creeper but couldn't do it laying on my side. Since the cabs off I'm going to leave it off until the front suspension is completely welded. Measured the frame in a few spots found its is just a little bigger then 3/16 thick. Found some steel for free at a buddy's house that was the right width and thickness, found enough to be able to box the entire frame like I'm wanting to. For now, I'm just boxing the front section, from the front clip to the rear cab mounts. I'll do the rest once the bed has its mounts and is off getting metal work done.

Now that the frame is boxed, I'm able to put the 4-link mounts on the frame and start making the links.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Got out in the garage this past weekend. Smoothed out the welds on the frame boxing. Then I Started hanging the mounts for the 4-link system, only hung the frame side this weekend. Still have to add the gussets between the two sides, going to try and get that done this week. Next will be the 4 link mounts on the front axle, followed by the spring and shock mount on the axle and frame. Should be a busy weekend coming up in the garage.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

more /\/\

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Added the axle 4-link mounts last night. Going to be adding gussets to the axle mounts and the frame mounts. once the gussets are added I can start on the coil and shock mounts.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Well, I got all the suspension bars and links ordered this week. As well as the steering components. Once everything comes in, I'll be ready to make all the 4 Link bars, track bar, and cross over steering components. Hopefully in a week or so, she'll be rolling on all 4 wheels again.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Brackets look good. Looking forward to seeing the axle located. Going with the shorter upper 4 link mount should cause an increase in caster as suspension compresses.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

It'll have a slight caster change, the 4-link setup is similar to factory Dodge front suspension. Computer program didn't show a bunch of caster change until the suspension would have passed the bump stop area, so I'll address any issues as the come about.

Over the weekend I was able to mock up the links and get the rod end welded into place. Ground a the ends smooth on all the bars. Going to get the bar installed and cycle the suspension to check for issues. If everything looks good, I'll start on adding bracing and gussets to the link mound and then start adding the coil spring and shock mounts.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Finished the 4-Link bars last night. Cycled the suspension, didn't run into any issues. Now I can focus on building coil spring and shock mounts, reinforce the frame in some key areas and weld the gussets in the 4-link mounts. If the weather is crap this week I'll have plenty to do in the garage.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

It's looking good. Some nice progress.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Thanks Ol Blue

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Nice work! Looking forward to seeing shock mounts and brackets.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Thanks Richard.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get back out to the shop. Ordered a new deck for the house and ended up building that this past weekend. I hope I can get back out there this week.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Was able to work on the old girl this weekend and a few days last week, didn't get a ton done but I was able to fab up and figure a few things out for the front spring mounts.

Re: C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"
 

Once I got the lower mount figured out, I was able to see how much I needed to notch the frame for the coil spring. Added a plate to the back side of the frame st stiffin' it up and then cut and added supports for the notch. Just need to make the top spring mount and removable upper shock mount. For the front coils I'm using '06 F250 front coil +2 lift springs, and F-150 +4 shocks. I'm making the coil/shock mounts, so they can be easily converted to coil over shocks in the future.