78 K20 custom delux "modern meets vintage" build thread

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by slotard

Very nice build. Do you have any more info on the rear brakes? I'd like to put discs on my 14FF soon, hadn't heard of using Dodge stuff before.

Thanks!

Ok, so where do I start. I did get rear brakes from a Dodge Ram 3500 single rear wheel truck (2008) with calipers, rotors and the whole backing plate/ebrake setup.

On a side note, the chevy brakes from a 2500 or 3500 SRW are easier to adapt, but they are smaller, so I went with the larger Dodge ones due to my massive F550 front brakes.

From the RAM backing plates, I made a template for the mounting flange and had a friend put that into a CAD model. Then I had it laser cut out of 1/2" steel plate. (I might still have the CAD file somewhere)

The wheel hubs need to be turned down just a hair for the rotors to lip over them. (my hubs were the drum behind hub deal)
Then you have to bolt everything together and mock up the position and tack the brackets into place on the axle tube.

Take it all apart, weld the brackets into place. I cut off two corners on the old mounting flange for the drums to make room for the ebrake cable. If I were to do it again, I would completely cut the old flange off. Looks better and gives you more room to work with.

two driver side ebrake cables from the dodge actually fit right onto the original coupler.

The only hard thing was to turn some small adamter rings to put between the hub and brake rotor hub bore to have them hub centric. Maybe I didn´t need to do that, but I just wanted to make sure the rotors run perfectly true. I had a local machine shop make them up for 10 bucks.

The soft line from the frame to the t on the diff is one for the chevy truck, the hard line is the ine from the dodge, as are the short rubber lines (haven´t found those in braided SS yet) that go to the caliper.

just make sure, when you do tack the brackets onto the axle tube to check over and over to make sure they are straight, it is hard to change anything when they are burned in all the way.

Hope this helps. If you need more info, let me know.

[K20chevy]

:d

[NastyBuzzard]

Do you have pictures of your brake setup or did I just miss it? I will be building up my 88 Crew Cab soon and I am looking into brake upgrades. My 87 1500 single cab 4x4 I put H3 hummer 4 piston calipers up front and a 01 Silverado rearend in the back to get rear discs and it stops a heck of a lot better than it ever did.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

Do you have pictures of your brake setup or did I just miss it? I will be building up my 88 Crew Cab soon and I am looking into brake upgrades. My 87 1500 single cab 4x4 I put H3 hummer 4 piston calipers up front and a 01 Silverado rearend in the back to get rear discs and it stops a heck of a lot better than it ever did.

The pictures should all be in here, along with the description of what parts I used. The only non bolt on thing was the brackets for the rear brakes, they were lazer cut. If you are using a regular D60 though, the front would need some kind of adapter too....

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by NastyBuzzard

Do you have pictures of your brake setup or did I just miss it? I will be building up my 88 Crew Cab soon and I am looking into brake upgrades. My 87 1500 single cab 4x4 I put H3 hummer 4 piston calipers up front and a 01 Silverado rearend in the back to get rear discs and it stops a heck of a lot better than it ever did.

check post #13 and #36.

[K20chevy]

Here is some more stuff to look at. Major updates will have to wait until May.

Some more night shots with the lights on...

[K20chevy]

And just a teaser and mock up



of what I scored and will be adding in the future....

[K20chevy]

So here is some more from this winter, working with the truck...









and pulling out logs

[K20chevy]

and just because it looks awesome....

[K20chevy]

Little update:

The custom made rear Deaver springs are done. Sad part, no time to work on it right now.

Also working with New Vintage USA on a custom gage setup. Stay tuned for that!

Cheers

[K20chevy]

Little update before the Holidays....

Deavers arrived but are just in the newly built garage at the moment. Work on the truck was slim to none due to the garage build and a little baby girl.

I did check for the front link placement and have to go back to the drawing board on that a little to make it all fit.

I did get the OEM looking custom gauge cluster and AUX gauges from New Vintage USA. I will post pics before Christmas.

I also scored a second K20 frame to now do the mock up on the suspension with so I can keep mine drivable.

The rust free Arizona bed and tailgate also arrived.

Once the front and rear suspension are done, I can start getting the AZ body ready for paint and get the interior work done and put it all back together. Let´s see how long that takes...

It´s been 15 years already, what´s another 2!?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

[1985-GMC]

Are you building a second truck or did I miss something?

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Are you building a second truck or did I miss something?

Well, not a second pick up truck. I am restoring an old panel truck, or started to at least.

But the K20 is still the same truck. I just got another frame to mock the suspension up so I don´t have to take it apart for now and keep driving it. With all the left over parts from mock up and the old parts, I might end up building a second truck, just not as crazy as this one here.

The blue K20 is still not done, at least in my eyes. It is at about 85-90% right now.

Suspension, Body mods and the new AZ body plus paint and interior work are still left before I call this one done.

[1985-GMC]

Oh ok gotcha. And it'll never be done, you always find something you want to do to it haha

[K20chevy]

OK, so now here are some more pics.....

the new home for the truck. Finally a dedicated place to work on it!








the LED work/back up lights really help a lot and are crazy bright



oh and another rear LED shot

[K20chevy]

New bed from Arizona, OEM and rust free!!!







including a first gen tail gate, also OEM

[K20chevy]

This is the second K20 frame for the suspension mock up...





And this is how the lower links will sit on the frame







more to follow....

[MTCK]

Nice work to date. Congrats on the little one and on the garage. Both will be game changers!

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Nice work to date. Congrats on the little one and on the garage. Both will be game changers!

Thanks a lot! I am enjoying the little one a lot. So the truck takes second place right now. But of course I´ll get back to it as soon as I find some time.

[K20chevy]

Here are the shock hoops and how they might end up. It is getting crowded underneath the hood....





and the Deaver spring packs...

[K20chevy]

and a little late, but I didn´t forget... the custom gages from NVU.

They are made after the exact 78 cluster, but mathcing the new engine and also some nice tell tales...







and the custom gear indicator cluster I had special made to house my offroad tell tales since I have the manual trans.

Oh and one tell tale will give another hint on a future addition, let´s see who can guess it....



and lit up... I love them!

[JoeinT.O.]

Amazing build! Love the quality of the stuff you are using.

[K20chevy]

Originally Posted by JoeinT.O.

Amazing build! Love the quality of the stuff you are using.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[quadzero]

Wow, those gauges look good. The whole cluster is top notch.

[MTCK]

Diff locks?