Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Here we are in the middle of a total re-wire using AA classic update harness. At the same time the wiring for the tbi fuel injection and the Dakota Digital instrument panel is also being worked in.

I'm waiting for the Vintage air system to arrive as it has some parts I need to finalize placement of the efi computer and instrument panel controller.

Pics of the somewhat organized mess -

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Looking good!

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thanks straight6!

The wiring job keeps going. It's an exercise of patience for sure. Starter and alternator done as well as fuel pump, gauge wiring at fuel tank, reverse light switch and the Dakota Digital sensors.

The Vintage Air kit also arrived so I got that rolling. Got the cowl vent block off covers painted and started on setting up the evaporator for install in the cab.
Unfortunately, there are a couple of issues with some parts of the kit that I need to resolve with VA. So that part is on hold for now.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

I'm liking everything about this! Looking forward to your progress.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thanks Budget63!

Just a quick update. Was drowning in wiring this but it's better now. The ac evap and hard lines are in and the upper bracket serves as a good place for the fuel system computer.

On the driver side kick panel is the instrument panel interface box.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Still plugging away at the little stuff. Almost finished with the main wiring. Started getting other things in like the steering column and the a/c controls in the dash. I went with the rotary style controls mounted to an reproduction panel. The panel does not fit very well and I can see changing back to the factory lever style later on.

Ididit tilt column is in along with new brake light switch. Also put on my 64 Impala wheel to see how it looked. I think it works!

Lastly I got the instrument panel attached to a new bezel with new paint.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Lookin good! Sometimes I want an Impala wheel, other times I like my stock wheel. It's tough to decide :lol:

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

What did you dislike about the vintage air kit? I'm about to pull the trigger on the same setup, want to make sure it's not junk! $$$

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

I like the vintage air kit very much. This install is my second. My first one worked perfectly. I just had some mistakes made in my order on V/A's end. All resolved now. And btw, that panel I said didn't fit well (where the V/A controls mount to) is not a vintage air part. I bought that from different vendor.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Continuing on with the dash assembly. Everything but the glove box door is in. Leaving it off until a/c system is finished.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

I've been holding off on installing the core support and inner fenders while deciding what to do about strengthening the frame around the steering box. I finally decided to box this area. I made a template of that portion of the frame and my neighbor cut a nice piece of 7/16 plate on his plasma table. Some welding and drilling and steering box is good to go. I have some spanner bushings to go between the plate and frame to finish it off. Those should be here this week.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Re-assembly continues with fit up of the inner fenders and radiator core support. Got them cleaned and touched up the paint a bit. The driver side inner fender fit up to the core support like a glove but the passenger side was a real fight to line up the bolt holes. I hung the outer fenders with a bolt or two to see how everything is lining up.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Good work man, it's already starting to look like a truck again.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thanks 350taco!

Just continuing on with all the little jobs that need to be done. This past week or so I concentrated on the front fenders, radiator and shroud fitment, ac system and some in cab wiring.

The front fenders only needed attention on the inside. They are in pretty good shape and have had the lower rear sections replaced at some point. I knocked off the dirt and loose scale then brushed on some rust converter primer and then some white paint.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Next up was making sure the radiator, fan and shroud are going to work together, especially since this radiator is taller and narrower than the one that came out. The fan is a reverse rotation 6 blade unit with a fan clutch for an early 90's truck tbi 350.

This large two core radiator is from a company called " Cold Case " and the tanks on it are the same size as a 4 core. Being taller meant I had to cut the top clamp and put some spacers underneath it. A pair of old lug nuts serve as spacers for now. Finishing the top clamp will a punch list item for later.

This is a long water pump engine so the fan shroud will to be adjusted for proper fan placement. I used my stock original shroud for mockup purposes but ordered a new one for final installation.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

The fan shroud mounting brackets also needed some help. They were pretty rusty and bent up and in need of seals. So I hammered them as straight as possible and put on new seals. When I test fitted these brackets to see how well the seals looked on the radiator it was obvious the seals were not going seal up against the sides of the radiator. The taller, narrower radiator strikes again. So I made some seal extensions out of a leftover radiator top seal and that closed the gaps.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Got the engine bay side of the a/c system finished up. The condenser, dryer, hard lines and compressor lines all in. Was in the middle of the system wiring when I was chased out of the shop by the heat.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

One last thing for today. I used the old choke cable hole in the bezel to install the two position switch that selects and programs features in the Dakota Digital gauge panel. The aluminum knob to the left is the dimmer control for the gauge panel.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

You always do such nice work. :thumbs:

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Very nice build! Following along

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Your doing great work, thanks for the updates.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Great build!!!! Digging the progress. You're going to end up with a reliable rig you can wheel and work with! Very interested to hear how you like that Range Splitter OD setup. I have a '60 K20 that I'm planning to run overdrive in combo with the SM420. Glad to see someone keeping the 4 speed and getting creative with it!

-Zach

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Is that an OEM flannel TBI cover......Great build, cool truck.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Good looking build. I am doing my A/C system now too, so I bookmarked your pictures...exactly what I needed to see!

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thank you everyone for the all the positive comments and input.

I decided to finally have my driveshafts built this week and got them back today. They turned out nice. Front one is 35 inches and rear is 53.

Still working on the front fenders. The fender to cab gaskets are getting replaced. But first the attaching brackets need the standard scrubbing, priming and painting. Working the upper ones presently.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Nice work.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Things keep rolling here. Always a lot of little time consuming things that need to get done, as well as some big items.

I refurbished the upper and lower rear seal brackets for the front fenders. Got the seals installed on the upper ones and then back on the fenders. The seals for the lower rear are on back order. I was hoping to have the front end together (except the hood) by now.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Also worked completing the brakes and clutch. Got the pedals installed and fabbed up my brake booster push rod. Then with help from my GF, we bled both systems. Had a few drippy fittings and after re-snugging the brake pedal feels good. The clutch bled quickly and seems to release the pressure plate adequately, but will more than likely need fine adjustment after the engine is running.

And this week my new wheels were delivered. American Racing 17x8 machined aluminum with 4.5 inch backspacing. 3500 lb. load rating. Had to do a test fit. These pics really show the bumps and bruises in that fender.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Don't take this the wrong way but I love seeing your truck go back together with the dings and dents here and there. I feel not every truck is meant to be a show truck or a 100% perfect restoration. If your projected use is more than driving it to shows and storing it in a climate controlled garage after a hand wash then dents,dings & scratches are going to happen, so why fuss with every dent you see during the rebuild or build.

I'm going to try and straighten my truck a bit and deal with 100% of the rust to try and stop the spread but the little dings and dents will be there when new paint goes on.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

I agree. I love seeing awesome perfect restorations, but I also like to see honest 55+ year old trucks with all the dents and dings. Maybe I like them because that is how I am doing my build also and I will use my truck as a DD and a truck. I love this build!

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

You're spot on.

Body and paint work are not in the scope of this project. It is in pretty good shape overall.

Thanks for chiming in everyone!

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Today we took the new wheels and got the tires mounted. The tires are Michelin LTX's size 245/75-17E with about 5k miles on them. These tires are the ones that came off of my F-250 when I put new rims and tires on that truck a couple of years ago. They are 31.5 inches tall and about the tallest tire that looks decent and don't make the truck look out of proportion (to me anyway).

Also worked on fitting up the fan shroud using my original one for now. And installing the fan and upper radiator hard pipe. Still need to paint the pipe.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Nice job on the fan shroud.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thanks.

It is kind of a final mockup. Everything seems to fit correctly. I had to trim about an inch from the fan opening so the shroud would clear the ac compressor and be able to R&R the fan if needed. I'll replace that old cracked shroud with the new one when it finally arrives.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Its the journey, not the destination...Nice work!!1

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Thanks Johns 66!

Not much accomplished in the last three weeks. Had family visits and some oppressive heat. Also had some wicked lightning that started a bunch of fires in my area of the Santa Cruz mountains. We are now under mandatory evacuation orders.
They gave us plenty of time though and we're able to get the valuables to safety. My update today are pics of the Adventure Rig loaded on the trailer and ready to get off the mountain. Everything else has already been moved.

The last pic is of my temp fuel fill set up. It is about the only thing I was able to do lately.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Well that stinks, glad you and yours are safe.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

thanks Ray. Appreciate the thought. Were all settled back in and back to normal.

Still plugging along with re-assembly. I'm almost ready to fire up the engine for the first time. In the last couple weeks -

Temporary spark plug wires.
Power steering hoses made and installed.
All parking brake components installed and adjusted.
Rear driveshaft installed.
New battery cables and battery.
Steering draglink mocked up for final fitment.
Seats and seat frame mockup.

I put 10 gallons of gas in the tank and got the fuel pump pushing fuel to engine. My exhaust y-pipe should be here mid week so the o2 sensor can be installed. Then I should be able to try and start the engine. Fingers crossed!

It's all uphill back to the garage and not enough helpers to push it, so the mission is to drive off the trailer and back into the garage.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Your truck is coming along nicely. Very good work. Cant wait to see it driving.

Re: Project 1966 K20 adventure rig
 

Glad everything is back to normal.....wont be long till she is running again