Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Thanks much! It has definitely been a labor of love for me.



Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Hey Clay,
Just catching up on your build. Always a pleasure to see how your progress is going. I recently recommended this thread to a guy restoring a similar truck, as your research and the detailed documentation of your fine work is second to none.
I’m glad to see you decided to go with the stock manual steering. I’m always amazed how many think they “need” power steering, without actually driving the truck for awhile. With stockish sized radial truck tires (I’ve always used 235/85R-16’s) the steering gears are low enough and the steering wheel large enough that even around town and off road is usually not a problem. FWIW even my 66 year old wife occasionally drives mine with no complaints.
Keep up the good work. I’m really enjoying following along.
Tom

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Hi Tom, and thank you for the kind words! Yeah, I think that the manual steering will suffice for now. I am still tossing around the idea of adding an electronic powersteering setup in the future, but for now I am focused on just getting the old girl back on the road. :-)


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Clay, could you get me pictures and possibly measurements of the parking brake parts I have circled in these pictures? They are missing on my truck.

I ordered all new cables from Inline Tube and the front an rear cables fit fine. - https://www.inlinetube.com/products/sbst6713

The intermediate cable they sent is shorter than the NOS cable(which appears to be the correct part number), but I haven't tried either one yet since I don't have any of the pieces pictured.

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Hi Jason, the cab is on the truck now, so I crawled under and tried to get a measurement of the parts you circled. The long rod on the passenger side appears to be about 15 3/4" and the shorter one on the driver side is about 3". It was kinda hard to get my head up in there and hold the camera steady.

Here is a link with a bunch of pictures that I took during the tear down along with a few videos that documented how all the cables were situated in the frame.

https://share.icloud.com/photos/021d...hc2mWcfmRC6chQ

Let me know if you need any additional pictures or anything.


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Holy crap, those pictures are amazing. Thank you so much!

I was able to rig mine to work. I may make a version of that longer rod.

I had this kit from Inline Tube for another truck - https://www.inlinetube.com/products/inl14355

The shorter brackets are probably the same as what you have.

But the long rod is just straight and not a hook. On a 1/2ton 2wd there is a dimple on the frame it rests on. I just put a bigger washer on it so it wouldn't pull through the hole on my frame. If I can't make a hooked rod, I may make a more elegant plate with an angled surface for the washer on the rod to rest against.

The intermediate cable that was included with the cables from Inline Tube was too short, but the NOS cable 3894291 worked fine.

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

I'm going to watch that video about 50 times.

I noticed your brake lines are routed identical to mine. I ordered the full line set from Inline Tube and they were not even close, so I sent in my old ones and they duplicated them for me.

I don't have a hose on the vent for my rear diff. My vent just like a little breather cap.

Looks like your truck has the HD rear spring option like mine has too.

Hard to believe they only made 2773 Fleetside K20's in 1967...

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Hey Jason!

Anytime on the pictures! We are all in this together! LOL

I am going to try to reuse my brake lines. They weren't that bad, but the were wasted as they went into the "T" fittings on the front and back. I am hoping that I can just splice in some new brake lines with some unions. Truth be told, I have been procrastinating on it. I need to get out there and get it done.

I made sure to take thousands of before pictures to use as a reference, so if they aren't in my build thread, let me know and I can post some more.

And I agree about the low count of these trucks. Sadly, many of the K20's were worked to total junk. Those that are left have been cut down to shorty's. I am trying to keep this one as original as possible. I may change my mind later on down the road, but for now getting the old girl back on the road is the top priority.


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

8/1/2023 - 6/11/2024
Body work, body work, and more body work

I HATE BODY WORK!!!!!
By far, the most grueling part of this entire project has been the body working phase. Over the past 12 months or so, I have been doing primarily body work with detours into other areas of the project that are a lot more fun. I will say that I have learned a lot about doing body work and can fully appreciate why professionals charge what they do for quality work. I have also had to change directions on a few things along the way. I had really wanted to keep all of the original sheet metal on the truck, but economics and common sense win the race there. For example, I tried to fix the hood which had severe oil canning in it with heat shrinking, but that is an art in and of itself. I ended up just going with an aftermarket hood and it fits like a glove! The part that I used was AMD 300-4067 and it seemed to line up with the original fenders perfectly.

The next thing that I changed direction on was the bed. I really wanted to try to salvage it as well, but I was able to find a near perfect bed off of a ‘68 that has a wood floor in it, so I am going that route instead. All of the other panels, doors, fenders, etc. were in really good condition and were able to be reworked. The only exception there was with the cowl that was so far twisted and welded on, that I just found a replacement on FB marketplace.

After doing all of the body work, I resealed it with Eastwood Epoxy Primer and then followed up with 3 coats of Eastwood High Build Primer / Surfacer. After I finalize primering the hood and get the bed stripped, it will be onto final block sanding. I think that I have also decided to attempt to paint this myself. Originally, I wanted to farm that out, but I figure, what the heck? What is the worst that can happen?

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

More....

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

More...

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Even more....have I said how much I HATE body work??? LOL

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

At least it is starting to look like a truck again!

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Great job, Clay. Glad you could find a new hood! Def nice to see it coming back together.

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Thanks Scott!

She is getting there! I found a nice bed in Denver and I am going to do a road trip on Thursday to go and get it! Crazy, I know....but it will get me one step closer to getting this thing done. :-)


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Hopefully the windshield time saves countless hours of body work!

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

No doubt! I am so tired of sanding filler that I can't see straight.

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

My new bed is home!!

So, I was able to find a near pristine bed on FB marketplace earlier this week. He lives in Denver, and had purchased this little trailer to use on one of his builds. His plans apparently changed and he is moving so he put it up for sale. It is off of a 1968, and according to the title the trailer was assembled in October of 1981. I believe that it was stored indoors and really wasn't used that much. There are virtually no dents in the bed, no filler that I can find, and the wood floor, while old, is still sound and can be cleaned up. The rails in between the boards look perfect with no dents at all that I can see. Anyway, I couldn't pass this up, so I jumped in the truck and made a beeline from Phoenix to Denver to get it. I just got home a few hours ago.

I have realized that when you spontaneously jump in your truck and drive 36 hours there and back to get a part for a truck you are working on it transcends a mere hobby and becomes a sickness. LOL


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

That is a (Over the Top) Great purchase.

That camper top may have/ Did saved that wood floor.

You will at least have the original pattern to go by. :metal:

That is if you want to make new boards for the floor.

You are close to Right on the (sickness). ;);):lol:

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Yeah I think that it did save the wood. It even still has paint on the wood. I still have to get everything cleaned up and then I will get better pictures.


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Nice buy! Welcome to the sickness....:lol:

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Thanks! :-) Yeah, my wife keeps trying to "cure" me of it, but my immune system is fighting her back...LMAO!


This bed is really nice. I just finished pulling off the camper shell and the bed sides look almost flawless. A few small dings to work out and I have to weld up the holes where the camper was mounted. It almost borders on sacrilege to weld up the marker light holes on it, but they have to go.

Question for everyone.....what do you all think about dustless blasting on the bed? I learned my lesson on blasting with the hood as it destroyed it. But what about the bed sides? They do seem sturdier than the hood. I am really thinking that I will just attack it with the SCT and a DA to take the paint off but it would be nice to find a better, faster way.


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Nice find! The inside of the bed is amazing.

Yep you’ve caught c10 fever lol

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Clay, that is a heck of a score! It should clean up real nice from looking at the pics on the computer screen. Does it need to be taken down to bare metal? Or will a quick scuff with a DA with some 80 grit do the trick before filler/primer?

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Thanks Scott!

Honestly, I am not sure....the top layer of paint looks brushed on. I am not sure if it is house paint, or rustoleum or what. I am going to take the DA and the SCT to it to see what happens.

My plan is to pressure was the bottom and wire brush it really well, and then I will raptor line the bottom like I did with the cab. The inside of the bed is another story. The wood is really good, so I am not sure what I will do there. I hate to replace it if it isn't really necessary.


Clay

Re: My 1967 Chevy K20 Build Thread
 

Nice score on the bed. That was well worth the drive time to save you a ton of refinishing work.
I bet the SCT will clean the outside up just fine. You could probably just scuff and shoot the inside walls.