4WD Longhorn
 

"Long" story, but bought a '70 C20 4x4 to restore, started selling stuff that was too rusty to salvage and realized I didn't have much left. Half way through that process I was looking for a Dana 60 rear-end, and found one (locally) but from Minnesota that came with '71 chassis and box...a longhorn. Well, I needed the rear end, the box was definitely better than mine, and the frame was so nice compared to all the rusty junk I'm used to here in upstate NY, I bought the whole mess and decided to start over. So now I am building a '71 longhorn, starting with a sweet frame, and converting it to 4WD. Lots of good information on here, and not surprisingly I am not the only one to do this. So, thought I'd share pics of my build as well (as soon as I figure out how to post them...)

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

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Nice project. I don't know if this will give you any inspiration or not but you can check it out if you want....

https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo....php?p=6053430

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Yes, that is really nice, thanks for sharing, my builds are usually 3 years just don't have a lot of extra time, so inspiration is good :-)

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These five are setting up the front for leaf springs

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Front mounts bolt on, but added weld on bottom.

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Then transferred the engine & transmission cross members from the '70 frame to the '71. One question I have is will I need a carrier bearing for the rear driveshaft?

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Probably didn't have to , but changed the rear (front) spring mounts as the 2WD hangers are a little shorter then the 4WD. I couldn't find anyone that made reproductions, so modified a set off 3/4 ton van. Chopped the height down, and channeled the thickness, sand blasted the cut lines so plasma would work, lot of work, probably could have found used ones, but had fun. Pics don't show added gusset on the bottom, welded to the bracket and bolted to the frame (also).

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Then just wire wheeled the frame down to (mostly) bare metal, used rust encapsulator and 2K chassis black with ceramic. video of frame attached.









https://youtube.com/shorts/mmOr4lBQu...McU4FgxxBdKS8Z

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Probably everyone knows that the longhorn only came with wooden floor, and I have seem some really nice ones. This one was shot and I had already bought a metal floor for the 1970 I was working on...trouble is the longhorn is 6" longer. Again, lots of things I could have done, but chose to extend the metal floor, especially since the bed will dump on hinges.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Your doing some nice work!

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Cool build, sub'd to follow along.

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Looking good so far!

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Turned out great, just needs some old school wheels.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

IMHO the best looking wheels on a vintage K20 are the deep 8.25" 16.5" white steel wheels without hubcaps. That is what my 1970 K20 will be wearing.:chevy:

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Awesome build so far. I'm about to start a similar build using a 71 GMC version of a Longhorn. I had a 79 K30 dually parts truck so I grabbed all the suspension brackets and cross members from the K30 frame. The K30 wheelbase is almost the same as a Longhorn and used a two piece rear driveshaft with a carrier bearing. The carrier bearing on the 79 K30 frame hung from the cross member instead of sitting on top of it like the Longhorn frame. I'm thinking about either using the K30 carrier bearing cross member or flipping the Longhorn one upside down.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Great work

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Looks like an L6 lurking in the background in post #6.

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Nice build so far! Happy to see a front 60 playing peek a boo in the background as well! A real truck needs a real front axle!

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Yup, 292 from the ‘70….haven’t decided yet if that’s the powertrain I’m going to use

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Yup, I figure with a 1 ton frame, it deserves D60 front and back. Front from a 1987.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

I couldn’t agree more! I’ve got one under my K20, From an ‘89 cab and chassis. I converted it to single wheel. Nothing better than a little extra beef!

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Nice eye. I missed the D60 front the first time I looked at the pics. King pins for the win

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

I rebuilt the original L25 292 L6 that came in my '68 C/10 when I bought it in 1973. I pulled it in 1977, and put in a rebuilt 292 that I built with Marine buddies at the base hobby shop garage summer of '73. That engine ran 250,000 in 25 years. 2002 - 2005, I rebuilt the OEM block, that I'd put up in crates. .030-Over Badger pistons, Oversize [1.84''] intake valves, Crane 260H cam, HEI, Clifford headers, Offenhauser intake, Edelbrock 1404 500 CFM, 4-Bbl carb, crossover exhaust. Not a speed demon motor, but perfect if you use your truck as a Truck.
Monster torque.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Nice! I may need some advice down the road…

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

https://youtu.be/IraENRmivHA?si=wgHoG2H-AyF2iPar

For some reason I can't post any more pictures...here's a video of bed progress, assembled the Longhorn fleetsides, wheel tubs and front on extended metal floor. Plenty of body work to do now...

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Are you getting a "security Token" message when you try to post pictures?
.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Yes, and when I try to report it, it gives me an error?

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I recommend ''Chevy Six Cylinder Power Manual'' by Leo Sanducci. It's in a 2nd edition, now. Lots of L6 tricks.:mm:

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Expensive little sucker (the book)...did finally find one I could afford...read it cover to cover. Cool interesting facts with some real ingenuity. Seemed like most of it was for drag racing, I like your torque monster build and will probably just copy that. I haven't torn mine apart yet, it did "run" when I got it, but I do see paint has preferentially peeled around cylinder 5 and hoping it's not some sort of major problem...lot to do before I get there though.

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

That means that your pictures are too big. You need to size them down. I usually size them down to 1150 pixels wide and the board software will take care of them from there.....

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Well, I got the bed together, not a body man but spent some time on it and did my best, painted yesterday, still some ripples, drips, runs, dry spots...but it's better then before. Rebuilt the front Dana 60, it's under the frame now, tomorrow putting 4.10:1 gears and trac loc in the rear (first time for that too)...hoping to have a rolling chassis soon :-).

https://youtu.be/KPL7pnAZejI

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Nice, keep 'em coming

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Nice job

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Wow. You're right. I could not find it on Amazon at all. Some copies available on eBay. $22 for a First Edition with the red cover. More money for the 2nd Edition, which I have not read. Prices ranging from mid-twenties to $225.82 for a 1st Edition. No idea why that one's so special. Most copies in the $30s for a new book.
I had no idea it was so expensive...

Re: 4WD Longhorn
 

Finished putting gears in the DANA 60 rearend, rebuilt the brakes, buttoned up the rear assembly and installed under frame. Now I have a rolling chassis again!
Then wet sanded and buffed the bed paint, sprayed in Herculiner bed liner, and started putting on the side molding...with a twist. My side trim was all mangled, and they don't make new molding for a longhorn (that I found anyway), regardless it was going to be very expensive, so decided to do the molding in custom vinyl (stickers).

Finished one side, see video below if interested.

https://youtu.be/iY8AX73Vt8k?si=NZDoy39hBMhGU8S0

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Tailgate is on! Progress...

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