Leave well enough alone

[nevada]

Recently purchased 72 C20 with what I believe is 86K original miles from documentation. 350 with TH350, A/C , and trans cooler. Holley carb. Starts and runs terrific, tracks straight and drives good. Before I got it, I researched this site about crate motor swaps, 700r4 trans swaps, etc. but now I think I will leave well enough alone. for a truck I'll keep close to home driving about 3K per year I see no reason to change anything...feels reasonably quick from stop lights to me. Seems like a good motor, carb, trans, rear diff balance for my needs.

[hamjet]

Hi, welcome, and yes, if it ain't broke, no need to fix it. sounds like it will do everything you're looking for. Have fun and as they say, drive the wheels off it..

[rharris]

350/TH350/LWB - doesn't get much smoother than that. Had a 71 GMC 10, same set up - was a pleasure to drive. Much nicer than my SWB

[LongBox]

The key thing in this situation is the very low annual mileage. Mods to enhance fuel economy would take a heckuva long time to pay off in this situation.

If my truck is typical, these trucks drink a lot of gas per mile, and if it was being driven say 12k miles per year, a 700R4 would make some sense economically.

[LockDoc]

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Way too many people buy a decent truck and immediately blow it apart to spend eternity in a million pieces.... Smart move on your part...

LockDoc

[jessemthompson]

Congrats on the new truck! Post up pics! Everyone loves pictures!

[NorCalC20LWB]

Welcome from down the mountain from you, nice find on the original 3/4 ton! Keeping it as is sounds like a good plan, you can always upgrade at a later date, nice to have the option of a good reliable driver for now. If it's not a 3/4 ton it's not a real truck!

[garyd1961]

Drive it until it won't go any further or at least not safely and dependably go any further.

[nevada]

Here's my old chevy next to my new chevy

[67/Heaven]

Nice looking truck, good to hear you will keep her the way you got her. I have a 292 with tott and am just happy with driving it the way it is. You would not believe how many times I have heard offers of help and parts to upgrade her to a V8. Enjoy your new truck

[Ol Blue K20]

Welcome, nice truck. How about some more pics? Please

[Already Gone]

I bought my first truck in 2001 and sold it in 2014. Considering our climate and the 6 maybe 7 months of the year I drove the truck I put 5000 miles on it over the years. I did some cosmetic and small mechanical upgrades, electronic distributor, redid best new shocks etc. but basically left it as it was. As has been stated your truck looks pretty good and unless your going to significantly put lots of miles on it my advice leave the 350/350 combo as it is.

[nevada]

I plan on doing the same,,,get rid of points, go electronic, change a few gaskets, replace weather stripping, seat cover, dash pad. only real mechanical change I'm considering is converting to power steering but at this point it doesn't bother me that much.

[fakerwade]

Personally I think the c20's are the best ones to "modify". Lots of them still out there and no big loss if you modify one.
.

[joeydurango]

Cool truck. Makes sense. On my first K10 I did the LS/4L80e swap, lifted it, blah blah blah. Was pretty fun, but ended up not nearly as fun as my second one. After selling the first, I took my time looking for a nice "original-ish" K10, and I've kept it that way, restoring things back to factory look and function along the way. Really enjoying it, you will too!

[Greg58]

Nice truck, with a little polishing it will shine like a new penny.

Greg

[Che72vy]

Very nice truck! I like your plan - modernize the common sense stuff like ignition but overall leave it alone.

[randy500]

Great idea on just driving it!
If I were you though I would put the power steering on it. Buy a pump, lines and brackets here on the parts forum and buy a brand new CPP box, I haven't bought one but for the price seems a good deal. You will never regret having PS. Or buy a known good used box real cheap.
I have had a lot of 3/4 tons but not many that didn't have a lot of options, I assume it has a front sway bar? If not do that too, again its cheap and money well spent.

[Ken B]

I myself like the C20's and the C30's more than the short box trucks. Your truck is a rare example of an original truck in great shape! Your truck is in almost the same shape as my all original one owner 70 Longhorn. I just can't cut up a nice original truck.. As far as cosmetics go on my truck I have spent lots of time detailing what I had and the original paint still looks great. My truck only had 84,000 miles on it when I got it but there were some mechanical issues with the engine from sitting for twenty yrs. so I installed a new GM crate engine. I also went with an Edelbrock carb and a Pertronix electronic ignition. The engine always starts instantly. I do still have the original engine for a future rebuild. Once you go through it don't be afraid to take it out of town. Mine has been on a few long trips including a 12 hr round trip recently. And that was with a 4 speed and 4.10's out back. I'm in no hurry... The first pic is of the day I bought my truck, second pic is current. Congrats on a nice find!

[nevada]

Nice Truck Ken, what size tires are those? I still have the bias ply 7.5x16 on front I need to replace. I want to get rid of the front rims and get 16" to match the back with some period dog dish hub caps.