Behind a Barn Find 79 K20

[bowtieguy79]

So over the past 15 plus year's I have had my eye on this Farmer's old K20. It was always sharp and stood out to me. Not many yellow and white Chevy's in our area, let alone original K20's running around. Over the past decade you could see it going down hill, then years ago you didn't see it running around anymore. My dad started working for this farmer in harvest and planting seasons. He found the truck behind the barn. 2 years off and on when I'd stop by the farm or see owner around I'd ask about the truck. Finally he caved. Seeing he just has no time to restore it as planned and knows I love this body style. He agrees to sell it to us.

Its a 1979 K20 Bananza. It looks to have some small amount of bondo in the cab corners but over all has not been touched. None the less she's rough...really rough... But the floors are solid, so that's promising.....right??









Not really sure the direction that we'll take on this truck. I have a lot of idea's, but for now will focus on collecting rust free GM sheet metal for it and see where it all ends up.

[sumran]

That truck has lived the life it was made for. Lots of stories, hard work and good memories I suspect. Glad you were able to get the one you had your heart set on.

If you are going to restore it you will probably have more invested than it is worth. If you love it when your done, that may not matter. How is the frame? Does it run well?

Best of luck on your project.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by sumran

That truck has lived the life it was made for. Lots of stories, hard work and good memories I suspect. Glad you were able to get the one you had your heart set on.

If you are going to restore it you will probably have more invested than it is worth. If you love it when your done, that may not matter. How is the frame? Does it run well?

Best of luck on your project.

This truck has lived it, pulled a live stock trailer, checked on irrigators, hauled a fuel tank and tools, its been there and done that. Not bad for a one owner

Ya I know good and well that these trucks cost more to restore than you could get out of them IF you wanted to sell them once finished. My dad and I bought this together. I was raised in these trucks, so he and I are going to restore it together over time.

The frame looks to be very solid, and I'm told it ran when they parked it back there. Had a fuel leak and they never got around to looking at it. He just bought another truck, can't blame him 2500HD with a 6.0L over this old girl... sure why not.

Some idea's we've kicked around:

Find a rust free 2wd with a bad engine and swap the body.

Engine/Trans
Currently is a 350/400/203. If it all runs good and doesn't need rebuilt it can stay. If it needs pulled out, none of it is going back.

Thoughts are a 6.0L 4L80E NP205

OR really go nuts and do a Dmax Allison swap.

So many options

[old Rusty C10]

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That being said you have alot of work ahead of you but i started with one in similar condition and it came out ok. its all about the love for these old trucks

[str8axle55]

Looks like it worked hard for many yrs, time for you to give her some R&R, rest & restoration. Nice to find a 1 owner truck.

[DirtyLarry]

Our trucks are almost twins. Colonial Yellow/white strip & saddle interior. My dad bought this one new back in 1978.

This picture is when I drug it home last summer after my dad passed away. I haven’t done anything with it yet. It has a 427 with spun cam bearings.






When the truck was new. Yep, that is me and the shop dog standing next to it.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Our trucks are almost twins. When the truck was new. Yep, that is me and the shop dog standing next to it.

Now that is a cool picture! Thanks for sharing! Pretty much the same truck it would appear. Yours looks to be in a little better condition as far as rust goes.

[tucsonjwt]

If you are looking for rust free sheet metal, I would get a whole rust free southwest truck and swap the good parts you have over to it. You can get a lot of them nearby in AZ for cheap.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

If you are looking for rust free sheet metal, I would get a whole rust free southwest truck and swap the good parts you have over to it. You can get a lot of them nearby in AZ for cheap.

probably the easier route... you don't know how well you have it out there in AZ, our junk here in the rust belt is going fast. Saw an 03/04 Dodge Ram with rust above the rear wheels, and many 99-04 GM trucks are left with out rockers, corners, and bed sides shot... its sad

[Car'n'Guitars]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Our trucks are almost twins. Colonial Yellow/white strip & saddle interior. My dad bought this one new back in 1978.

When the truck was new. Yep, that is me and the shop dog standing next to it.

That is weird that when new with these trucks that some of the trim between the bed and cab does not lined up right.

[legendman]

Originally Posted by Car'n'Guitars

That is weird that when new with these trucks that some of the trim between the bed and cab does not lined up right.

And the rocker looks like it has a dent in it, maybe it was a demo.

[Car'n'Guitars]

Originally Posted by legendman

And the rocker looks like it has a dent in it, maybe it was a demo.

To me it looks like the door is out a little instead of the rocker being dented, I could be wrong. Also this truck could be a year or two old in this picture.

[Meatman]

Im in the same boat with mine. Through two owners, it spent its whole life as a farm truck. The barn tin covering the rusty floors proves it. Ive slowly been collecting sheet metal for it. Just picked up a decent cab last week and have a whole front clip. Sad that a decent cab here still needs rockers and corners. All I need now is a bed. I don't really know what I want to do yet though cause its still sadly just a farm truck, it just only does duty for me 5 or so times a year.

Nice find! Gotta love when persistence pays off.

[bowtieguy79]

I got it home! Runs pretty good, its a 400ci/400th/np205 truck, so a solid platform to start with. The 400ci is gone and it currently has a 350 in it. So far I have a set of 4.56's for it and an LS 5.3L for it.

Just built a new house, old girl is acting as a storage unit

[survivingalone]

updates?

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by survivingalone

updates?

Yes a few, I actually sold the truck, to my father inlaw. It still looks like it does in the above pictures, with addition of a tail gate.

We recently took a trip to Kansas City and we stopped at LMC. He got front fenders, and a cab pieces to fix the rust. I'm going to do the work to it, so I'll make sure and update this thread with progress. We plan to start tear down some time after Hot Rod Power Tour this next year. I'm taking it down to bare frame. He's also planning an LS swap but retaining the 400/203. It will remain Colonial Yellow and White.

We had it running a few weeks ago, he's put tags on it to drive to work when it gets bad etc.

[Chevyrules]

heres my 73 C20 now there triplets

[Car'n'Guitars]

Sorry to hear that man, it looked pretty decent in your pictures.

[bowtieguy79]

Times flys and things change. I find the K20 back in my stable again. It came to me with the rust free southern Bed, rust free tail gate, and hood. Father inlaw kept the other parts for a 79 C-10 step side he picked up. At this point I'm still planning on reviving the truck. Not sure when I'll start on it. Plan on making some sort of entertainment center out of the rusty bed

I drove it about 6 miles from my inlaws to my place. Hadn't moved in about a year. Fired up after about 100 pumps, idled, let it sit and warm up. And off my boy and I went ( He's 6 LOVED IT )







Getting acquainted with its new room mates.

[Squareforceone]

That's awesome i was so excited when i saw this thread was up today i loved that truck i remember when you first posted this thread. I love that color scheme and growing up in iowa i'm use to seeing them as old farm trucks like that.

[bowtieguy79]

Here is a shot of the bed we picked up last year for it.

[y5mgisi]

Subscribed!

[bowtieguy79]

Well sold the Yellow Truck back to its ORIGINAL owner, he intends to restore it as I did. It Leaves Monday.

[y5mgisi]

Dang it! Is there anyway you could get a picture of the front springs? and or the rear springs? Im trying to nail down exactly how much lift it has.

[bowtieguy79]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

Dang it! Is there anyway you could get a picture of the front springs? and or the rear springs? Im trying to nail down exactly how much lift it has.

Front End






Rear End


This measurement didn't include the thicker over load at the bottom