Finally...20 year 1972 K20 restoration complete!

[dave6672]

Guys, I know that many of you know how long a restoration can take, especially when you are doing most of the work yourself and are an amateur like me, not to mention the cost and other factors. But after 20 years I am now driving my K20 once again. Here's a brief story and some pics...…..

I bought this truck right after I got my first real job in September of 1991. It was listed in what was called the Metro Piston which was a local car trader magazine in the Lexington KY area (see pic of the ad which I still have). I bought it from the son of the original owner who had recently passed away. The original owner had used this truck to climb around the mountains of eastern Kentucky visiting some of the oil wells that he operated.

The truck was in pretty good shape when I got it and I used it for a daily driver up the late 1990's at which point it was pretty rusty. First I disassembled the bed, then it sat for a while. I did some more work on it, and then it sat for a while, and so on. But I never lost track of getting it finished and now that I'm back driving it again, it seems exactly like the same truck it was before, which is what I wanted. I just wanted my old friend back.

It will take a few posts to get all of my pics out there. Thanks for listening.

First the original ad, some old pics and the SPID.

[Furno68C20]

Nice! 20 years is a chunk of time! Way to stick with your passion.
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[dave6672]

Now some pics of it all prettied up. Some with hubcaps and some without. It didn't have hubcaps when new and never had them when I drove it years ago, but I picked up a set a while back and I think they look good on it. Also the rear bumper is a recreation of the one that was on it when I bought it, which was a custom job by the original owner. A local welder fabricated it based on old pics that I showed him.

[dave6672]

I have never given names to my trucks but my daughter calls it the "Big Orange Truck". Then I say, "but Honey, it's 514 Medium Red!"

Big Orange Truck it is.

[57taskforce]

As a proud oil field worker and K20 lover myself, I love your truck and the history behind it! Can’t wait to see all the pictures! You did a fine job!

[palallin]

Magnificent!

[underliner6]

She is absolutely stunning! WOW

[too much stuff]

Looks good! Looks tough!

[DeadheadNM]

Amazing pickup. I applaud your perseverance. Enjoy!

[hooverfish]

I love your truck ! Great job ! Not too many of these survived the Kentucky weather and the work the owners put them through.

I also remember the 'Metro Piston'. Here's a photo of my old copy from Jan 1980. Note the corvette and K5 on the cover.
Good old days?? You better believe it.

[dave6672]

Originally Posted by hooverfish

I love your truck ! Great job ! Not too many of these survived the Kentucky weather and the work the owners put them through.

I also remember the 'Metro Piston'. Here's a photo of my old copy from Jan 1980. Note the corvette and K5 on the cover.
Good old days?? You better believe it.

Larry, I've got an old copy from 1992. Here are a few of the ads, it's interesting to compare the prices from then to now. I couldn't find any of our trucks in the issue that I have.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by dave6672

Larry, I've got an old copy from 1992. Here are a few of the ads, it's interesting to compare the prices from then to now. I couldn't find any of our trucks in the issue that I have.

Man if only it was 1992 all over again. I’d be buying those first gen camaros up and hoarding them away for my retirement.

[89AKurt]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

Man if only it was 1992 all over again. I’d be buying those first gen camaros up and hoarding them away for my retirement.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard something like that, or "wish I didn't sell that", I could afford to restore my truck over 20 years!

This is very inspirational. Time flies when you're having fun. Or is it when you're older, I forget. Looks really nice!

[72 tigger]

Very nice work! More pics please

[Ol Blue K20]

I like it! It looks like you did a great job...

[undertaker72]

Awesome job, very nice

[rustytruck50]

Beautiful truck!!!!!!!

[rsavage]

Great job! Looks super.

[jocko]

Looks perfect! Thanks for sharing. Hey! You're not too far from where about 99% of my relatives live - in and around Flemingsburg. Your truck will look right at home on those old country roads.

[dave6672]

Originally Posted by jocko

Looks perfect! Thanks for sharing. Hey! You're not too far from where about 99% of my relatives live - in and around Flemingsburg. Your truck will look right at home on those old country roads.

My brother lives in Morehead not too far from Flemingsburg, so I'm around that area occasionally. It's a nice rural area with a few cool covered bridges nearby. Always nice to make a connection, thanks.

[dave6672]

Thanks for all of the kind remarks, I appreciate them all!

[jocko]

Originally Posted by dave6672

My brother lives in Morehead not too far from Flemingsburg, so I'm around that area occasionally. It's a nice rural area with a few cool covered bridges nearby. Always nice to make a connection, thanks.

Small world. We have a member from Mt Sterling on here as well - 72chevynut. Miss Kentucky a lot.

[kingsolver72]

Man you have some serious dedication. Cool story. Cool big orange truck.

[67_C-30]

And here I was thinking my 10+ year old build on my dually was long! 😂

Great job on your truck! It’s absolutely beautiful!

[KQQL IT]

That's awesome looks great.
Here I'm thinking holy crap 20 years.

Then I think back and I'm 15 years into my 73 and 2 years into the 68.