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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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The Ugly Truckling
Have decided to restore the ugly 71 K20 parts truck. It has got to be one of the ugliest K20's I had ever seen. I bought it a few months ago because the price was right (cheap), 350, SM465 4sp, 4.56 no spin rear, and the truck actually would start and move.
There is not a good piece of sheet metal on it anywhere. Very bad rust or dents in every piece but the frame is in pretty good shape. Here are pictures from the day I bought it. Thought I would complete the last K20 restoration in 6 months but it took me 2 years. I am not going to guess when this one restoration will be finished. No rush on the ugly truckling. It definitely will take more than 2 years. Will just buy parts as I find them. This weekend I bought a decent bed, front fenders, hood, and radiator support. They are all GM parts with very little rust. Will start to slowly recondition them when I have time. Project has begun, wish me luck!
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#2 |
Senior Member
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Location: Franklinton NC
Posts: 1,309
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Good luck on this one.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Aztec,NM
Posts: 178
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
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" I strive for a level of perfection that I do not possess the skillset to achieve. "
Ariel <> '67 C10 Shorty Stepside *** Build On Hold *** First Ride <> '81 C10 Long Fleet *** Current Project *** ![]() |
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#4 |
Registered User
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Location: Homosassa, Fl.
Posts: 2,965
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
it only gets better from here
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Posts: 3,016
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Here we go again.
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project: "my happy mess" |
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#6 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,398
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Nice! Along for the next ride also....good luck.
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Agree with gdavis that it only gets better from here!
Getting rid of Ugly bed is step 1. Here are before pictures of the Ugly ![]()
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Vale, NC
Posts: 283
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Yea, that's a rough one.
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1972 Custom 10 Deluxe- original paint, interior- 72k miles http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2466316 Cheap, Fast or Good. Pick any two. 1990 Eagle Talon AWD 1991.5 W250 CTD 1992 Cushman Truckster- Haulster |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Really cutting corners on this restoration
![]() Since the bed is so ugly, will just be taking to the local metal recycler. I used a metal cutoff wheel and cut through the top of each of the 8 carriage bolts. Just had to cut the corners of the squares below the cap off the bolts and then used a long punch to punch them through the top and the channel below. This sure beats trying to get the rusty bolts off from underneath. More pics of Ugly bed coming off.
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Decent bed that I found on Craigslist at a great price. It looked like someone had sprayed bed liner or a hard under coating on the bottom which had helped a lot to preserve it. The deal also included the 2 front fenders, hood, and CST trim. All original parts with NO rust! Still need to find a decent cab and doors.
Luckily the same buddies that helped me on the last K20 restoration - Rudy S, Tom B, and Johnny C) are still great friends and agreed to help with the bed switch ![]() ![]()
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Bed install almost complete. It is just going to sit on the frame for now. We clamped the Ugly
![]() Will not bolt the bed on the frame until I find and install a decent cab. Also planning to install a fuel tank in the rear frame like I did on my orange & white K20. Will definitely wait for warmer weather.
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lewisville, TX
Posts: 81
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
I really like that new bed! Good shortcut to make on this truck, looks a lot better already
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Thanks fapfap72. I called the metal recyclers this morning and they are only paying .09 per lb. That would probably be only $40 for the whole bed.
May hold on to the bed for another week or two and try to cut out some small pieces of the sides and bed floor, without rust, to save for future metal work. Still prefer original GM metal with slight surface rust to Taiwan patch pieces. As you can see, I may not find very many good pieces!
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#14 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Homosassa, Fl.
Posts: 2,965
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Good find on that bed. I looked on crigs list last night. I have not found a step side short bed for my truck. Still looking here in Florida.
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Found a 1968 GMC cab on Craigslist in New Castle, DE. It had been sitting inside of a garage on a dolly with 360 deg swivel wheels made out of a truck frame. Bought it and a bunch of interior parts from Curt's Auto.
Curt had taken it a part years ago and was going to restore. He changed his plans and decided to sell. I was very happy when he said he would include the dolly. Sure did make it a lot easier loading and unloading. This cab is in much better shape than what I started with when I restored the orange and white K20. It will need rockers on both sides but the cab corners and the rest of the bottom are in great shape. I am storing it in my garage for now and will start to work on it every now and then.
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
A few more pictures after loading for the trip back to MD.
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#17 |
Carpe manana
![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eau Claire, WI
Posts: 12,398
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Good score!
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1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 ![]() |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Worked on one of the vent doors and cleaned up the cab that I bought in DE some this weekend. Amazed that the cab corners were not rusted and that both vent boxes were solid. The channel across the top of the firewall had only minor surface rust in a couple areas.:metal
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72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Forest Hill, MD
Posts: 171
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Re: The Ugly Truckling
Few more pictures after cleaning the dust and dirt off. Will have to cut & convert this floor to a high hump floor.
__________________
72Kay20 Bel Air, MD 1972 Hugger Orange K20 LWB 350, 4wd, 4spd Sm465, Dana 44, HO52 Other Toys 69 Cortez Silver Z28 86 White Buick T Type |
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