4WD Longhorn

[DoodlesCustoms]

"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...)

[LockDoc]

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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

[DoodlesCustoms]

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 :-)

[DoodlesCustoms]

These five are setting up the front for leaf springs

[DoodlesCustoms]

Front mounts bolt on, but added weld on bottom.

[DoodlesCustoms]

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?

[DoodlesCustoms]

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).

[DoodlesCustoms]

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

[DoodlesCustoms]

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.

[Ol Blue K20]

Your doing some nice work!

[loudchevy]

Cool build, sub'd to follow along.

[too much stuff]

Looking good so far!

[Badride76]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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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

Turned out great, just needs some old school wheels.

[1970cstblazer]

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.

[birdistheword]

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.

[Louisvillekytruck]

Great work

['68OrangeSunshine]

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

[57taskforce]

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!

[DoodlesCustoms]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

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

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

[DoodlesCustoms]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

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!

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

[57taskforce]

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!

[loudchevy]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

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!

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

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by DoodlesCustoms

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

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.

[DoodlesCustoms]

Originally Posted by 68OrangeSunshine;9379376]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.

Nice! I may need some advice down the road…

[DoodlesCustoms]

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...