Allow myself to reintroduce.... myself....

[redz 1970 K5]

Hey guys. Long time listener, long time non-caller. I joined the board about 12 years ago and participated on the board through my numerous projects (71 blazer, 88 Suburban and 98 K3500). I sold my K3500 years ago and have been truckless.

I have been harkened back to this forum through a very special gift and what will be a cherished family heirloom for decades and hopefully generations to come. My grandma bought this '68 C20 Camper Special off the dealer lot built to her request in 1968. This truck is an all original truck from the Northern Nevada desert area (Fallon/Reno) with 58k miles. This was the truck that my grandma took my blind grandpa and kids camping in over many good journeys. My grandma is 95 and still with us and decided she wanted to pass the truck down. I'm the gearhead in this generation so it passed to me. Besides the tires, rims and some towing mirror and electrical upgrades, this thing is how she left the dealer lot. Original paint, only light surface rust, no cancer. Original 327 and 4-speed.

I have been very humbled by this gift. I take it as a sense of responsibility like I am a keeper of a piece of family history and I don't take this lightly. The truck runs great besides the carb needing a rebuild and leaks pretty much everywhere. My immediate goals are to get a good rebuild quadrajet in there and start dealing with the leaks (rear pinion, trans, rear main) in order of leaking. I did order a custom vintage black plate '68 PEGGY' to commemorate my grandma so her truck lives on in her namesake.

[Jeff's bowtie's]

Very nice truck and a nice story as well welcome back

[Boog]

Man, you can sure tell that one has been kept out of the weather.

[rsmarr1982]

Nice truck , I believe your one of the few that shares same colors with my k20. Mine was paint green over the yellow at some point though.

[truckster]

Very nice truck and very nice grandma. She sounds like she's quite a woman.

[68panelman]

Beautiful truck, great story, awesome heirloom. Good luck with it

[raggedjim]

One of my favorite colors. Great truck and great history.

Rg

[jerry moss]

wow, very nice survivor.

[jocko]

Bee-Yu-Tee-Full truck, love it!

[RenoKeene]

Yes, very nice indeed.

[LockDoc]

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Yup, I like it too. One of MY favorite colors also. I would rebuild the original carb to keep it all together.

Good to see you back and what an entrance...

LockDoc

[YBNORML]

Very nice! I recently got a survivor truck from the original family. The only thing I would change about mine is I wish it was the yellow that yours is. Have fun and enjoy, getting a truck like this truly is a once in a lifetime gift.

[Joesjunk]

Congratulations on being the new caretaker of that beautiful truck.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

How about those Nevada no-rust trucks anyway? Dry has its benefits. What a beautiful truck. Striking.

[allchevy58]

Very nice truck! ENJOY.

[redz 1970 K5]

Thanks for the kind re-welcome guys! I got the truck's first mod tonight. I do want to keep the truck mostly original so I picked up a rebuilt quadrajet for my setup with the divorced choke.

[scrappydoo2k2]

What a beauty!! Also, love a new shiny carb, even if it's a quadrajet haha.

[Joesjunk]

Where did you get your carburetor?

[hewittca]

Wow, awesome truck made even better by the family history! Props to grandma for a beautifully preserved truck that was used as it was intended. You definitely do not see examples like this very often.

[EARNHARDT#3]

AWESOME!!! Let's see a picture of the SPID, please.

[alsriv2]

Beautiful truck and a fantastic color combination. Your grandmother has great taste and really took care of that truck. please do not change it, just do the repairs you mention and have fun driving that great piece of history.

[redz 1970 K5]

Originally Posted by Joesjunk

Where did you get your carburetor?

This is the Stage 1 JET rebuild QJet got from Summit, PN JET-34001; again, it's for the divorced choke. I know there are a couple of renown Quadrajet builders out there and I called them, but their lead times for a rebuild were months out (or even a year LOL). I got enough of a good feel reading reviews that the JET is a decent enough of a unit. My second runner up was a Holley Avenger 580cfm because I've had good luck with holleys, but I digress.

[redz 1970 K5]

My only appearance mod for now is going to be some American Racing Ansen wheels since I wanted something a little dressier than the ole wagon wheels. I was looking for something retro-modern, polished, no chrome in a 16"x8" that didn't show much ugly break drum. I'm not a huge fan of the fake beadlocks, but it is a subtle modern touch and you pretty much can't get a wheel without it anymore.

They offer this in a 16x8 0 backspacing 8x6.5. The black slots are pretty sweet I think. I found these online for $150/ea + free shipping and no tax. I'll post a pic when they are on.

[redz 1970 K5]

I did a photochop of the American Racing slotted ansens on the truck. I'm on the fence. It might be a bit much with the black beadlocks. If it is too much, I'll just paint the fake beadlocks silver or have the black lip polished to match the wheel. The Ansen wheels definitely have that mix of vintage and modern. I am just unsure if it's too much modern.

[special-K]

Welcome back again. I'm dazzled and amazed with the truck. I'll have to talk about it later. Your Grandma knew what she liked and went for it. She has good taste (and judgement in leaving it to you).

I think the white spokes look just right on it. They get a bad wrap from playing out 30+ years ago. Now, when do you see them? They are as much a piece of the era as slots, turbines, and wide steelies. But only steelies (more recently) are available in 16". I don't look at white spokes like I used to. I put them on my '72 K/20 Highlander with 16" beach tires not available in 16.5 since they were era correct.