1970 K20 Z62 Full Restoration

[IronCanine]

Update! Would have posted last night...but that darn server just stayed too busy.

We finally had a break in the weather and Eric came over Saturday evening. We went through our pre-flight checklist and turned the key. However long it took for the fuel to go from the tank to the carb is how long it took to crank. No real dramas. Of course the motor had already run on the dyno...so that was the expectation.

No real break-in cycle or anything, we just got it up to temp and made sure the thermostat opened.

A few little bugs appeared but nothing major. Small drip at the bottom radiator hose at temp. An oil leak at the gauge. We've had that issue before so I'd preemptively put a rag in there to catch anything that emerged.

Belts need to be re-tensioned. They were a little loud and wobbly. I've attached a link to a video of the first run in the truck. It needs a little tuning.

Still have to do the undercoating...and she needs a serious detailing.

But we've got two weepy brake fittings that I've got to resolve before we drive it. It's not done til she drives and stops on her own.

First Run vid: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1085529036

[Ol Blue K20]

Sounds good and looks great!!

[chewychevy67]

Nice. Must be a good feeling to be right around the corner of driving it

[DeadheadNM]

Better than new man, looks fantastic.

[Chevys4life]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I really wanted to try and achieve the factory soft paint edge on the painted tailgate letters. We experimented with a couple of techniques. In the end I had some PVC stencils cut. Eric positioned and secured them with magnets and taped and masked everything else. I am certainly happy with the result, but I think we are slightly on the plus side with respect to the edge overspray because this two stage required so many passes for coverage. Maybe if we'd done it with single stage, it would have been different. But I think this approach is nice, gives us a factory appearance and it definitely offered us more contingency options if it hadn't gone well.

Did you use a satin clear on the letters after the paint?

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Sounds good and looks great!!

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

Nice. Must be a good feeling to be right around the corner of driving it

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Better than new man, looks fantastic.

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by Chevys4life

Did you use a satin clear on the letters after the paint?

No. Same (gloss) clear is on the whole truck. The single stage white paint on the letters was the same white as on the cab from the factory. All that was gloss(y). So no reason to do differently (even though we're obviously doing two stage).

[Chevys4life]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Thanks guys.



No. Same (gloss) clear is on the whole truck. The single stage white paint on the letters was the same white as on the cab from the factory. All that was gloss(y). So no reason to do differently (even though we're obviously doing two stage).

Okay..........great. That is a beautiful restoration you have done on your truck!!!

[Ol Blue K20]

It's better than the truck my dad bought new in 72. It was also my first truck. I sold it to get "Blue" I work on "Blue " since I was 20 years old. Both special in my heart.

[72chevylover1]

Unbelievable attention to detail.

[69cam]

Looks fantastic!

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

It's better than the truck my dad bought new in 72. It was also my first truck. I sold it to get "Blue" I work on "Blue " since I was 20 years old. Both special in my heart.

Originally Posted by 72chevylover1

Unbelievable attention to detail.

Originally Posted by 69cam

Looks fantastic!

Thanks guys!

[Sicklajoie]

Stunning work.
Mine has a long, long way to go before it looks even remotely as nice as yours.

[IronCanine]

Well...a lot has happened since my last post. After that initial engine run in the truck, I noticed another little water drip. It turns out the backing plate on the water pump was still weeping. A real heartbreaker. Because just getting all those pieces apart and protecting (and re-achieving) those finishes on the engine and in the engine bay seemed impossible. But I'd bitten the bullet, broke it down and resealed the backing plate (which appeared to be original to the pump). Bench tested it for a week (filled it with water and let it sit on the bench). Detailed the WP. Reinstalled and re-detailed everything. Filled it with coolant. Only to have it weep again. Swallowed my frustration and started over. Eric was kind enough to come help me break it down again the second time. Getting that compressor off and on cleanly is such a chore. This time I did what I should have done the first time. I got a new backing plate and hardware and Eric surfaced the casting. I took this opportunity to install an NOS heater hose fitting that I didn't realize I had. We got it all back together and detailed. And so far it has held.

[IronCanine]

I was finally able to get the brake lines and the oil leak at the gauge dried up. So yesterday, after a little fussing and re-checking the list, we pulled her out under her own power and took her down the road.

It felt great.

[IronCanine]

There are a few punch list items yet. But with a little luck we'll have her at the C10 Nationals in October.

Here's the point in the build where I like to take our customary Phillips 76 pics and give a little thanks.

This board has been great to me. I know FB is cannibalizing it now...but I have made real friends right here. I have learned and gained so much. And for whoever stumbles upon this now or in the future, just know that is always the best part.

Thank you to my family for letting these shenanigans even occur. Thank you to Eric for not being obviously affected or put off by my neuroses and for painting the hell out of this truck.

Thank you to Pete and Joe and Larry and Eric (N.) and Tim and Mike and Dwayne and Rod and Mel and Josh and Dale and Dave for all your help and encouragement and for anyone who otherwise clicked on this thread or posted or helped me find a part or solve a problem. There were a lot of both.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Sicklajoie

Stunning work.
Mine has a long, long way to go before it looks even remotely as nice as yours.

Thanks. Yours looks awesome...and a lot of fun just the way she sits.

[72 tigger]

Another great project wrapped up! Looks fantastic!

[IronCanine]

She's come a long way....

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Another great project wrapped up! Looks fantastic!

Thanks Kirk. And thanks for always being here with a kind word in the thread.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

She's come a long way....

Great Job.

The Bottle opener brings back Memories.


Will you be at the C-10 Nationals at Nashville Superspeedway this year?

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Great Job.

The Bottle opener brings back Memories.


Will you be at the C-10 Nationals at Nashville Superspeedway this year?

Thanks! Yes, hope to be there in October. Sounds like you guys had fun weekend before last.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

Thanks! Yes, hope to be there in October. Sounds like you guys had fun weekend before last.

Hope to see you there.

Yeah

That Show gets Better every year.

[DeadheadNM]

Another “Hall Brothers” masterpiece. Congratulations guys and thanks for sharing. Incredible detail and craftsmanship. The Union 76 ball really completes it

Curious what the next project will be…

[cak20]

Great job! One of the best k20's out there.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Another “Hall Brothers” masterpiece. Congratulations guys and thanks for sharing. Incredible detail and craftsmanship. The Union 76 ball really completes it

Curious what the next project will be…

Thanks Pete. And thanks again for all your help on this one. I could have a page just on parts that you are responsible for on this truck. As for another project...no plans for anything like this again. We're gonna do some maintenance/refreshing on my brother's 70 K2500 that we found on here...that will probably start in the fall. Otherwise, I'm back on tractors for a while. I've got two of those in the queue. I may do a build thread on those on here just for me.

Originally Posted by cak20

Great job! One of the best k20's out there.

Thanks!