1981 K20 Project - The Blue Ox

[Smniekamp]

Welded in my patch panel this morning, I found out I'm really good at burning holes in my truck lol. After some frustration and a fair amount of grinding, I got it in. Learned a lot from my first attempt at replacing sheet metal. Now I'm waiting for my Bondo to harden up so I can sand it this evening.

[Smniekamp]

Sanded the filler down to a somewhat even surface, sprayed primer over the top because its going to rain the next couple days and I didn't want to leave it bare. Heading to Germany tomorrow for 2 weeks, I'll be anxious to get back to work on the Ox when I get home!

[Greenlee]

Nice work!

[Jstock85]

Not bad. I hate body work!

[Smniekamp]

Back from Germany! Had a lot of fun over there, but I'm happy to be back working on The Ox. This morning was spent peeling off the old bed liner that was on the bottom of the bed. I used a putty knife to work it off, along with the old trim. On the right side I left a section covered because its not peeling up at all, and seems to still be in good shape. Under the sections I peeled up I found quite a bit of body damage and rust. Looks like I'll be making friends with my electric drill and wire wheel tonight lol.

[blazer2007]

should have used dyna glass or something like that over the welds it worked good for me,no rust bleeding thru

[Smniekamp]

I'm attacking the bed one side at a time for right now. Sanded everything down, primed it, then laid a first color coat down. After I sprayed the color on I found a few spots that need re-sanding. Overall I'm happy though, it'll do until The Ox gets a flatbed!

[Smniekamp]

Got a little more work done this week on the truck, bedliner rolled on and tail light in, already started the other side of the bed. I think its turning out okay for a low budget resto. Here's a picture for the one or two guys that still follow this thread

[Nick_R_23]

Turning out great!

[Dball]

Looking good, I love a good low buck resto.

[Smniekamp]

Originally Posted by Nick_R_23

Turning out great!

Originally Posted by Dball

Looking good, I love a good low buck resto.

Thanks guys! Part of my fun is hunting for cheap parts for The Ox. Craigslist has become a daily ritual for me lol.

[Smniekamp]

Went into work today (I work on a sod farm during the summer down the street from my house) and found the place empty....turns out the boss forgot to tell me we get a long weekend for the 4th.... Lucky me! I took this opportunity to walk back home and tighten up some loose ends on The Ox. I painted the bumper last Saturday so I threw that on, wired in the tail lights, put my door panels on, replaced the locks from my old doors, and put on a pair of mudflaps. Slowly but surely its coming together. Took the truck on its first serious drive since I replaced the bed this spring. 35 miles round trip with no major issues!

[Smniekamp]

Total Investment to Date

This is roughly what I have into my truck so far, keeping track just for fun...

Truck w/Pop up Camper - $1200
Tires & Rims - $200
Fuel Pump ~ $30
Cap, Rotor, Plugs, ICM, Wires, & Coil ~ $120
Doors, Fender, Grill, and Rockers - $150
Dash - $75
Dash Cover - $20
Intake Manifold Gasket ~ $20
Valve Cover Gasket and Spreader ~ $40
Steering Stabilizer ~ $40
JVC Stereo & Speakers ~ $120
Oil and Filters ~ $40
Truck Bed - $150
Bedliner - $30
Paint & Primer so far ~ $60
Mud Flaps - $15
Rear Bumper - $40

Total Investment to date : $2,350

[daddyjeep]

You are doing well, that's a good looking truck for $2350

[JohnKimble]

Great work!

[D13]

Keep on grinding! Appreciate the low buck approach, always good to see what can be accomplished with a limited budget.

[Smniekamp]

Originally Posted by D13

Keep on grinding! Appreciate the low buck approach, always good to see what can be accomplished with a limited budget.

Originally Posted by JohnKimble

Great work!

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

You are doing well, that's a good looking truck for $2350

Thanks for the input guys, its a grind but I'm enjoying the process!

[Smniekamp]

The Blue Ox is finally back to being blue! A couple different shades of blue, but none the less, its all blue again lol. Painting the doors went smoothly, I haven't jammed them yet but for now I'm happy. I've been using the truck around my home town, venturing further and further out each time. Last Saturday I was cruising into town in the Ox when all of the sudden.... I lost power. So I pulled off to the side of the road and coasted to a stop. All my lights were still on but the engine stopped firing completely. My first thought was a bad ICM, it felt like it lost all spark suddenly. I knew I had gas in the tank, but after a little tinkering on the side of the road I figured out the gas was't getting to the carb. After we towed it home (thankfully only 1 mile) with a 4 wheeler I was able to find the problem. The filter in my carb has a little rubber plunger with a spring inside. This is where the gas flows into the filter I'm assuming....anyway, that little plunger was stuck shut. I poked it with a screwdriver and broke it loose. Gave it a good once over and put it back in, turned the key and she fired right up! So as of now... I'm back on the road!

[Smniekamp]

Here I am trying to get the truck going on the side of the road...

[daddyjeep]

Glad it was a simple fix. I am in the same boat as you...using my truck for short trips and finding little things as I go.

[Smniekamp]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

Glad it was a simple fix. I am in the same boat as you...using my truck for short trips and finding little things as I go.

Exactly, every week I'm trying to take longer and longer drives. Was feeling pretty confident before the last little malfunction haha. Today I drove over 30 miles straight for the first time since last weekend's issues... I was feeling a little tense, to say the least...

[Smniekamp]

Today I attacked something that has been bugging me since I got the truck. The owners before me built a beefed up custom hitch for the truck. They must have built it for hauling a big trailer up the ALCAN when they moved up here in the 80s.... Idk.... Its well put together except for the dang pin holes. When he drilled it out he drilled the holes a little too high. Consequently, the pin holes of every hitch I've tried don't line up with my receiver's holes. So I spent a good part of an hour using a hand file to deepen the holes so the hitch pin can slide through without trouble. I made an effort to take my time, and not make the holes so big that there was slop for the pin to move around.



Now I can finally tow our boat or trailer!

[Ken B]

I've been following along, great thread. For a total investment of 2350 you are in great shape! The truck has come a long way and she looks real nice. That sweet camper that was part of the initial purchase is the cherry on top!

[Bird_Reynolds]

Dude nice work!

[Smniekamp]

Originally Posted by Ken B

I've been following along, great thread. For a total investment of 2350 you are in great shape! The truck has come a long way and she looks real nice. That sweet camper that was part of the initial purchase is the cherry on top!

Originally Posted by Bird_Reynolds

Dude nice work!

Thanks guys, its been a really fun project so far! I love the camper, at this point its probably more valuable than my truck lol. Your comments are keeping me motivated!