'72 Chevy K20 - Big Red

[smsag04]

Well, I finally get a chance to post on here. I've done a lot of research on here while I was looking for my project truck. I found this truck on Ebay and just got it home today. The previous owner didn't know much about it other than that it's a '72 K20 SWB. I think that my first adventure will be figuring out exactly what I have. It has definately had some prior modification. Now for the Good, the Bad, and the Unknown.

The Good:
-4WD
-Short wheel base
-Transmission shifts well
-Body is pretty clean
-Motor runs good
-12 bolt rear end
-10 bolt front end
-engine has an Edelbrock intake manifold and Quadrajet carb
-Power steering and brakes

The Bad:
-Super Swampers, had lots of fun driving it home in the rain
-Shackle lift. It's too flimsy and causes swaying over 60 mph. It's coming off till I can afford new springs.
-Rust.

The Unknown
-The VIN number. The number in the glove box doesn't match the title. The tag on the door jamb is missing. I need to find the one on the frame, hopefully that one will match the title. The one on the glove box is for a 1/2 ton 2WD. The one on the title is for a 3/4 ton 2WD. The truck is definately a 3/4 ton 4WD. My guess is a cab swap at least.
-What engine I have. The PO told me that it was a 350, but I found an emission sticker on the front wheel well that says 402. I'll have to check the block marking and find out.
-The transfer case. I haven't tried to shift it yet. Can anyone tell me the shift pattern for the transfer case?
-The gears. I'm not sure what they are, guessing 4.10's.

The Pictures:

As it got to the house


The engine


A 402?


Front end


Rear end


Bad shackle lift. Notice the horrible angle of the u-joint


Transfer case


The current gas tank. I'll be going to an under the bed setup


Interior, the dog likes it already


What's left of the glove box sticker

[smsag04]

Here are some more pictures of the rust I'll be dealing with. It's a good excuse to buy a welding machine.







Is this an original steel bed? If so, can it be converted to a wood bed?

[BurnoutNova]

they never made swb 3/4 tons... so it must be converted from a 1/2 ton

[BurnoutNova]

looking again it is a 1/2 ton... 1/2 tons had 6 lug wheels

[Spanky_Pete]

Looks like a lot of work ahead of you undoing the poor fixes/repairs previous owners have done. I'm in the same boat with my '68 K10 project. Good luck

[skchevota]

is that crazy shackle thing on the front of the rear springs????

[BurnoutNova]

i would definately get that shackle setup off of there... i dont understand why people do this stuff when blocks are realatively cheap and much safer.

if your looking for the vin stamped on the frame it will be on the drivers frame rail right behing the steering box. usually theres lots of dirt/ ect biuld up on there, you'll need to scrape it all off.

[72armyswbtruck]

First off, welcome to the board, enjoy the truck and the build, lots of info here., Good luck with the vin tag. How are you able to get it titled? Love the redneck gas tank and the passenger.

[Yukon Jack]

Welcome - enjoy your project!

[jeffspower]

Looks like a good project! reminds me of a few I've had. If your title VIN decodes to a 2wd, and the cab plate is gone, you might have troubles licensing it. Do you have to go thru a title/ vehicle inspection? If so, they may want to see the frame VIN to verify, which isn't going to fly either since their is no way it is going to match up to the 2wd title. I had a friend go thru this, they confiscated his truck assuming it was stolen. Since all he had was a title to another truck, he had no way to prove them wrong. It went to the scrapper and he lost all the money spent on it.

I strongly urge you to check into this before spending a dollar on it, or taking it in for inspection- or you may walk away with nothing. If you bought it being represented with a clear title, I would consider telling the seller that you need the correct title & VIN plate, or you want a refund. The sooner you do this the better. If he refuses, tell him you are going to to the police.