'72 C20 brought home to California

[Lefkada]

I figured it was time to catch up on my build progress.

I brought this original CA truck back home to Southern California in December. Overall, very little rust aside from rocker panels, sidewall of foot wells and lower support of fleetside cargo. Very poor paint job done over original medium olive paint. Original 350/350.

PO installed Edelbrock carb and electric fuel pump (mounted to inside of front bumper (!?) with dangling power wire feeding back to fuse box and shoved into currently used circuit). According to PO, the previous previous owner rebuilt motor at some point and tranny had been rebuilt 2,000 miles ago.

Overall, the wiring is so macgyvered throughout the truck, I'm surprised there wasn't a catastrophic event.

[Lefkada]

Truck is home and I begin tearing out interior for inspection.

Originally came with Aux tank option but aux tank was removed from bed at some point.

PO also installed Hedman headers recently it seems. A/C does not work due to missing condenser, but heater works.

All cluster gauges seem to work except for temp gauge. PO has installed an aftermarket temp gauge underneath dash, as well as choke.

The white wire shown in Fuse box photo is the previously mentioned electric fuel pump power wire.
















Typical rubber hose + plastic fuel filter.

[Lefkada]

Begin tear down. There is a small leak from rear diff and tranny (speedo cable).

Whoever rebuilt the motor used a grab bag of bolts to put the thing back together, complete with stacking 5-6 washers (or a nut) at some spots to compensate for having too long of bolts. Yikes.

[Lefkada]

Removing motor and frame is off to the sandblaster.

Also cut rusted-out rocker panels from cab.

[Lefkada]

Back from blaster!

Prime and paint frame.

[Lefkada]

Took in original heads for valve job and resurfacing. Unfortunately, both heads were found to have hairline fractures upon magnaflux. Purchased an extra set of SBC heads that machine shop had on hand (and tested).

Begin rebuilding motor and remounting on frame. All body parts are currently at blaster.

[El Dorado Jim]

looking good!

[Lefkada]

Thanks, Jim!

New repro passenger-side fender has arrived to replace original, as well as 33" tires.





Will be picking up these wheels used off of Craigslist later today.

[Lefkada]

Picked up everything from the sandblaster today. Cab, bed, doors, and hood went to the paint shop to be primered ASAP (it may actually rain in Southern California this weekend?!) and the full bottom rhino-lined.






Brought the headers home to coat and install.

[AKC]

Looks good, I'll be watching...

[bs46488]

Wow, you don't joke around with your projects. Making me feel a little lazy here.

What part of San Diego? I'm in the East County.

[Lefkada]

Originally Posted by bs46488

Wow, you don't joke around with your projects. Making me feel a little lazy here.

What part of San Diego? I'm in the East County.

You know how it is!

I'm in Encinitas. Have you been getting any of this much needed rain down there?

[Lefkada]

Wheels have been mounted on new tires. New lug nuts have been ordered from Amazon, but I'm still looking around for some good-looking center caps. Any suggestions?

Drive shaft, front and rear shocks (plus new front coils that I forgot to mention), and mufflers/pipes have been installed. I should have sanded and painted the drive shaft beforehand, but I was getting antsy.