1970 K20 Z62 Full Restoration

[IronCanine]

Speaking of Eric...he got a lot more done this week than I did.

First he got the upper dash painted.

Like everything else some considerable time was spent fretting over the interior blue. You can see in the paint code chart, there are codes specific to the interior paint. Steering columns, base door panels, GMC gauges and GB doors should all be painted the interior color which doesn't necessarily correspond to the exterior color (even if they are both, say blue). The upper dash is a flattened version of the interior paint.

At least in the paint stores in and around Athens, we found that having the original paint code didn't help us. So we planned to use the steering column to color match since there were areas with minimal UV exposure. What was surprising was that under close inspection, the column appeared to be the same color as the truck exterior. I did not expect that (though I can understand it). So what we did was just flatten the dark blue we already had and shot the upper dash. Turned out pretty nice actually.

Since the firewall turned out so good and since none of the interior will be buffed out for obvious reasons, Eric went ahead and shot the interior with the single stage we already had. The white on the cab will be next.

The more color that goes on, the more I love the color.

[68bowtie]

I see why you love it. I love it too! I’m a sucker for blue.

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

I ordered date coded spark plug wires from Lectric Limited.

My 1970 shop manual is pretty specific about how the wires should be routed to avoid cross-firing. But honestly it is not a smooth routing. I took time to check Joe's K20 which appears to have its original wires and they are not routed that way...so that's good enough for me to forgo the shop manual.

All of my heat shields are of the reproduction variety...and they are fine. The only problem is, as far as I can tell, you can't order a correct complete set. You can order a set that has four "flat" shields, but the driver's side front shield for this truck should be the humped shield with the opening for the sending unit. So you have to order that separately. Most of the Corvette sites have em.

Routing the wires through the motor mounts is not super easy, but if you pass the distributor cap "boot" through instead of trying to pass the spark plug end through there...it's not too bad.

I have continued to debate the merits of taking the points out and putting a Pertronix set up under the cap. TBD.

My TBC engine has two flat shields and two of the angled shields. The difference is that my engine is set up for TCS, so there is a temp switch on the rearward passengers side head.

As for the Petronix, my emphatic position on this is a big NO! Petronix components are cheaply constructed, and seem to fail upon a heat soak. Stick with old stock USA made Delco Remy points/cap/rotor/condensers/coils and you will probably never have an issue. My Blazer starts faster than my late model fuel injected GM trucks!LOL

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

I see why you love it. I love it too! I’m a sucker for blue.

Me and you both!

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

My TBC engine has two flat shields and two of the angled shields. The difference is that my engine is set up for TCS, so there is a temp switch on the rearward passengers side head.

As for the Petronix, my emphatic position on this is a big NO! Petronix components are cheaply constructed, and seem to fail upon a heat soak. Stick with old stock USA made Delco Remy points/cap/rotor/condensers/coils and you will probably never have an issue. My Blazer starts faster than my late model fuel injected GM trucks!LOL

The engine in this truck came out of a K10 and had TCS as well. But it still had three flats on it. I gotta figure it's always just what they have laying around. It was appropriate obviously to delete the TCS for this 3/4T.

I hear you on the Pertronix. I can say we've done it on the other three trucks in my sig and had no problems. But I am aware of the concerns. But I also sent my distributor to "the dude" to rebuild it and paid for the privilege....and then the points had to be replaced on the engine stand when it was run the first time. Also, I'll have limited appetite to service that points set up in this 4WD buried against the firewall with all these well finished surfaces.

Right now it's points, but I'm of two minds about it...because of my personal experience and maintenance concerns. Still probably TBD for this TBC.

[1970cstblazer]

That is strange for sure. Your theory is assuredly what happened. They ran out of the angled, and cobbled a straight one to "fit". Anything was possible then. I'm sure the factory workers never imagined that we would be discovering, discussing, and restoring these machines when they were cranking them out of Flint, St. Louis and Fremont almost 55 years ago.

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

I see why you love it. I love it too! I’m a sucker for blue.

This 1970 Dark Blue poly is THE best color on a 1967-72. I always loved the way my grandfather's 1970 K20 looked, even after it was old and beat up.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

That is strange for sure. Your theory is assuredly what happened. They ran out of the angled, and cobbled a straight one to "fit". Anything was possible then. I'm sure the factory workers never imagined that we would be discovering, discussing, and restoring these machines when they were cranking them out of Flint, St. Louis and Fremont almost 55 years ago.

I've lamented many times about how lucky the Corvette guys are that they've got better documentation on how those cars were put together. But over the course of time...I've come to appreciate how much fun I've had trying solve the mystery.

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

This 1970 Dark Blue poly is THE best color on a 1967-72. I always loved the way my grandfather's 1970 K20 looked, even after it was old and beat up.

I sure do like it and was kind of on a mission to find this truck. Glad my sweet wife let me pull the trigger when it popped up on Michigan Craigslist six years ago. Outside of the base 70 K20 on BaT a few months ago, I've not seen another 508 70 K20 for sale anywhere in the time since. Feel pretty to lucky to have it.

[Ol Blue K20]

Looking sharp! I love that blue..