Budget Build 1985 K20

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Looking great Josh. I did something similar for headlights on the Suburban but mine were obviously round glass housings.

Marc

Thanks Marc! Got the dimmer switch swapped out and now I have 3 working headlights. One of the led bulbs has a bad wire in the pig tail. If you wiggle it just right it will come on. Amazon is sending me another set. It never fails when I try to save a nickel! So, not real confident in these starting off.

[JJH Jimmy]

I had to service my At4 today so I had to get the K20 out of the shop so I decided to do a couple shake down runs up and down the drive way! A lucky buck bucket works perfect for a seat by the way. I found a leak on the fuel pressure transmitter and the speedometer bounces real bad. I knew the speedometer bounced before I tore this thing apart but I thought it was the cable so i got a new one.

I fixed the leak and then tore the gauge cluster back out and replaced the speedometer with another one I had laying around. Did another test run down the driveway and all good now. So I ended the day in the exact same spot as I started.

[youngrodder]

successful mini shake down. If the bucket tipped over while driving, it might have been more eventful...Ha ha. It is always nice to find these leaks prior to.

Looking good.

Marc

[JJH Jimmy]

I worked on the interior today. I had to notch the cardboard tool tray for the 6x9 speakers but I think it turned out ok. Thanks again TKCR for the seat and seat belts. They look great!

[TKCR]

Looks great
And your welcome!

[SunSoaked]

Originally Posted by JJH Jimmy

I had to service my At4 today so I had to get the K20 out of the shop so I decided to do a couple shake down runs up and down the drive way! A lucky buck bucket works perfect for a seat by the way. I found a leak on the fuel pressure transmitter and the speedometer bounces real bad. I knew the speedometer bounced before I tore this thing apart but I thought it was the cable so i got a new one.

I fixed the leak and then tore the gauge cluster back out and replaced the speedometer with another one I had laying around. Did another test run down the driveway and all good now. So I ended the day in the exact same spot as I started.

AT4? I have an 85 k20 and a 21 AT4 and I'm looking at moving to Michigan in the very near future. So many questions.

[youngrodder]

That interior is looking great Josh. You going to hit up the Friday Night cruise or Saturday showing in Vicksburg this coming weekend?

Marc

[OutlawDrifter]

Definitely looking good!

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Looks great
And your welcome!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by SunSoaked

AT4? I have an 85 k20 and a 21 AT4 and I'm looking at moving to Michigan in the very near future. So many questions.

Ask away!

Originally Posted by youngrodder

That interior is looking great Josh. You going to hit up the Friday Night cruise or Saturday showing in Vicksburg this coming weekend?

Marc

Thanks Marc! Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make it to Vicksburg this year. we got a birthday party and graduation party to go to. Some people just can plan their parties very well.

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Definitely looking good!

Thanks!

[JJH Jimmy]

Time for a lesson in windshield installation! I bought a precision gasket with chrome locking strip from GMC Paul’s and the windshield from a local glass shop. The gasket went in fairly easy and I got the windshield inserted in the gasket with little trouble.

Now for the fun part the lock strip. The one that came from GMC Paul’s went in Fairly easy but the coating covering the chrome is really soft and I ended up nicking it in several spots using the lock strip install tool. So what the heck, I’ll get a new one from summit and do it again.

The summit lock strip showed up today so it was time for another fight. Now the summit strip is a precision with the exact same part number as the GMC Paul’s but it is stiffer and has black backing instead of clear backing and the coating over the chrome is harder and more durable. It was a real pain in the ass to get it in but it I think it will hold up better in the long run.

Can anyone tell me why Precision has 2 different lock strips with the same part number? It doesn’t really matter because I won the fight this time!

[OutlawDrifter]

Different supplier run or that "SP" designation might be the rub here?

[LT7A]

Just guessing here, but I have read that precision actively tries to improve the fit of their products. They may be getting the locking strip produced by someone else after having similar complaints on the one you started with. My guess on that is that summit might move them more quickly and have the improved version while GMC Paul's may have been sitting on the shelf for a while. All just guesses, but I appreciate the input since that's something I need to do soon.

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Different supplier run or that "SP" designation might be the rub here?

The summit strip had “SP” as well it just got torn off when I opened the package.

Originally Posted by LT7A

Just guessing here, but I have read that precision actively tries to improve the fit of their products. They may be getting the locking strip produced by someone else after having similar complaints on the one you started with. My guess on that is that summit might move them more quickly and have the improved version while GMC Paul's may have been sitting on the shelf for a while. All just guesses, but I appreciate the input since that's something I need to do soon.

Definitely a possibility. Do yourself a favor and get the lock strip install tool. I got a Lisle one on Amazon for like 12 bucks and it worked good. I used the ball hook tool on the rear glass lock strip and it worked ok but I would have never gotten the lock strip in the front windshield doing it that way.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by JJH Jimmy

The summit strip had “SP” as well it just got torn off when I opened the package.



Definitely a possibility. Do yourself a favor and get the lock strip install tool. I got a Lisle one on Amazon for like 12 bucks and it worked good. I used the ball hook tool on the rear glass lock strip and it worked ok but I would have never gotten the lock strip in the front windshield doing it that way.

Good to know, thanks. I'm tempted to wing it on stuff like that sometimes.

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Good to know, thanks. I'm tempted to wing it on stuff like that sometimes.

Another thing…..use soap and water for lube. In the Precision video on YouTube the guys use foaming glass cleaner but I didn’t find it very effective. For one it foams so you can’t see what you are doing and another it dries quick and doesn’t provide much lube.

[JJH Jimmy]

I got the rear cab trim on. I decided to use 3M 1/4” wide double sided tape on the back panel because I didn’t want to drill a bunch of screw holes in the back of the cab.

[JJH Jimmy]

I also got the doors on. I aligned and doweled them prior to doing the body work and paint and was nervous that they were going to be a pain to put back on but I was able to put them on myself pretty easily.

The interior is pretty much done other than door assembly. I am still waiting for the door panels, kick panels and visors from USA1. It’s looking like the old panels will be used to get this thing on the road.

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this one.

[Willowrun]

So now that you are getting close to the finish line on your budget build what are your plans for it? Is is a keeper? Street cruiser? Dune cruiser?

I ask, because your workmanship, attention to detail, and the quality of this build far exceeds most high dollar, frame off, nut and bolt, etc. restorations. So while I think you went into this with a "budget" mentality, your need to have things done the right way won over and now you have a very nice, desirable, and valuable truck.

So once you're done, what is your plan for it?

[youngrodder]

Looks great Josh. Good call on the 3M tape. Same stuff that holds the door trim on my Denali pick up. If the car manufactures use it you know it will hold up.

Your getting close. I need to shoot over there soon to check it out.

BTW my friend enjoyed the spot you left him at the Vicksburg car show.

Marc

[LT7A]

Is the early 50s something truck your next one? Looks cool as it sits now. This one is very close to being done. Glad you're going to put in the old the door panels, etc. while you wait for the replacements so that you can get out and drive it. Perfect time to enjoy that truck. Thanks for the tip on soapy water vs. foaming glass cleaner. I will be taking my time on the installation of the windshield and so having something that doesn't evaporate away quickly will help.

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

So now that you are getting close to the finish line on your budget build what are your plans for it? Is is a keeper? Street cruiser? Dune cruiser?

I ask, because your workmanship, attention to detail, and the quality of this build far exceeds most high dollar, frame off, nut and bolt, etc. restorations. So while I think you went into this with a "budget" mentality, your need to have things done the right way won over and now you have a very nice, desirable, and valuable truck.

So once you're done, what is your plan for it?

Wow! Thanks for the compliments! The name of this build is kind of a joke at this point. It may be a budget build for some but not for me. Like any of my projects they snow ball into doing way more than originally anticipated. I have also learned that when you have sunk this much time and money into something i don't want to have any regrets when it is done. As the old saying goes "buy once cry once". I think it is a keeper unless somebody offers me something insane for it. I plan on driving the wheels off it and using it as a truck to get lumber at the yard to hauling my tractor to my hunting property.

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Looks great Josh. Good call on the 3M tape. Same stuff that holds the door trim on my Denali pick up. If the car manufactures use it you know it will hold up.

Your getting close. I need to shoot over there soon to check it out.

BTW my friend enjoyed the spot you left him at the Vicksburg car show.

Marc

Thanks Marc! I wish i could have stayed longer at Vicksburg but am glad i got at least a couple hours at the show. Stop by any time.

Originally Posted by LT7A

Is the early 50s something truck your next one? Looks cool as it sits now. This one is very close to being done. Glad you're going to put in the old the door panels, etc. while you wait for the replacements so that you can get out and drive it. Perfect time to enjoy that truck. Thanks for the tip on soapy water vs. foaming glass cleaner. I will be taking my time on the installation of the windshield and so having something that doesn't evaporate away quickly will help.

Yea, the 51 is my next project. I have owned it since i was 15. The plan is a patina build with bags and LS engine. But it is going to have to wait a little while. My wife has a list of home improvement projects that's piling up.

[JJH Jimmy]

Getting closer. Chasing some small gremlins at the moment. The biggest one is the retro sound radio will get real bad RFI at times on FM but Bluetooth works fine? Shut it off and then turn it back on and it is good for a while. I swapped out the alternator with a junk yard one I had laying around and no change. I am thinking that there is something wrong with the radio.

I am trying to get this thing done by the end of the month and drive it to the squarebody farm show in Indiana. Not sure I am going to make it!

[OutlawDrifter]

Definitely looking good!

[rodstored-72]

JJH JIMMY,
very nice & clean! I like it alot... nice job!!

[youngrodder]

It looks great Josh. if you need a hand to get you over the hump to make that show in Indiana, just give me a shout. It will provide me a break from bathing in transmission fluid.

Marc