1972 Chevy K20 Extended Cab Cummins Build

[1972_K20]

So we got both of the posts where the door hinges fasten cut off of the white truck and we are beginning to mock them up for the back doors with the shortened rocker. the plan is to weld the normal front rocker and inner rocker to the cab and floor pan so it is straight and strong so we can work around the back of the cab without messing with anything.

[1972_K20]

Well after a lot of thought the build has now turned into a crew cab, I found a very clean suburban shell in Arizona to contribute to the build. we could spend a large amount of time in making both rear doors open from scratch. this way there will be more room in the rear and I don't have to figure out how to make the windows go down, which is one of the main reasons. all of the suburban conversions I have seen previously were lowered and had ugly wheels on them. I then discovered randy 500s crew cab and it is one of the best looking trucks I have seen so it is now my inspiration for the build.

[Getter-Done]

Sounds like a good plan.
Randy's truck is Cool.
You have any pics of the Suburban shell?









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[cornerstone]

Originally Posted by 1972_K20

I then discovered randy 500s crew cab and it is one of the best looking trucks I have seen so it is now my inspiration for the build.

Excellent decision. Not only is it one of the best built and most beautiful crew cabs, he is very helpful and informative.

[1972_K20]

Here are some pics of the burb loaded up for shipping, also three rust free fenders and a door. it feels like starting over but in reality we will be a lot further ahead considering that three doors already work and now just need to make one. also instead of all new rockers they just need patched in a few places. the only rust is on the upper windshield lip but that can be fixed.

[71blksuper4x4]

Nice! Welcome to the dark side!

[1972_K20]

We got the 4th door pillar in place with screws and are working on the latch for the front door

[Getter-Done]

I like the plan you have.
It's looking good.
Each of us have our own idea of how it needs to be.


Are you using most of the original stuff on the front of the 4 th door pillar?
If you are I like your plan.

Great progress.








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[1972_K20]

So we are toying around with the idea of making this a "double cab" truck just like on the new Chevy trucks and using the window frame form the front. this will make the back seat a lot more usable and will help break up the lines on the back of the cab since it is a lot longer than I had originally anticipated. I attached a photo of a truck I have seen on the forum we took inspiration from to create the shape.

[71blksuper4x4]

Looking better! You thought of using a suburban door? Or maybe tape the front side of the window to mimic it be rounded off at the top? Trevor

[1972_K20]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

Looking better! You thought of using a suburban door? Or maybe tape the front side of the window to mimic it be rounded off at the top? Trevor

I thought about using a suburban but I don't like the way they look at the window corners and the doors always look too long when they do it. also I have seen some where they round both top corners of the window and for some reason they just do not look like it should.

[Getter-Done]

I like your change of plans.
I kinda figure that from a few pictures ago.
I did not know if you would do it.
It will look good.









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[72 tigger]

Looks good

[randy500]

Thank you all for the compliments on my truck,

I just stumbled on this build, the title was intriguing. There are only a couple extended cabs that look good and you were well on your way there.
If your not there yet get on Trevors facebook crew cab group, tons of great ideas, pics, and information.

In my build i dont fully explain how i built the drivers side B pillar. Its super quick and easy. Basically i dissect it and chop it into about 5 straight pieces where the piller changes overall shape, then flip them 180 degrees counter clockwise and re weld them together.
B pillar in less than a day.
I will post a picture of my pillar with approx cut line marks and try for a better explanation of the process. Been meaning to do it a while now.

[1972_K20]

Originally Posted by randy500

Thank you all for the compliments on my truck,

I just stumbled on this build, the title was intriguing. There are only a couple extended cabs that look good and you were well on your way there.
If your not there yet get on Trevors facebook crew cab group, tons of great ideas, pics, and information.

In my build i dont fully explain how i built the drivers side B pillar. Its super quick and easy. Basically i dissect it and chop it into about 5 straight pieces where the piller changes overall shape, then flip them 180 degrees counter clockwise and re weld them together.
B pillar in less than a day.
I will post a picture of my pillar with approx cut line marks and try for a better explanation of the process. Been meaning to do it a while now.

Yeah that was one of the things I was considering, I wanted it to look good but it was just too long to look good, if I made it any shorter then there would be no room in the back. at the end of the day the crew cab is what I want and its more practical, I plan on daily driving it and never selling it so it needs to be what I want. also do you plan to paint your truck or are you going to leave it mismatched.

[1972_K20]

Well we got the suburban home and inside to dry off, I don't think I have ever seen a vehicle with this little amount of rust but I guess that's what you get when you live in the rustbelt. all of the doors open/close and all the windows go up and down but I need to put the wing vents in the front. I now see the difference in the roofline on the trucks and the suburbans so I will have to figure out what to do there

[1972_K20]

So we finally began working on the 4th door pillar, after getting a piece of 18 gauge steel bent to almost perfectly the correct main shape we cut out the 4th door panel in one piece so we can use it. next step is getting the pillar welded in and to begin adding all of the little "features" into it to match the passenger side.

[1972_K20]

Before we start cutting we are getting all the door gaps correct so when we make the 4th door and cut the back off the doors need to be correct. the front drivers suburban door had some rust and the window frame was jacked like someone put a 2x4 in the door and slammed it so we are going to use a clean truck door and put the suburban window frame in it.

[ShortbedClayton]

Your making super fast progress on your post. Looking factory to me. I love seeing how different peoples approach to making this pillar are. Keep up the good work. Took me about two weeks to make my post... hours of welding ahead of ya..
Posted via Mobile Device

[1972_K20]

Originally Posted by ShortbedClayton

Your making super fast progress on your post. Looking factory to me. I love seeing how different peoples approach to making this pillar are. Keep up the good work. Took me about two weeks to make my post... hours of welding ahead of ya..
Posted via Mobile Device

yeah its getting really close to being able to be welded, the latch mechanism will fit and work in the current state but to make it the same as the other side I need to sink the pocket into the post another 1/8th.

[1972_K20]

Got the rear of the pillar tacked in place and the latch pocket moved back where it needs to be.

[1972_K20]

Got the bump out on the pillar tacked on today, feels good when stuff fits like its supposed too.

[1972_K20]

today we got the pillar welded in and the temporary latch for the drivers door made and installed so it all works, tomorrow the plan is to get the suburban cut off and the back of the truck cab put on

[locrwln]

Amazing work.

Jack

[1972_K20]

got the rear cab tacked to the suburban, we made an 8 inch long inner support manel to tie the two together and even with a few welds seems very strong, the mock window pillar is also welded in until we use a full other pillar to weld into the door like the original, the two line up real well. mucking up the cab corner to make sure everything fits an then lock down the drivers side so we can make that door. also I buffed out the original Ochre door that will contribute to the fourth door to look at it in person. I was set on blue but I have always liked the yellow and I think that is the direction I will go, with the white top and no trim.