C20 to K20 Conversion "Simply Toxic"

[JustToxic]

So, in Indiana (like other states) you can register a license plate that is from the same year as the manufacture date. Well, I was bored on eBay the other night and came across one that has my racing number on it and seemed to be in decent shape so I bought it. We'll have to seen when this old girl is done if they'll let me register it or not. Either way it'll be good wall art if they don't.

The other one is one I had custom made off a eBay seller. Figured it'll look good on the front or on the back at car shows if they don't let me register the vintage plate.

[JustToxic]

Last night we got the bed off the old frame and on to the new frame. We fashioned a lift brace out of 2x4's to so we could use the engine hoist to move the bed. Time to cut the old mounts off the other frame and fab them up to work with this frame. So the truck is sitting on a set of 29 1/2" tall tires on the back, with the bed on the frame, from the ground to the top of the bed it is 59" tall. For a size comparison I had my buddy stand next to the truck. The cab is sitting loose and ready to be transferred over to the new frame as well, but we lost steam last night so we called. Hopefully by the end of the weekend we have the cab and bed mocked into place and we can start figuring out mounting locations.

[rgunlock]

Looks like a good start on your project and a lot of work on that frame. What are your plans for mounts - isn't this frame considerably wider than the C20's?

[JustToxic]

Thanks. So you are correct, the frame is wide enough that the mounts on the cab will be on the inside of the frame. I'm planning on using the mount brackets off of the '67 frame, but I'm going to modify them to fit the new frame. If we measured correctly, cross your figures, the front cab mounts should fit just barely inside the frame and the rear cab mounts will be fully inside the frame. The core support lower section has to be rebuilt due to rust, so I'm just going to move those to fit as needed.

[JustToxic]

Well we got the cab moved over to the new frame last night. And I for sure measured incorrectly, the front cab mount is dead center of the frame and the rear cab mount is about an inch from center of frame. So I need to come up with a new solution to mounting the cab so I can still use the "Factory style" mounts from Energy Suspension. I stood by the cab truck for size comparison, I'm just under 6' tall. She's sitting at about the height that I planned on.

[JustToxic]

If anyone is interested in how we moved the cab to the new frame. Check out this video I posted on facebook. I'm not sure how to post a video to the site. https://www.facebook.com/nick.sanfor...eric&ref=notif

[JustToxic]

Finished fabrication on the seats last night. Just have to send them off to get reupholstered. The center seat started off as a one piece tube frame that was fixed. I wanted a arm rest in the truck, but the wife wants to be able to sit in the center. So, I decided to modify the center seat so it folds down. I got wrapped up in working on it so I forgot to take pictures throughout the process. I built the fold hinge system three times before I got it right. I built in a stop so it can't recline too far when in the up position.

[JustToxic]

Here's the completed trio of custom seat brackets.

[rgunlock]

Looks like that middle seat fab works real well. My wife demanded that I stick to a bench seat so she could sit in the middle. I got one of those combo console/cup holders that sit on the seat but she makes me remove it when she rides with me.

[JustToxic]

Thanks! Yeah, if it was up to the wife, I would have a bench seat. My step dad has one in his '71 and it drives me nuts when I drive it. I had this seat laying around, so really that's the only reason I did this, otherwise it would have been a center console.

[JustToxic]

Well, it's been awhile since I last updated this. Haven't been able to get out and work on the truck much, between taking vacation and yard work and such.

While waiting for more parts to show up for mine, mainly four link parts, I decided to do a LS swap on my step dads truck. 1971 C20 Camper Special California truck, only rust on the truck is from where a battery leaked and took out the battery box and fender liner. Truck has a GM crate 350 w/ TH350, roughly 230 hp. Upgrading it to a 6.0 LQ9 LS and a 4L80, after a few modifications to the engine we're looking at about 500 hp. For now, step dad is keeping the HO52 rear end, down the road we're going to put a 14 bolt in it. I'll post more pics on this as we go in the next few weeks.

[72 tigger]

Looks like a very nice truck- following along

[Azathoth]

Just looking at your pictures and some others from the web, it doesn't look like you moved the height of the front spring mount much if any, just lowered the rear. Could you have flipped your rear mount or done something to raise it closer to it's original position in relation to the front so you wouldn't get the big lift in the rear? Or maybe have gotten custom springs to keep the ride height in the back the same? I'm interested in doing something similar and would like to keep the IFS without a crazy lift.

[JustToxic]

I actually didn't touch the leaf spring mounts at all. The rear mounts are still riveted in place, the front spring mount has bolts in it but that is only due to connecting the frame back in the location. This is completely doable with being able to keep the IFS, I have enough room to raise the leaf spring mounts up on the frame so everything sits lower.

My main reason for not wanting to keep the IFS is I have a 2002 2500HD with a lift on it and I love the truck just hate the torsion bar set up. I like the way parallel 4-link handles and performs off-road and on-road.

In short tho, there are other guys doing this swap and keeping IFS, mine is a personal preference for getting rid of it. If your interested in doing this swap and wanting to know more info of what you'll need or anything else feel free to message me. Hope I didn't ramble on too long.

[Azathoth]

No, I don't think there's too much rambling when it comes to talking about suspension. My truck right now is a straight leaf spring set up (83SWB, not what I'll be converting) and I'm looking for a better ride and handling characteristics, so I'd like to try IFS. I have a long commute and it beats me up quite a bit. I know I'll never get a ride like my BMW, but I'd like something closer to an 80's Datsun at least. I have no experience with torsion bar suspension, so I'm learning. What about a 4 link in the rear?
I understand you didn't move the aft mount on the frame, but by taking all the rise out of the frame you lowered it's position relative to the fwd mount. You lowered the piece of frame it is mounted too.

[JustToxic]

If your using the truck mainly as a daily driver I'd just do a frame swap from a Avalanche or Tahoe, those frames are straighter then the trucks and you can find some with a factory air ride, so your end result would be a smoother ride overall. There are a few guys on here that have don't the swap, just look it up in the search. If mine was more of a daily driver I would have done that swap. 4 Link in the rear wouldn't be too bad, if you have air ride or a good coil over set up, there are a few companies out there making them.

[JustToxic]

Well in the last few weeks I came across some good finds. Picked up a set of OE West Coast Mirrors off of a '68 C30, besides some surface rust they are solid and almost ready to bolt on. Then this past weekend made a trip south and picked up a slightly used long bed bed floor.

[JustToxic]

Here's a picture of the bed floor I picked up from brandX over the weekend. It now has a coat of primer on it.

[JustToxic]

Well, while I'm waiting for the engine for my step dads truck to get back from the machine shop. I've been itching to get back to mine as I have parts stacking up for it now.

Don't hate me but this 4-Runner came into work the other day (I'm a Parts Manager at a Toyota Dealership) and I'm thinking I've fallen in love with this blue, It looks great with Satin Black and Red. I'm pretty sure this will be the color of the truck once the bodywork is complete.

[JustToxic]

Well, I'm finally back on this thing. Got the step dads LS swap out of the garage after it being there way too long. On to building the cab mounts for this girl, after doing enough math to make my head smoke, took the cab off the frame and started fabbing up the mounts. Looks like the rear mount falls to just the inside of the frame rail, and the front cab mount falls dead center of the frame rail. On the rear I'm going to build a small pocket that will accept the mount, give enough room for the Energy Suspension poly mounts. On the front I'm going to be notching the frame and adding some reinforcements so I don't loose any strength. I'll make sure I keep track with pictures to show the process.

[El Dorado Jim]

sub'd

[72 tigger]

Making progress. How bad is the cab?

[JustToxic]

It's not too bad, most of the stuff that needs replaced, there are new available. There are only a few pieces that I'm going to have to make. Like the top of the door jam, is rusted out on the driver side. And the top of the windshield area has a few pin holes from the seam leaking. After I get done with the body mounts on the frame I'm going to test fit the cab and move on to metal work on it.

[JustToxic]

Spent some time last week and got the body mounts started. Still have to clean up some of the top holes with the de-burr bit. I'm going to do a little more filler welding to the front mounts, so I can grind the welds down and make it look smooth. Going to do the same on the frame seam right there to. I like having the smooth frame look, even if it means more welding and grinding. Hopefully finish up the rear mount supports this week, time permitting.

[JustToxic]

Got the rear mounts burned in right before I ran out of welding gas. Started the grinding process to smooth everything over. While doing so the handle on the grinder came loose and swung around and got me.