Project 1966 K20 adventure rig

[raylube]

Appreciate the info
Great truck you have there

[72cs20]

Update. Got the engine pretty much buttoned up. I left the distributor out in order to pre-lube. Got the overdrive attached and then dropped the whole thing in.

Things are moving now.

[raylube]

Interesting overdrive. I always thought they went after the trans. Does that put your shifter in the seat?

[72cs20]

Originally Posted by raylube

Interesting overdrive. I always thought they went after the trans. Does that put your shifter in the seat?

Not quite. The trans shifter will come up 7.5 inches behind the factory location. Still within the hump cover.

[RDrancher]

Good info on this build. I'm in.

[raylube]

Thank you for answering my questions. I like what your doing and there's not to many of the 60 to 66 4wd drive info or builds. Are you going to use any type of bump stops? Is that capt fabs brake master plate? What master cyl ,booster , prop valve are you using?

[72cs20]

Originally Posted by raylube

Thank you for answering my questions. I like what your doing and there's not to many of the 60 to 66 4wd drive info or builds. Are you going to use any type of bump stops? Is that capt fabs brake master plate? What master cyl ,booster , prop valve are you using?

No problem, thanks for following.

I'll be doing new bump stops after the truck is loaded and sitting at it's final ride height.

Yes, that is Captfab's brake booster w/hydraulic clutch bracket.

The brake booster is an 11 inch unit for a 95 Chevy pickup. Master cylinder is one for a mid seventies Chevy pickup and the prop valve is after market from Right Stuff specialties.

Progress update for today is the installation of the sm465 transmission. I put this thing in by myself and it was a real wrestling match. I highly recommend a helper for this job. It bolts to the back of the overdrive just like it would to the bellhousing.


Then I did some shifter mockup just to get idea of how they would look. The tranny shifter is one that can be shortened and bent as needed. Also, this sm465 trans is a very late model version with very short throw, which is nice.

[raylube]

I hear you about the wrestling match when I removed sm420 on my 63 2wd it would fall off the jack. Going back in i used my cherry picker thru the top it was super easy but I didnt have to fight the added length of the od unit.i would not bend the trans shifter until you add the transfer case shifter. By the way what are going to do there as far as I know the divorced t221 are all on the drivers side.

[72cs20]

There is no more T-221. I'm using a married NP-205 with a twin stick cable shifter setup.

[69CST4x4SWB]

Nice project... I'll be doin a ride along!

[67swb72klb]

This is going to be a great truck

[jdl71]

Looks great. I guess the tbi block was drilled and tapped already for the clutch pivot?

[72cs20]

Originally Posted by jdl71

Looks great. I guess the tbi block was drilled and tapped already for the clutch pivot?

Thanks. This engine is a pre-87 basic build 350 with a cam that gives better torque than normal and a carburated intake. I'll be using an adapter to mate the throttle body to the intake.

But interestingly, this engine has the threaded holes for the earlier and later style clutch pivot locations. I won't be using either as I am going hydraulic this time.

[69CST4x4SWB]

Originally Posted by 72cs20

No problem, thanks for following.

I'll be doing new bump stops after the truck is loaded and sitting at it's final ride height.

Yes, that is Captfab's brake booster w/hydraulic clutch bracket.

The brake booster is an 11 inch unit for a 95 Chevy pickup. Master cylinder is one for a mid seventies Chevy pickup and the prop valve is after market from Right Stuff specialties.

Progress update for today is the installation of the sm465 transmission. I put this thing in by myself and it was a real wrestling match. I highly recommend a helper for this job. It bolts to the back of the overdrive just like it would to the bellhousing.
Attachment 1943634

Then I did some shifter mockup just to get idea of how they would look. The tranny shifter is one that can be shortened and bent as needed. Also, this sm465 trans is a very late model version with very short throw, which is nice.
Attachment 1943635
Attachment 1943636
Attachment 1943637

Looks like a nice fit!

[72cs20]

Quick update today.

Got the t-case to trans adapter and the main cross-member fitted up this week. There is also a secondary cross-member that mounts to the rear of this one which then a t-case skid plate bolts on between the two. This cross-member set-up came out of a 74 K10.



The NP-205 got a coat of paint also while waiting for the twin stick shifter kit to arrive. Part of the shifter kit involves changing out the shift rails in order to realize all of the functions of twin sticks. The rails arrive next week.

[72cs20]

With the holidays, travelling and other things out of the way, it's time to get things going again on the Adventure Rig!

First off is the transfer-case with the shifter cables installed. Final shifter location in the cab still to be figured out.
Also got the clutch slave cylinder in using a setup for a Toyota Landcruiser with a Chevy small block swap.

More soon!

[raylube]

Looking good.

[72cs20]

Thanks Ray.

Lots done lately. Exhaust manifolds, starter, spark plugs gapped and installed. Spun the oil pump for a sustained oil pressure of 60 psi. Set engine at tdc and installed the distributor.

Also did a test fit of the new radiator. The old one is a brass & copper three core and the new one is aluminum with two large tubes. But the overall size of the new one is like a 4 core, so it didn't fit the three core lower saddles. In my stash I had two 4 core lower saddles, so I changed them out. It pays off to prowl the swap meets. I also had to move the passenger side inward a 1/2 inch to clear the water outlet.

[350TacoZilla]

Good to see you back on it, love this build.

[jdl71]

Nice, missed seeing your posts.

[ElReeso]

Very nice Project!

[duallyjams]

great work

[72cs20]

Thank you all and thanks for following along.

The inside of the cab is getting all the attention now. There are a few rust spots at the driver side kick panel, passenger floor and the rockers. Also have a crack coming off of the passenger side kick panel vent that will need to be stitched up. Nothing too serious that require large sections to be replaced. I'll make some sheet metal patches for the affected areas, a good rust converter and paint. The goal here is to achieve an arrested state of decay.

I'm having problems uploading photos normally but here are a few -

[raylube]

Originally Posted by 72cs20

The springs and shackles are stock type replacements. I got the shackle kits from LMC. They only list full shackle kits for the 60-63's, but I bought them anyway to see if they would work. They fit fine but with two differences. The shackles are an inch longer than the ones that came off. And they come with nylock nuts.

I ordered front shackles from LMC and there seems to be a lot of play between the bushing and threaded pin. Was that the case with yours or does the grease take up the slack ?

[72cs20]

Yeah, there was a little bit of movement. Nothing excessive though. The machining on these pins and bushings were never very close. Thanks for reminding me to grease them!