My new K20

[undertaker72]

tom , that is a very nice truck , I like the color, these trucks are as easy as working on lawnmowers , welcome to the k20 scene very nice

[undertaker72]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

Hi Pete,

I am going to do some research on that. My thought was the red dials were for the Ford's. It would be very nice if the red dials were a 1970 only deal with limited use

I do love the style of the original Spicer hubs and if I had to choose between red Spicers or Warn, I would go with the red dials. In my experience from growing up in Mich, the Spicer factory hubs worked just fine as long as you kept them maintained.

Have a good holiday,
Tom

tom , here is a few pics of what pete stated this truck is a early 71 and has plain red no ford , no spicer , I have noticed them on a few , don't know if it was a replacement type deal or what but they had them and in pic of hubs you can see the spacing on arrow etc even with the nos ones its different , still a nice truck talk to you later kevin

[DeadheadNM]

Nice collection Kevin!

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by undertaker72

tom , here is a few pics of what pete stated this truck is a early 71 and has plain red no ford , no spicer , I have noticed them on a few , don't know if it was a replacement type deal or what but they had them and in pic of hubs you can see the spacing on arrow etc even with the nos ones its different , still a nice truck talk to you later kevin

Thank you Kevin,

I appreciate you taking the time to post the photos. I am really looking forward to getting this truck in shape the way I want it. I think red dials would be cool even if they may not be correct. There are a number of people here that I trust that say the red's were in fact factory on 70's.

I agree with Pete that you do have a nice collection there

Take care,
Tom

[doo142]

I have a set of reds on my 69 K20. Glad to here they may be stock! No spicer just plain . I'll get a pic

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by doo142

I have a set of reds on my 69 K20. Glad to here they may be stock! No spicer just plain . I'll get a pic

Interesting. What is the production date on your 69? I am now hearing that they were on some other than 1970. It would be nice to go back in time to an assembly line for our trucks and see what went on as far as changes like hub dial colors and why.

Looking forward to seeing your photos.

Tom

[doo142]

My reds do not have an "emblem", 9/69 build

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by doo142

My reds do not have an "emblem", 9/69 build

That is the same production date as my truck. It is odd that there is nothing in the spot where the emblem would go.

Take care,
Tom

[TBONE1964]

Well I had some time on this beautiful day in Oregon to do a little more work under the hood on the K20. I removed the heat stove which to my surprise is actually in very good condition but what I found under the stove tells a story. Can you say "lean condition"? I have not pulled plugs yet to see what the look like. This may have also been a result of a restricted exhaust in the past or a lean mixture on the carb. The funny thing is, the leak was at the heat riser gasket on the pass side.

I do have a source for a replacement. I thought this would be a good reminder to you guys to keep an eye on your plugs and under hood temps. You never know and with the heat stove in place, I had no idea.

Have a good weekend,
Tom

[Vintage Windmills]

Wow Tom! That is the worst I've ever seen

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by doo142

My reds do not have an "emblem", 9/69 build

They used to, just popped out at some point

[TBONE1964]

A little treatment on the headlight bezels and I agree with Keith 110 percent. It was a nice change and an easy one and made a huge difference in the appearance.

Take care,
Tom

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Wow Tom! That is the worst I've ever seen

You cannot see it in the photo that well but the bump in the middle of the manifold has got to be at least 1 inch high. I cannot say that I have ever in my nearly 50 yrs seen one this bad myself.

Take care,
Tom

[tommys72]

Bezels look way better Tom. Nice change brother! It's such a nice truck!

[7dee2]

Truck is looking great Tom. Ditto on the manifold, I've never seen one do that bad wow!

[skrenly]

Wow,
Nice K20 Thomas.
Where did Tom have that one hiding?

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Truck is looking great Tom. Ditto on the manifold, I've never seen one do that bad wow!

Thank you Brett,

I am working on it and looking forward to getting the engine compartment in compliance with the purist or maybe not that carried away. It should look good when done and then onto the next item, which I have not figured out yet.

How is your project going?

Take care,
Tom

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by skrenly

Wow,
Nice K20 Thomas.
Where did Tom have that one hiding?

Thank you Steve,

He did not have it long. I had to sell my 72 Cheyenne (c10) to buy this. There were a lot of interested people in buying it and I am glad I had an opportunity. It is a nice truck and is a good base to make real nice.

Take care,
Tom

[Tdrcreyn4]

Tom,

What a great truck. It's awesome to see such an original survivor. Real gem.

Todd
Posted via Mobile Device

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Tdrcreyn4

Tom,

What a great truck. It's awesome to see such an original survivor. Real gem.

Todd
Posted via Mobile Device

Thank you Todd, I appreciate the kind words. You are doing a nice job on your K20 as well.

Take care,
Tom

[TBONE1964]

Well, I was going to wait on this (teaser photo) but I can't help myself. Very excited to now have a set of Spicer hubs for the K20. I want to thank Pete (DeadheadNM) for helping me get set up with a nice pair of hubs and dials. I also want to thank Tom (tll74), for helping me get some of the other needed parts for the truck and make sure I do this somewhat correct.

I am in progress of getting the hubs cleaned up and new lube and assembled to be installed on the truck. I just ordered all new allen head bolts which will make a huge difference in the overall appearance.

I am also getting some more things done on the engine side. I bought all of the gaskets I needed and got the intake and water pump painted. I have the air cleaner housing and lid bead blasted and primed ready for paint as well as all of the brackets and pulleys. Looking forward to getting this back together. I decided not to post photos until there is a huge night and day change under the hood.

I will absolutely be posting photos when the hubs are installed so stay tuned...

Have a good weekend,
Tom

[tommys72]

Nice!

[doo142]

Very nice!!

[DeadheadNM]

Nice Tom! Thanks for pic.

[TBONE1964]

Here are some more teaser photos since I simply cannot wait to post progress. It is coming along nice and I have most all of the parts collected to finish up the engine, at least for now.

The engine is very very clean under the covers and I am happy about that. It was/is a target replacement engine but I don't know how long ago it was installed. The hardest part is trying to do this detail work with the engine still in the truck and not paint things that are not suppose to be painted. Trying to make it appear that it was pulled but I have no good easy way to pull it here.

I have ordered tower clamps and think I may have a line on a correct upper radiator tube. I am also going to get a nice replacement for the fuel pump to carb line or make my own from a factory pattern.

Thinking ahead, I am also wanting to put a small cap HEI or a converted Pertronix unit in with ta factory style external coil with correct bracket. I will also route a new set of black 7 mm plug wires up to the distributor and put the correct ends on depending on cap style. Any one with suggestions on a nice small cap reliable ign system? I know the late model HEI's are in expensive and reliable but I want more of a factory look.

Hoping to have this buttoned up and back on the road in a couple of weeks but am not rushing it. Still have a lot of small details to sort out. I also have new carpet from Trim Parts coming next week with a chrome t case handle and some nice reproduction shifter knobs from MIDUNES.

Waiting on new bolts for the Spicers and then they can go on. Photos to follow.

Hope all of the Mothers out there are having a nice Mothers day

Take care,
Tom