Curt's '72 K20 Resto-mod

[68 Four on the Floor]

Looks really good. I like the two tone trucks alot myself. Only seen a handful of yellow/whites.

[allchevy58]

Looking real nice! If you find the wheels stick out too far, Wheel Vintiques makes 16" wheels 6",7",8" and 10" widths. I believe they will custom make them with a different offset. The factor hubcaps fit perfect. The 16" tires are cheaper and a better selection. Can't wait to see it done. Thanks for sharing.

[Curt's_72]

Originally Posted by allchevy58

Looking real nice! If you find the wheels stick out too far, Wheel Vintiques makes 16" wheels 6",7",8" and 10" widths. I believe they will custom make them with a different offset. The factor hubcaps fit perfect. The 16" tires are cheaper and a better selection. Can't wait to see it done. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks!
Been following your threads on the 16x8 wheels you had made. They look great!

A little background. When I bought the truck it had 33x12.50's on it. I thought they looked too big for the stock height, and they were on chrome spokes. White steelies were always going to be on it. I got a set with the truck, and I bought 31x10.50's to better fit the wheelwells.

When the resto started, I had in mind to put the 9.75's on it with 33x12.50's since I was going up 2 1/2". After awhile, I ended up with 3 sets of them.

Now, I don't think I'll be going with the bigger tires. I want a heavy duty stock look, and the wheel/tire ratio to the wheelwells appears to give me the look I want...For now.

I don't think the 31x10.50's will fit properly on the 9.75" wheels. I've not found any positive responses concerning that.

[Curt's_72]

We got the 2 1/2" blocks put on the rear differential. Man, what a job.
My Craftsman air compressor and impact wouldn't even phase the u-bolt nuts. Got ahold of a beast 3/4" drive Rockwell electric impact. After soaking with WD-40 the Rockwell worked. It weighs a ton, too.
Once we broke everything loose, it went together pretty easy. No modifying like the front springs.


After I took this picture, I realized how much touching up I needed to do as far as paint and detail the exhaust pipes. I never thought about them while the bed was off.
It's the little things that make a difference to me. I want it to look as nice underneath as it does on top. Better to do this stuff now.

[Curt's_72]

Polished the lockouts before I put them back on. They were a little pitted, but not too bad.
I couldn't save the gaskets and none were available locally. So, as most of us do, I made a set. But not before I learned that I had to buy a whole roll of gasket material from NAPA.
I was able to score a small piece for this job from a buddy.
I bought new chrome allen bolts for the assembly. I thought they would look better.
They came out pretty nice, I thought.

[Curt's_72]

I installed one on the many optional items I've been collecting for some time. The U08 dual horns. I even got the correct harness with it.


I hope they work! I've not put the battery in yet.

[Curt's_72]

With the engine bay cleaned up, figured it would be time to install the master cylinder and booster.
I had the brackets blasted and powdercoated black. I'm sure they're supposed to be plated, but they were already painted when I got the truck. I didn't have a problem with them black.
I bought the Eastwood Gold Cad spray paint. It came out pretty good, and I used the Brake Grey for the cylinder.

[Curt's_72]

Got the brakes bled, both front and rear. When I detailed the booster and master cylinder, I disassembled the proportioning valve and attempted to rebuild it. As you know, nothing is available for it. It worked before, so after the reassembly, I hope it still does.
After the brakes, we we able to put the back wheels and tires on.



It's starting to really look like a truck again!

[68 Four on the Floor]

Lookin Good!

[mjensen]

That really is turning out nice! Great job.

[freakshow108]

Oh yeah baby! She is looking sweet, I'm not too far behind you with my K20. Good luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[allchevy58]

Looking real good, like the matching shock boots too.

[Curt's_72]

Originally Posted by allchevy58

Looking real good, like the matching shock boots too.

Thanks for the confirmation on the boots. The new shocks had red ones to begin with, and I knew I was going to change that to yellow.
But, once I got them installed, I didn't know if I really liked the look.
Something about how they have bunched up. We'll go with it, though.

[Curt's_72]

The white dashpad went in this weekend. It fit pretty good. It's a little darker than the door panels.
I used SEM Super White paint on the defrost vents. They match the door panels very well. Just a tick off the daskpad, though.

[Curt's_72]

Back bumper, gravel guards and spare tire are all in place. Done from the cab back, now.

[survivingalone]

any updates? what year hubcaps fit those factory wheels 67-72?

[Curt's_72]

Originally Posted by survivingalone

any updates? what year hubcaps fit those factory wheels 67-72?

Just posted the first updates from this last weekend.
The wheels have the outer nubs to accept the factory hubcaps. '69 thru '72 have the blue bowtie. '69 I think was the first year for these hubcaps. Earlier ones had a different mounting style.

[yfs200p]

Truck is lookin great. It's gotta be a nice feeling being done with the back half. I like those side markers. Do they have a red bulb behind them or just using them as a reflector?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Curt's_72]

Originally Posted by yfs200p

Truck is lookin great. It's gotta be a nice feeling being done with the back half. I like those side markers. Do they have a red bulb behind them or just using them as a reflector?
Posted via Mobile Device

Thanks! Red and amber bulbs in the clear lenses. The guy at NAPA tried to tell me that red marker bulbs don't exist. "How many do ya want?" was the response at Autozone.
There's a thread currently about these lenses being illegal. I like the look, though. I'd really like to find the fireman's hat cab lenses in clear.

[mjensen]

I love it! That is looking really nice!

[Curt's_72]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

Oh yeah baby! She is looking sweet, I'm not too far behind you with my K20. Good luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by 68 Four on the Floor

Lookin Good!

Originally Posted by mjensen

I love it! That is looking really nice!

Thanks for kind words and viewing. The responses keep me posting.

[Curt's_72]

Another set of 16.5x8.25's followed me home from the powdercoaters yesterday. They turned out as nice as the 9.75's last month.
Keeping my options open on the final wheel/tire/stance that I'm looking for.


After that, a buddy called with a deal that I didn't want to turn down.
Along with the truck, I love to restor stuff. Old bikes, gas pumps, 3 wheelers, whatever.


Well, I ended up with a 1974 TY80, that needs me.


And, it's the right color combo!

[Curt's_72]

Lots of progress this weekend.

While the steering column was out, I decided that body color would be better looking than the normal black for a tilt column.
So, we started disassembling it. Man, what a job! My buddy Alan and I kept wonder out loud how this was gonna go back together.

Anyway, after blasting and a trip to and from the body shop, it's now Velocity yellow.

As you guys that have put these together have experienced, it quite the task. It took about 3 hours, and 4 times of disassembly, but we got it installed. Coated parts with Lubriplate, and kept our hands as clean as we could. Our website has been a huge asset locating breakdown drawing and other information.









I think it was totally worth the effort. The General should have panted these columns to begin with.

[mjensen]

Yeah, that looks real nice! You should have this rig on the road in no time!

[jaros44sr]

Man, that thing came out perfect, thanks for sharing the pics., enjoyed the build...

Tried to see how you bolted up your twin horns, but couldnt see them as it was to dark. Any chance you could help me out with the mounting locations for the hi and low note horns

I agree, the tilt column was a total pita. I like the body color on the tilt, works well