Budget Build 1985 K20

[JJH Jimmy]

I been working on this thing whenever I get time in hopes that I will be driving it next summer. We’ll see!

Got the axles and springs off the frame then blasted and painted. One of the leafs in the rear spring pack was cracked so I had a local spring shop make me a new leaf. I swear this thing was jumped a time or two in its life!

[JJH Jimmy]

Next up was the front axle and frame. I was hoping to just clean up the front axle since the previous owner already put new ball joints in it but when I was using my engine hoist to get it in stands it had oil pouring out the axle tube. Crap! New axle seals are in order along with seals bearings brakes and new ball joints I guess.

I also had to weld new shock mounts on the front axle. Did I mention I think this thing might have been used a a Fall Guy truck?

I also farmed out the blasting of the frame. Best $200 I ever spent. This was only the second thing that I have farmed out on this build. The first was the tranny rebuild.

[JJH Jimmy]

Now let’s get some epoxy on this stuff!

I also cobbled together a frame rotisserie. It worked great.

I think I now have most of everything painted! Time for the fun part assembly. But first I think I will clean my shop floor!

[OutlawDrifter]

Looking good man!

[youngrodder]

Man you are cranking. Great progress.
Keep it up the white stuff is coming....

Marc

[Willowrun]

Very nice work!

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Looking good man!

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Man you are cranking. Great progress.
Keep it up the white stuff is coming....

Marc

Originally Posted by Willowrun

Very nice work!

Thanks guys!

[JJH Jimmy]

Made some progress on assembly this weekend.

[JJH Jimmy]

Shocks on, engine stands on, sway bar on, brake lines done and back on 4 tires. I also pulled the crate motor out that I bought earlier in the summer. I was planning on going with the GM 350/357 but they upped the price by $1200 so I settled on a Blueprint 355 that has about 400 HP and 420 ft/lb of torque. This is a budget build after all!

[OutlawDrifter]

That Blueprint setup should do the job!

Rolling chassis looks good ��

[evan]

There's not much better than seeing a clean chassis get assembled.

[legendman]

Coming along nice !! Frame came out sweet.

[youngrodder]

We have a rollin chassis. That is one of those milestones on a frame off build. Looks great.

Marc

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

That Blueprint setup should do the job!

Rolling chassis looks good ��

Thank you!

Originally Posted by evan

There's not much better than seeing a clean chassis get assembled.

I agree.

Originally Posted by legendman

Coming along nice !! Frame came out sweet.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by youngrodder

We have a rollin chassis. That is one of those milestones on a frame off build. Looks great.

Marc

It sure is. It feels good to be putting stuff together instead of taking stuff apart.

[JJH Jimmy]

Drive line is in. Time to build the exhaust. My favorite part.

[LT7A]

Clean work, that chassis looks great! I really like the sheen on that paint. What did you use?

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Clean work, that chassis looks great! I really like the sheen on that paint. What did you use?

Thank you! It is SPI black epoxy.

[JJH Jimmy]

I got some exhaust pipe tacked up. I just need to build some hangers and pull it out to do the final welding.

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice, looks clean!

[JJH Jimmy]

Getting some welding done tonight.

[Willowrun]

It's clear now that you were serious when you said the exhaust is your favorite part and not being sarcastic. It looks great. Do you mind sharing any of your secrets on building an exhaust like that? Do you start with some sort of kit?
Full disclosure I'll probably never put together another exhaust as it's not one of my favorite things to do but still interested in how you do it.

[OutlawDrifter]

Nice welds!

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

It's clear now that you were serious when you said the exhaust is your favorite part and not being sarcastic. It looks great. Do you mind sharing any of your secrets on building an exhaust like that? Do you start with some sort of kit?
Full disclosure I'll probably never put together another exhaust as it's not one of my favorite things to do but still interested in how you do it.

No kit. Just some tube and a box of elbows. There is no real secret other than an angle finder and some masking tape. I like to cut the tube and tape it to the elbows for mock up. Then I when I have things like I want them I mark them with a sharpie and take them to the bench to tack them. I will then put them back on and continue with the next piece of tube and fitting until I have a section done to weld.

I like to try to make both sides as symmetrical as I can get them and brush and clean the welds when I am done. I see a lot of guys leave the blue on weld when they are done welding but I just prefer it clean and shiny.

[JJH Jimmy]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Nice welds!

Thanks! The older I get the harder it is to see welding! It was way easier when I was young. I have upgraded my hood to a 2.0 cheater and the shade is on 9! Haha!

[JJH Jimmy]

Exhaust is all welded up and installed as far as I am going to take it until I get the bed bolted back on. When the bed goes back on I will finish the exit pieces.

I also installed an ep381 fuel pump on a 87 sender for the fuel injection going on……..if it ever shows up!