Newbie, Buying my first. 72 GMC K20

[AJC]

In 1990 gm started calling the 700r4 a 4l60. In 1993 the 4l60e came out.

[bigdog55]

Originally Posted by Joseph2001

Correct me if i'm wrong. There was the 4l60 and the 4l60e, E for electronic.

yes that is correct

[Joseph2001]

That's what I had thought. I had a Suburban with a 4l60e, overdrive went a little over 260,000 thousand, my dad drove it home in 3rd. And it was a yard vehicle/Ornament. Until I sold it to help buy my 72

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by AJC

In 1990 gm started calling the 700r4 a 4l60. In 1993 the 4l60e came out.

I knew it was 93-94 ish couldn't remember for sure. Thanks for the clarification.

[BILT4ME]

Cut out a section from a 2WD frame and replace that section in yours.

Just today, we got my son's 1970 GMC K2500 (Also a cab and Chassis like yours) licensed. He drove it for the first time two days ago.

We had to rebuild the front and rear axles (the rear axle had the spider gears blown out and the PO welded the center pin in.), we had the transmission and transfer case rebuits (SM465 4 speed and NP205) and we installed new brake drums and new brake shoes.

We also bought a NEW crate engine (195 hp) from Radley Chevrolet rather than rebuild the 350 that came in it. The bearings in ours were worn out.

Congratulations! This is an exciting thing! You will change your mind many times throughout the course of your build. It is worth exploring your options. Our truck lived a very hard life of towing construction trailers and pushing snow plows, and being a repair truck with a flatbed. The roof and rear of the cab are covered in weld spatter.

The PO welded on a 4" S40 pipe rear bumper and kept adding steel to it to reinforce it. I am guessing about 300# worth of bumper on it.

You've got a great truck to start with there, and yes, it will be a lot of work. Take your time, be patient, and do things in this order:

Make it run
Make it stop
Make it safe
Make it go
Make it reliable
Make it pretty
Make it Fun

I did a body swap way back when and installed a 69 body on a 1960 K10 frame. That was a lot of work, and I was VERY happy my Dad could weld and help with that part. I did everything else. I drove that truck for 16 years and put over 300K miles on it. It started out with a 235 6 cylinder, and ended with a 350 border 0.060 over, ported, polished, and balanced and with a 180 degree dual plane intake and a Holley 650 CFM double pumper, pushing about 375 HP. With a 4 speed, it rocked and rolled and would pull anything I could get hold of.

You can do a swap, but some of the new will not be as heavy as the old. You have access to the Web and can gather more information that I EVER had available. I was still limited by money, so I cleaned out old bearings, repacked and reinstalled as long as they weren't chipped or burned. I did things on a shoe string because I had to. Later after college, I had some money and that's when things got fun!

Congrats again on a great find! Don't lose your interest, but accept that sometimes your mind may get changed for you based on circumstances.

[Joseph2001]

Hey everyone. Between work and now school (Cramming Junior and Senior years together) I still haven't had much time for the old girl. Am saving up for a parts truck or frame, any ideas on what would be the easiest route if I can't find a 67-72 frame, I figure 73-87 would be the next guess.

[Moose Monkey]

How is everything going, Joseph?

[Joseph2001]

Originally Posted by Moose Monkey

How is everything going, Joseph?

Doing well, working slowly but getting it. Decided not to worry about the frame so much for now, when the right donor comes along I'll grab it. Right now my goal is the motor, After a discussion with my Dad we've decided we'll pull the motor and freshen and clean it up some. We also decided the best way to go about that is too pull the front clip. So any tips on pulling the clip as a whole?

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by Joseph2001

Doing well, working slowly but getting it. Decided not to worry about the frame so much for now, when the right donor comes along I'll grab it. Right now my goal is the motor, After a discussion with my Dad we've decided we'll pull the motor and freshen and clean it up some. We also decided the best way to go about that is too pull the front clip. So any tips on pulling the clip as a whole?

Hey Joseph, just read through your thread and it's awesome you and your dad are fixing up an old chevy. Reminds me of my first truck and fixing it up with my old man. Looks like you're more then motivated to get dirty and turn some wrenches.

As far as pulling the engine you can do it a few different ways. Depending on how much parts you have the time and want to take off and reinstall. Another factor is a lot of the hardware (bolts, nuts, j-nuts, screws) in these old trucks can be rusted and a pain to break loose. PB blaster and wd-40 can help a lot in disassembly. Sometimes you'll run into a bolt that wont bugde and you may need a torch to heat up the nut. The least amount of disassembly and reassembly is if you have access to a cherry picker you can pull the motor with the clip on by only removing the hood then the standard engine pulling procedures of removing radiator, fan, heater & radiator hoses, throttle linkage, oil pressure gauge line, fuel line, power steering lines, temp gauge wiring, vaccum tubing. Ive done it this way a couple times now a will load some pics when i get nack in town next week. Take lots of pictures before and during and bag & label parts to help when you go to put them back on, making tape and sharpie hoses, tubing and lines (there isn't no such thing as roo much labeling). If you go this route when you go to pull the hood take some masking tape and mark with tape around your hood where it meets the hinge so it will help re aligning when you put it back on.

If you go about pulling the clip as whole you need to pull the wiper arms, cowl cover to access the top fender bolts. There is 1 bolt under each inner fender that has a big washer that holds the inner fenders to the cab (you'll want to have the front end jacked up on stands and front wheels removed). On the drivers side inner fender the e-brake cable clamp that will need removed. Remove the wiring bulk head connector at the firewall a 3/8" head bolt holds it down. Remove the two radiator support mounts bolts (these can be a bear) Eat yer wheaties because it's pretty heavy.

Hope this helps you out and keep up the good work. It's cool to see a young guy with a passion for these old rigs

[Joseph2001]

Curtb1971, Thank you. These have been my Favorite trucks since as long as I remember. And when the chance to buy one came along I couldn't resist. Wd-40 and PB Blaster are being stocked up on, I've been labeling and bagging everything I pull, I'm a freak when it comes to Organizing. I've had quite a decent amount of Mechanic experience, but not as much as I would like. My favorite memory is being 11 down in the engine bay of a 66 c10. My 2nd favorite is being 13 helping pull a 4.3 v6 and swapping it for a 350.

[Joseph2001]

Hey y'all. I've been doing some work when I'm not in school, pics soon! Since my Dad and I figured to focus on the engine for now, My dad decided to teach me how to rebuild the top end. I've pulled the Heads and Exhaust Manifolds to be cleaned up and painted black. Picking up a head complete gasket Kit from Advance (I prefer Fel Pro so they are what I'm getting). While waiting on that I've dropped the front bumper and am getting prepared to pull the front clip.

I have a question or two. Why do the front tires have to be off and the truck on Jack stands when the front clip comes off?
Is there a trick to pulling the windshield wipers to remove the cowl or should I just get the tool?

[Joseph2001]

Also, I have realized I'm all over the place on this. And will try to keep a little more organized when I explain what I'm doing.

The only reason I've pulled the heads and intake right away is because my Dad,Older Brother and I will be lifting the block by hand to pull it, and wanted to loose some weight. Pulling the clip will make easier also and that's why we're going the route we are. I planned to be on a concrete pad with a cherry picker but those plans fell through and I'm working with a dirt barn floor. I'm keeping my head up and staying excited about the truck though, plans and things can keep getting in the way but I will have my Truck!

[Curtb1971]

Originally Posted by Joseph2001

I have a question or two. Why do the front tires have to be off and the truck on Jack stands when the front clip comes off?
Is there a trick to pulling the windshield wipers to remove the cowl or should I just get the tool?

I mentioned the jack stands and removing the tires because you wouldn't nred to lift the clip as high for the inner fenders to clear the tires. You can keep the truck on the ground and tires on just gotta eat more wheaties that morning but it looks as you guys have your fair share of lifting to do. As far as removing the wiper arms the tool will make this job very easy but.. you can take a flat screwdriver use it to pry the clip up but make sure you put a rag between it a the cowl to not scratch it up bad (I had to resort to this option before) PB blaster will come in handy here too as these buggers can be stuck on good. Don't pry just one spot, take your time going around the wiper and don't get frustrated. Hope some other guys can chime in here on removing the wiper arms as well. Man, really wish I was closer and could help you guys out.

[Curtb1971]

Since you guys will be doing this on the dirt (been there before too) grab some big cardboard boxes where you can and use them to lay on under the truck. Anything between you and the dirt makes life a little easier

[Joseph2001]

Curtb1971, Thank you sir. I've helped pull engines before, just never on Dirt and without a cherry picker, we got our work cut out for us. I figure the motor weighs around 250-300 lbs without the top end, so it shouldn't be to bad with three of us.

As far as dirt goes I've been using extra plywood to lay on. Hopefully by this time next year we will have layed a concrete pad and built a garage

[Moose Monkey]

Joseph, glad you are enjoying and learning. Cherry pickers work on plywood too been there in mud. You could use tri pod( 3 heavy pipes bolted together and come a long just pull whole motor up and push truck back. That's if you do not have to pull front clip. For any other reason than getting motor out

[midniteblues]

If your gonna pull the motor in a k series and leave the transfer in do yourself a favor and lift the motor enough to get the engine crossmember out.

When i installed my 400 sbc in my k20 i decided to leave the 465 in. I had a grand old time trying to get the engine off the input shaft with the c- member in place. and when it was going back in getting the bell seated on the trans no matter how I tilted the trans.
With the c- member out the motor slipped in and out easily.


Good luck and looking forward too seeing your progress.

[Joseph2001]

My Dad was just talking about building a tri pod. I was discussing with him adding some supports to the barn roof and lifting it out with a come along or pulley system. We'll figure it out as we go.

[Joseph2001]

Hey ya'll, I figured it was time for an update. I have gotten a barn cleared to stash her out of the way while I continue to work on her. Also preparing to build supports in said barn to pull the block, gunna lift her out using the barn rafters and a chain hoist, we figured it was the easiest and safest route. Still on the look out for a frame, still thinking the 73-87 route will be the way to go. Pics soon.

[Moose Monkey]

Glan to hear you are doing well.

[Joseph2001]

Well, the project may come to complete stop for a while, or permanently. My Dad and I are probably moving to Florida. And I most likely won't be able to take the truck. I'm getting ready to start a thread seeing how much I can get for parting it out if I can't take her.
But on the bright my Uncle in Florida has a '66 I may pick up once we settle in.

[bigdog55]

It would be a shame to sell it but on the other hand the '60 to '66 trucks are cool trucks. My grandfather had a '64 that he bought new. I got the bug for a truck from him and that truck. You can have a cool truck with a history and make some wonderful memories to go with it.

[Big Block]

Just sent you a private message. Thanks

[Joseph2001]

Still not sure of the plan. Will figure out sooner or later

[Joseph2001]

Well good news, I'm not selling the truck. She may have to sit here in VA while we get set up in Fl, if we go. Been doing some work to the old girl in the mean time. Gotten the front clip pulled and ready to be cleaned up. Still trying to decide what to do about a frame. Would have pics but I lost my previous phone and had to get a new one