1972 K-20, The Green Truck Project

[Daubs]

Finally starting a build thread for my K-20...it has been a long time coming.

I have owned this truck since 2005, purchased when we lived in Missouri. Moved to Nebraska later that year. This truck sat in my driveway, then was moved to storage where it sat until March of this year (2019).

It's a "mutt" -- rolling frame from a 3/4 ton 4x4, body from a C-20 "Camper Special." Previous owner said he built it and did some rust work and paint in early 1990's.

A few pics from 2005 when I brought it home...

[Daubs]

Engine running a little rough, so decided to pull and see what was up. Crack in the cylinder wall, so opted to get a GM crate engine and swap it out...

I believe the engine swap was 2006...







All painted up and ready for install...

[Daubs]

Not much done on the truck since the engine swap. It got driven here and there, used to haul stuff to the dump, or for supply runs to Menards, Lowes, etc.

Space was a little tight at the house, so the K-20 was moved to outdoor storage in 2009, the same year I divorced the now former Mrs. Daubs.

Sadly the master cylinder shot-craps shortly there after, so the Green Truck sat idle for years...

Last summer the new Mrs. Daubs, (version 2.0) and I moved to an acreage with this!

[DWilbur]

Nice shop to work on your truck. Nice truck to start with. Mine was rust bucket.

[Daubs]

Thanks DWilbur.

Shop has been a work in progress. No power down there, so I run my Dad's old heavy-duty extension cords to run tools, then installed lights. Built walls and a workbench, and will start mezzanine this weekend.

It filled up fast...

Wired the whole shop...set up for 125 AMP service, have outlets for welder and compressor ready to go. Buddy works for electrical supply...he's getting me 250 feet of wire soon.

[Daubs]

Had a bit of a scare with the Green Truck this spring.

My storage place is in small town run by good-ol-boy who doesn't use computer, or mailings...he just calls when my rent is due. I moved to the new acreage last summer, and pulled my boat out of storage in March. It was the weekend, so his weekend crew was there...couple of old crusty guys...they really loved my old Green Truck and offered to buy it. I said no.

Gave them my updated phone and address from the move, and paid up on the truck's stall / rent. Figured the owner would call when I needed to send more $$$.

Days got away from me, and in July thought I had better drive down there and make payment. In on a Saturday and the weekend crew was there. When I said was there to make payment on the Green Truck they said, "Wow, we were about to sieze your truck. We have sent three certified letters and tried calling you...nothing."

I gently reminded them of my visit in March, picking up a boat, and giving them new address and phone...they didn't remember...

So I called and got the truck out of there within the hour.

It's been sitting in my driveway since...waiting for the shop and mezzanine.

[Daubs]

First order of business is to get it running again. It has probably been 5 years. Then master cylinder fixed.

I am going to try and weld in new door bottoms and lower skins and go from there.

Mechanically it's pretty solid truck.

Previous owner patched in replacement rockers, but did a half-assed job...and rust kept creeping. It is going to need new rockers, cab corners, cab supports and part of floor. All four wheel wells are rusting from inside out. Door bottoms are shot.

I have my work cut out for me.

[Daubs]

Hit Menards, loaded up on supplies, then built 2/3rds of my mezzanine in the shop.

Lots of floor space opened up. I'll move the boat outdoors, then work to get the Green Truck running and moved down to the shop.

[Daubs]

Dad and Brother came over on Sunday, and we got the stairs built to the mezzanine. Okay, total disclosure here: Dad did all the planning, calculating and measuring...Brother and I were just the labor.

Dad's a wizard at this...retired carpenter of 40+ years.

I love the way they turned out. Now to get more stuff off the floor...move boat out, and get the Green Truck in there.

[El Dorado Jim]

nice truck, cant wait to see more progress

[Daubs]

Had some time to work on the Green Truck in early November. Changed oil and filter, new plugs. It cranked, and cranked and cranked...but no fuel getting to the carburetor. Pulled the carb...it was locked up. New carb ordered, as well as new fuel pump. Haven't had opportunity to work on it more. Also ordered new master cylinder.

Yesterday brother and I managed to tow it around back of the house (out of the driveway), down to the shop.

Little hairy going down the hill...put the transmission in first gear and used the clutch to slow down when needed.

Should have some time after the master bathroom remodel...and hunting season : )

[Daubs]

The Green Truck sat behind the house since previous post...

Wife decided to have some fun with it...

"Hubby has this project truck that he finally got out of the driveway...Annnnd now its in the middle if the back yard. Not behind or beside the shop, but right in our main backyard view... Well, I decided to make lemonade ..in December.#itsallokinthecountry#Embracethebeautyineverysituation"


Had Christmas lights on it...(I installed a timer so they weren't on all night...)

[Daubs]

Yesterday the weather here in Nebraska was in the 40's, so I finished installing new fuel pump and carb.

It turned over and built oil pressure, but no fuel getting to the carb. Posted a thread here and someone suggested by-passing the tank and running line from fuel pump to auxiliary gas can.

It worked! Had to crank for a while to fill the carb, but it ran well right out of the box. I was stoked! Huge hurdle cleared.

Got it pulled in to the shop. Now I can start disassembly and really start working on it.

Probably start on the doors, then work on master cylinder / brakes.

[Daubs]

Made good progress...got the shop organized, then dug in.

Took out the seat...and broke 7 of the 8 bolts...so minor detour as I drilled out and re-tapped...

Started disassembling the passenger door...was dreading it, but it was actually easier than I thought. Gotta love YouTube videos!

Pulled the gas tank sending unit. Pleasant surprise, inside of the tank is rust free. Nothing clogged...found the reason why not getting fuel to the engine...previous owner had set up a multi-gas-tank valve with lots of lines running under the truck. Must be a leak in there somewhere. I'm going to remove all the extra lines and run one line from tank to the engine. Should solve the problem.

Pulled the floor mat and surveyed the rot / rust / damage. It's not as bad as I remembered. Will definitely need inner-outer rockers, cab corners, portions of floor. And door bottoms and lower door skins. Front cab mounts are shot, but rear mounts are not that bad.

Next steps...continue door disassembly...order a few patch panels...more practice welding.

[Daubs]

A few picture updates...

[rgunlock]

Shop space looks nice. Glad to see you are starting work on the truck!

[Daubs]

Huge craigslist find today: I picked up the following:

- good drivers 8' bed side (solid, just a few rust holes on inside)
- 72 chrome front bumper
- bed lower rear section (for a wood bed truck)
- two floor patch panels
- bucket full of upper and lower trim

He restored a 72 SWB and a 71 LWB...had these parts sitting in his garage for 7 years and just wanted them gone! Great guy! Said call if I ever have questions.

Awesomeness!

[DWilbur]

Score on them parts

[Daubs]

Spent most of Saturday getting the welder set up and practicing. Sunday was more fitment, and finally some welding.

I've owned this welder for 5+ years, but this the first time I've had it set up in the new shop. Messed up my order on patch panels, but that turned out to be a blessing...as I had plenty of metal to practice on.

My neighbor is pretty handy and gave me some pointers. Still, my welding skill suck!

Didn't like the door bottom curves, so decided to shorten that patch and fabricate my own metal for two areas needing attention.

What I learned along the way:

• Had welder set up in doorway of shop, mainly to get good light. Realize now the breeze/wind was likely messing up my shielding gas.
• Had some blow-throughs...need to remember to clean the back side of the area to be welded (if I can reach it). Rust contamination not good for welds.
• 4.5" angle grinders are my friend! I have three plugged in to the extension reel -- one with flap disk, one with cutting wheel, last with paint/rust remover. Great to have them all at hand, plugged in, no changing wheels.
• Air compressor set up with small grinding disk for detail work
• Patch panels are true 18ga. metal...very sturdy. Fitment isn't always great, but in general I've been pleased.

A few pictures from the weekend...

[Daubs]

Finished up the small patches tonight. Did final fit for the bottom and lower skin. Looks pretty good.

Done for tonight.

[57taskforce]

Nice work. That’s an awesome shop you’ve got there! I’m in to see this one come together.

[Daubs]

Few weeks ago pulled fender, cut out rust, and welded in some patches. A few spots were pretty thin and rusty on the back side. Managed to get it all welded up. My welding skills definitely need to get better. Progress.

Had some POR15 left over from a previous project (didn't go well). Figured I would give the inside of the fender a shot with POR and see how it holds up. No risk. Wire brushed loose stuff, and applied a coat. Turned out pretty good. Time will tell.

I've been procrastinating on the door. Didn't like how it was all fitting together, and worried that body lines wouldn't match.

Last night I cut out the old and started welding in the new piece. Going to get the door back on the truck tonight and confirm the body lines will match up.

[Daubs]

Quick update: No real progress on the Green Truck. Reason, fishing got in the way. Pulled the boat out of storage last summer...started fishing...and then the Daughters and wife got me a new fish-finder for Christmas. So my time has been spent working on the boat.

A few pictures...

Picked up the boat, motor and trailer in 2000 for $600. Added casting platform, seats and trolling motor that summer (Pic #1). Boat is 1960 Rich Line, motor is 1074 Mercury 20HP 2-stroke. Works well.

Pic #2 is the tear down...was originally going to install new fish-finder...then it turned in to much, much more. Pulled transom wood (original), and replaced with marine grade plywood that is epoxy coated. Added all the framing from aluminum, ran wires, created storage, etc. Plan to carpet this winter.

Pic #3 is the original transom wood, and the replacement.

Pic #4 is the how it fishes today.

[Daubs]

Whelp, it's been an interesting and strange ride since my last post on this thread in 2021. Finished walls in the shop and have been doing projects around the house with the Mrs. We renovated the basement, finished off some renovations on the main level. Upper level still needs work.

I really got in to fishing after boat upgrades in fall of 2021. Lots of weekends spent on the water. Last summer (2023) started looking at upgrading boats. Wanted something that could handle bigger water, and be comfortable enough for the Mrs. to join me. Went from a 1960 Rich Line to a 2021 Lund Adventure.

I even spent more time on the water chasing fish this spring and summer.

Now that winter is fast approaching, felt it was time again to shift focus and concentrate on the old K-20.

Found some good facebook pages dedicated to 67-72 Chevy/ GMC trucks, and started looking, researching, thinking, and planning. I'm going to keep the Lund in the main garage...and fully dedicate the shop to the Green Truck.

Through the years I have gone back and forth with this project. It's never going to be a show truck...I prefer a very nice "driver." Looking back at pictures from the initial purchase, I can see where rust has creeped in, and slowly taken over.

I am in a better place financially, and have some funds to dedicate...so been looking at pulling the bed, cab, and doing what would amount to a frame off restoration. So excited...it keeps me up at night!

Spent the last few weekends cleaning up the shop, organizing and getting things cleared out (like three rolls of carpet that were sitting under the truck...took them to my Sister's cabin where she will use).

Found a local guy who keeps 67-72 reproduction parts on hand...he's just 20 minutes away and has everything from new door shells, to bed sides, patch panels, etc. Even found a few OEM doors locally...but after closer look at my existing door, I think the lines are good and it will work.

Ordered a bed lift that works with my engine hoist off Amazon. Plan to build a bed-dolly and get that bed pulled.

I'm really excited!

Bonus points: Wife's youngest son just finished his 2 year auto-mechanic certificate at local community college. He's working as a tech at local dealership and is really in to cars and trucks. He keeps asking when we are going to work on the Green Truck!

More to come...