K20 suburbans

[ericjon262]

Monday, this happened.



the "B" pillar is bent, along with damage to both doors, the rocker panel, and the interior panels and glass.

the day it happened I got online and began looking for another K20 suburban similarly equipped, and I can't find one anywhere.

is a K20 suburban "rare"? it's the only one around like it in northwest Florida I can say that pretty confidently, or at least the only one on the road.

the truck is an '86 model, with a 350 (vin M), turbo 400, 14 bolt rear, 10 bolt front, silverado package, and the weirdest part about the truck, is the stock true dual exhaust. do any of you guys have anything like this?

[lindstromjd]

&*&^*#&@&*@!%$!!!!!! A**holes!! Why must they ruin our old trucks!?!? I had something similar happen to my old IH Scout.

K20 suburban would be interesting to see. There aren't any old squares at Butlers? I didn't look the last time I was there. I'm assuming if you were handy with a welder you could cut out the ruined B pillar and get a "new" one from a junkyard truck, assuming they'd let you bring in a sawzall to get it out.

Oh, and howdy from another NWFL resident.

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by lindstromjd

&*&^*#&@&*@!%$!!!!!! A**holes!! Why must they ruin our old trucks!?!? I had something similar happen to my old IH Scout.

K20 suburban would be interesting to see. There aren't any old squares at Butlers? I didn't look the last time I was there. I'm assuming if you were handy with a welder you could cut out the ruined B pillar and get a "new" one from a junkyard truck, assuming they'd let you bring in a sawzall to get it out.

Oh, and howdy from another NWFL resident.

Small world huh?

well, I haven't been to butlers in a while, and we're still waiting to see what the insurance company says. if they don't total it, then we'll just get it fixed, but I have a feeling they want it to die.

it's the only K20 'burban I have EVER seen in person I see C20's all over, but never K20s.

if the insurance company totals it, we may try to buy it back and turn my dad's 68 C10 into a K20.

Were there more K20 suburbans around before Cash for "clunkers" killed all of our trucks?

[lindstromjd]

I assume there were lots more. I know I've seen a few 1/2 ton 'burbans myself, but never the 3/4. I've also seen plenty of perfectly good cars in the junkyard just because people wanted to "upgrade". Then the junkyard runs liquid glass through the engines so they can't ever be used again. THAT one pissed me off when I saw an engine I wanted and then found out it was siezed from them doing that.

I'm actually heading out to Butler's tomorrow to see if I can find a starter for my 6.2 diesel. I don't wanna pay 250 for a new one. That, and I can't afford it anyway. Why is it that bringing one of these old trucks back to life is NEVER as cheap as you thought it would be when you started?

[y5mgisi]

K20 just means its a 3/4 ton 4x4. The C20 is a 3/4ton 2x4. So (until the late late 80's when they switched to V2500's) all the 3/4 ton 4x4 suburbans are "k20's".

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by lindstromjd

I assume there were lots more. I know I've seen a few 1/2 ton 'burbans myself, but never the 3/4. I've also seen plenty of perfectly good cars in the junkyard just because people wanted to "upgrade". Then the junkyard runs liquid glass through the engines so they can't ever be used again. THAT one pissed me off when I saw an engine I wanted and then found out it was siezed from them doing that.

I'm actually heading out to Butler's tomorrow to see if I can find a starter for my 6.2 diesel. I don't wanna pay 250 for a new one. That, and I can't afford it anyway. Why is it that bringing one of these old trucks back to life is NEVER as cheap as you thought it would be when you started?

well that's just it, this one didn't need to be brought back, it was live and kick'n the only major repair we've ever done to it was a trans rebuild, and we probably wouldn't have had to if the PO had put a trans cooler on it before pulling his boat. everything else has been little stuff like water pumps and ignition modules.

[lindstromjd]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

K20 just means its a 3/4 ton 4x4. The C20 is a 3/4ton 2x4. So (until the late late 80's when they switched to V2500's) all the 3/4 ton 4x4 suburbans are "k20's".

Yeah, I understand the difference. But he's right, there are almost NO old trucks around here still driving around. I only know of a handful myself. And if there are others, then they're most likely all C models, not K's. Just not much demand for 4x4's here, even with new trucks.

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by y5mgisi

K20 just means its a 3/4 ton 4x4. The C20 is a 3/4ton 2x4. So (until the late late 80's when they switched to V2500's) all the 3/4 ton 4x4 suburbans are "k20's".

I know, but I never see them anywhere. I've only seen my dad's K20 SUBURBAN in person, and a couple of pics here and there online. hell, this board only has 5 threads in the suburban and blazer sub-forum with the name "K20" in them. all the rest of the 3/4 ton SUBURBANS are 4x2, C20's not K20s.

[lindstromjd]

Originally Posted by ericjon262

well that's just it, this one didn't need to be brought back, it was live and kick'n the only major repair we've ever done to it was a trans rebuild, and we probably wouldn't have had to if the PO had put a trans cooler on it before pulling his boat. everything else has been little stuff like water pumps and ignition modules.

Well, I happen to be one of the lucky few with a Gentleman Jim. I had to do an engine swap on it, and chose a 6.2 (I'm kind of a diesel nut). This thing is driving me crazy, because it just keeps coming up with stuff it needs and it's not cheap. Even tires are something I just can't afford right now, at 100 a piece. And the starter... ugh.

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by lindstromjd

Well, I happen to be one of the lucky few with a Gentleman Jim. I had to do an engine swap on it, and chose a 6.2 (I'm kind of a diesel nut). This thing is driving me crazy, because it just keeps coming up with stuff it needs and it's not cheap. Even tires are something I just can't afford right now, at 100 a piece. And the starter... ugh.

I feel your pain.

That suburban was the one reliable vehicle in the "fleet", and it may be gone soon

[lindstromjd]

It's a damned shame. If I were you, I'd definitely try to buy it back from the insurance company if you get the chance to. Maybe get a parts one and swap bodies? There was one on CL around here for something of 600 I think. The 68 'burb would look pretty cool as a K20 too, though.

I know what you mean about the "fleet" too. Of the 9 vehicles I have, my only reliably driveable one is a 78 corvette right now. Try paying for gas with THAT thing, driving 30-40 miles a day. Yeah, it gets fun. I need to get something else done already. Sigh.

[ericjon262]

I wish the 68 was a 'burban, but it's C10 stepside. I've still got my R30, but it's a ***** on gas. it's gotten a little better as I get the tune dailed in, but a 454 TH400 can only do so much.

[lindstromjd]

Lol. My vette has a 350 with a TH350, and I'm lucky to get 9mpg's with it, and that's driving it "nice". Driving it like it's supposed to be driven I get about 6-7. My truck even got better than that with the same set up. I blame the carb on the vette though. Stupid Rochester 800 CFM carb. I just need to get my truck done, cuz that 6.2 should pull around 22 mpg's if I do everything right on it. Big IF though...

[Keith Seymore]

It's a regional thing. We don't sell a ton of 4x4s in the southern states.

But - if you come north, there are 4 wheelers everywhere.

K

[lindstromjd]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

It's a regional thing. We don't sell a ton of 4x4s in the southern states.

But - if you come north, there are 4 wheelers everywhere.

K

I know. I'm originally from Iowa. You'd have to be crazy to drive a 2 wheel drive truck up there, even with sandbags in the winter.

[Davidmichael]

There are always some on our CL here, I paid big money for mine, but it's all original, and got minimal rust (2 spots). There's another one I want to buy for a trail rig, but don't got the extra cash. The only problem we have here, is people think they got gold when they are trying to sell these trucks. They want an arm and leg for them.

You should just pull the rocker, and the pillar. Put a new door on it, and forget about it.

My brother-in-law lives in Navarre, and when I was down there, I never seen any squares running around. He said there are some, but they are all really just used for trails and such. nothing really on the road.

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by Davidmichael

There are always some on our CL here, I paid big money for mine, but it's all original, and got minimal rust (2 spots). There's another one I want to buy for a trail rig, but don't got the extra cash. The only problem we have here, is people think they got gold when they are trying to sell these trucks. They want an arm and leg for them.

You should just pull the rocker, and the pillar. Put a new door on it, and forget about it.

My brother-in-law lives in Navarre, and when I was down there, I never seen any squares running around. He said there are some, but they are all really just used for trails and such. nothing really on the road.

do you mean 4x4 3/4 ton suburbans or just 4x4? I've looked all over ebay and CL, and haven't found much, I think there was a diesel on EBay but thats about it.

[lindstromjd]

What about this one just for parts?

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/2052451816.html

[cheepin]

Come out here.They are all over still.I paid $1500 for my '87 with 58k on it.

[Davidmichael]

There are some 4x4 subs that are 1500's but a 3/4 for a good price is hard to find.

[Davidmichael]

Here's what we have Just look at the price and quality:

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2017734467.html

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/2046101121.html

ummm yeah

[Davidmichael]

Could always buy this and swap over the parts to make it a 3/4 ton.

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/1978319491.html

Or buy this one. does not look the best but it's got 1 ton running gear

http://pensacola.craigslist.org/cto/2053118513.html

[crashedout]

theres one on a car lot here, looks to be a mid 80s blue and silver.

[68Timber]

Hate to see the damage to a good truck. But I'm wondering why you are looking for a K20 truck for replacement parts. If the damage is body-only you should be able to fix it with any square Suburban parts. I must have missed something I didn't catch on the thread re-read.

[sixshooter798]

I feel your pain! A drunk hit me back in 2004. Here are the results: