What’s happening out there...

[57taskforce]

I’ve noticed the traffic over here has been markedly slower the last few weeks. What have you guys been doing to your K trucks??? Anyone get some cool truck stuff with the extra stimulus cash floating around???

I put a new bumper on my K20 a week or two back. Looks quite a bit more complete now.

Before and after

[special-K]

Someone needs to bring their cattle prod over here. I'm on a slump with my '72. It's ridiculous. I have been concentrating on the house and buildings in the big picture, but I really need to make time really soon to get up under that truck and get that broken starter bolt out. I have such a mental block going with it. I think about laying up under there, can't see squat, drill squeezed up between things, drilling up, neck hurtin'... I talk myself out of it. I should have pulled the motor, put it on a stand, rolled it over, and extracted that thing last summer. It would be done and I could re-gasket the engine/put front seal in TH350. That's what I really want to do, but that takes too much away from progress on the house. So it's just get that broken bolt out so I can at least start it and drive it!

It's that old story, spread too thin. My hopes are to get house primed for selling. I'm either buying a place with a shop or building one first thing. Meanwhile, once house is in shape I will get back to my trucks... and Harley.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've been slowly building my K inventory. I've found another 72 I'm trying to get but the guy is high on the price.

I got the red 71 K10 and removed the engine, trans, tcase, tach cluster, seat, and high hump for the yellow and white truck. I sold the frame to a guy in Nebraska and am going to cut the cab up for a crew cab build later on.

The ochre truck is a 71 cab on a 72 frame. It is currently licensed and has plates. For now I'll leave this cab on the frame but I'd like to find a better cab. Or I'll put a floor in this one. I was planning to make this truck a plow truck but I haven't decided yet. I have extreme bend hooks, a tilt column, the tach dash, and a goodwrench 350/TH350/NP205 for it from the 71 K10. I just need to take time to get it put together. Unfortunately someone hacked the engine cross member so I need to find one of them for it. I already have new body mounts, and rocker panels for it. The 67 bed came from member Countr on here. I'll add marker lights to it and probably add a patina ochre paint to it some time.

The next one is also a 71. I'm still awaiting on the title from the po. This poor truck needs a body. I have located one but getting deals done with covid or the darn weather lately has made it difficult. This truck also has a factory tach, 350, 4 speed/205, but is missing the radiator. I have a radiator but not an extra shroud.

[57taskforce]

Tim, sounds like you and my dad are in the same boat. He’s retiring from fedex at Dulles in about a year and a half and moving to Tennessee. He’s in full on get the house ready to get gone mode as well. He hasn’t done too much to his K20 in 6 months because of everything else going on, new kitchen, new siding; and a whole bunch of other stuff. Pretty soon I won’t have near the ties to northern Va any more. My mom lives over by Jeff Campbell in Kearneysville, and my grandma and aunt are outside Berryville, but dad leaving is going to make trips back there way different.

Ryan, now that is some nice K-hoarding! Get em while you can, they are getting hard to find these days at a decent price. I’m trying to round up an original paint ochre and white K20 as we speak, similar story as you. There is some distance between us in price. Well see what happens.

[Richard]

Been waiting on parts. The tall jack stands I ordered ended up in limbo with Fedex. Tabs and tubing from RuffStuff took some time just to ship as well. Positive- the local 4X shop called last week and said he located some 16" travel King shocks and air bumps so I should be able to wrap up the rear suspension before turning to the drivetrain and front. Had 14" travel on order. Supposed to be here by Friday (yesterday) hopefully next week. The 16's may be tricky to fit but I will figure it out.

[30772]

Excruciatingly llllllong wait on PAINT! Just the cab left to finish, then I'll be back on the road after about two and a half years of a complete restoration on my 72 K20 (fuel injected 502BBC, 4L80E, NP205, etc, etc, etc....)

[Dieselwrencher]

Looking great 30772!!!!

[allchevy58]

Originally Posted by 30772

Excruciatingly llllllong wait on PAINT! Just the cab left to finish, then I'll be back on the road after about two and a half years of a complete restoration on my 72 K20 (fuel injected 502BBC, 4L80E, NP205, etc, etc, etc....)

Nice job, like that color.

[Zoomad75]

The 8.1 swap is a running beast now. Been driving it to work on Saturdays and to Denver to visit my folks and get more miles under it's belt. So far no major issues. Two snow wheeling trips complete, no major breakage. Having the low end torque and 5-speed makes a major difference in how I drive it in the snow for sure.



The new combo did great, but it's a bit heavier and breaks through the packed crust of a snowmobile trail pretty easy.


Don't mind the lack of headlight bezels. I intended to swap the 4 headlight core support for a 2 headlight version and got the 91 grille/bezels for it. Problem was the core support turned out to be from a 88 and not the 89-91 like I was looking for. I've aquired the right one, but havent had the time to pull off cleaning it up and painting.

I've had a couple of teething issues on the swap that I've fixed. One was a ground on the back of the head for the injection system. The bolt wouldn't stay tight and when it did the ground was lost and the engine would stall. Took a little bit to find but easy fix. Next was an exhaust leak on the driver side. Stupid paper based manifold gaskets. Now that I got that side done, the other side is starting to make noise.

Fun fact, the 8.1 is getting the same mileage driving back and for to work or hitting the highway that the 5.3 did.

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

The 8.1 swap is a running beast now. Been driving it to work on Saturdays and to Denver to visit my folks and get more miles under it's belt. So far no major issues. Two snow wheeling trips complete, no major breakage. Having the low end torque and 5-speed makes a major difference in how I drive it in the snow for sure.



The new combo did great, but it's a bit heavier and breaks through the packed crust of a snowmobile trail pretty easy.


Don't mind the lack of headlight bezels. I intended to swap the 4 headlight core support for a 2 headlight version and got the 91 grille/bezels for it. Problem was the core support turned out to be from a 88 and not the 89-91 like I was looking for. I've aquired the right one, but havent had the time to pull off cleaning it up and painting.

I've had a couple of teething issues on the swap that I've fixed. One was a ground on the back of the head for the injection system. The bolt wouldn't stay tight and when it did the ground was lost and the engine would stall. Took a little bit to find but easy fix. Next was an exhaust leak on the driver side. Stupid paper based manifold gaskets. Now that I got that side done, the other side is starting to make noise.

Fun fact, the 8.1 is getting the same mileage driving back and for to work or hitting the highway that the 5.3 did.

Your blazer looks great. The snow is certainly crusty right now and the muddy conditions should be exposed soon.

[underliner6]

I closed on 42 acres of land last week. The K20 has been my main rig to take up for trail clearing and thinning. It looks right at home in these photos.

[tristan]

I had hoped to part this one together in order to join your very exclusive club. However, it looks like I can't get a title so "Project Jigsaw Puzzle" will be relegated to my basement wall. Too bad, it was a highly optioned SWB 1972 K-10 Cheyenne back in the day.

[1968 K20]

Drilling the holes for the body moldings, getting closer to paint

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by underliner6

I closed on 42 acres of land last week. The K20 has been my main rig to take up for trail clearing and thinning. It looks right at home in these photos.

We used to live around Gunnison

We bought the 20 next to our 40 last fall. The wooded half is a jungle; the junipers are all growing up under the pines.

[57taskforce]

Awesome stuff guys! Glad to see everyone’s 4x4 getting some love and getting worked as well. I’ve put about 8,000 miles on mine since last June. It’s been a real treat to have it running and driving again while still working on it.

[allchevy58]

My friend and I have been doing the body and paint. Almost there. Son finished the first stage of polishing today.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by underliner6

Your blazer looks great. The snow is certainly crusty right now and the muddy conditions should be exposed soon.

Those pics were from new years south of Westcliffe CO. It's well into mud season up there now for sure. I'll be staying off until it dries up.

The same area in May of 2019. It got hit with a late spring storm that dumped at a higher elevation. However, getting to it the trail was a wet sloppy mudfest.

I'm still finding packed mud in spots under the truck after multiple powerwashings.

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

Those pics were from new years south of Westcliffe CO. It's well into mud season up there now for sure. I'll be staying off until it dries up.

The same area in May of 2019. It got hit with a late spring storm that dumped at a higher elevation. However, getting to it the trail was a wet sloppy mudfest.

I'm still finding packed mud in spots under the truck after multiple powerwashings.

Were you in the Sangre de Cristos? I always think twice about going into heavy mud due to that very reason of dealing with mud clumps for a long time after. Drives me nuts!

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by allchevy58

My friend and I have been doing the body and paint. Almost there. Son finished the first stage of polishing today.

That fresh paint is looking extremely good.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by underliner6

Were you in the Sangre de Cristos? I always think twice about going into heavy mud due to that very reason of dealing with mud clumps for a long time after. Drives me nuts!

We get plenty of mud driving with just our county road and driveway.

I don't care to do it just for "fun" anymore.

[underliner6]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

We get plenty of mud driving with just our county road and driveway.

I don't care to do it just for "fun" anymore.

I know the roads you are talking about! It’s a way of life when you live off the pavement.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by underliner6

I know the roads you are talking about! It’s a way of life when you live off the pavement.

Yeah, around here it's a lot like the "dobie" mud around Delta.

Doesn't usually get that deep, just the top few inches turns to slime that splatters all over/under your vehicle and then dries as hard as bricks.

The county grader has been conscientiously scraping all the gravel off into the ditches for the past thirty years, until the road is mostly just dirt. So is our driveway that never had much gravel but not much point to spend any money on it since there is still about eight miles of dirt/gravel county road. The first mile below our place gets almost impassible when it gets wet.

We finally got to where all of our vehicles (except the old pickup waiting to be fixed up) and now 4x4 because we would go to town on a dry summer day and not be able to get home again after an afternoon rain shower.

[allchevy58]

Originally Posted by underliner6

That fresh paint is looking extremely good.

Thank You.

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by underliner6

Were you in the Sangre de Cristos? I always think twice about going into heavy mud due to that very reason of dealing with mud clumps for a long time after. Drives me nuts!

Yep both of those runs were in the Sangre's. I now try to stay out until mud season is over.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by Zoomad75

Yep both of those runs were in the Sangre's. I now try to stay out until mud season is over.

I hear you there, I haven’t been in the Sangres in a few years, we used to camp up there occasionally. It can be a lot of fun during the monsoons when you get dumped on and it all turns to slop.