72 one owner C20 project

[Category4performance]

Hello everyone i have just happened to pick up a 72 C 20 4X4, 4 Speed 350. originally a cab and chassis with a reading work body. But luck was with me the Owner was in PA having the Bed installed when a new 72 truck was brought in to be converted to a work body. He bought the new body off the truck for $700 and crated it. i bought it with the truck and now i need to make the decision of should i make the truck a Faux Cheynne or remove the chrome from the bed and keep it just a C20, 64,000 original miles its a 8 out of 10. just happy it will look great beside my 73 corvette

[cwcarpenter98]

Welcome! That's a nice truck

[Category4performance]

Thanks CW just trying to keep it real on the C20, my Corvette is anything but stock so i wanted to stay inside the lines.

[May70]

Cool truck. Would love to pick up a 4x4 utility

[Category4performance]

Well lowered the bed onto dolly's today to make it mobile. When we removed it from where it was stored for 23+ years there was a box marked NOS chevy C20 tailgate behind it with an extra set of cab corners and rockers, they are in real good shape i guess the owner had plans to make it a show truck. But now i am one step closer.

[The Rocknrod]

Ya that's a very truck. Welcome to the forum.

[68bowtie]

Looks like a really nice bed. I’m curious about the bed wood. Was it replaced recently?

[Category4performance]

No that bed was purchased in 1972 at the Reading work bed factory when he was there having a bed put on the C20, Another guy drove that black truck into the factory to have a work bed put on his truck and my friend purchased the bed for $700, and had it crated and it was kept inside a climate controlled warehouse until i pulled it out last week, it has 2 scratches on the driver's side fender lip and some dust. There are markings from where it was bolted down to the original truck and that's all the damage that is on the bed. Not refinished all original just like the tail gate i have it has a date on the label we removed from Dec of 72 with a Note simply saying Tail gate for 72 C20 Chevy. The owner's wife has been looking through some old papers she claims she has the original window sticker and the original sales doc's along with the first plate issued. Under the hood it has an old-style A/C compressor hooked to a switch that engaged the clutch then if goes through a dryer and into a tank with a regulator that cuts the compressor when 120 psi is reached. Two air outlets one under the passenger side of the seat the other was in the work body from right toolbox. Also a nifty 89 Track player with FM a few other owner mods, One was the 8,000 Lb Waren winch that i removed.

[Bubfn]

Nice truck!

[Category4performance]

Well i found a local C20 i was able to look at the bed mounts and get some measurements from to attach the bed, I also picked up one new mirror mount to fix an item or two. ordering new bumpers and door exterior door handles. found all the window chrome that was packed away, its like hunting for easter eggs !

[Category4performance]

well started painting the back of the cab so we can mount the new bed to the chassis and move forward, i have ordered a fuel tank relocation kit i am keeping the fuel filler in the original location welding a tube to turn as it passes through the bottom of the floor toward the new tank location, also ordered a blazer smaller steering wheel, a new set of front and rear bumpers, new bed bolts and several other items i am replacing !!

[Warrens69GMC]

K20= 3/4 Ton 4x4

Nice truck!!

BTW, Paint it back to Black!!

[Category4performance]

I am going with a black & white paint job white in the center

[Category4performance]

One step closer to putting her back together !

[mr.mud1]

very nice .she'll be a knock out.

[Category4performance]

Thanks guys it's a work in progress it is my retirement job we have a shop and build and restore boats and classic cars. This one caught my eye much like my Corvette just another chevy that needs love, Can't wait for SEMA this year its always an amazing trip. here are the latest pics waiting on the correct bed bolts and the blazer fuel tank and some other items, Installing a C3 corvette steering wheel can't make up my mind on the seat. its a 4 speed i don't know if i want to keep the bench seat or go with late model buckets and a custom console or go with some period buckets and a 80's blazer console. Any ideas or photos of your projects are welcomed.

[LT7A]

Welcome! I hope you can start up a build thread to show the progress. Lots of cool photos already and interesting story. I'm no expert on these, but I'm pretty sure the wood was painted body color from the factory. So I'm guessing somebody got a hold of that early on and put a clear finish on it. Going to be a beautiful truck.

[mr.mud1]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Welcome! I hope you can start up a build thread to show the progress. Lots of cool photos already and interesting story. I'm no expert on these, but I'm pretty sure the wood was painted body color from the factory. So I'm guessing somebody got a hold of that early on and put a clear finish on it. Going to be a beautiful truck.

yes sir,very nice truck and it would have had a body color painted wood floor from factory as does my one owner C-20. a very nice touch, i've already heard from my Chief Financial Officer(my wife) how i need to do that to my truck?we'll see.

[Category4performance]

I thought they all came with a painted floor, the original owner cant remember what he did only his wife remembers him buying the bed from another C20 owner that was having a Reading work body installed at the factory, either way i looks like it will be a tough thing to keep looking good here in SE North Carolina with the sun humidity and the random rain.

[Category4performance]

I have looked all over for the trim for the cab, doors and fenders upper and lower with the wood grain, i can't find one company that sells it all if anyone has a source, please share it. i would love to purchase it all at one place rather that ordering it from 4 different companies.

[LT7A]

Cool to see the additional pics. What's the little thing under the radio that says quartz on it? Is it like an old school add-on amplifier? Looks like you might have gen 1 Kraco in there. Cool.

[Category4performance]

That is a old school quartz clock LOL. i guess he wanted to know what time it was when he was changing his 8 Track and scanning his Kraco FM tuner

[Category4performance]

Hey guys and girls found all the exterior trim i needed today at LMC truck, it was not cheap but they had all the pieces i needed for the cab and tailgate only , Big thumbs up to customer service and getting the order together, Classic parts of America shipped my tank relocator, tailgate hinges, and latch kit for the tail gate, i am still waiting on the shipping confirmation on my Tuff Country 6" lift kit, Mickey Thompson Baja tires and rims are waiting in the garage.

[Category4performance]

Well after removing the spare tire mount and a few old muffler hangers i installed the tank i didn't use the tank straps i mounted it like my Mustang tank edge mounted and a rear flange mount. ran new hard line and rubber connector lines at the tank and at the hard line from the original frame connector.

[underliner6]

Super nice K20! Thanks for sharing progress pics.