1967 GMC K20 " The Kodiak"

[dagnabbitt]

I just purchased this via online estate auction, it is about an hour away from the town I grew up in, and about 4 hours away from where I live now. This upcoming long weekend I hope to swing by and pick it up. I have a 12 000 lb winch and a trailer and I will need it.

The truck originally belonged to - and was supposedly custom built by - a local oilfield company called Kodiak Oilfield Services. The company is still in business. Where we are, oil is like apple pie or baseball, it is just everything to us here in Alberta, but even moreso, since it represents a prosperous past that it seems is not going to come back for us. So buying this truck is kind of poignant in a way because it represents a piece of Alberta history... but I digress.

It was supposedly special ordered as a 3/4 ton, 4x4, shortbed. Well, we all know that configuration never existed: there were no 3/4 ton shortbeds. So this is likely a very early shortened frame... an early swapped frame... or who knows. I was stalking this truck online for days, comparing photos of it to other K20s and stepsides, trying to figure out if what I saw was an actual SWB, or just an optical illusion. Honestly I don't think you are a C10 guy until you have done the same thing. Finally decided just to contact the family who was auctioning it to see what they thought.

I spoke to the son of the gentleman who owned it. His dad was a real character and a real car guy, I think. The auction had about 170 vehicles, all his: at some point he simply would go to peoples yards and offer to haul stuff away. And he had some really great stuff, things so nice that they distracted buyers from this item. The son confirmed that it was a short wheelbase truck, and not a dual wheel as one might suppose from the pics. It was built this way so it could bomb through the bush easier and as the company name suggests: bring supplies to oilfields. But he had no other info, and he had 169 other vehicles he was trying to clear out. Very nice man, he says he will help me load it.

The VIN indicates it is a (Canadian) 1967 GMC K20. That is probably a 292 under the hood: if it had a hood, that is. Ironically I have a 1967 GMC hood leaning up against my house that I will take with me when I get it. If you knew what kind of person I am you might rightfully accuse me of buying this just so I have a use for that hood. I can't wait to see it in person. I don't know what I am going to do with it, or even where I will put it while I am deciding. This might be a short thread if I have to get rid of it, but I am not known for parting with anything.

[dagnabbitt]

Few more pics, it has 5 hole gauges, stick for trans and stick for 4x4.

I feel so stupid for buying this but I couldn't help myself.

[James K]

That's cool.

[68Gold/white]

Yeah, you needed this, in a big way (LOL). You’ve nearly got your other 2 rigs running and driving properly!
Do you know of anyone with a sand blaster?
Converting 3/4 tons to disc is not quite as cheap as 1/2 tons. I’d look for a 71 or 72 for disc stuff, if you intend to do that.
After watching Vice Grip Garage and Restored on YouTube, your engine can probably be saved.
I prefer V8 pickups, but that big and heavy lug of a pickup will he just fine with the 292.
I am planning on putting a 292 I my 67 C10, initially to just get it on the road. LOL, my 292 is a .060 over 283.
Carry on man!!!
You are keeping your pickups in a similar theme, nothing usual or common. I really like your diesel!!!

It looks like none of those tires are seated on their respective rims. Would be much easier to load with good tires and rims.

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Yeah, you needed this, in a big way (LOL). You’ve nearly got your other 2 rigs running and driving properly!
Do you know of anyone with a sand blaster?
Converting 3/4 tons to disc is not quite as cheap as 1/2 tons. I’d look for a 71 or 72 for disc stuff, if you intend to do that.
After watching Vice Grip Garage and Restored on YouTube, your engine can probably be saved.
I prefer V8 pickups, but that big and heavy lug of a pickup will he just fine with the 292.
I am planning on putting a 292 I my 67 C10, initially to just get it on the road. LOL, my 292 is a .060 over 283.
Carry on man!!!
You are keeping your pickups in a similar theme, nothing usual or common. I really like your diesel!!!

It looks like none of those tires are seated on their respective rims. Would be much easier to load with good tires and rims.

Thanks, man! Getting encouragement like this makes me feel less crazy for buying it.

I was thinking that in addition to the hood that I might want to bring an extra set of wheels, too. I just have the spare set from my yukon so they might have to do.

I don't know about that engine, it has seen a lot of rain. I might be in the market for another 292. Luckily there are people who don't want them, don't understand that but hey.

[chewychevy67]

That looks cool. Definitely interested in seeing how they shortened the frame back then if that's what happened here. If there was a 67 gmc 4x4 around here I'd have the same problem you have lol. Just glad most of them are in Alberta. I stay off Alberta kijiji for just that reason lol

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

That looks cool. Definitely interested in seeing how they shortened the frame back then if that's what happened here. If there was a 67 gmc 4x4 around here I'd have the same problem you have lol. Just glad most of them are in Alberta. I stay off Alberta kijiji for just that reason lol

It goes to show that neither province is completely picked over, yet. Still lots of stuff out there!

[68Gold/white]

If it were mine, I'd get the engine out, get it apart and see where it goes from there. Get the most of the rust out of the cylinders, take it to a machine shop and see if the block is cracked, not usually expensive. Boring and decking the block would get you a useable block.
I've taken apart worse looking blocks. There's little things that can help out...

[dagnabbitt]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

If it were mine, I'd get the engine out, get it apart and see where it goes from there. Get the most of the rust out of the cylinders, take it to a machine shop and see if the block is cracked, not usually expensive. Boring and decking the block would get you a useable block.
I've taken apart worse looking blocks. There's little things that can help out...

I will certainly remove it and see what I can do with it. I dunno if those pistons are going to move, I will have to check out some videos myself. I sure wish they left the hood on when they parked it, but oh well.

[68Gold/white]

I see a lot of folks use white vinegar to deal with rust. I have not tried it.
I'd get some sandpaper and scotchbrite to remove most of the rust in the cylinders, then maybe some vinegar to work on the rust between the cylinders and pistons.

I know nothing about 292's...I am curious of the pistons will come out the bottom???
If so, that would help. There's many penatrant formulas folks use. Auto trans fluid has worked well for me, some add diesel to it, I think that would help. Let it sit for several days.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Interesting truck hope to see more progress on it.

[dagnabbitt]

I picked it up from the farm it had been living on since - I think I am nearly an expert by now, based upon my assessment of algae, lichen and beer can logos - the mid eighties.

As you can see below, all four tires were off the rims. I brought a set of Yukon eight bolts with tires that I have been setting aside for.... my Yukon. But ironically they came with the 72 GMC 2500 I bought last year and they are brand new Bridgestones and I was looking forward to putting them on my 2010 Yukon this fall. But I never got around to it and so this junk now has nicer wheels and tires on it than my Yukon does. If you can understand this paragraph you might be a member of this forum.

It was a hot day and I was sore from a four hour drive because my back hurts but I nonetheless dragged out my floor jack and changed all four wheels which were rusted on in this cowpatch (ask me how I know it was a cowpatch): each one must have weighed a 150 lbs since there were full of water and cow but I wasn't leaving them there. Then I winched it on to the trailer which was such a nice break.

The whole time I was worried that the owner would notice that of the 170 or so vehicles that he sold at the auction that this one sold for the least money and that he would give me a hard time, but he didn't. He was a great guy and told me: drive a half mile, take a right, then a left, and don't slow down cause you will get stuck, its been raining a week. Driving a Yukon 2500 with a heavy trailer and a truck on it meant that I had to put it in 4x4 and floor it to get out, but luckily I did.

[dagnabbitt]

Maybe this is a good time to tell you what I paid for this thing. I wanted to wait until it was safely in my possession.

I always want to know this stuff, but never want to ask because it is rude. Here it is: $130 Canadian dollars in an online auction. That is about $99 bucks US.

I spent more money on snacks and beer for the weekend in which I went to get it. I don't want to talk about what I spent on fuel but I am still pretty happy, I could not leave it there.

As I said, I felt kinda weird sitting in a cowpatch changing wheels for an hour by myself so as soon as I got it on the trailer I got it out of there. I floored it through the cowpatch, cow stuff hitting my mirrors etc and didn't let off until I was on a service road a mile away. At that point I checked my straps as one does and also thought I would install the 67 GMC hood I brought with me. I think I explained earlier that buying this truck was a good solution for the hood I had leaning against my house for three or four years and which was from a truck I scrapped. Always the far-thinker at the last minute, I brought a spare set of hinges too, the ones that were on it were seized of course. On the side of the road I put them on and it became a truck again.

[dagnabbitt]

The truck is extremely interesting, and yeah, I enjoy it when people react to a truck I own, I can't help it.

Wherever I filled up or stopped for supplies, people would come up and ask me about it, what my plans were for it, etc. Mostly people thought it was a "mud bogger" and that I was trailering it to some mud hole. With the hood on, no one need know that the engine was mostly not there and that it's mud bogging days were either far in the past, or far in the future.

I took it to my dad's cabin which was close by, and proceeded to clean it up. I filled at least three trash cans with garbage, detritus, dirt, and god knows what. It actually involved a spade, and a lot of shoveling. In the process I discovered something I would have never in a million years expected to find in a truck so neglected: the original Protect-O-Plate and bill of sale.

Those knowledgeable about Alberta geography will know that this truck seems to have existed for 55 years in only a 20 mile radius. I am researching the original owner and it looks like the family is still around. The dealership still exists but has moved a few miles down the road. How this truck came into the possession of Kodiak Oilfield I do not know yet but I will ask.

[dagnabbitt]

I have repeatedly made the mistake of discarding what I think is junk and then later finding out was junkyard gold.

I might have been hasty with the wheels.

Without putting much thought into it I asked my dad to take the old wheels in to get peeled and to discard the tires. Only later did I notice that the wheels were the ultra strange 16.5 inch rims. So the tires I discarded were kind of hard to find. I think they were garbage, but nonetheless if they held air I might have saved them just for rolling this thing around. Probably what influenced my decision unreasonably was the fact that they were caked with 40 years of cow and smelled to high heaven. The smell is almost visible in the pictures below.

I did hold on to the rims to blast and paint. I have read on this forum that the 16.5s are hard to find, which I gather means that they are hard to find if you are not rich. I need to decide if I will keep these rims - which are really wide and look great - and try to find tires for them, or stick with the 17" Yukon wheels.

One thing I have found is a set of 16.5 inch Skid Steer swampers which are definitely not street legal but look pretty cool. I will ask the opinion of the board before making a decision on those though.

[dagnabbitt]

And here is the SPID. Original K20 truck. It has been shortened, but I need to clean it up to see exactly how it was done. I see welds but I don't want to guess at how i was done until I clean it up. So speculation is welcome. How would they shorten a K20 so easily?

I always find SPIDs interesting. Such a bare bones truck but they figured they really needed an Ammeter and Oil Gauge. I don't think a lot of people opted for that in 67.

I will post more pics when I can.

[dagnabbitt]

Some accessories. I noticed that some of what I was shovelling out of the box were rockers and pushrods, I figure I don't want them: I did however save the valve cover for the grommets and oil cap and for its photographability.

Also always a neat surprise, a little tool kit with wrenches from manufacturers I have never heard of. As well as some old spark plugs and at least one bolt that I needed to put that hood on.

One other thing: someone had intentions for this truck. It is missing an ashtray and headlight bezels and some other things in the interior.

But: everything that was missing was sitting on the seat... except it was from a 72. Door panels, bezels, sun visors... you name it. Someone collected this stuff and was hoping to put it on the truck. As it happens, I have a 72 GMC which are missing these things.

[dagnabbitt]

It has occurred to me that although I have owned and continue to own many 4x4s, I have never had one from this vintage. I have a lot to learn.

Despite the Original Owner's deep and no doubt personal need for an ammeter, he didn't feel the same way about locking hubs and wasn't about to spend money on them, not when the chicken coop needed new shingles. This truck doesn't have them.

So was this a "full time" four by four? What does that mean exactly for driveability... can I add locking hubs without destroying the originality of the truck? I suppose I don't care, since it has already been shortened.

[68Gold/white]

Valve cover is “Look’n Good”, LOL.
I’m guessing there was no cylinder head to be found....

[connorm]

Any updates on this thread? Cool truck

[MJN]

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

It has occurred to me that although I have owned and continue to own many 4x4s, I have never had one from this vintage. I have a lot to learn.

Despite the Original Owner's deep and no doubt personal need for an ammeter, he didn't feel the same way about locking hubs and wasn't about to spend money on them, not when the chicken coop needed new shingles. This truck doesn't have them.

So was this a "full time" four by four? What does that mean exactly for driveability... can I add locking hubs without destroying the originality of the truck? I suppose I don't care, since it has already been shortened.

Just found this thread so late response but....no, its not full time four wheel drive. Lockout hubs were optional but the transfer case is a part-time case. So install some lockouts and thats all you need to do. As is the drivability isn't impacted other than everything up front is spinning creating drag and wearing those parts, just not being powered and you may notice some binding turning sharp.

[dagnabbitt]

Thanks for the interest and the info! No updates yet, I'm in the "gathering" stage of working on this truck, ie getting parts together.

In particular I am looking for a good 292 to replace this one, as well as a small back window and of course, as MJN notes, some lockouts. I don't know anything about lockouts, I will have to do some more research.

The truck currently has my 2010 Yukon XL's wheels and tires on it, I am debating whether or not I will put the 16.5 wheels back on. Tires in that size are available but expensive. But they look so cool, so it is what I am leaning towards.

I am trying to get my 1968 finished and moving on its own power so I can get it in my shop and get serious about it.

[Chaparralman1974]

I can't really tell from the pictures, but it looks like you have the flanges installed on the outer hub that more or less act like a permanently locked front hub assemble. Basically, it is the exact same setup used on a bunch of early jeeps and other 4x4's where the outer axle stub shaft is permanently affixed to the the hub via a flange and bolts. You can remove the flanges and install locking hubs. The older dana 44 axles used what were called "external spline hubs" that bolted onto the hub and allowed you to engage or disengage the front axle. The 67's through 69 I believe came with the Powrlok setup. My 67 had those on it when I got it. I took them off (gonna keep them for nostalgia) and installed a set of "big hub" spicers onto the hubs. The reason for this is because my first truck when I was 16 years old was a 1973 Chevy K20. It had the big hubs on it, so I wanted them on my 67 just for nostalgic reasons.

[Chaparralman1974]

Here is a picture of the "flanges" that I think your truck has on it. This basically takes the place of the locking hub and your front end is always engaged.

[Chaparralman1974]

Here is a picture of the "PowRLok" (I think that is what it was called anyway) that came original on my 1967 K20.