1979 K20 work in progress

[1979K20]

I wanted to share some of my upgrades and progress on my truck. It's a 1979 K20 Camper Special. It was pretty neglected when I bought it about 4 years ago.
I have been slowly upgrading as time and money allow. I ditched the 4" rear Superlift springs and went for used ORD shackle flip and a set of 56" rears. I still needed to run blocks to maintain the same height. 5" shackles, poly bushings and greasable grade 8 bolts from DIY4X took care of the rear.

I also ditched the rear drums that were shot. I used the DIY4X caliper brackets and I found a set of 1976 El Dorado rear calipers. I rebuilt 1 and used the other as a core. I have yet to hook up the e-brake cables. I will want them because I already set up my NP205 with twin sticks.

The truck had 35/12.50/16.5 BFG Mud Terrains when I got. They looked small with an 8" lift, plus they were old. They were stretched wide on the 16.5x12 rims. I scored a set of 5 military surplus 90% 37/12.50/16.5 BFG Baja T/A's for $600. I traded the rims for a set of much nicer 16.5x9 in the same style aluminum rim. I put the 5th one on a white steel rim for a full size spare.

 

[1979K20]

So I maintained the 10 bolt front as needed. Wheel bearings to start, u-joints, then ball joints. A little bit here and there just to keep it rolling. But too much river wheeling and 37's just wouldn't allow it to hold up. I never wanted to put too much into it knowing I eventually was going to get a Dana 60.

After losing the wheel bearings on my way to work, I had my excuse to upgrade. There was no way I was putting any $ in to that axle. I am surprised it held up to as much abuse as it did.

A trip to Canada and a pocket full of cash brought home a Dana 60 dropped out of an 87 GMC K3500. The truck was originally owned by a mining company.

I spent a bunch of time cleaning it up and painting parts satin black. I installed a new upper king pin bushing and a steering arm riser block. The calipers were used as cores. It went to Driveline Service for a gear swap. 4.10's to match the rear plus all new seals and new u-joints. It's still open until money allows for a selectable locker. The truck has to get driven on the road when there is snow. I had to replace the driver's side inner axle and side gears.

It's under the truck as of yesterday. I need to have the front driveshaft shortened, now. The front suspension was changed a while ago. Those 4" lift rear springs were put in the front with DIY4X weld in front adjustable spring perches and poly bushing shackle frame eye hangers. I made my own front shackle out of 3/8 x 2 steel strap. The front also received poly bushings and grade 8 greasable bolts.
Cross over steering and hydraulic assist are definitely in the future.

 

[CHOP SHOP]

That truck is too nice to beat the **** out of.

Put those axles in a beater and tow it with that nice looking machine.

Clean rust free chebies are getting scarce.

 

[1979K20]

It's "clean" for it's age, but far from perfect. I just want a driver that is really capable. If anything, I may throw a crew cab on it and shorten up a bed. Get rid of the dual tanks and run a Suburban tank. Then I can build some sliders and a cage. I'd like some more passenger space.

 

[Cucv]

Nice rig!

 

[Harvester of Sorrow]

My 16yo son has a hard on for a truck like that.

 

[zukkev]

Good lookin' truck for sure...Seen it around...
I too have owned a few chev's in my day, one being a 79 Camper Special as well.

 

[dvdswan]

beautiful truck. :awesomework:

 

[1979K20]

I appreciate all of the compliments. I just finished my work week, so the driveshaft is going to Ritch at Driveline Service tomorrow. I can't wait test it out. A little more gear oil (ran out before it was full), some tabs and a new discovery pass are all on my list as well.

 

[Anthony1]

Looks good. :awesomework:

 

[1979K20]

So I thought I would show some of the other upgrades I have done over the past 3 1/2 years.

I wanted to get a winch, But I also wanted to have the ability to run it front or rear. I was also trying to do on the cheap. I got a Harbor Freight Badlands 9000 lb. I can't say enough good things about this thing. I sewed up the cover with some vinyl I had leftover from recovering some dirt bike seats.

The front crossmember on the truck was really bent from the previous owner being jerked out of the mud with a chain wrapped around it. Two of the rivets were pulled through. I got an old rear hitch from a buddy for free. I cut it to length to fit between the frame rails, flipped it so the receiver was up higher, and welded it in.

I built a cradle out of some scrap channel iron and 2" inch square tube that was left over from demo derby cars. After the receiver was welded in, I marked the back side of the bumper, removed it and cut the hole. The winch was hooked up with Anderson connectors.

Shopping for wire to run to the rear was looking like it was going to be expensive, but I found some 20' 2 gauge copper jumper cables at O'Reilly's for $55. I cut the clamps off the end and soldered on copper eyelets and the Anderson connector pins. *Stickers - good for at least 10 h.p. (When I was a kid in So. Cal in the 80's, there was a guy there who had this same cat sticker on his lifted truck - I was happy to find it on ebay.) I replaced the rear step bumper with this stock one from a half ton that I picked up for $50. It came with all the trim plates, brackets and bolts. I needed the front and rear to match. Thank you Craigslist.
More later....

 

[1979K20]

When I got the truck, it had a tired leaky 350 (1 piece rear main, center bolt valve covers, $89 headers that leaked like crazy), a decent shifting TH350 trans with an NP203 transfer case. I bought a 1/2 ton parts rig with a newer 350, a nicely built TH350 with an NP205 transfer case.

The motor came with an Edelbrock Performer cam & intake, roller tip rockers, Doug Thorley tri-Y headers, a DUI HEI distributor, Energy Suspension motor mounts and it was all assembled with ARP bolts. It got a fresh coat of paint and a new set of aluminum valve covers.
The trans needed nothing, but the transfer case adapter was letting ATF into the transfer case. New O-rings and seals took care of that. The ATF messed up a lot of the paper gaskets on the NP205. I put a new gasket and seal kit on it and installed a JBFab twin stick set up and I ground on the shift rails a bit.

Here's a shot of the sticks and the LMC seat upholstery that a threw on. I picked up new window seals at the same time. I also installed the Grant wood wheel. I had to get rid of the 12" Grant knuckle buster that was in the truck when I got it.

The parts truck also came with two plastic totes full of parts that had never been installed. There was the battery tray for the driver's side and a Painless Wiring Guardian dual battery set up.

 

[1979K20]

The bed is set up with tools and recovery items. The Delta box is offset to the passenger side so I can still put my dirt bike in the bed and close the tailgate. I have my full size spare (I'm always looking for another Alcoa copy rim for the spare), my homemade winch anchor, two shovels mounted to the fender with Quick-Fists, and a 60" Hi-Lift.

The tool box has hand tools, spare hoses, spare belts, extra fluids, Hi-Lift accessories, a bow saw, winch accessories and tow straps, a bag full of electrical supplies, 20' jumper cables, etc. I plan on building some ABS tubes with clean-out caps for spare axles. Onboard air is also in the plans.