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1978 K20 farm truck "Boring maintenance phase"
- Thread starter 78K30
- Start date
1978 K20- Rusty beater farm truck
So after owning this truck for a couple years and deciding that it's going to be used for the Michigan trip this fall I might as well start a build thread. These first few posts will be short on pictures most likely since some of the earlier photos of when I got the truck are long gone.
This is about the earliest picture of this truck I still have. This was just after the install of the clearance lights and was taken mid summer of 2015.
Here is how it currently sits. Just got the 2" lift blocks and shocks installed in the rear after having a cali lean (not my doing) for the past two years.
.
I'll be back to post more of the past two years details this evening.
This is about the earliest picture of this truck I still have. This was just after the install of the clearance lights and was taken mid summer of 2015.
Here is how it currently sits. Just got the 2" lift blocks and shocks installed in the rear after having a cali lean (not my doing) for the past two years.
I'll be back to post more of the past two years details this evening.
So it seems that I'm having a hard time finding much in the way of pictures. Part of my issue is that I usually just get way to in the zone to actually stop and take any 
. So most of the past couple years mods can be explained easily.
One of the earliest mods I did to the truck was headers and some hurriedly made 2.5" dual exhaust, alas no pictures but it made a huge difference over what it had. My craptastic exhaust is visible in a couple photos and while ugly it serves it's purpose and has good tone so it'll stay for now.
Next on the list is DIY4x poly motor mounts, one of my favorite additions and again I cannot find the dang pictures of the install
About the middle of last summer I decided I'd update the completely DOA drums to disks. Upon tearing the right rear hub off I was greeted with this lovely sight
Apparently someone had let a leaking wheel seal go too long at some point. The existing bearings also weren't that healthy so I called up napa and ordered new bearings and studs for both sides without even asking the cost. That left a pretty debt in the wallet
.
Anyways the disks were finished up and function very nicely with the hydroboost and same size calipers front and rear. (This pic was actually just taken last week)
Late fall of 2015 right before the first snows the TH350 decided it had had enough of life. Since I do all my work outside that meant the truck had to be parked and not worked on for about 5 months. Once the snow had melted and the thermometer read above 32 degrees this happened-
The 456/205 combo is actually from a 91 so it has the round pattern 32 spline 205. (which will come in handy for what I'm about to do to the truck) after spending three hours cleaning them they were finally stabbed into the truck with a new clutch and flywheel. Sadly not much for pictures other than the above. Had to cut the hole in place since the tunnel had been Booger welded in by some goon in the past.
Not long after the 4 speed install I decided to revive my tach cluster from the future cab for this truck and install it.
Painting the housing-
Installed in the truck, never mind the oil pressure gauge, its lying
This was actually the first time in 1.5 years of owning the truck that it had functional gauges. Beforehand they were all inop, and no dash lights or radio which made driving at night boring.
That's all for this evening, just the boring details for now. Things will get a bit more exciting soon as I just scored an NV4500 for $275 that'll be going in. Then hopefully a 5.3 or at least a TBI 350.
. So most of the past couple years mods can be explained easily.One of the earliest mods I did to the truck was headers and some hurriedly made 2.5" dual exhaust, alas no pictures but it made a huge difference over what it had. My craptastic exhaust is visible in a couple photos and while ugly it serves it's purpose and has good tone so it'll stay for now.
Next on the list is DIY4x poly motor mounts, one of my favorite additions and again I cannot find the dang pictures of the install
About the middle of last summer I decided I'd update the completely DOA drums to disks. Upon tearing the right rear hub off I was greeted with this lovely sight
Apparently someone had let a leaking wheel seal go too long at some point. The existing bearings also weren't that healthy so I called up napa and ordered new bearings and studs for both sides without even asking the cost. That left a pretty debt in the wallet
.Anyways the disks were finished up and function very nicely with the hydroboost and same size calipers front and rear. (This pic was actually just taken last week)
Late fall of 2015 right before the first snows the TH350 decided it had had enough of life. Since I do all my work outside that meant the truck had to be parked and not worked on for about 5 months. Once the snow had melted and the thermometer read above 32 degrees this happened-
The 456/205 combo is actually from a 91 so it has the round pattern 32 spline 205. (which will come in handy for what I'm about to do to the truck) after spending three hours cleaning them they were finally stabbed into the truck with a new clutch and flywheel. Sadly not much for pictures other than the above. Had to cut the hole in place since the tunnel had been Booger welded in by some goon in the past.
Not long after the 4 speed install I decided to revive my tach cluster from the future cab for this truck and install it.
Painting the housing-
Installed in the truck, never mind the oil pressure gauge, its lying
This was actually the first time in 1.5 years of owning the truck that it had functional gauges. Beforehand they were all inop, and no dash lights or radio which made driving at night boring.
That's all for this evening, just the boring details for now. Things will get a bit more exciting soon as I just scored an NV4500 for $275 that'll be going in. Then hopefully a 5.3 or at least a TBI 350.
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beags86
Eastbound and Down
How do you like that jack?
I currently have 1 working gauge in my K5, and I can't even remember which one it is.
in for updates
CrpMag122
1/2 ton status
The gauges look really bright, is that from painting the housing or are they supposed to be that bright?
^^^I'm wondering the same thing.
That's actually why I took the picture originally, friend of mine was curious about it. Best $200 I've ever spent on a floor jack. For only being 3 ton it lifts heavier trucks like my 2500HD Duramax like it's nothing.
They'll happen, albeit slowly but they'll happen.
I'm working on correcting some of the crust, but being an Iowa farm truck I can't bring myself to make it too nice.
That's with LED's and the chrome painted housing, this picture makes it look way worse than it is, at night it doesn't bother me one bit. I'm betting if the housing was painted white it would've dimmed it down a little more.
I will skip past some of the past updates and mention that a decent driveline change is about to get underway. The 465 is a fine trans but when you find one of these for $300 you don't exactly say no.....
Drained it, pulled the PTO covers and the tailhousing off last night. Thing looks like brand new inside
Drained it, pulled the PTO covers and the tailhousing off last night. Thing looks like brand new inside
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I used to not even have a gas gauge, only getting like 5 mpg on a 18 gallon tank makes a guy nervous with no way of knowing how much you have left. The oil pressure gauge still doesn't work, and I really don't want to know either. The 400 burns oil to the tune of a quart every 500 miles
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Is that a China freight?
That's exactly where it came From. Friend of mine works at a truck salvage yard in Pella and they've had theirs for around 6 months and use it daily
handloader90
Building!
Sub'd for a crusty truck.
I'll try to not disappoint, been crazy busy at work this week. Currently debating just sticking the short NP205 input and advanced adapters bellhousing on my credit card temporarily so I can get started with the trans install.
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Responded to a craigslist add for an 89 350 from a suburban. Ended up wheeling and dealing for the whole suburban minus the trans, grill, and hood. Supposedly only has 78k miles on it. Interior is very good but the body leaves a lot to be desired. Never mind the air cleaner either, it's not 425HP 454.
Didn't plan on the drivetrain swap happening quite this soon but since I traded the 400 smallblock for it that's currently propelling this truck I might as well fully gut it and get to work. Plans are to use the suburban fuel tank and ditch the tiny saddle tank then stash the rest of the burb away for awhile. The short 32 spline input/reseal kit for my 205 is on order from ORD and the AA bellhousing.
Didn't plan on the drivetrain swap happening quite this soon but since I traded the 400 smallblock for it that's currently propelling this truck I might as well fully gut it and get to work. Plans are to use the suburban fuel tank and ditch the tiny saddle tank then stash the rest of the burb away for awhile. The short 32 spline input/reseal kit for my 205 is on order from ORD and the AA bellhousing.
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beags86
Eastbound and Down
going to swap AC stuff too?
When I swap my good cab on I'm thinking I'll swap the entire suburban dash and wiring harness in as well as the A/C components. That way I get the bigger radio, nice wood grain dash, and the wiring be in much better condition than what it is right now.
