72 K20 restore or build for the trails.

[colelkhunter]

Ok picked this truck up this weekend. It is a 72 k-20 that has been used for Mud drag racing. The good first. It has a closed Knuckle dana 70f front and an eaton rear both with 5.13 gears and lockers. 6" suspension lift, built 468 chevy(bored 454) turbo 350 and np205 transfer case. Runs great with headers and 3" exhaust. The bad---fenders front and rear have been cutout to run 46" tractor tires, home made 3" body lift made from square tubing, some rust but not bad. Every body panel is dented and covered in green tractor paint. it goes like crazy, but are they rare enough to warrant the amount of money it would take to restore it properly? Also I know that the front axle isn't factory, but what about the eaton rear? Inside is gutted and has racing seats and 5 point harnesses. I have located a 70 donor truck that has about all the pieces that I need for the interior and doors, fenders, hood look good. Gimme some direction on this oh mighty CK5 ers. I will post pics of it tomorrow.

 

[lukefalls]

IMHO, do both. Restore it and build it for trail. If you've got a good donor truck, why not make it look original too. I've seen some great partial restoration trail rigs. That being said, you're not taking on Sledgehammer or Resolution with it.

What kind of "trial" do you mean exactly.

I say ditch the body lift and Dana 70 front. Sell/trade it to someone who wants it for mud, then buy/trade for a Dana 60. The 60 is lighter, easier to find parts for, and cheaper to build.

The Eaton rear is actually pretty good. Read Pirate4x4 Chevy forum. There is a really good thread on the HO52/HO72 rear axles.

Read Greg's build in the General section. Its HIGHLY educational.

 

[Greg72]

Definitely going to need to see pics......

It sounds like it's a LONG way from stock, and probably more trouble (and $$$) than it's worth to restore back to stock. A "respectful" restoration could bring back a lot of the "old school" vibe to the truck and still let you create a much more capable offroad truck than it would be if it were bone stock.

The high-dollar stock trucks you see being sold are usually a result of being complete and unmolested and original... that doesn't really sound like what you've got there.

 

[colelkhunter]

not positive, but I am pretty sure that the front dana 70 already has aftermarket (stronger) axles installed as well as a detroit locker and 5.13 gears. How much more built could you want? Weight is not an issue for me really, as we have mostly muddy trails and very few rocks to play on. The 70 should be just as strong as a 60, if not stronger with the aftermarket axles, so I think it's gonna stay. for now at least.

 

[72blazerguy]

Sounds like more of a trail rig than a restoration rig. You are all set on axles and gears and it already has the dents so you won't feel bad when you bash it

 

[79rustyk10]

I would think a body swap would be your best option if you could find a halfway decent body to swap on.

Would be a hell of alot of fun on 35-36" tires I think.

Pics?

 

[colelkhunter]

kinda funny, I meant to mention this in my last post. I have access to tons of H1 hummer wheels and tires near me. I have two sets already. I put a set on there today to see what it looked like. Not too bad, don't want to drive it anywhere in town until I add mufflers. Big block+longtube headers+ 3" straight exhaust= loud as hell

 

[colelkhunter]

was digging around in my shop last night and found a military PTO winch from a deuce and half. Thinking this may be the part that pushes it to trail truck. I have a pto output on the np205 already so getting it working is a no brainer. Pics in a minute.