79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Here goes the build thread for the 79 K20. For those of you who haven't been following my K10 build, I picked up the truck for 700 bucks and was just going to swap the axles into the K10 then sell it. After having it sitting in my garage for a few weeks I started getting attached and the gears started turning. The truck really is quite clean and will make a good driver. That is the plan for now, let's start with a video.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I'm in for this one too!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Thanks old yelr!

Removed the drive train and had to deal with more spiders.... I hate spiders!!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Now you have to call it carburetors/drum brakes/big a$$ spiders suck.com garage!!
I think GM could have done away with a few of the core support bolts, there must be like 50 of them :)
If a picture is worth a thousand words than a video must be worth a couple million words at least!! Keep em coming!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Subbed to Youtube channel. Loved the style of video. Was cool seeing the time lapse of tear down.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Thanks old yelr! Amazing how many more bolts on the core support 79 vs 84.

Thanks for the sub, glad you liked the video!

Got out for a little while yesterday and made some more progress.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Hey Dave, cool video! I had heads up display in a 1992 Cutlass that I used to have and I really miss it.....HUD not the Cutlass so much.
Are you sure that's a TH400? Looks kind of small to me, maybe it's just hard to tell from the video. Plus I'm not sure if they would have put one behind a 305. I hope I'm wrong! Anyway, I'm not trying to rain on your picnic.

Looking forward to the next vid!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Thanks old yelr! Interestingly enough the sticker in the glove box that is for this truck shows that it had a turbo350 and a 350. I verified it was a TH400 by the pan, and it's behind a 305. Weird!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I'm glad! That is a weird combo.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

So whats the engine/trans setup your shooting for on the K20? Thanks for all the vids man, ! wish you lived in the neighborhood. I feel sure wed be buds!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I'm sure we would be! For now the Th400 and Iron LS1 I have on the stand in my garage. I been itching to put it in something :)

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Well i'll be watching. I'd like to see how you do the install as i'm heavily considering it now. I've had my eye out for one to snag if I come across a good deal. And like I said on the Tube comments.. Keep those below eye mirrors son. Keeps that old school look! I'd love to see this 20 looking old and ratty with an LS breathing fire!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Thanks! I'm still up in the air about the mirrors... Dunno at this point, but I did make my way into the garage the past few days. Scraped 36 years of grime from the trans / transfer case, moved the shop around and dug up some engine parts for the LS1.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Yesterday while picking up some more LS parts My buddy Steve gave me a tour of his 68 LS swapped Chevelle. I will be able to start assembling the engine this week :)

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

More progress on the engine this week. I'm going to try and muster up motivation to get out today and get more done :)

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I have made a change to the direction of the build. I just couldn't get excited about a Stockish truck build. However when I thought about my K5 and all the good times I had wheelin, all of the nice people I met on the trail and the fun I had with it, the decision was simple. Make this a capable crawler and have some fun with it!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Wish I was close.. i'd be begging for those doors and that bed!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I might end up using them for a while, still unsure about the bed. Yesterday I made a video on my current plans / ideas. I welcome input, and I know this will be a big slow build and go through many stages to get get to the final product of a rock crawler. As many of my builds I like to do them in phases as money allows rather than get in over my head an have the truck sitting idle forever.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Some progress, it's slow but progress!

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

More work, removed the hood and fenders, then headed to the wrecking yard to find some front springs, so I can get them mocked up. I ended up with a pair of 56" springs from a 3/4 ton suburban they are in great shape $27 each, and also found a PCM for $23(better than the 75 LKQ wanted). Video below....

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I followed along with the LS swap in the Blazer. Just found this thread so I'll follow along.
I don't know what your schedule is like but there is an informal car show every Sunday morning at Cheyenne and Jones.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Sounds good, maybe I'll cruise the K10 up next week, what time?

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Now that its cooler, usually around 8am.... when it's hot out they start showing up at 7am... Its a good mix of different vehicles.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

Get er done! Its cool to see where different folks do their picking from yards. The setup I have near me is totally different. The vehicles are all crammed together and not stacked on rims. Makes it tough as nails to pick parts.

Re: 79 K20 Custom Deluxe - Goldy LS1
 

I dig the local pic a part, they have good prices and stuff is easy to get to.