1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 03:09 AM

Awesome site, appreciate all the information and help. So many cool trucks on here, hopefully mine will get there some day.

I've always loved this body style so........I found a '68 4wd for a good price. Typical issues like rusty rockers, floors and drip rails. Body is so so. Has a Dana 60 in the rear and a Dana 44. Not sure of the years. Motor is a small block, that's all the PO knew, and a 4 speed with granny 1st.
Came with a 10' flatbed w/ 4' side gates. Wood in the bed is awful.....PO said he put new wood in which turned out to be had hacked up 2x10's, which weren't even attached.
The list of things this truck needs seems to be growing.......such as brake seals, power steering pump, possibly steering box and/or steering components, some attn to the wiring, window rubber, battery box, radiator hold downs, front driveline, and......well you get the hint.

What's the saying?........another mans junk is another mans treasure!
Well I picked up this orange chunk of American freedom a few weeks ago

350 with a manual 4 speed. Dirty and a few oil leaks but runs like a champ

Loaded up and on the way home.

Whoever mounted his flatbed decided to weld it to the frame

So, while cutting it down a few feet I redid the mounting and removed the rear tail section as well. While working on the bed I discovered it wasn't in line with the body line (2" higher in the back) so I evened it out and got things in line.

Next was cutting off the extended headache rack and redoing with 3x3x1/4.

Got the back end buttoned up and part way on the new headache rack.
Not sure what material I'll use to protect the window but trying to stay away from expand steel. Want something different.

68panelman · 12-22-2015, 08:03 AM

I like it!, keep up the good pace! And welcome to the board

**Ol Blue K20** · 12-22-2015, 09:07 AM

Nice find, welcome to the board. Is it an original 4x4 or a conversion? Keep up the great work.

MARKDTN · 12-22-2015, 10:31 AM

Nice! Looks like a fun project. To me though, that flex fan has to go now. They are an accident waiting to happen.

flashed · 12-22-2015, 10:39 AM

Welcome ,nice rig .Im in to see more of it.

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68panelman

I like it!, keep up the good pace! And welcome to the board

Thanks, price was right.

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice find, welcome to the board. Is it an original 4x4 or a conversion? Keep up the great work.

thanks, it's been fun and.........interesting lol.
Damn rain has slowed my progress, but we sure need the rain out here in California, so it's all good.

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Nice find, welcome to the board. Is it an original 4x4 or a conversion? Keep up the great work.

Honestly not sure...still trying to figure out what was original and what wasn't.

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

Nice! Looks like a fun project. To me though, that flex fan has to go now. They are an accident waiting to happen.

Yeah for sure.....fan will be replaced and a shroud put on, amongst other things lol.
This truck has definitely been "customized"

Some of the custom work done:
Radiator held in with 16 gauge wire
Bed welded to frame
No center bolt on air filter
House wire used for rear lights.
No brake switch (hence rear brake lights no workie)
Multiple custom wiring modifications
And lastly, good ol bungee cord battery hold down!

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashed

Welcome ,nice rig .Im in to see more of it.

Thanks!

RPBurris · 12-22-2015, 03:36 PM

Looks like a cool truck. The frame looks to be a later model by looking at the rear section. Not a huge deal. My truck is a conversion on a 78 frame. Good luck and welcome to the board!

RedRoad · 12-22-2015, 04:22 PM

Congrats! Frame looks older based on the front rear spring hangers (look like 60s style not sure when they went from cast to stamped steel). The front axle is a 78 or later GM 10 bolt not a Dana 44.

Post up some pics of the SPID on the glove box door and some more of the rear end and frame area so we can further break down what you have

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 09:06 PM

This is what's left of the SPID

RedRoad · 12-22-2015, 09:23 PM

the cab is from a 2wd 6cyl so may be a swap or conversion. What VIN is on the title? If it shows a KS or KE on the title you should clean the frame around the steering box to see if the title matches the frame VIN

collin70k/20 · 12-22-2015, 09:39 PM

Sweet looking truck man!

toolboxchev · 12-22-2015, 09:55 PM

That truck has potential, I had one I started on and ended up letting it go. Have a different one now and its about the same as yours. Lots of work ahead if I keep it.

Thats OK! Congrats on your find!

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRoad

the cab is from a 2wd 6cyl so may be a swap or conversion. What VIN is on the title? If it shows a KS or KE on the title you should clean the frame around the steering box to see if the title matches the frame VIN

VIN is the same, starts with CS. I'll have to check the frame tomorrow but I'm thinking it's not original, maybe a 70's frame.

Voodoo556 · 12-22-2015, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRoad

the cab is from a 2wd 6cyl so may be a swap or conversion. What VIN is on the title? If it shows a KS or KE on the title you should clean the frame around the steering box to see if the title matches the frame VIN

Well I don't think it's the stock frame. Number on the top of frame rail near gear box is 8Z1178289

RedRoad · 12-23-2015, 02:56 AM

I think thats a 1968 Fremont built frame. Probably needed a bunch of rust repair and a replacement cab was easier than saving the original cab

12-22-2015, 03:09 AM	#1
Voodoo556 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 207	1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Awesome site, appreciate all the information and help. So many cool trucks on here, hopefully mine will get there some day. I've always loved this body style so........I found a '68 4wd for a good price. Typical issues like rusty rockers, floors and drip rails. Body is so so. Has a Dana 60 in the rear and a Dana 44. Not sure of the years. Motor is a small block, that's all the PO knew, and a 4 speed with granny 1st. Came with a 10' flatbed w/ 4' side gates. Wood in the bed is awful.....PO said he put new wood in which turned out to be had hacked up 2x10's, which weren't even attached. The list of things this truck needs seems to be growing.......such as brake seals, power steering pump, possibly steering box and/or steering components, some attn to the wiring, window rubber, battery box, radiator hold downs, front driveline, and......well you get the hint. What's the saying?........another mans junk is another mans treasure! Well I picked up this orange chunk of American freedom a few weeks ago 350 with a manual 4 speed. Dirty and a few oil leaks but runs like a champ Loaded up and on the way home. Whoever mounted his flatbed decided to weld it to the frame So, while cutting it down a few feet I redid the mounting and removed the rear tail section as well. While working on the bed I discovered it wasn't in line with the body line (2" higher in the back) so I evened it out and got things in line. Next was cutting off the extended headache rack and redoing with 3x3x1/4. Got the back end buttoned up and part way on the new headache rack. Not sure what material I'll use to protect the window but trying to stay away from expand steel. Want something different.

12-22-2015, 08:03 AM	#2
68panelman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Delaware and Long Island, New York Posts: 3,455	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom I like it!, keep up the good pace! And welcome to the board

12-22-2015, 09:07 AM	#3
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 15,888	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Nice find, welcome to the board. Is it an original 4x4 or a conversion? Keep up the great work. __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man

12-22-2015, 10:31 AM	#4
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,137	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Nice! Looks like a fun project. To me though, that flex fan has to go now. They are an accident waiting to happen. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

12-22-2015, 10:39 AM	#5
flashed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canton ga Posts: 12,728	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Welcome ,nice rig .Im in to see more of it.

12-22-2015, 03:36 PM	#11
RPBurris Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dyer, Indiana Posts: 395	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Looks like a cool truck. The frame looks to be a later model by looking at the rear section. Not a huge deal. My truck is a conversion on a 78 frame. Good luck and welcome to the board! __________________ 1969 Chevy K20 Longbed

12-22-2015, 04:22 PM	#12
RedRoad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 927	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Congrats! Frame looks older based on the front rear spring hangers (look like 60s style not sure when they went from cast to stamped steel). The front axle is a 78 or later GM 10 bolt not a Dana 44. Post up some pics of the SPID on the glove box door and some more of the rear end and frame area so we can further break down what you have

12-22-2015, 09:06 PM	#13
Voodoo556 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Central Coast, California Posts: 207	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom This is what's left of the SPID

12-22-2015, 09:23 PM	#14
RedRoad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 927	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom the cab is from a 2wd 6cyl so may be a swap or conversion. What VIN is on the title? If it shows a KS or KE on the title you should clean the frame around the steering box to see if the title matches the frame VIN

12-22-2015, 09:39 PM	#15
collin70k/20 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Schaefferstown, PA Posts: 202	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom Sweet looking truck man!

12-22-2015, 09:55 PM	#16
toolboxchev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 2nd left past the stump on a dirt road. Posts: 2,629	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom That truck has potential, I had one I started on and ended up letting it go. Have a different one now and its about the same as yours. Lots of work ahead if I keep it. Thats OK! Congrats on your find!

12-23-2015, 02:56 AM	#19
RedRoad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 927	Re: 1968 k20 4wd, my chunk of freedom I think thats a 1968 Fremont built frame. Probably needed a bunch of rust repair and a replacement cab was easier than saving the original cab



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