haven't owned a classic in a long time......1973 C20 longbed 2013 project

[moregrip]

So I picked up a new 40 year old truck recently.....pre-smog ftw! Found what I think is a gem of a roller. 1973 C20 8lug. Further inspection will reveal the whole truth I imagine. I think the last pre-smog truck I owned was a 71 C20 when I was in my teens! Good to be back

It came with everything minus a motor: TH400, 14bolt rear end, and heavy duty suspension. The body is incredibly straight, very little rust that I can see so far (a little front passenger fender cancer)

The plans are to build a performance based lowered 8lug street truck while not having to worry about the smog police AND it'll fit in my garage (old house). So it will loosely lay out like this:

1. make it into a shortbed
2. take the blown LQ4 out of my 2005 HD and install in this
3. take the built 4L80E out of my 2005 HD and install it in this
4. lower it
5. Re-use the 8lug Intro wheels I currently own

Here she is loaded up on her way to the hobby shop on base:

[75chev4x4]

That's a nice start man. I would keep it a longbed but that's just me. Should be really nice with the od.

[ivorton74]

Nice...I agree with 75chev though...i'd keep it longbed
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[Wrecked1982]

long bed, long bed

[Number21]

Love to see somebody bringing back a '73. Don't wanna see it get cut up though....

[GM-power]

^ X2
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[Skunksmash]

I'm so glad to see all this longbed love. Longbeds are awesome! They just look great imo.

[azjaeger]

I agree..IMHO unless you are building a hot rod truck, the longbeds have better proportions.

[ivorton74]

I just got my longbed lowered and it looks so awesome...looks way better than a lowered short bed.i just love it! Long live longbeds
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[moregrip]

thanks all, I'm looking forward to this build. In the planning stages now and having a ball exploring all the possibilities! I'll take your long bed suggestions under strong advisement but at this point my heart is set on a short bed!

[bk2life]

short bed.

[moregrip]

So it looks like I'm officially in the planning stages for this build.....i.e. looking for deals and saving parts until I'm ready to start tearing into the C20. Will be a busy next couple of months. Need to finish up this home renno I'm in the middle of and it looks like my first child(son) is coming sooner than expected! All good things, just need more hours in the day!

[75chev4x4]

Wow I don't think you have enough to do, haha

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by azjaeger

I agree..IMHO unless you are building a hot rod truck, the longbeds have better proportions.

I've always thought this. To me the shortbeds always seemed...a little too short.

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

I've always thought this. To me the shortbeds always seemed...a little too short.

Yeah, I suppose my choice in running 8lug trucks as hot rods has always been somewhat out of place But I've had a great success with it and a great time doing it. My plans for this one are that this will be the hottest of them all (that I've built anyway).
I'm just glad to be back in a pre-smog truck! Jumping that hurdle has my mind going in all sorts of directions......like: instead of buying a new fullsize SUV for the family, why not spend half as much and fix up a pre-75 SUV

planning/parts collecting update:

so upon further inspection it looks like the leading lower edge of the passenger front fender is nicely rotted out.....crazy when the only thing left intact is the paint!

luckily I found an NOS fender GM part# 14031990 to replace it! (they ain't cheap! hope that's the last one!)

oh and, I went ahead and bought myself a little birthday present today (birthday was yesterday):



I think this will go well on it

[moregrip]

Here's a few pic's of my current 8lug hot rod:

street setup:


drag racing setup:


old blower motor setup: