69' CST K20 Build

[Onry69CST]

I figure it's time to commit to a build thread for my long project.
I bought my running 1969 original complete CST K20 on a whim with the intention of making it reliable and using it. At the time I was in college and needed a truck for my side business of tree trimming and firewood. I didnt realize what a special thing I had found at the time, but I began to fix the body quickly within the first year.

It was white/turquoise, and had a good amount of water damage. The inner/outer roof, rockers, drip rails, floors, corners, kick panels and bed needed metal work. It lived most of its life in California so everything else is very nice. Lots of dents too though, it was a Fire Dept utility truck. It was mechanically serviced with regularity it seems.

[Sweeet67]

Nice! I love the dump bed.

[Onry69CST]

Thanks, thats what really caught my eye too.

So I began to fix the metal, just sort of dove into it. I had a good amount of experience welding, but had never replaced entire panels. The rockers I had ordered from a catalog didn't fit well so I sent them back and bought a quality set from Summitt racing just down the road. Same with the inner roof, the rest was all from scratch.

[57taskforce]

Looks Great! It’s good to see another K20 saved.

[Mts67C10K20]

Ok so I never really thought about a dump bed till now
That is wicked
Would really like to see some detailed pic's of how that was framed and hinged
Good luck and have fun with the build

[Onry69CST]

I'll grab some detail shots of the bed. Both roof outer sides, drip rails, and inner roof were replaced.

[Onry69CST]

This was the least fun, if I had to do it over I may consider just cutting out all the original material and fit the whole panel, but it worked. I also didnt want to compromise the 4x4 sticker on the roof.

[Husker]

That is some nice work.
Ron

[57taskforce]

Heck yea that is nice work!

[Onry69CST]

Thanks guys, better pics of the dump bed mechanism.

[Mts67C10K20]

Thanks for the pics
That going on my todo list for next year

[jocko]

Wow, I never would have guessed that the saddle tanks in a dumper would stay attached to the bed as it moves. Requires routing the fuel lines all the way aft of the hinge. Interesting.

[Onry69CST]

You are right, I'm guessing the tanks were installed before the dump was.
Also though on the saddle tanks, the filler neck and cap are so tight between the inner and outer bedsides, that they would eventually end up crushed when the bed returns down if mounted otherwise.

[jocko]

Yeah, duh, now that I think about it - they would HAVE to be attached to the bedfloor with the side fillers or an NL2. That tells me the dump was probably installed later than the tanks (which were probably dealer installed) - if the tanks were added later, you could just have top fill on them, and "pop" the bed at the gas station and puump gas straight into the tanks. Kinda like the fenderwell fill tanks, which don't require any cutting on the bedsides. Full tank weight is probably also a factor - would be a little challenging mounting them to the frame or something like that. So the way it is now is making a lot more sense...

[Onry69CST]

This was an interresting fix at the front of the rocker joint. It's sealed off after the outer rocker is welded up.
After quite a bit of block sanding and skim coats I sprayed it in a high build urathane sealer, then blocked that out one more time.

[Onry69CST]

So I did all this work when I was about 23, and my taste has changed a bit, but I still like the color I chose for the truck. If I had to paint it now maybe I would consider the original turquoise.

I had a buddy who owns a shop have his temporary painter spray it on a weekend. He laid the color down nice, but ended up terribly running the clear...more sanding. You can see some runs in thr bed rail radius if you look close. He also missed the color split on the cab by a mile. Just aggrivating, also if I redid it I would have pulled all the panels and painted the bare cab so I wouldn't be going through it with satin black now.

[Onry69CST]

After I brought it home.

[yuccales]

You have done a great job! That truck looks good. Keep those pics coming.

[Ol Blue K20]

Love the blue, very nice.

[cornerstone]

Thanks for showing us! I would love to have a dump bed too. Do you notice any problems in normal use because of the dump, or is it just all bonus?

[Onry69CST]

I haven't noticed any negatives yet from the dump bed. The only thing that concerns me is towing, being that the hitch is connected to the frame by the dump pivot pins with the rest of the bed. I think it's fine though.

After the truck was painted I lost my space to work on it, and my garage at home wasn't long enough to fit it. I had to store it in a temporary tarp building outdoors for 6 years. It was virtually impossible to motivate myself to work on mud and leaves, 100 yards away from my garage and tools. It made it through many windstorms, snow and ice and water piling on top, and branches falling. Not without constant attention and guy wires and a re roof job though. It's a miracle it made it without a scratch.

That brings us to 2 years ago, where I finally bought a nice farm with buildings and space to work. Only problem was that there was lumber everywhere piled to the roof. It took another year and a half to move my truck into my new shop. Then I started getting excited about it again.

[Vintage Windmills]

I really like your truck. These CST K/20's are rare. Even cooler is the fact its blue. Your bodywork skills are impressive and so is the dump bed. Hope to see more updates.

[toms68cst]

That thing is a monster! Love it. I will be watching this build.

[Onry69CST]

I've been slowly chipping away at the mechanicals the last few months, and painting as I go along. I've replaced the body bushings, rebuilt the front brakes, installed new front bearings, and a few more little things. I'll have the front axle together and back on the ground within a week I hope. I had taken a few extra days off work around memorial day to finish the axle, but life is much more complicated now with a new little one.

Of course I had to reset the fenders and doors also after I did the body bushings so get it just right.

[Onry69CST]

My sandblaster is really nice for all this prep work.