Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

What do you do when you have family over for the holidays? You put them to work of course. I got my brother, nephew and brother in law to help me put the bed and cab on.

Next up is to finish the exhaust.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Starting to look like a pickup! Extra hands is always nice to have for those jobs.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

You'll be ready to take that down the road before the snow melts.

Looking great!

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Haha thanks! I hope it is close in the spring but I have a few major components that are not going to be here for a while. I was told that the vintage air system won’t be here until March and your guess is as good as mine on when I will see the Edelbrock Proflo fuel injection. The ship date has been pushed out three times already. And I still need to order the interior!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I finished up the exhaust tonight. I had to change my plans for the exit pipes due to the hitch and springs being in the way but I think it turned out really well. I tried to keep the pipes as far to the outside as I could because I would like to add a late model under bed spare tire winch and carry a full size spare.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks good!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

beautiful work!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks great. I picked up a spare tire winch for mine but I haven’t got around to putting it in because my receiver hitch appears to be in the way of a spare tire. Yours looks like it has more clearance.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Been plugging away on getting some things done. I figured I would work from the back to the front.

So I got the tailgate, bumper and fuel door on. And I also got all the rear wiring complete including the 7 pin trailer plug.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also finally sanded and buffed the top of the cab so I could get the cab lights on. I hooked the up to a battery to see how they looked.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

GMT400 cab lights look clean for sure!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I love the cab lights...Very slick. That shade of blue looks great next to the chrome.

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Supply chain issues are really slowing my progress. Since I have some time I decided to build a behind the bumper winch mount. I really like the Engineered Vintage mount but since this is a budget build there was no way I was spending $450 on a couple pieces of angle. I have about $50.00 in angle and a couple nights of my time in the shop.

First I made a pattern and then cut the frame pieces out of some 6”x3 1/2”x3/8” angle. Then spent some time at my drill press drilling holes. The made the winch plate out of 1/2” material.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

That should do the job!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

A couple of pictures of the winch mount mocked up. I used all the existing holes in the frame. I just need to blast, paint and buy a winch.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks great Josh....

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks Marc! I was hoping to have this thing on the road in the spring but with so many parts on backorder it is hard to keep making progress with out backing myself in a corner. So who knows when it will be done?

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

That looks clean and very stout. I will be interested to see the final install.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Yeah, I have heard the part backorder ordeal from my other car buddies as well...Lucky for you, you have a sweet Blazer to cruise around in as you wait for parts. Ha ha.

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Just went thru your entire Build Thread, VERY NICE! You do some pretty amazing work! :metal:
Can’t wait to see the finished project.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Yea, it definitely makes it easier. Just need some warmer weather now!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you! You do some pretty amazing work yourself! It was nice meeting you today and I can’t wait to get that beautiful seat you restored for me installed.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice to meet you too. Can’t wait to see it installed. I don’t always get to see them in the trucks. There’s been a few, but not many.
Happy to hear you got back home safely, since the weather wasn’t really the best.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Well I have really been slacking on updates on this build. Parts are showing up!

Winch mount painted and installed with the tow hooks.
Sound deadner, fire wall insulation and cab corner speaker enclosures in.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Wiper motor, red head steering gear, jeep XJ steering shaft and hydro boost installed.

Engine wiring complete, brakes bled and most of the under dash wiring done.

I also swapped out the ugly Blueprint valve covers for some stock GM covers.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also got my wheels blasted and powder coated. When I went to get the tires installed one of them was bent bad so off to the junkyard to find another. I guess I got a good looking spare now.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Edelbrock pro flo showed up and installed. I ended up poking a hole in the fire wall and mounting the eco under the dash.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Very nice build! Your truck is shaping up to be one of my favorites already.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Sweet build man. Great choice on the color. You don’t see it often. And you’re not too far from me! If you’re ever going to a car show around here it’d be great to meet up. I don’t have any truck buddies out here yet since moving from the northwest…

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Super clean build. Good call on swapping out the valve covers.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you!
Sounds good! You should have brought some of those rust free north west trucks with you to Michigan!
Thank you! Yea, I don’t know why they have to put those valve covers on their engines.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I got the vintage air firewall plate and bolts painted and installed. I didn’t want to take the time to protect everything in my shop from overspray and the weather was warm so I painted it outside on a windy day. I should have painted the whole damn truck outside with results like this.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

So I ordered a champion 3 row aluminum radiator that was supposed to be a direct fit drop in. Well it doesn’t fit. Surprise surprise! The tank was too wide to accommodate the factory isolators and brackets. So I got some Prothane small block isolators and carved them out with a razor blade to fit the bottom mounts and that worked good. But the radiator is also about 3/4” shorter then the original. So I had some 3/8” thick aluminum flat stock laying around and I welded it to the top of the tanks to take up the gap so I could use the original rubber supports and brackets.

Don’t judge me on my aluminum welding. I don’t do it often and I really didn’t want to blow a hole in the tank!

Another task crossed off the list. I will be firing this thing up soon.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Looks ok to me, I've never welded aluminum before. Besides, you're the only one who will see them.

Coming along nicely!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Man Josh, you have been busy....I like everything I'm seeing.
Once the warm weather sticks around maybe I will take a drive over to check it out.

Marc

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks Marc! With the time I spent working on it it seems like I should be further along! Haha! Nothing ever fits like it is supposed to but that is usually the case with these things.

Stop by any time. I may be giving you a call soon to help me hang some doors and fenders.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Please do...My kids sports schedules have really died down. I'm free most weekends (or nights during the week). Saturdays are usually clear.

Talk soon

Marc