Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I am usually on the 69 - 72 Blazer and Jimmy forums but i have always loved square body K20's and 30's. So i have been looking for a while for a relatively rust free truck in Michigan but they are a unicorn. I came across this on Craigslist a 1985 K20 4 speed 208 combo and purchased it. It is originally from Wyoming and has a crappy paint job but it is solid. It needs cab corners and it has a little bit of rust behind the rear tires but that is it. The floor boards, rockers, and core support are in excellent shape.

The plan for it is to build a nice driver that i am not too worried to drive! This was also the plan for the Jimmy that i built but it got out of control and i made it way nicer than originally planned. We'll see how it goes! I am giving myself a 6K budget to do all of the work including the body work and paint. This will be the first vehicle that i have painted.

I am going to make it drive the way i like before tackling the body work. on the list of things to do in the near future

Put a mechanical fuel pump on it and get rid of the electric that is on there now?
Fix all of the oil leaks
Swap out the dump truck driving SM465 transmission with a TH400.
Get rid of the 4" lift for a 2" lift.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I got the electric fuel pump off and mechanical one put on and it runs great. I don't know why the PO put the electric on? I also repaired a brake line and cleaned up some wiring.

Then i came across this beauty on craigslist same year 1985 K20 for $500.00. So i went to pick it up. This poor old girl actually drove on to the trailer and into my shop albeit leaking a lot of fluids. I thanked her for giving what she has left for my build!

It actually runs pretty good however i don't need an engine, but i will be using the Transmission, transfer case adapter, cross member, transmission shift linkage, tilt column, radiator, (which looks new!), brake pedal, TH400 kick down switch and possibly the ring and pinions if they are something higher than 4.11's. And i am sure i will find other parts to use.

The tilt column has a broken shift bowl and i am not looking forward to fixing it. It looks way more complicated than the 72 tilt column i restored and that was a PITA! Anyone have any advise or link to a good thread for me?

The disassembly will start this week end.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Got the old girl stripped this weekend. Got a bunch of parts that i can use.
But, the gears are 4.10's so i wont be using them. Made a huge mess in my shop in the process. Not much left of her!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I’m looking forward to your build. Nice score on the parts truck!

I checked out your Jimmy build. That turned out nice!!!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

After spending the last three years finishing our house i am looking forward to another build as well. Thanks for following along and the compliments on my Jimmy!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Not a whole lot to report. I did get my shop cleaned out from the carnage of the parts truck.

I also serviced my DD, brought the trans to my friend for a rebuild and ordered a bunch of parts to keep me busy in case I am quarantined because of COVID!

This week end i will try to rebuild the tilt column. Wish me luck!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Cool build and nice lineup of rigs!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thank you!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Well the tilt steering column did not disappoint in being a PITA. But, i think i won other than needing to still get a new lock cylinder because the assist ears were broken on it. It should be here tomorrow and that should complete the column.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Since removing the transmission out of the parts truck was less than graceful and i never have an extra set of hands in my shop i built this "custom" transmission jack with some scrap i had lying around. I also "won" this license plate on ebay that will go on the front of this rig when it is done.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Cool truck and good looking shop too! I’ll be following along from from quarantine / home office...

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice project!
Those motor cycle jacks double as a trans jack too I used it on a transfercase R&R that went great by my self went in on the first shot!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Wish I was closer I'd buy some parts off you! Good build so far... update?

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks for following along! The shop could use to be bigger and i still need to run air lines from my compressor. It is 32' x 48' and the previous owner put a wall down the middle with a 7' garage door in it to make 2 - 32' x 24' areas. I finished and heated one side for my shop and added a 9' exterior overhead door to the unfinished side for a storage area.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Thanks! I thought of that but i had some scrap laying around so i will see how it works!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I wish you were too. I got a ton of crap to sell.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

It is about time i updated.

I went to put the column in and i knew i had some wiring issues but i did not think they were this bad. The previous owner had a push button starter switch installed and i was hoping it was just because the column ignition switch was bad. Wrong. there was a bunch of melted wires and butt connectors in the under dash harness. So, luckily the parts truck harness was in really good shape but that truck had PW, PL and CC. i ended up removing the dash harness and de-pinned all the bad wires and replaced them with the donor harness wires.

I got it all back installed and it kept blowing the Horn fuse as soon as i put it in. I traced that back to a bad cigarette lighter. So i got a new one on the way!

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I also swapped out the aftermarket oil pressure gauge for an OEM one and added the auto gear indicator. I also noticed that my odometer is a 6 digit? I thought that these only came with 5 digit odometers but it all looks original! I i believe that the miles are correct.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I got the steering column installed and decided to tackle some of the oil leaks.

Replaced the rear main seal, oil pan gasket and timing cover gasket. While i was tearing into it i found out why this thing was leaking so bad. It only had 2 bolts holding the timing cover on and it is not like the other fell out because the holes were filled with RTV!

When i put it back together i cleaned and painted all the parts and install the radiator with trans cooler from the parts truck. I know, it is like putting lipstick on a pig

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I got a surprise when i was replacing the oil pan gasket and rear main. It is a 4 bolt main engine and everything looks really good in it.

I also picked up my transmission. I know what you all will say "nice tranny pan!". Don't worry. there was a new one and a Hughes 2500 stall converter sitting on my porch when i got home.

I took it for a ride to make sure all engine oil leaks were gone and they were.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Nice work. It all adds up when you clean and paint the bits and pieces working through these projects. Before you know it maybe it’s not a pig anymore! Two bolts and rtv.... good grief.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

x2!

Most of us can only bring one part up to our standards at a time. The disparity in condition shows progress.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

Speedometer 6 digit: almost all Canadian models received 6 digit, mainly because kilometres are shorter then miles, being main reading is in miles I don't believe this is a Canadian model.

Almost all the C50/60/70 trucks I have seen have a 6 digit reading. They are also more likely to have the tach gauge as well.

starting in 88 they added trip meters, but most are still 5 digit, but I have seen the rare 6 digit. 6 digit in 1991, but speedo's were electric(not cable driven)

I have not figured out with any rhyme or reason as why some are 6(rare though) and most are 5, with the above exceptions.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

I was thinking all the Suburban / K5’s had 6 digit starting in about 89’??? I’m having a brain fart and can’t remember for sure. My first thought when I saw his post above was that he probably had a newer cluster.

Re: Budget Build 1985 K20
 

It could have been swapped from a heavy duty truck its hard to tell. The reason i think it is original is because of the miles. I believe that this truck has under 100K on it based on the wear of the pedals, gear shifter and steering wheel. But then again, it has a different engine in it so who the hell knows?