My 1963 K20 Stepside - Going to be lots of questions ....

[CivilEGR]

Recently I picked up a pretty original 1963 Chevy K20 stepside in pretty good overall condition. My overall plans for the truck are to retain/restore it as much as possible while keeping the original looks.

Highlights:
-Think it was bought for a power company in 1963
-Has a winch that is driven by a PTO connected to the transmission
-Has a power inverter installed in the engine bay
-292 Inline 6
-4 on the floor (not sure what model)
-Transfer Case (not sure what model)
-Closed knuckle Dana 44 front end
-Eaton rear end
-Some sort of aftermarket wheel lock. Will post more data on this later to figure out what it is and how it works.
-Original glass all around, but will need a new windshield at some point
-Mirrors aren't original, but I like them



I do have some immediate questions as I've never owned a vehicle this old and I want to make sure I keep it in good running condition.

-Should I be running ethanol free gas with the carburetor?
-Do I need any additives for the fuel?
-Where are the grease points for the drive train?
-Do I need a special oil with more additives?

[The Rocknrod]

Oh man that's a nice truck.
If you can get ethanol free gas, by all means use it.

[cwcarpenter98]

Those actually are factory mirrors. They could have been installed by the dealer though. I have a set for my truck that I'll eventually put on.
I would run non-ethanol since your carb doesn't have all the rubber-y bits replaced with ones made to work with ethanol fuels. Also, if it will sit for awhile, the ethanol isn't great for the entire system

[Johns 66]

Congrats on your new ride....Love to see what all you have planned and are gonna do to it.

Your upper and lower control arms, drive shaft, ball joints, tie rod ends are a few grease points that I can think of at the moment

[raylube]

Cool truck, t case should be rockwell T221, keep it full or will burn bearings, 80 90 weight, get a factory shop manual. Truck has lots of grease zerks, special lube in front knuckles. If floor shift 4 speed should be sm420. Need more photos to see what else you have. great you found a unmolested truck

[Katrina/10]

Very nice truck!

[factorystock]

Nice find! Please keep the original factory applied paint, if rust repair work is planned, just fog in color matched paint only in the rust repair areas, leave rest of body, grill, bumpers and 17" wheels alone. Keep the original work truck character of the vehicle intact. I suggest harden valve seats added to the head for today's gas, and a motor oil with zinc. I also recommend purchasing the 1963 Chevy truck shop manual, plenty of good info. Here is a sample.

['63GENIII]

Nice find. I like it a lot but I may be a little biased....

[CivilEGR]

Does anyone have a lead on where I might find the rubber boot for the 4x4 transfer case shifter? I can find the transmission shifter boots everywhere, but nothing on the transfer case boot.

[The Rocknrod]

Truck Shop in Orange, CA.
4-5-6 Truck Parts might have them.
However I don't think it came with one, but it had a donut looking unit that was a seal under the floor - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...4&postcount=22
Assembly manual picture - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...8&postcount=10
And pics of the original install - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6&postcount=29

[raylube]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Truck Shop in Orange, CA.
4-5-6 Truck Parts might have them.
However I don't think it came with one, but it had a donut looking unit that was a seal under the floor - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...4&postcount=22
Assembly manual picture - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...8&postcount=10
And pics of the original install - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6&postcount=29

He is asking about the Transfer case shifter boot not the 4 speed shifter boot. The 4 speed boots being sold are not correct and are a generic type as they only came on cowl type tucks but did use a round foam seal under the hump. Those repop foam seal also dont fit properly as they are square in shape and not thick enough.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=775949 some info
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=572328

[CivilEGR]

The 4x4 shifter is the biggest problem for me right now. It's a sizeable hole and looks to be where mice are getting into the cab. I think I can make a boot from a 67-72 work.

[Short 3/4]

Originally Posted by CivilEGR

The 4x4 shifter is the biggest problem for me right now. It's a sizeable hole and looks to be where mice are getting into the cab. I think I can make a boot from a 67-72 work.

Not available reproduced, but you can usually make a generic round boot work. Get one that is larger in diameter than the hole in the floor, then tuck it into the hole with the base of the boot under the floor. This will make a good seal, and allow the shifter to go all the way forward to the 4 hi position.

[CivilEGR]

Spring is here and the project begins. Is there somewhere to get pre-bent brake lines but for a dual reservoir master cylinder? And also, what replacement master cylinder should I get? And finally, what brake rebuild kits should I get for the 11" drum brakes?

[Short 3/4]

A late 60's early 70's dual master should bolt right in. You will have to bend your own lines though. Some places may say they have what you need, but I guarantee they will be wrong.
Those drums should be 12x2", 11" is 2wd and will not work. Cylinders should be available, but be sure they are for 4x4. Hardware is different for a 4x4 even though some parts vendors think otherwise. Re use what you have, or go someplace where you can match before you buy.
While your at it, this is a good time to go to self adjusting brakes like later 60's trucks had.
Once well sorted, those 12" brakes work surprisingly well.
Good luck
Tom

[gmc684x4]

Nice looking truck

You can use 14 bolt brakes with backing plates on your eaton diff from my understanding or upgrade them to a disc brake setup

You could run a latter 71 up dana 44 or look for a dana 60
I will say on a guess 4.57 gearing and good chance rear is a locker

I have a rough 62 k20 thinking of making it into a plow truck

[cwcarpenter98]

I purchased a set of "pre-bent" lines for my 63. I had to bend them a lot to make them fit, especially up by the master. I'm going to make my own lines once it's all painted nice so that it looks good instead of wacky bent noodles

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by CivilEGR

Spring is here and the project begins. Is there somewhere to get pre-bent brake lines but for a dual reservoir master cylinder? And also, what replacement master cylinder should I get? And finally, what brake rebuild kits should I get for the 11" drum brakes?

Get a roll of CuNiFer from Summit, a bender and a good flare tool. The CuNiFer line is easy to bend and flare. Doesn't rust.

Ive also seen that 14bff stuff fits the HO72. I opted for an '05 14bff with OEM discs for 300. Id either stay with the stock drums or go with the late model OEM discs. Anything in between is kind of, well, in between.

The drums work great when they're dialed in and working right.

[gmc684x4]

Here is a thread to convert a closed knuckle diff to disc brakes

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=818872

[CivilEGR]

I think I'm going to stick to the original drums all around, as this truck won't be seeing any hard driving. I would like to upgrade to the dual reservoir master cylinder, and then I'll have to figure out how to re-plumb the whole thing.

[CivilEGR]

Two discoveries from this past weekend.

1. My brake line goes back into my cab. I "think" there was an aftermarket lever installed in the dashboard, that when activated "holds" the brake line pressure, locking all 4 wheels through the brake line hydraulics. Kinda cool, but I don't know if I can put in the dual master like I wanted.



2. It looks like my alternator belt isn't in-plane with the flywheel. I think I need a new bracket, but I don't know what I'm looking for just yet.

[cwcarpenter98]

You might have a hydraulically activated trailer brake controller installed. Not sure on the alternator, but I'm in the same boat with my 63. It doesn't quite line up with the water pump and crank pulleys, but I haven't thrown a belt yet, so I'm still gonna send it

[CivilEGR]

Looks like this set-up.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by CivilEGR

Looks like this set-up.

That would help anchor the truck while witching a load. I have one for my truck that I have to install still. I have dual master cylinder, I'm plan is to use it for the front brakes. They're a great anti theft device. Set it and the truck won't move.....

[cwcarpenter98]

Learn something new every day. I've never seen anything like that