Build of my 72 C/20

[modblacksmith]

To start off the truck has been sitting for about four years now and I'm bring her back from retirement for daily use. It has had a few upgrades allready this winter.
Set of 73 up front springs rearched to fit, giving it about 6" of lift.
1" home made zero rate add a leafs.
New front shackles 1.5" longer than stock.
New front brake lines.
Dana 60, completely rebuilt. 4.56 gears.

Right know in process. Building rear shackle flip brackets.
Restacking the rear leafs, taking out the two add a leafs per side.

Future.
New shocks all the way around.
Headers and new exhaust.
37 or 38 inch shoes.
Maybe new wheels.
New cab and bed.

Far future.
Completely repaint entire truck.

[modblacksmith]

Here is a few pics. More to come.

[modblacksmith]

A few pics of today's progress. Got the other shackle flip bracket built and painted this afternoon. I also took apart the rear leafs to start rebuilding those tomorrow. Two of my leafs were broken so I'm going to take another set that I had and mix them to make one good set until I can afford new ones. Good news is my frame is in good shape under all the dirt.
Someday I'd like to do a frame off like a few I've seen on here.
Tell me what you guys think.

Oh and a pic of my new headers that I bought last weekend. Need to let the big block breath.

[coggonobrien]

what are the headers?

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by coggonobrien

what are the headers?

Hooker competition's. I kinda went out on a limb buying these, I was told they came out of a 72 Blazer with a BB, so I hope they fit.

[Altec]

The shackle flip is pure beef. Great job! The L section that bolts to the frame simply angle iron?

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Altec

The shackle flip is pure beef. Great job! The L section that bolts to the frame simply angle iron?

Thank you!
I think so, it was 6x8" that I cut down to fit, its 5/16" thick. It doesn't taper like normal angle iron though, I had it laying around so I used it. I cut the rest of it out of 3/16" plate with a grinder and a cut off wheel, well five of them by the time I was done.

[msgross]

welcome to the board, looks like a nice setup...

I'm still trying to get through my build, it's like eating an elephant... one bite at a time!

[modblacksmith]

After staring at the headers and staring at my engine compartment I'm really starting to think they aren't the right ones. looks like the forward tubes are going to hit the cross member. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

[Altec]

I don't know enough about headers to say, but I do know looks can deceive. Had some headers that make you wonder if they were designed by those people who make those puzzles at Cracker Barrel...

Googling some pictures of headers for your truck it shows the headers sweeping back more. Worst comes to worst you can hack them up, and reroute the tubes.

[modblacksmith]

I don't know why I didn't think of that "googling them". Thanks.

When my Pa had the truck he had headers on it for a short time and he trimmed the frame down a little so they would fit. There long gone now so I can't use them as a reference.

So after researching the part number on these tonight I found that there for a 73-up truck with a big block. Not happy about this not happy at all!

[modblacksmith]

A few more pics from yesterdays progress. Had the neighbor kid under the truck drilling out the stock rivets. Mocked up my rebuilt leafs with the shackle flip brackets and a 37" Toyo, well its probably closer to a 36 its almost bald.

[modblacksmith]

For anyone who's actually watching my build. I bolted in the first one of my shackle flip brackets today, pics tomorrow. After looking at the pic of the truck mocked up with the 37 I decided the front axle needs to go forward about an inch. I called my spring guy here in town and he wants me to bring them down so he can arch them more to move the axle forward. This well also give me another inch of lift, oh darn. By the time I get everything done I mite have to run 38's to make it look right.

[Altec]

Nice, you got someone else to do the worst part of a shackle flip! Rivets are made of kryptonite, or something...

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Altec

Nice, you got someone else to do the worst part of a shackle flip! Rivets are made of kryptonite, or something...

Yeah tell me about it, I don't have a torch so I tried pie cutting them and braking them off, didn't work so hot. Went to drilling them, then made the neighbor kid drill them, he can fit under there a lot better that I can.

[modblacksmith]

For 72chevyk10

[72chevyk10]

Originally Posted by modblacksmith

For 72chevyk10

ah beautiful exactly what i was looking for! thank you very much!

[modblacksmith]

So last night I got one side on and bolted down, somewhere along the line one of two things did not pass threw my mind. How short of bolts I could of used, instead of buying way to long ones. The lower two and the two coming up hit each other. The other thing that would have fixed this would of been to off set the holes more than I did. Now I'm going to have to cut them off or go buy new ones.

[GhostTown]

I'd love to see some engine shots!

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by GhostTown

I'd love to see some engine shots!

If the weather holds up I'll take some tomorrow. Its dirty, that's next on the list is to pull it, clean it and put the new headers on.

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by GhostTown

I'd love to see some engine shots!

Here's my dirty 454. Hopefully to be bored out to a 468 sometime in the future.

[bpeters5814]

Sweet truck! I'm subscribing.

[Gene]

So, did the truck start it's life as a 2wd? Nice job!

[modblacksmith]

Originally Posted by Gene

So, did the truck start it's life as a 2wd? Nice job!

Thanks, No its started out as a 1/2 ton 4wd. Almost nothing on its stock as far as the drive train goes. I've read threw your thread, your truck is going to be nice.

[modblacksmith]

Today's progress, I put together one of my leafs, then took it apart, then put it back together and now its apart again. I'm having a hard time getting it to sit right with the shackle flip. I put the over load leafs in and it kicked it way up, so I took them back out. I think I'm just going to put bags under there so I can still tow with it.
I wire brushed and painted a lot of the smaller parts. I also started building the axle relocation blocks tonight.
Hopefully I'll have the other shackle flip bracket on tomorrow and can hang the leafs.