Getting a 1970 K/20 Burb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Thanks y'all. Yeah those do look like dually wheels but they're just regular steel wheels. I'm guessing they're 8.25" wide, so 33's or 35's will fit on 'em good. The factory wiring harness has been spliced into in a lot of places, but not destroyed. I think I'll just try to fix it, it's not really that bad. It was mainly the alternator harness that was screwed up. Oh yeah this has the dual battery option, the trays are in good shape. And at least the manual throttle cable is still there, I think there's a PTO on the T case, I hadn't looked yet. Right now this is the stuff I need to get Ol Yeller running and driving:

fix rust problems ASAP so they don't get away from me
+ battery cable DONE
steerin column + shaft(if anybody has one let me know!)
re-wire underhood harness
wire up starter DONE
work on distributor DONE
rebuild carb DONE
change oil(good enough to run for awhile)
drain tranny and new filter(i pulled the dipstick and there's clean red fluid in it!)
pull covers and change fluid on axles, change T-case oil
check U joints DONE
flush engine block DONE
get used radiator DONE
buy new belts DONE
go through brakes
pull wheels off and oil studs DONE

This is gonna take some time, but i just wanna hear that 454 rumble and get to drive it around!!!!!!!

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Well guess what. I was cleaning all the junk out of it and found the envelope for the title on the floor under the center seat, but the only thing in it was the receipt for the license and a maintenance log, here's what it says:

73,110mi. plug wires, cap + rotor
packed front wheel bearings
1 new U joint(front)
new axle and universal for left front

Hell it has a new axle on the drivers side!

12-16-1995

73,925mi.

5qts 10W-30
1 can Engine Restorer
PF35 filter

9-17-96

power steering pump+fluid

9-3-96

new rear brakes

7-5-97

75, 205 mi. front brakes- shoes + wheel cylinders

At least it was taken care of! The 'Burb only has about 76,000 miles on it so that stuff should still be in good shape.

[4x4Poet]

Use oil on the studs. Antisieze is too slippery and greatly affects torque values.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

I've always used never-sieze on wheel studs, that's what the tire shop here uses too. Didn't know it would hurt anything, thanks for the tip. Anybody know how much work is involved to pull the front hub and replace a wheel stud?

[4x4Poet]

Antisieze won't hurt the threads. It just is a little tricky to keep lugs tight on studs coated with antisieze. Use it sparingly, if you follow the tire shop's advice. I have a tire shop here that recommends the same, I just disagree since I know how antisieze makes the threads too slippery for using the torque settings called for in the Chev Svc Manual. I have to use more torque with antisieze and I don't like doing that when mounting wheels since I worry I'll risk stressing a stud past its stretch limit.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

When I got new tires put on my truck the tire place used so much of it that it was dripping all over the lugnuts and when I started driving the truck it got slung all over the wheels. THAT was too much. I just brush a little bit of it on each stud when I do use it.

A little update on the 'Burb here, I wired up the starter temporarily and dropped in a battery and the 454 cranks over with good compression and sounds like a new engine trying to start. I had to order new plug wires and they won't be here till the 7th. The cap, rotor, and points look new. I'll probably have to change the plugs though. I still got plenty of work to do! I'm gonna take one of the lock cylinders to the locksmith so he can get a set of keys made, that way I don't mess up the dash trying to get the ignition switch out.

[Jebb1978]

Congrats man, that is a killer deal for that kind of money. Sure it has issues but what doesn't at that age. I don't think you will have any problem getting your money back out of it if you unloaded it down the road.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Thanks man. Yeah it's gonna be another good project. I was planning on fixing it up and re-selling it, but I know that ain't gonna happen. I'm keeping it! Hopefully I'll have it running by tomorrow when the wires get here. Yesterday I put a fan on the engine and got a belt for the alternator. I also checked the gas tank and it's bone dry, hopefully it's not rusted bad inside and I think the fuel pump is OK. I also checked the fluid in the axles and it's almost full with clean gear oil. The transfercase has gear oil and transmission fluid mixed in, I guess the seal went bad between the tranny and transfercase or something. I'll post an update tomorrow after I try to fire it up.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!! Got the wires yesterday(about $25) and did some more stuff to the engine and got it to fire up. It runs GREAT, no knocks or oil smoke! Had about 50lbs of oil pressure at an idle. We didn't run it long since it didn't have a radiator or fan hooked up. I had a gas can sitting under the Burb and the fuel pump was pulling fuel out of it so that's good. Here's what I did today:

bought and installed an almost new(used) 4 row radiator-$45
got the right steering rag joint and 4spd column temporarily installed
installed an old 4 blade fan on the engine and put a belt on it
tryed to clean the inside so i can get the seat back in

Stuff I need to buy to drive it:

67-70 auto steering column
get locksmith to make a key for the ignition

That's it! The brakes seem to be working but I'll end up pulling the drums sometime and rebuild the cylinders. I got all the hoses installed today and ran it for about 5 minutes, it ran good except the choke on the carb won't open up by itself, had to use a screwdriver to hold it open.

[JAKES 68GMC]

You're doing good!

[Canadian694x4]

Glad to see you Got 'Er!

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Thanks y'all. It just drove today under it's own power. I needed to move it out of the way, had to drive it forward about 20ft. I won't drive it on the street till I get the right steering column though. I crawled under it and put the tranny in drive(with the engine off, i'm not that stupid), then I hotwired it and drove it forward while sitting on a 5 gallon bucket. If you've ever done that, youuuuuu might be a redneck. I'm probably gonna put the bench seat back in it tomorrow after cleaning out the inside and then start working on the brakes. It does have a little oil smoke now, but it's no where near a bug fogger. Most of it was oil and grease burning off of the manifolds and exhaust.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Now I have the title!!!!! Found out the guy that had it lives here in town and I went and got it earlier today. He has a '69 LWB C10 that's hugger orange with black racing stripes but he doesn't drive it much 'cause of the gas prices. Anyway he handed it straight over, turns out he never got it transfered so I'm the official third owner. The original owner of Old Yeller was an older man that had a construction company and took good care of it, then he sold it to a portable building company in '89, now I have it. Gonna get it transfered in my name next week! I just ordered a set of door locks for it today, still need a steering column and 4x4 auto shift rod though...

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Well here's some pics of the glovebox. This was actually a well loaded option truck back in it's day. The 4x4 instruction sticker and Chevrolet Custom emblem are in great shape. It's hard to see the options in the pics so I'll write 'em out.

KE260FXXXXXX

Custom Bench Seat Tinted Glass
Center & Rear Seat Rear Center Seat BE
Body Side Moulding Body Side Moulding
Air Conditioning RO Door Edge Guards
FRT Wheel Lock Hubs Frt & Rear Shock AB
Manual Throttle Brake Booster Equip
Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 Cu. In. V-8 Eng.
Auxillary Battery Power Steering
Radio-Push Button Heavy Duty Battery
Custom Group Ammeter-Oil Gauge
Black Vinyl Trim White/Light Yellow

I think body side moulding was listed twice since it has both the upper and lower moulding. Oh yeah all three door edge guards are gone, someone knew they were worth something!

[t rex 7]

Nice deal on the 'burb I guess I need to start looking farther south for a deal and maybe come up with something like you have. Not easy getting parts here in Houston. Send some updates when you get it on the road.

t rex

[jmbstudios]

SHEEESH....

A little paint and its like brand new!!!

[vtblazer]

Been watching this thread, nice progres.

Fun reading as things come together.

Makes me wanna get my K20 burb back on the road.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Thanks y'all. As far as I can tell the brakes on it are working and the booster works great, just having trouble with the pedal coming back up. I think the original brake return spring broke, looks like someone put a smaller spring in it's place. Once I get the column and find a shifter rod I'll take it for a test drive. It'll be a pain since there's no power steering. I have the original pump for the 350, but since it now has a 454 I need a BB pump. The tranny looks like it needs the pan pulled and a new gasket put on, and I'll buy a new filter and change the fluid. The engine needs an oil change and a new filter too. I think the gas tank is OK, I put two gallons of gas in it and the fuel pump is pulling it out, just need an inline filter. I won't be using the 4wd for awhile, still gotta fix the driver side hub lock and the tires on it won't be good in the mud anyway, but they're good enough to get it on the road. If it doesn't rain tomorrow i'm gonna change the oil and filter, and if autozone has the pan gasket and filter I'll change the transmission fluid.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Little update here........yesterday i drained the tranny fluid and pulled the pan. the fluid looked a little on the burnt/old side so it's not going back in. i cleaned the pan out, installed the new filter, etc and that's all i did. the tranny still works, back when i first fired the engine up the 'Burb drove forward while i was standing on the front bumper. i forgot to put it in park. i still need to fix the hub, rebuild the wheel cylinders even though they seem to work, put the front seat in, get the column and fabricate a tranny shift rod.

[Robert1970C20rstbukt]

Well it's been awhile since I gave y'all an update on the Beast, I figured i'd let y'all know how it's been going. I finally got a key made from the original passenger side lock cylinder, so now I can finally start it while sitting inside the truck! It also works the rear tailgate/hatch window lock so I have two keys now, one for the new front door locks and one for the ignition/rear gate. I had to buy a new set of locks because the driver side lock was missing. So far the electrical system seems to be OK. The wipers/washer pump works(which was surprising!), headlights/taillights/etc, the fans for the roof mounted A/C work(even though all the underhood A/C parts are gone, dam#it) I need to find or buy a new front charging harness as the original dual-battery harness was gone, including the wiring to the pass. side headlight and sidemarker. I rebuilt all the brake wheel cylinders and replaced the master cylinder, but fluid didn't come out of any cylinders when we tried to bleed the system, which means the hoses are collapsed. Front hoses from Autozone are $30 each and the rear is $20 so they'll have to wait awhile. And yes I did bench bleed the MC so it's operating like it should. I also pulled the nasty moldy HOUSE CARPET out that was covering the front floor pans, under the front seat, and tranny tunnel. The floor is actually very solid with the only rust being near the rockers/kick panels with the usual redneck pop-rivet sheetmetal repair which is good enough for right now. The spare tire well is completely rusted out, and has a piece of sheetmetal in it's place to hold the tire in which also works, but I will get both of those fixed the right way when time and money allow me to. The monster 454 is still running GREAT. I finally got the gas tank cleaned out good and put new rubber hoses from the steel lines to the sending unit, and it picks up gas from the tank now instead of a 5 gal. can. That's it for now, if the stupid weather clears up I'll have some pics of it later, including pics of the engine.