1979 K20 - salvage yard special

[LuckyLightning]

I hesitated starting a project thread for this truck since I will be replacing the body with my '63 sometime next year. But I've already been messing with it anyway and figured I would post up what I do in case it helps anyone else.

I call it a salvage yard special since nearly every piece of the body is from a salvage yard - and it looks like it!

Most of it was done by the PO, but there are some treats by me. Front clip and doors are from a '91 Suburban (the cab itself is the original). Bed is from... something else. Bench seat is from a '74 C20 (which does not fold down - is this normal?), glove box is from something else. Looking to swap out the dash to something that at least looks like a dash (pics to come). The front bumper is from a '89-'98 Silverado modified to fit, and the rear bumper is from a lightpole (like the ones in a Walmart parking lot) that is bolted to the frame by 4 grade 8 bolts (the hitch balls are welded in). The PO towed about 14,000 lbs. approximately 10-20 miles going up to 40 MPH. He said he white-knuckled it even though everything went well.

What it has: It's got a 350, 4 speed manual (SM465?), and an NP205 transfer case. The PO put on glass packs, which I am removing shortly. Wheels are from an early '00 2500. Tires are Nitto Terra Grapplers at 315/75/R65, which fit well but the tread is getting worn down and I'm a BFG guy so I'm eye-balling those new KO2s. Also, I added 9,000 lb. winch from HF.

What it needs: shocks (will do this weekend), dash (as mentioned above), driver's side door jamb switch (again, this weekend), steering box rebuild (leaking as all get out, will use Tx Firefighter's write-up as a guide, just waiting for parts to arrive), speedo and odometer issue, will add fog/auxiliary lights, tires (as mentioned above), a shelf-it (which seems like a waste of money since I won't keep it that long, but I want to add a CB and ham radio and need a secure place for them), A/C compressor (truck has A/C, but the compressor, bracket and hoses were removed for some reason), and who knows what else I discover is needed.

I'm usually very conservative with the trucks I fix-up because I try not to customize it too much (to maximize the return on my investment), but since the body is already so rough and I'm not keeping it anyway, I feel much more adventurous with what modifications I can try out. The real fun will be when I do swap out the body (planned for later this year), as I plan to give the frame and drivetrain some solid love when it's more accessible.

Here are some pics. I have more to post, but the weather has just been crappy and I haven't been able to get outside to get some decent ones.

I took this one a week or so after I got it (just after Thanksgiving).


Here's a video walk-around from today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiCM...ature=youtu.be

Here are some photos from today as well when it was drizzly and chilly at around 36-38 degrees:








Also, here's the loaded trailer that was altogether around 14,000 lbs. that was towed by the PO, and the bumper that handled it: