73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => Welcome => Topic started by: Poorhouse on May 28, 2013, 03:50:47 pm
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New Member here, thought I should introduce myself as I found a lot of good information here when I was shopping trucks.
Already used a tech tip as well - 1/2 PEK as a replacement bushing for the door striker, fixed my door perfectly. :)
On to the truck. It's a 79 K20 I bought from the family of the second owner. He had purchased it in '89 and used it in the summers with a slide in camper. He passed away last year and I bought it from his family.
Deal took a month to complete due to some complications with the DMV. I drove it home over the weekend and registered it today.
I didn't get much documenation with the truck. It does have the original owners manual and the option sheet on the glove box door.
I would guess it was a pretty typical truck for the times equipped with:
400 CI
4.10 Gears
TH400 Trans
7.5 X 16 Wheels
Aux Fuel Tank
Gauge Package - No tach
Sliding Rear Window
AM Radio
Scottsdale Equipment
Dark Carmine Red
Conventional Two-Tone
Camel Custom Vinyl
B/eye Mirrors
Standard Emissions
It also has what appears to be factory cruise but that isn't listed.
Full time 4wd, so the NP203 t.case, Dana 44 front and 14 Bolt rear axles.
What's great about this truck is that all that stuff is still on it and in nice shape.
It's had a few accessories added, heavy duty rear bumper and receiver, front spare tire mount, stainless grill insert, dual batteries, CB, Intermetint wipers, Sony AM/FM/Cass, trailer brake control. All that stuff works. The intermintent wipers were a nice treat driving home 200 miles through some light rain storms, radio was nice too.
It's really just a nice, clean old truck that was taken care of.
It's not going to win any shows, the family said it was repainted in the original Dark Carmine/White combo when the Old Man bought it. Not a great paint job with orange peel and some sags, the clear is now peeling on top of the fenders.
No rust I've found on the body though, cab corners, wheel openings, bed all look good.
The only issues I've noted are a exhaust leak and some leaking into the cab either from the windshield or the doors. The Old man had kept it garaged but it was outside for the last year. When it leaked there is no where for the water to go and the jute is like a sponge holding water so there is some surface rust on the floors by the sill plates.
I'm going to clean up the rust and hit it with some POR 15 then track down the leaks. Any ideas are appreciated.
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It sounds like a really nice find. Post a pic when you get a chance. We love pics! :D
Welcome to the site from Central California!
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Welcome from NW Indiana
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Welcome from California, sounds like a cool truck some pics would be cool...
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Welcome from California.
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Welcome from South Carolina.
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welcome from maryland
(http://www.naioa.com/v2/modules/Forums/images/smiles/uselesssmileys.gif)
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Thanks for the welcome.
I'll get some pics today.
Spent a little time with the truck yesterday.
Got the drivers window unstuck with some dry graphite lube. The regulator works fine but the seal is trashed. Ordered new seal kit for both doors from this site.
Had 2 small exhaust holes in the Y pipe welded hoping that would resolve the exhaust tick under load. It did some but I think the manifold gaskets are also leaking...
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Few pics. It's dirty hasn't stopped raining since I got it home.
Dark Carmine Red standard two-tone.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a530/rabbit-type-17/79%20K20/P5300004_zps84118cc1.jpg)
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a530/rabbit-type-17/79%20K20/P5300001_zps2bbfd11a.jpg)
Camel vinyl interior with Scottsdale trim. You can see the added accessories as well.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a530/rabbit-type-17/79%20K20/P5300003_zpsb8e8a0c3.jpg)
Clean bed.
(http://i1282.photobucket.com/albums/a530/rabbit-type-17/79%20K20/P5300002_zps46e39e2d.jpg)
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That is a very nice truck to start with! Many folks on here have started with much less to work with than you have. On the leak, the cowl seal is probably the most common cause of what you describe, search on here an you will find some detailed threads on how to fix it. Welcome to the site.
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Thanks! I looked at a lot of beaters before finding this one.
I'll check out the cowl seals.
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Nice find and a nice truck - congrats. Is the th400 original to the truck, based on the possible glove box code? Didn't think any SB trucks came with a th400, NICE score if so. Or at least someone did a nice upgrade. Have fun with the truck.
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The glove box data sheet lists MX1 Automatic Transmission, which could be either.
The previous owner highlighted all the specs specific to the truck in the owners manual and has TH400 highlighted.
This site states 77 and later K20's used TH400's.
http://www.chuckschevytruckpages.com/73-87specs.html
I'll take a look this weekend and verify.
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NICE :) I bought a '77 k10 for parts as donor truck for my 74 k20. It was a sb400 (which is what I wanted), and owner told me it had a th400 (which it didn't). This is why I asked.
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You got me curious - Took a look and it is a TH400.
Based on the above info and what I know about the truck I'm saying it was factory installed.
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YIPPY. I sure wasn't trying to be the negative guy, but I learned something new also about the 79 era. Thanks.
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Welcome from Louisiana. That truck is pretty bad *ss. Especially the 400 sb th400. Definitely a good find.
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Howdy from Oklahoma. It looks like you have a really solid truck.
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Thanks for the welcomes.
No negativity perceived, got me curious to confirm what I have.