Took my 1985 K20 Scottsdale out into the woods for the first time this weekend!

[grabowski]

Hey guys. I'm somewhat new to this forum so I thought I would share some recent shots of my ride in action.

I bought her for $2000 about a month ago intending for it to be my new camping / hunting rig. The original 16.5" wheels were exceptionally rusty and mud terrains deeply weathered so I replaced them with a set of modern duratracs in 285/70/R16. I also replaced the brake master cylinder, vacuum booster, and aftermarket stereo system. Next I installed a second battery so I can more safely operate the winch and replaced a cracked valve cover, gaskets, etc..

She's in surprisingly in good shape considering her age and having lived out her days here in rainy Oregon. The seller claimed that he bought it off from a local farmer and apart from some surface rust, the frame and drive train are totally solid. More details:

• Chevy 350 SB with either 96k or 196k miles
• Holley 4-barrel carb (looks like a 600 but I'm not sure)
• TH400 3 speed auto transmission
• NP205 transfer case
• Warn winch (it's either an 8200 or an 8274)

My lower back is still hurting today from bouncing around on the rough suspension system so I'm definitely going to address that next. Any recommendation on shocks? Also, is it normal for the front leaf springs to be totally level on these rigs?

She could also use a new weatherizing kit for the doors and windows to help protect her from the elements and to lessen some of the wind noise at freeway speeds.





You can really see the rusty hood and passenger door in this shot:

[bake74]

     Nice looking truck.  These trucks came with a "negative spring" arch in the front.  They were really stiff and bouncy. 
     If you are only looking to smooth it out a little without going with a big lift, a 2" soft spring lift will work. 

[LTZ C20]

Nice truck. How's the heat in the cab being it's black? What color is your interior?

[grabowski]

     Nice looking truck.  These trucks came with a "negative spring" arch in the front.  They were really stiff and bouncy. 
     If you are only looking to smooth it out a little without going with a big lift, a 2" soft spring lift will work.

Thanks!

I really like the look of the stock springs and definitely don't want a more lifted look. Do I just need to worry about the front springs or do I need to go for the whole enchilada? Also, would installing some nice shocks smooth out the ride enough for me to hold off on upgrading the leafs until next year?

[grabowski]

Nice truck. How's the heat in the cab being it's black? What color is your interior?

Thanks

She definitely becomes an oven in the summer time. I bet that installing a headliner would help insulate the cab better. I'm also intending to finish up the party completed A/C installation next spring.

The interior is a grayish dark blue with lots of cracked and worn looking vinyl.

[ehjorten]

I have a 1-ton Crewcab and on certain rocky logging roads it will beat you to death.  A cheap trick to settle her down is to put some weight in the bed.  If you pour some concrete into some 5 gal buckets you can make a simple wooden brace to hold them across the bed.  Handles on the buckets make them easy to pull out and they can live outside when you are not using them.

To make it ride better you can basically do four things:
1) Take your current springs off...take them apart...clean them...repaint...put teflon liners between the leaves...reassemble
2) Buy softer rate springs - You will lose some load carrying capability, but if you don't need it...
3) Modify the front geometry to accept 52" springs using modified front spring brackets (i.e. B-52 brackets).  Google B-52 Spring Swap
4) Completely modify your suspension for coil-over and multi-link

[grabowski]

Awesome advice! Thanks for taking the time to spell it out for me.

I'm definitely leaning toward #2 since I don't really have anything heavy that needs to be hauled around. Reading some of bake74's other posts, it sounds like he would recommend some softer riding skyjackers or superlifts. Ideas #3 and #4 would seem to turn my rig into a beastly wheeler which I'm not entirely sure that I want. I love the stock, pokey farm truck look as is.

What's the consensus on the skyjacker c125 springs?

[bake74]

     If you want the stock look, and just want a softer ride, then as ehjorten suggested, if you can spend the money then #2 would be the best.  If not, then #1 would make it a little better, but if your back is already hurting, don't expect the best results if you go with #1.