1976 Chevy K20 Cheyenne Camper Special

[masonjenkins5]

I figured I'd post my '76. This truck is my baby. I bought her my senior year of high school when I was 17. I paid $5,200 for her, bought from a guy just outside Utica, NY. I bought the truck in November 2014 if I remember correctly. Story goes, the guy I bought the truck from had it shipped out from California where it spent its entire life until August, 2014 when it was shipped to NY. The truck came from a guy in Gilroy, CA. I decoded the VIN on this truck to find that it was assembled in the Fremont, CA assembly plant. This is a true California truck.  It has no rot but is starting to develop some surface rust. I have a lot of work recipts, everything from Walmart tires to finding out it got a new carburetor in 1991. I haven't looked through all of the receipts for everything. This truck has its original paint from 1976 to the best of my knowledge. It's faded and thin, but still beautiful. It's powered by the torque-monster 400 small block going into a TH350 automatic leading to either 4.10 or 4.11s in the rear end. It has  a 2 1/2 inch lift sitting on 33 inch Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx tires. Both tanks work and the sending units were replaced at some point. My understanding is that rear bumpers were an option on these trucks, and the rear bumper on mine is a solid 3/8 inch steel Bardon Bumpers bumper. This truck has a lot of new parts, but it also has a hole in the floorboard right above the transfer case from something. Not a rot hole, more like something got punched through it. I could go on and on about this truck. I'm always trying to piece the history of this truck together. I assume it carried a slide-in camper because of the surprisingly good shape of the bed and the tell-tale scuff marks where a camper would slide in. I think whoever had this truck had it for a sole purpose because it is in beautiful condition. I'm hoping to restore this truck this year, which won't be too hard considering the body is straight and rust free with the exception of a few small dents you wouldn't notice unless I pointed them out to you. I love driving this truck around. It sticks out like a sore thumb and everybody in my own and two towns around knows my truck. I have a sticker on the tailgate saying "Locally Famous." I just love everything about this truck, and I'd take a '76 over a brand new truck all day long. They sure don't make things like they used to...

Pictures here:
https://goo.gl/photos/ggzgDgfChuBQsj3m9

[Jerry311]

Nice truck !!

[blazer74]

Nice!

[LTZ C20]

Welcome from central California. Truck looks good. Gilroy, California, small town, not much going on there, if you blink passing thru, your not going to miss anything.

[AZ87V10]

Welcome from Northeastern AZ! Nice truck! Very clean and original looking. You can tell it was well taken care of. Isn't Gilroy, CA known as the garlic capital of the world? I've been through there a few times and LTZ is right, not much going on there!

[1978scottsdalek20]

love the way your truck sits. what are the tire specs? 33x12.50 r16? 285 75r16? i cant tell by pics but they look great! thanks

[Irish_Alley]

welcome from maryland

[masonjenkins5]

love the way your truck sits. what are the tire specs? 33x12.50 r16? 285 75r16? i cant tell by pics but they look great! thanks

The tire specs are 255/85/16. They cost me about $850 for a set of four if I remember correctly.

[impco lpg]

welcome from uk york,

[Tazman]

Welcome from AZ., nice truck.

[zieg85]

Sorry I missed the welcoming committee.  Welcome from west central IL