What's new
By:
Filters

1969 K20, extended cab build

Rockbuggy84

Moderator
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
314
Messages
1,003
So this isn’t gonna be a hardcore rig, but I figured some here would appreciate the oddity of my build.

I purchased this truck about 2 years ago after finding it on Facebook marketplace. There are 2 known to have been built for the Oregon forestry service.

The truck was a complete rust bucket, but I felt a full restoration was needed to return it to its old glory.
CFCCDC63-6863-4A8A-AC14-273CA24179A6.jpeg
 
The truck has its original drivetrain- 350, 465 and a 221 t-case. It hadn’t run in 20 years, has 60,000 original miles. After a little tweaking and a new carb, I had it up and running.

Shortly after getting it started, tear down began.
6C5DEBFC-E8E7-46C6-A4C2-377F53698D40.jpeg
8E7B9D2A-B482-4A37-A875-09AFEFA4708C.jpeg
E89DD9BF-630B-4684-A6FC-ACFDAEC0CAA8.jpeg
 
So after tear down, I spoke to a friend that owns a body shop. We agreed on a number and he was to complete all metal work and paint the body.

I dropped the cab off first and he had it media blasted.
8913181A-BF10-419A-B1FA-B7C240C409C2.jpeg
87289782-465B-47EB-9AF0-D0B926DBFFD7.jpeg
5E757BE1-E552-4DE4-A79A-E97BD283F808.jpeg
5A58FA4B-99CE-4A7B-A127-A12AE30DCCD3.jpeg
 
Well, my buddy bit off way more than he could chew. The cab sat in his shop for nearly 1.5 years and I began to lose interest.

The metal work required was simply too many hours for him to pull off of insurance jobs that we’re rolling in, making him easy money.

I was on Facebook and saw a guy that sells fresh crew cab converted cabs. We got to talking and he said he’d complete all the metal work for me. He sent an estimate and I said I’d get it there. He’s in Texas, I’m in California.

2 weeks later, I was headed to Texas.
C119621C-E9FC-4F90-BF02-1BE9FF225C41.jpeg
 
Last edited:
He’s had my cab approximately 3 weeks at this point. The amount of work he’s completed is fuckin amazing.

I’ll start with the bad.
DF18A710-4969-4D05-A2D8-29EFD2272009.jpeg
6485665F-B3AC-402F-AFBD-B549DD101E05.jpeg
B4532BE0-09D0-4DE3-91D3-B2BF35C524E7.jpeg
A4DB5B32-FBAA-4D55-B87D-0F0CF9C9B38F.jpeg
ADBEBBBF-4D4D-40E3-88B5-7810C899868A.jpeg
D02BDE12-5C8D-41E2-8203-B50660782305.jpeg
 
So the initial estimate was no good for obvious reason. The more he cut, the more he found. I’m committed to seeing this through, so I simply told him to send me a bill and make it right.
 
So there’s a ton more metal pics, but this is pretty much where the cab sits. He’s planning on returning it complete in 2 weeks.
 
Frame was blasted and I repainted it about a year ago. Now that shits actually being done, I purchased a 500hp 383 stroker, nv4500 and a 205 to replace what’s currently in it.

I installed a 4” lift and a disk brake, Dana 44 front axle. I’ll snag some more progress pics when I get time.
 
You gonna have him cover up that cab filler tank while he's at it? A blazer/ burb tank would probably work well
 
Steve300xcw said:
Did not know something like that was even out there:smokin:
Click to expand...
There are quite a few crew cab conversions out there, but not many extended cabs. Still trying to gather all the facts, but this one and the other known to exist were modified straight off the assembly line.

They both came from the Fremont plant and the only difference between the two is that mine is 4wd and the other is 2wd.

There is some confusion on who did the actual conversion. I spoke with a gentleman last year that I was buying a subframe for my 69 camaro from.
He told me it was done in a Chevy repair facility and the way he knows, is that he worked there.

Said he did multiple odd jobs like this for state and government contractors. The guy that owns the other thought they were done by a company contracted through Chevy. Probably a question we’ll truly never have an answer to.
 
Very cool:smokin:

Details on the windows? That's going to be a custom cut, right? How are they going to be retained?

Any details from the build/ rebuild? There's usually some cool problem solving the class would love to know about:laughing:
 
Holy Fawk! :smokin:



Have contact info for the shop or social media link? I would love to build out a crew cab 70-72 before I get too much more into my squarebody build.
 
In for the ride.

Done a few crews, with all four doors. Making the door frame and and working rear driver's side window, sucks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Back Refresh