'82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...?

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'82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...?

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Chevrolet Forum >> Chevy Trucks, Vans & SUV's >> Silverado >> '82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...?

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'82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...? - 8/23/2006 7:49:40 PM

byoungquist

Posts: 1
Joined: 8/23/2006
Status: offline

Hi, I�m a newbie, Bob Youngquist of San Diego, CA.

I�m �restoring� a �82 K20 I�ve owned for about 13 years. It�s a 6.2 diesel, TH400, 4x4, 117,00 miles, Power Pac (intake and exhaust), Gear Vendor O/D, Selectro front hubs. 3 fuel tanks (one behind seat), Helwig helper springs- rear, 2� Add-a-Leaf- front, etc. I�ve installed new glow plugs, injector pump, starter, batteries and fuel hoses. The body and chrome is perfect and it has a heavy duty Callen steel framed cap and a 3 point extended hitch receiver.

I�d appreciate any thoughts regarding potential problems with this vehicle, ideas regarding upgrades, or any other ideas that the members of this Forum may have.

I�ve very interested in reliability, since this truck will spend a lot of time in the California and Baja desert and will being doing some towing. I�m especially interest in thoughts about a rear locker.

It also seems to have slight coolant leakage; probably, the infamous cylinder head coolant port�? How serious is this problem?

Thanks,

Bob Youngquist
San Diego, CA

Post #: 1

RE: '82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...? - 8/23/2006 8:04:54 PM

kcb37

Posts: 504
Joined: 7/3/2006
Status: offline

If you are restoring it are you going to rebuild the engine? If you are you shouldn't have a problem with you coolant leak so long as it's not a cracked, block/head. I have only really had experiance with one of these but it was so beat up and messed with we couldn't get it to start without a jump and had a lot of charging problems. But the wiring was messed up pretty bad. Other than that it ran and drove great. I do take that back I had 2. The only problem I ever had witht the second was that it spun a bearing. That could have been in part to a lack of oil changes though.
I think if you have all your electrical in good order and don't mix it up it should be a good pickup for you. It won't have as much power as the newer ones do though.

(in reply to byoungquist)

Post #: 2

RE: '82 K20 4x4 diesel restoration...? - 8/23/2006 10:18:06 PM

carpenterbill

Posts: 75
Joined: 6/23/2006
Status: offline

A locker in the rear is a good idea, a better idea is airlocks both front and rear, if you get boged down in the sand you can lock both front and rear at the flick of a switch, when you get back on a paved road unlock both for a smooth ride back home. Oh and no "clicking" when you turn a corner.

(in reply to kcb37)

Post #: 3