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  1. 7

    Daughters ‘87 needs to ride smooth.

    I took some of the shorter leaves out of the rear springs on my '73 K20. I had the front leaf springs re-arched at a spring shop to get more travel in front. I put Firestone air bags in the rear to get the load capacity back when needed. I changed wheels to 17" aluminum and put radial tires...
  2. 7

    Factory hei distributor and coil

    You might want to carry a spare HEI control module too. If it quits you're not going anywhere. I had one quit a long time ago.
  3. 7

    Loss of power and shaking

    My guess is your electronic ignition control module is going bad. I had a Chevy Vega long ago that suddenly had the same symptoms. Managed to limp to an auto parts store and bought a new one late at night just before they closed. Changed it in their parking lot and it ran perfect.
  4. 7

    I'm sure it's an age old question, K 20 ride quality improvements.

    I got tired of the rough ride of my '73 K20 long ago. The front springs had almost no travel before the rubber bumpers hit the axle. I had the front springs re-arched at a spring shop to give more wheel travel. I removed some of the shorter leaves from the rear springs. I installed Firestone air...
  5. 7

    Increased Cooling with Electric Fan and Electric Water Pump

    From my experience with engines running hot, have you checked or replaced the thermostat? Put it in a pan of water on the stove with a thermometer next to it and make sure it opens all the way at the proper temp. If the thermostat is good, the radiator may be partially plugged. If so I'd replace...
  6. 7

    What did you pay for a square

    OK, I found a picture. It's not as nice as some of the trucks I see here, but I've never spent much time fixing it up. Still original paint, but it's on it's third set of wheels. It's so old they stopped making the older sizes of tires I had on it. LOL
  7. 7

    What did you pay for a square

    I paid $5000 for my 1973 K20 new. It now has 95,000 miles. It's 50 years old this year. Maybe I'll have a birthday party for it.
  8. 7

    Crazy Air Compressor Idea

    The problem with using an automotive cylinder head as a compressor is that the compression ratio is too low. If the engine develops 120psi compression, and you want 120psi output pressure, you get zero air output. Air compressors have almost zero chamber volume at the top of the stroke so all...
  9. 7

    Time for a Radiator Upgrade...?

    Looking at your pictures, the radiator is obviously plugged. By the time a radiator is that old, it's corroded junk. Just put a new one in and be done. If you waste your money trying to clean it, it will probably leak. The radiator in my '73 was plugged and leaking. I put a new 4 core in...
  10. 7

    Mean sounding cams worth it?

    Shortly after I bought my '73 k20 new I put a big cam in it, trying to get more power. Big mistake. It has an auto transmission. It had very little low RPM torque, had to idle very fast. Had lots of power at high RPM though. Not good for a truck, would have been fine in a race car. I very...
  11. 7

    Need Shocks...and maybe new kidneys

    I have a '73 K20. The ride was very stiff. After many years I got tired of it and took some of the leaves out of the rear springs. I installed Firestone air bags to replace the lost weight capacity. Rides much better and I can still haul just as much weight by adjusting the air pressure. I...
  12. 7

    Think I need new springs? shocks? ROUGH RIDE

    I'd try putting new shocks on it. Just get standard duty shocks if you want a good ride. Also, squirt some oil in between the spring leaves so they move easier.
  13. 7

    squeal from alternator, water pump or belt?

    Mine has done the same thing since new. The belt doesn't wrap around the alternator pulley very far. When you first start it the alternator is in full charge mode and takes more torque than the belt can provide. I don't know if there is a fix. I just don't worry about it.
  14. 7

    9.50 x 16.5 Tires??

    My '73 started out with 7.50-16, then 9.50-16.5. A couple years ago I put on 265-70-R17, due to lack of choice in the 9.50s. I like the look of the new aluminum wheels and the tires are great. Glad I switched.
  15. 7

    7 Leaf Springs?

    I took out a few leaves on my '73 K20. It just rode too hard empty. I put in Firestone air bags so I didn't lose any load capacity. I had 5200lbs of gravel in it once with the stock springs and it wasn't on the bumpers. A big improvement in ride quality and comfort with the bags

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