Watch This 1984 Chevy K20 Get Completely Transformed in 30 Minutes
This Chevy K20 build adds a host of modern upgrades without deviating from what makes square bodies special to begin with.
Square body Chevy trucks have always been incredibly popular among just about anyone seeking a stylish and reliable hauler, and that popularity is arguably even greater today than ever. These days, old square bodies can benefit greatly from modern mechanicals as well, making them far more pleasant – and fun – to drive than they were originally. Thus, we were quite excited to watch this 1984 Chevy K20 receive a bevy of upgrades and a total redo in this video from American Trucks.
In a little over 30 minutes of condensed action, we get to see this Chevy K20 as it undergoes a comprehensive transformation, from the frame up. After the initial tear down, that process starts with the truck’s new heart – in this case, a a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 from the folks at Blueprint Engines, which churns out a healthy 530 horsepower and 495 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a brand new NV4500 five-speed manual transmission, too.
Next up is the suspension, which comes from the folks at BDS, and consists of a combination of Fox shocks and beefier leaf springs, giving the Chevy K20 four inches of lift, making room for a new set of 35×12.5-inch tires – without giving up any payload capacity. The vintage machine is also being treated to a Fox steering stabilizer and a new steering arm, to boot. From there, our crew handles the wiring and fuel system revamp, which are much-needed upgrades in this old pickup.
Of course, adding a bunch of power without upgrading the brakes is never a good idea, so in this case, the Chevy K20 is treated to a four-wheel disc brake conversion. Now, it’s time to fire it up, which happens after the typical small issues are sorted out. Finally, the American Trucks crew can work on buttoning up this project by adding a set of long tube headers, a Flowmaster exhaust, and the interior.
There, this vintage Chevy is getting some modern upgrades such as a RetroSound speakers, and a vintage AutoSound head unit, plus a new bench seat, carpeting, dash pad, and Vintage Air A/C. The final touches are those aforementioned beefy tires, in this case wrapped around a set of amazing Vision54 Cheyenne wheels, which are perfect for this new/old looking build.
The results of all that work, well, they speak for themselves, as this is easily one of the coolest Chevy K20 pickups – or square bodies, in general – that we’ve ever seen. It’s the perfect blend of old and new, without going too far overboard and ruining what’s already a classic machine in the first place.
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