Rare 76 K20 crew cab

Price: - Item location: Merlin, Oregon, United States
Description:

1976 Chevrolet C/K Pickup 2500 Silverado

**First thing- I am not a professional mechanic or a Chevrolet expert. Everything I write in this listing regarding the history and option changes are my beliefs acquired through research and C/K truck ownership over the years. I believe the following statements to be true. More research is needed, but that's for you to continue.**This truck was made in 1976, before Chevrolet offered a K20 crew cab. It originally was a C20 according to the RPO (regular production option, the first number listed on the build sheet located in the glove compartment). In '76, Chevrolet offered a bicentennial commemorative featured truck, known as the "Freedom Feature". It included a paint scheme involving America's colors (but mostly white), and some white door panels that had "Spirit of '76" medallions on them. The Canadian trucks had the same options with the same door panels but were known as "Olympic Models" as Canada hosted the Olympics that year and was probably the only way to make the phrase "spirit of '76" make sense in Canada. I believe there were too many "freedom feature" trucks made for the low demand and many were re-optioned at the factory to need the requests of the customers. That's why, I think, in '76 most of the crimson red trucks (which this one is supposed to be) faded to orange. They dragged them back in and painted red right on top of the existing white creating the orange. This truck was a freedom feature two wheel drive when it rolled of the line....the first time. There was an option to special order a K20 crew cab in 1976 from Chevrolet (originally to meet the demands of the Alaskan pipeline project *I have no proof of this but I read the theory on a forum). Many were equipped with AC Delco 4000 watt inverters. This was an option for step vans and the like and the C/K truck models had no place to mount them so they bent some sheet metal, added a few rivets, and mounted it to the drivers' side inner fender relocating the washer fluid tank and cruise control unit. My belief that this was done at the factory is why it's still there. This truck was also ordered with cruise control. I believe Chevrolet's reluctance to install a new wiring harness is the reason for aftermarket cruise control in a factory optioned truck. There's no longer a dashpot for the cruise control so it does not work. The A/C compressor is new, along with the accumulator, hoses and electronics but remains un-charged.The front is in good shape, never hit, small rust holes in the front of the hood (the only rust holes on the truck). Aluminum radiator (Northern Brand) with fan clutch both installed within the last 5 years. The original 350 engine (she's tired, but always starts and runs) with Hedman elite headers going through Flowmasters (too loud for my taste). Edelbrock 650cfm carb, K&N air filter. TH 350 transmission. Recent front rotors and pads (less than 5000 miles ago). The truck originally had a TH 400 but the 350 was in it when I took ownership so I had it rebuilt. It's a good transmission. NP203 full-time 4WD transfer case. The chain is stretched out causing a clunk when going from park to drive, drive to reverse, and such. I've never heard of many of these breaking so I just let it be and it still goes after all these years. The front is a Dana 44 and the rear is corporate. Missing one rear shock, the other three are fine. JB8 brakes and camper suspension. 5 BFG's about half worn on 16" rims. The two drivers side doors should probably be replaced (drivers door has incorrect window regulator installed. The window goes up and down fine but the window crank will not stay on) as should the bed and rear bumper, but those are easy to get. What's not easy to find is a rust free cab with no holes and very few dents and an un-molested frame, which this truck has. This cab is amazing! This is what you're bidding on and why many of the pictures are the undersides of the truck. Solid floorboards and pillars. Inside the cab is the Silverado interior with the plastic painted like burl wood. Red seats, drivers side is worn out. The pillar trim is intact and grayish-white (I don't think they had enough red trim to re-option all the freedom feature trucks that were changed so grayish-white is stock pillar and headliner color. Or all the crew cabs had this color of pillar trim and headliner. I do not know). Dash pad sucks. Headliner sags. And who special orders a truck with an AM only radio? Whoever ordered this one did so I didn't touch it. The speaker has long since turned to dust but the radio clicks on and lights up.
With this truck you will also receive:-An old style NP205 part time 4X4 transfer case (I was going to switch it to part-time but ended up liking the full time) and the original hubs to go with the HD Warn hubs currently on it.-original bumper guards (I got them from a wrecking yard and never installed them)-an extra fuel tank (I replaced one that had a hole in it but never got around to doing the other tank) and sending unit. Both tanks in the truck work fine.-well used factory truck manuals ('74 truck, '76 supplement and a '74 overhaul, all factory)-some original brochures for '76 trucks-the original owners manual with warranty vin card things and other paperwork.-4 original hub caps (mostly good shape)-other truck related items of little consequence that I'll toss in before you pick it up.This is a local pickup only! If you choose to ship it I will assist you every way I can, i.e. drive it to a local parking lot and up onto a trailer but you will arrange and pay for all of it. If you choose to drive it home I admire your courage. I've taken this truck from 10,600 feet up in the Sierra Nevada mountains to Death Valley. Up and down the coast, hauled wood, soil and rock all over the woods, and used it do a daily driver for years up until a year ago. She's never let me down. But again, I don't recommend driving her home. If you have any questions please contact me and I will try to reply within 24 hours. Clear title. Good luck.