1972 Chevy K20 - Plain Red Wrapper - 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

131 1302 01 Plain Red Wrapper 1972 Chevy K20 Front Three Quarter

John Rogers’ 1972 Chevrolet K20 caught our eye at the 2012 Lima Jamboree because it wasn’t fancy. There is functional elegance in simplicity when it’s done right. Evidently Jamboree judges thought like we did because they gave Rogers the Award of Excellence for 2012.

John is part of a group of Southern Ohio ’76-’72 GM truck enthusiasts who think the sun rises and sets on these trucks. This is not his first truck from this era, and it won’t be the last. This particular truck was built from two. Six years ago John swapped the bodies of a very straight, low-mile, six-cylinder, longbed C20 with a K20 that was more rough and rusty. He added some goodies in a particular way and made his dream truck…the truck he would have ordered in 1972 if he could have. And just so you know, the donor chassis lives on but with a more “distressed” body.

131 1302 04 Plain Red Wrapper Gauge Cluster

The theme is obvious: functional simplicity. With the exception of the Goodmark cowl hood, the body is just how the six-cylinder truck rolled off the line—next to no brightwork, painted bumpers, painted steel wheels with no covers, and no trim. Inside is the same—rubber floor mats, no A/C, rollup windows, bench seat, and even the original radio delete. So…boring truck, right? Not so much. For tunes and general excitement, you got the 500-horse, 502ci big-block machined by Jim Vulgamore and assembled by John himself.

The floor mat is a new repro from LMC Truck, but much of the interior is from the original C20 that supplied the almost perfect body to this build. The C20’s original miles, just over 30K, are still on the odometer. The seat has been recovered in a material that’s highly durable and plain but has a soft feel to it. This is an interior to which you could take a hose if you put this truck to work.
The floor mat is a new repro from LMC Truck, but much of the interior is from the original
A “plain Jane” 502 big-block with nothing fancy bolted on. The engine is fed by a 770-cfm Holley through a GM dual-plane aluminum intake, and well-used premium fuel is expelled thru Patriot 17⁄8-inch tube headers and out 3-inch pipes through a pair of 40-series Flowmasters. The stock-sized valves in the rectangular port heads are popped by 1.7:1 roller rockers via a GM 544-inch lift, 234 degree duration hydraulic roller cam. The 118cc combustion chambers and GM forged pistons make a 9.6:1 compression ratio. On paper, the engine is rated for 500 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy? You don’t want to know.
A “plain Jane” 502 big-block with nothing fancy bolted on. The engine is fed by a 770-cfm
The lines of the ’67-’72 GM trucks lend themselves to the minimalist treatment. The color is a faithful representation of what Chevy called “Red” (how clever) but done in modern Imron with a clearcoat. This truck hasn’t done much work lately, but there’s no reason it couldn’t start a job tomorrow.
The lines of the ’67-’72 GM trucks lend themselves to the minimalist treatment. The color

Just as simple on the underside as on top: tried and true leaf springs with a 6-inch Skyjacker lift support the body and frame. The legendary 14-bolt with a factory G86 Posi and 4.88:1 gears puts the power to the ground.
Just as simple on the underside as on top: tried and true leaf springs with a 6-inch Skyja
Up front is a Dana 44 steering axle. The ’72 era was before the GM 10-bolt front and before the Dana 60 front was available, and John retained the original K20 axle. The 700R4 seen in the shot was built by Skinner Racing Transmissions and has a TCI 2,200-stall converter as well as TCI heavy-duty servos and clutches. The NP205 transfer case is stock.
Up front is a Dana 44 steering axle. The ’72 era was before the GM 10-bolt front and befor
You can always take the measure of a person by his friends. Anyone would be proud to call any of this group friend. Left to right we have John Marcum and his ’72 GMC K2500 Camper Special loaded up with period accessories. Next is Brian Steinbrook and his ’72 Chevy Cheyenne K20, then John and the feature truck. To the right is Dan Vickers and his bone-stock GMC 2500 4x4. Last in line is Jeff Haubeil, who drove John’s next project, a ’72 Blazer, to the shoot just because we asked.
You can always take the measure of a person by his friends. Anyone would be proud to call

Tech Specs
1972 Chevrolet K20
Drivetrain
Engine: 502ci GM V-8 (500 hp/550 lb-ft)
Transmission: 700R4 automatic
Transfer case: NP205
Front Axle: Dana 44, 4.88:1 gears
Rear Axle: GM full-float 14-bolt, G86 LSD, 4.88:1 gears

Suspension
Springs & Such: Superlift 6-inch leaf, Superlift shocks, energy bushings, dual Superlift steering dampers
Tires & Wheels: 37-13x16.5 Super Swamper boggers, stock steel 9.75x16.5 wheels
Other Stuff: Factory “Red” paint in Imron w/ clearcoat, Goodmark cowl induction hood, Hydroboost conversion