New 1976 8ft CO owner

[62C20]

Hi everyone. Long time reader here but haven't posted much. I've been researching and looking for an Alaskan awhile and now I've acquired an 8ft CO for my old 62 Chevy truck. It's a 1976 model in pretty fair condition with good bones as a starting point. It needs a good cleaning and detail as well as work on the hydraulics. Due to age all the exterior weather sealing needs to be replaced. And I'm sure the Pirelli seal also.

Thankfully, I see no water staining inside. This supports the previous owners claim that it was kept indoors when not in use.

The propane and electrical need work for sure. Haven't checked the water system yet. Should be a fun little camper to get up and running once again.

My plans are to customize the camper for use with the 62 Chevy for a long road trip through Oregon next year. The truck is nearly ready. It still needs an axle swap for good highway gearing.

 

[Rusty]

well congratulations....this is an Alaskan buying weekend...you're the second now and maybe a third....if I get a note back to the positive....(somebody else was chomping at the bit for that one)

where did you find it?...I'm going to bet Sonoma...

Like I said to one other buyer this am...."Welcome to the obsession".....LOL

6 or 283 in the truck?....nice old stepside

 

[CougarCouple]

Hello 62C20
Congrats on your Alaskan camper. In my past life I had a 64 step side. I think your combo looks good.
Russ

 

[62C20]

Thanks. Yes it is the one from Sonoma. Apparently I was quite a few people down the list of respondents but was the first to leave a phone number. So I got to have a look at it first.

Rusty, I've been reading a lot of your info here and that will be a great help going forward.

The truck has been extensively modernized under the skin. The steering and braking systems are out of a 72 C20. The engine is a TBI 350 out of a 1990 K1500. I have a build thread going on another site but for some reason I can't seem to include the link in a post here. If posting a link is allowed, I'll try again to get it up if anyone is interested.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Thanks. Yes it is the one from Sonoma. Apparently I was quite a few people down the list of respondents but was the first to leave a phone number. So I got to have a look at it first.

Rusty, I've been reading a lot of your info here and that will be a great help going forward.

The truck has been extensively modernized under the skin. The steering and braking systems are out of a 72 C20. The engine is a TBI 350 out of a 1990 K1500. I have a build thread going on another site but for some reason I can't seem to include the link in a post here. If posting a link is allowed, I'll try again to get it up if anyone is interested.

There is no restriction on linking to another forum. Copy the URL, highlight the text you want to be the link trigger, then click on the chain icon and paste in the URL. Or, just paste the URL as a line in your comment.

Congrats on the camper!!

 

[62C20]

Lets try this

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=703583

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Wow, that's quite a build! Thanks for sharing! Nice skills and work!

 

[Rusty]

I'm in Santa Rosa.....I could smell it from here...LOL

Nice build on the truck....the way it stands tells a story

I'm sure the camper will have a story as well....congrats

 

[62C20]

Thanks for checking out the truck thread.
I spent some time this afternoon looking more closely at the camper. I found some wood damage along the curved trim piece on the right side of the cabover. I was able to install longer screws of the same diameter and get a good bite. This particular area has the most degraded sealant.
I have a defined scope of work to be done to this camper and it does not include a full restoration.
I only want to keep the rain and wind out, the stove needs to work to make coffee and the top needs to go up and down as smoothly as possible.
To start, I checked the tops' jack oil resevoir. I stuck my pinky finger in the hole never touched oil. So tomorrow I will buy some oil and top it off and see if there is an improvement in the way the top goes up.

 

[hangster]

very cool looking setup..congrats.
Have rags ready for the initiation raise

 

[PackRat]

How about posting some more pics? Interior shots as well....

 

[longhorn1]

Awesome truck build. Can't wait to see the finished interior and exterior photos. jd

 

[mitch h]

Awesome build on the truck like JD said. The camper will be a breeze. Time to customize. Mitch

 

[Moose Dog]

That looks fabulous. Congratulations and am looking forward to seeing the progress!

 

[62C20]

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone.

I picked up some supplies like hydro oil and dicor for the roof vents. Still need to buy some sealant for all the other areas as well as a boat load of new screws.

When I get the top up, I'll post up some pics of the interior. I've been experimenting with re-sizing photos in order to post more than one at a time, so lets try this -

 

[Happyjax]

That is a cool classic setup there Can't wait to see your progress!

 

[62C20]

I finally got some time today to give some attention to the Alaskan. I filled the jack reservoir to the top will fluid and the top went up very nicely. It went up fairly evenly with only a little push needed at the right front corner once to help it . The jack action is strong with good resistance on the whole stroke. The front left piston is a leaker for sure but the others appear to be dry. The previous owner told me he had put new O-rings on the pistons last year and maybe he did. I think I will replace them all anyway with ones from the factory.

Also this week I ordered a case of sealant and a set of four Rieco-Titan 2000lb jacks. Also got the ball rolling on a new Pirelli seal from Alaskan.

Here are some more pics -

 

[62C20]

So now the goal is to get her cleaned up, sealed up and ready to go onto the 2017 F-250 in my sig. This truck is supposed to be built on 9/28 and arrive to me mid to late Oct.

Couple more pics -

 

[Rusty]

but it fit so nicely on the stepside.......oh well...new camper/new truck...congratulations BTW

busy boy....save those light fixtures...they don't make them anymore and those look good

eyebrows over the windows.....and the back door...use butyl in rolls available at window shops...it doesn't dry out and remains flexable

 

[hangster]

very nice condition