Are you destined to carry a heavy load? Are you in an eternal loop looking for various stuff? Or do you just want to be prepared?
If your answer is yes to any of the questions above, you need an old pick up truck as a complement to your vehicle portfolio.
A C20 Chevy square body 1979 long bed is a good alternative since it's robust like hell and and has a roomy bed. But there are drawbacks. I'm talking about the bumpy ride that comes with the C20 when occasionally driving around with an empty truck bed. While we're on the subject of disadvantages, the standard brakes are able to provide some kind of retardation. Which is good. But critical people with crave for stopping power might be disappointed.
But there's a solution and it's all about reducing weight. Here's what I'm talking about:
The truck. A standard C20 with ZZ4 crate engine, 14 bolt rear end and Wilwood calipers at the front wheels.
The standard rear end brakes are nothing for the weak and faint hearted.
Weight: 32kg (70 lbs) each.
Luckily loosing weight has never been easier. The super solution comes from Lugnut 4x4 who has developed a disc break kit for the heavy duty 8 lug, 14 bolt GM rear end that comes with the Chevy C20.
Working with GM 14 bolt rear ends brings other advantages too. All parts serves as workout weights. Which means you can avoid the gym, go the workshop instead, eat protein and drink beer and still feel good about it.
A substantial difference in driving experience as a result. Smooth modern brakes and no more pothole bouncing around. Success!
The brake calipers are equipped with emergency brakes (parking brakes) too, but wire system changes for these took more time than all the other modifications together.
But eventually all fabrication was done (pictured parking brake wire extention)...
...and where to go first if not to the gas station?
Yes, they are shining like diamond in a goat's ass.
