Got a project truck

[SyndromeOCZ]

1970 GMC 1500

I've been wanting this truck for years and finally got it today. It was my grandpa's truck he bought just months before he passed. And now its mine.

Sadly it has been handed around the family a few to many times and been beat on a bit. But here it is, sitting in my space.

My uncle put a new V8 350 in it with a throttle body, but he said the fuel pump in the tank behind the seat isn't giving it the correct amount of fuel. So I've got to start there, he also rebuilt the tranny, and did the terrible paint job.

He says that he has all of the tail lights and marker lights in his shed, I just didn't grab them. And I found most of the original badges.

The brakes don't work either, I'm not sure why not, but I figured it out when loading it on the trailer to take it home. Gladly I figured it out in a safe position rather than in a moment that would cause damage.

Thats right! Its got a bucket seat.

 

[Kaido]

$50 paintjob worthy? :awe:

 

[phucheneh]

$50 paintjob worthy? :awe:

Spending lots of time on something and having it work doesn't make it the best way. I've done lots of things that 'worked,' but in hindsight were still a terrible way to go about achieving the goal. He could also have sprayed some cheap single stage urethane on there and not have to spend all that time polishing his rolled-on paint.

OP, truck looks decent. Rust-free body? Looks like it was block-sanded by a blind dude with a hammer. But that's easier to fix than rotted sheetmetal.

Motor looks like a standard 80's TBI unit. Not exactly a screamer. Competent enough, though. Wiring looks exceptionally simple...has it got all the proper inputs? MAP, TPS, ECT, O2's?

...waitaminute...I thought that accessory setup and air cleaner looked weird...then I noticed the oil dipstick, LOL. That's from a van. Looks like 210hp/300ftlbs was the stock rating on a 350 TBI in a van. Not half-bad; some of the SBC's in the cars were freakin' pathetic. <200hp. I wanna say like 180 for the 305's.

Personally, I'd just throw a Q-jet on it. With a decent intake. And some headers. And then maybe some other stuff. It's an SBC, parts are freakin' cheap. Go nuts.

 

[nerp]

Nice truck. Perfect for a project.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I love a nice restoration I just wouldn't do it myself. Countless hours and insane amounts of money. I'd rather another guy restore it and catch them when they are ready to unload it for 1/2 the money they put in it. That's not even including the labor they put in. Much better to be the guy on that end of it. Of course to some its about the journey which I can understand and respect.

 

[phucheneh]

It really doesn't need a 'restoration.' It needs a little mechanical work and some paint. And a seat.

I just noticed something else...manual four-wheel drums. D: If you're going to be fixing the brakes, anyhow, get some front discs on there.

 

[Eureka]

Have fun with that one. I thought my miata needed work.

That being said, I'm highly surprised at the lack of rust on that truck. Which is a good thing.

 

[franksta]

Easily my favorite body style GM truck. It should be tons of fun.

 

[MovingTarget]

Wow, that is a good project truck. I'm jealous. Honestly though, I would do my best to try to keep it as bone stock as possible. It looks like it would be doable.

 

[Black2na]

Personally, I'd just throw a Q-jet on it. With a decent intake. And some headers. And then maybe some other stuff. It's an SBC, parts are freakin' cheap. Go nuts.

this lose the fuel injection!

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Wow, that is a good project truck. I'm jealous. Honestly though, I would do my best to try to keep it as bone stock as possible. It looks like it would be doable.

Yeah I'm kind of leaning towards that. I really really wish it had the original motor, but one of my oldest uncles blew it when he was in his teens/early 20's and after that who knows where it went. I believe this was over 30 years ago when that happened.

Normally I wouldn't want to do a restoration either, but this truck has sentimental value, and I'm 100% positive that if anyone else in the family would have already restored it then I'd never had the chance to get it.

Yeah, mechanical work, and some paint. I can find a smaller bucket that will fit better.

 

[Bartman39]

Ok many things to note so be prepared for a ton O work to restore it... But what looks good is the basic structure and its a chrome bumper truck with the gauge package but a shame they painted the bezel too...? That steering column/wheel is from some car...? The engine is from a van no doubt with air cleaner, dip tube but the brackets are truck not van...? (van has the alternator & AC compressor reversed) I would also say take the TBI engine out and find either an older 350 (good or can be rebuilt) or consider an LS engine which is the cool swap... What trans is in it...? Hate to say it but if he rebuilds anything like he paints I would consider something different... ? Looks like the heater core may be bad since its not hooked up...? Also I will agree to ditch the drum brakes and convert it to 5 lug with disk in the front which is quite easy to do... Parts from a mid-late 70's even early 80's van or truck (vans had heavier duty rotors) will work great in the front but you will need the rear end from a truck to get the correct width... But if you can find just axles from a 70's-80's truck with a 12 bolt then you are in business (easy swap)... Sure hope you have interior parts...? Golden year trucks are sweet but just like a boat they are a hole in the road that you can pour money into as much as you want... Wish you all the luck and have fun...!

Used to hang out here and had that truck 15 years before selling it to get my daughter (attorney fee's)...
http://www.hotrodders.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3180

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Yeah, the bezel was painted with the interior, looking at it it looks as though it was painted even before the blue or else the original coating was coming off. I'm not sure what they are supposed to look like stock.

I'm not sure when the steering wheel got swapped, but yes its not original, its got tilt now.

He didn't do the mechanic work, only the half assed painting.

I'm not really in a spot to put a new engine in it. Though I've got a few other trucks(84-86ish) with 350's in them I plan on selling them rather than take parts out of them.

And he claims he had the interior parts, but he disassembled it to 'paint' it about 2 years ago and the parts are 'in his shed'

So I guess I will see what all parts he can find and go from there.

 

[phucheneh]

I have salvaged some beat-to-shit SBC's. If the bottom end is factory or was built by someone who knows what they're doing, they will run forever at stock-ish power levels, so long as they keep getting oil. If it smokes, do the valve stem seals and make sure the crankcase ventilation is working. If you want to just keep it stock and reliable, the TBI will work fine. The throttle bodies need seals sometimes. It's easy.

I would prioritize the brake swap. Power drums are pretty bad. Manual drums...ugh. Grab complete spindles off a junkyard truck, exchange the calipers for remans, get some pads and rotors, new hoses...it's all cheap stuff.

I dunno the particulars about doing swaps on those trucks...Bart, how much does the track width change with the later disc spindles? If it's a fairly small amount, (say 3/4" or less per side), it's not the end of the world, and you can always even it out when you buy wheels. 'Cause c'mon, you're gonna buy wheels. And who wouldn't want to do a staggered setup with some fatty rear tires?

What's missing on the interior? Window cranks, door handles, and armrests? Surely all are available as repops. And obviously the carpet and seat. I'd grab new carpet and the best bench seat I could find in a junkyard. Buckets would be nice, but it's hard to find ones that will fit in a regular cab truck.

I just realized...is that a Skylark steering wheel? I had a '71 and I'm almost certain it had the same wheel. Same color, even. You can get a cheap Grant or something to replace it. Hell, I've got a decent one laying around here somewhere, it just needs an install kit.

edit: ha! I was right. You got a column and wheel out of a 70-72 Skylark.

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?ln=102&aid=284

And herp derp, I didn't notice the dash pad was missing. Those might be expensive.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Dash pad was in the bed, its completely sun rotted to garbage. I know that I've got at least 1 window crank and 1 door handle, supposed to have the other 2 in 'the shed' The seat is in the bed, the upholstery is completely gone, pretty sure the cushions need replaced too. I haven't seen any armrests, I'm going to assume they are toast. 'The Shed' is supposed to have the knobs for the light switch and all of that too.

I've got absolutely no clue about the steering wheel, I just know that it was replaced.

And how cheap do you think the parts would be for the brake swap? Clearly not an exact number but something in the ball park.

 

[phucheneh]

Few hundred bucks, maybe? If you can get a complete setup for maybe $50-100, add:

$30 for a pair of calipers. $50 if you don't have cores.
$80 for a pair of rotors. More like $50 if you can make some friends at the parts store and get shop prices on stuff.
$50 for bearings, seals, and pads
$20 for a master cyl (30 if no core)
$20 for brake hoses

And that's figuring on the high side.

 

[JCH13]

Looks like a fun project!

Forget the TBI or carb, I vote multi-point fuel injection conversion :awe:

http://www.diyautotune.com/tech_articles/megasquirt-carb-to-efi-part3-nova.htm

 

[MixMasterTang]

My first vehicle was a 1971 GMC Shortbed. Loved that thing!