Ray, as long as everybody is putting in their 2 cents, let me give you my 3 cents (I always adjust for inflation!) First thing that I would do would be get the brakes working. In my opinion, that is the most important part of any automotive endevour. It's cool to go, but a lot more important to stop! Next, get the engine going. Use the "search" feature here, as everything from A to Z has been covered! Your 2 best resources here would be anything that Nate or Coilover have offered to the group! Get those 2 things done, then enjoy driving it for awhile. After that, if you want to modify it, add something or whatever, you'll know what you had and can have fun changing stuff! Oh, by the way, my advise and a buck will buy you a cup of coffee at the local Stop and Rob! Ken
Thanks guys. I was thinking that yesterday since the truck starts and shifts great. fix the brakes and see how it drives. There are no brakes at all. The guy I bought it from said I need a master cylinder but I don't see one or where it would go. Did they have hydraulics or was it all cable? Also I know for sure that I want IFS with 5 lug. What do you guys recommend for the rear and from what year?
Great video, the engine sounds awesome! The brakes are hydraulic. You will find the master cylinder under the driver's side of the cab, mounted to the truck frame. It's kind of a bear to get to with the cab in place, but it's not impossible. Damon
Awesome, thanks. Im addicted to this forum already. Are there manuals available for these trucks so I dont keep bugging you guys with simple questions like location of items, or how to take certain things off??
Nice~ Pictures are great, but give it up for the video! That, Chevy guys, is the sound of a GMC 228! Our host sells the manuals you seek. Since you have the 3/4 ton, you can change out the rear end for a number of options. Just decide if you want 5 lug or 6. The 1/2 ton front axle can be put in place of the 3/4 8 lug. This allows for the disc brake conversion that isn't as much $$$ as the IFS, and requires no welding. Your truck really is in GREAT shape! You even have a board or two in the bed! Mine was just a sheet of plywood laying over the remains of the strips.
The Beginning Nice rig ; Cool to hear it smoothly idling away during the video . Nice pup there too , Dogs & old Trucks go to - gether like Coffee and Pie.... Anyways , do buy an original Factory Shop Manual and Owner's booklet from the hose here , they're both full of priceless information . Take the time to get the brakes sorted out so you can drive it ~ you'll be pleased at how well that L O N G GMC MOTOR runs , no need for a (yawn) V-8 when you have 228 Cubic Inches of raw power on tap . Are those wheels split rims ? scrap them if so before they kill you . Go slow , grease , oil and adjust everything then drive and enjoy it , you may realize it only needs cosmetics , not all that crap in the kiddie Hot Rod books done by folks who don't actually drive their old trucks .
I know for sure that I want to be lowered at least and I want the white walls on my tires with the factory hub caps. I want the chrome rear bumper like I see on chevys and want the interior to look like it did. Im guessing that I will need a new steering column to have turn signals, right? What wheels do you guys recommend, what are the specs and from where? I want my truck to look like this,.
Then I would say... Look at what Russ did. What you have a photo of, he already did. You have the much better GMC, but rumor has it, he has one in his shop. It'll probably be tricked out like the photo you posted. Great goal, No?~
Hey guys, Im trying to purchase the bed front panel so I can replace it because it's rusted pretty bad. The place Im trying to buy it from is asking if I have a step side, fleet side, 1 ton.
I cleaned up the grill a little today, the hub caps and installed the headlights. I guess Im gonna get a wire harness kit and do that soon and I already ordered the Master Cylinder to get the brakes working. I guess my next step would be to replace everything that is rusted out, like the driver side cab corner, the floor, front bed panel, do the body work, primer it, clean up the frame. Not in that order but that's what I want to do for now.
I was there once I came up with the same plan when my truck was dropped off. It had no brakes, so I figured I'd get those back to good so I could drive it! I just rebuilt the master, found brakes shoes for it, (not easy, since it was a 3/4 ton. You can find half ton stuff all day, but...) then fired it up and took it for a drive. Man, that thing wandered all OVER the road. Bounced like I was riding a horse! (I had split rims like you have. They may have had something to do with the quality of ride.) Anyway, I found out PDQ that this just wasn't going to work. When I took the old brake line off that ran around the front end of the truck, I was standing there holding it when I saw this little stream shooting out of the line. The line had all but rusted through. I am ever so glad God was watching out for me and the others on the street. I guess what I'm saying is new lines may not be a bad idea either. Looks like you have a great place for it to sit for a while.
Bed Parts STOP !! any place that askes you if you have a Fleet Side bed on your year GMC , hires clueless idiots who'll never getyou the right parts . God find " Mar-K " company , they make and sell all the bed parts you'll ever need , right here in the U.S. of A. ! . Russ is " Ols Chebby " who's how to build an AD topic is a sticky , read it carefully to see what you want to do . Oops ! gotta go now, SWMBO awaits .
Ray, do exactly as Nate says! Mar-K is hands down the best bed wood supplier and bed sheet metal maker in the business. I bought a tailgate from them along with the southern yellow pine bed wood and it is awesome. Lucky you to live right down the road from them. Go check 'em out! You won't be sorry! Ken
I am. Another question. Is a Lincoln Weld Pak 175 HD any good? How much could I get for my entire bed if I was to try and sell it? What should be a reasonable asking price.
