Any of you guys remember driving around in one of these? This is my new project and I hope to document the progress here or lose all interest in 6 months and forget about it totally. This was a Christmas gift from my father-in-law. Its a 1972 GMC 1500 stepside pickup. 2wd, straight six, manual 3 on the tree, no A/C, no radio and has been sitting all alone for the last 35 years or so. Never wrecked, but has some major rust issues due to being stored outside on dirt under some oak trees. Everything is original minus the steering wheel. The original was broken somehow and a junkyard blue steering wheel was installed.
Iāve never tackled anything like this before. Iām certainly someone handy and can figure most things out, but I havenāt restored a car/truck beforeā¦at least not to this level. Thereās lots of elbow grease in my near future Iām sure and I plan to keep the truck as original as I can within reason. My agenda is to make it safe and functional first, then maybe make it pretty down the road. So far, I plan to:
Replace tires
Salvage original rims/dogdishes if possible
Gut interior saving whatever I can
Replace Front Grill/headlights
Replace hood
Replace/repair Driverās door
Replace/repair Passengerās door
New coils/shocks/suspension components
New brakes (drum rear/disc front)
New fuel tank/fuel lines
Carbeurator rebuild
Iām sure this will need motor work of some kind
New interior dash (cracked and rotten)
Refurbish if possible door panels
Driverās side window mechanism work
Passenger side door lock install
Possible aftermarket A/Cāit is Charleston afterall!
These are the things I know about so far. Iām sure this list will grow dramatically. Iāve already purchased some tires to get this thing mobile. Step 1 of 1,986 complete! I will gladly take advice or work volunteers.
Looks like a good project truck Ricky. I owned a '66 F100 for about 5 yrs. Just didnāt have the time to work on it like I wanted to. It sure was fun to drive. My boys learned how to drive manual with a 3 on the tree
You can find forums like CF.com but for āslicksā and newer 70s trucks, especially Chevys. Those guys are a wealth of knowledge. I learned a lot by hanging around a F100 slick forum. Its nice to have a vehicle that you can actually work on, no power nuthin!
Good luck with it
1966 13ā Boston Whaler āFlattyā
2018 Sportsman Masters 207 www.eyestrikefishing.com#predatorsstriketheeye
Buddy of mine has a 69 like that one, has a 383 stroker in it.
I HAD a 70 long bed 2wd with a 350 in it. It was my 1st vehicle & to this day still my favorite. I ended up getting rid of because I was hard up for $$.
Keep the updates coming, canāt wait to see how it goes.
Hey Ricky,
$20,000 from now you are going to have a nice cruiser worth $16000. Iāve done several of these and mostly older models and never broken even.
However; you will have tons of fun along the way and bragging rights about doing the build. Best of luck.
George
Old girl does not look too bad, heavy rust/rot are restoration enemy number 1 and from the pictures I donāt see too much beyond the usual stuff.
The good news is that most parts are probably pretty available for it. I have a restored FJ-40 which cost a ton to restore because of parts cost and availability.
My 2Ā¢ worth of advice: Double your budget, donāt expect it to ever be monetarily worth what you will have in it, donāt give up and you will be proud of it for a long time.
Nice father in law,he must like you a lot.Doesnāt seem to get rid of much . Good luck and thereās no shame in farming out some of the work in order to get it back on the road in a timely manner.
Ditch the six, look into GM factory crate 350 with warranty. Look for a older 700R4 to help on fuel mileage and drivability, floor mounted shifter, power steering upgrade, Iād imagine drum brakes up frontā¦? if so ditch em for disk,
Iād suggest first thing pull the bed off and look frame over good, For a piece of mind Iād replace all brake lines. That passenger side pillar will need some attention. Hit up LMC or Ebay for body panels. You can find a/c systems for that truck around $1500. http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cb/cb2b0.htm
Depending on how much body work MissLilly is probably pretty close to money mark.
After putting down some money numbers budget for more, Youāll be amazed by the ālittleā stuff that comes up nickel and diming you. Donāt get in a rush! Also think about just how original you want it and then donāt rule out some modern gauges rather than the old factory stuff. They have original fit stuff out there, but it can be costly.
Keep us all posted! Iāve seen a few restoration projects that they actually incorporate the rusty old look into it. Not my taste, but popular in some groups.
Ditch the six, look into GM factory crate 350 with warranty. Look for a older 700R4 to help on fuel mileage and drivability, floor mounted shifter, power steering upgrade, Iād imagine drum brakes up frontā¦? if so ditch em for disk,
Iād suggest first thing pull the bed off and look frame over good, For a piece of mind Iād replace all brake lines. That passenger side pillar will need some attention. Hit up LMC or Ebay for body panels. You can find a/c systems for that truck around $1500. http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cb/cb2b0.htm
Depending on how much body work MissLilly is probably pretty close to money mark.
After putting down some money numbers budget for more, Youāll be amazed by the ālittleā stuff that comes up nickel and diming you. Donāt get in a rush! Also think about just how original you want it and then donāt rule out some modern gauges rather than the old factory stuff. They have original fit stuff out there, but it can be costly.
Keep us all posted! Iāve seen a few restoration projects that they actually incorporate the rusty old look into it. Not my taste, but popular in some groups.
I guess this would not be Fredās taste #128512;. I recently saw this monster in Ft Lauderdale, I must say it was pretty dang cool.
I hope the photo attachment works, first try at such.
I love those old trucks. What is your plan? try to keep it original or just make it pretty?
I have an 1988 Jeep and getting used to the carborated engine is interesting. Canāt just start it and go.
Ditch the six, look into GM factory crate 350 with warranty. Look for a older 700R4 to help on fuel mileage and drivability, floor mounted shifter, power steering upgrade, Iād imagine drum brakes up frontā¦? if so ditch em for disk,
Iād suggest first thing pull the bed off and look frame over good, For a piece of mind Iād replace all brake lines. That passenger side pillar will need some attention. Hit up LMC or Ebay for body panels. You can find a/c systems for that truck around $1500. http://www.lmctruck.com/features/cb/cb2b0.htm
Depending on how much body work MissLilly is probably pretty close to money mark.
After putting down some money numbers budget for more, Youāll be amazed by the ālittleā stuff that comes up nickel and diming you. Donāt get in a rush! Also think about just how original you want it and then donāt rule out some modern gauges rather than the old factory stuff. They have original fit stuff out there, but it can be costly.
Keep us all posted! Iāve seen a few restoration projects that they actually incorporate the rusty old look into it. Not my taste, but popular in some groups.
I guess this would not be Fredās taste #128512;. I recently saw this monster in Ft Lauderdale, I must say it was pretty dang cool.
I hope the photo attachment works, first try at such.
Not gonna sport an anarchy symbol around:smiley:. Pretty neat but still donāt go for the rusted look. . Now that blown motor! Thatās another story. Every ones going turbo and seem to be backing away fr
Donāt do anything to it until you have consulted with some real experts. There are a number in the area. the āpatinaā look is in right now. Donāt screw this up. #129396;What does your brother in law think?
