Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

Longsteps Forever!

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

I prefer longsteppers mine is 8 ft

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

That's a great lookin truck, Mark.


Whats funny is I daily drive a stock I6, 1956 Ford F100 with the only bed available in those days(fenderside style). I absolutey fell in love with the 1956 F350 "Express bed", which was a 1 ton optional truck where it too came with a 9' bed. Kinda rare, typically in poor shape.

Nonetheless I am used to "fendersides"....my daily driver is one. I don't hate them, but prefer "fleetside" for usable worktruck status.

I also have a bone to pick with wood bed trucks, drives me nuts having to be careful. I'm really happy my new 8½" foot bed is old beat up steel bottom. Gonna use this truck till it bleeds
:waah: :lol:

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

We got a little side tracked on the beds. I wish someone who knows more about breaking down the model# out of the VIN and/or knows what's up with this truck's model # could shed some light. If what I found is correct, then this wasn't a pickup at all to begin with. It wasn't a cab and chassis either. It shows as a frame-only order, which would have had a commercial body built on it. It's confusing because obviously this truck came with a cab, since we are going by the VIN on the SPID on the glovebox door of the cab

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

based on what I found on this forum (link below) the 1972 decoder was a little different than 71. judging by the doors with the screw hole at the wing window I am pinning this as a 1972.

looks to me like its: TCE342Z5......

T: GMC
C: 2WD
E:V-8
3:1-Ton
4:Pickup
2:1972
Z: Freemont

I read that as a single rear wheel 133" wheelbase pickup. That doesn't mean the dealer didn't do any mods.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=570059

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...6&d=1362971883


If I had to guess I would say it was a fleetside truck that had a 6" extension at the front like the ones in the linked thread below:

(here is one posted by jessemasterblaster in 2011:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1294631286
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=439761

Either way, very cool truck. I just recently picked up a 1-ton my self, in the 157" variety.

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

Great, thanks for that link. That model# makes sense now, too. You are correct in what the truck started as. The 6004 in the model# stands for 60 = 133" and 04 = Wideside. The previous owner altered the truck to fit the much easier to locate bed for a 127" truck when it needed a replacement. You have a rare truck, something people will tell you doesn't exist. It's what GM did beginning with 1973, 1/2, 3/4, and 1t pickups all using same wheelbase... and bed. Your truck is ahead of it's time! :cool:

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

I really like this truck and I haven't even driven it more than 400'. My problem is seeing how many of these trucks don't have nearly the amount of rust I have. I guess it could be worse...

Thanks you guys for all the homework decoding my old beater rustbucket.

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

If it makes you feel better, mine has far more . . . .

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

Just posting a few updated pics for fun.

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

couple more.

Gonna rebuild this Qjet and slap it on. Get rid of the Edelbrock

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

You got my Vote:metal:

A Good Quadra-jet is hard to beat.:ito:


Let me open the can of Worms for you:lol:





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Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

Looks good along that road. How many feet have you driven it now?

I'll avoid a debate by saying "GM designed and built one of the best running and reliable trucks in 67-72. Treat them right and they will treat you right" :cool:

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

That's not a Chevy carb (Chevy inlet points left, not the front), but that isn't really important, in the long run. Get one of the Q-Jet rebuilding books. They are a great help in guiding a person through the process. I sure don't regret buying mine.

Re: Bought C3500 basket case
 

That's a Buick-Olds-Pontiac (maybe Cadillac) Q-jet with the fuel line straight out the front. I would look for a Chevrolet version (fuel line enters from passenger side) so you can run all steel replacement fuel lines.