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1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
I figured I’d kick off this thread at the beginning. Picked up this truck last night and am still feeling pretty good about it. I have an appointment with the DMV in August so it’ll be mostly planning and doing the bare minimum to drive it down there for the VIN inspection until then. The V6 is running so that’s a promising start! Hoping to follow the same formula as my C10, and see which truck I end up liking better 😁
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Can't wait to see what happens!
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Plans for the truck are similar to what I've done on my C10. I want to keep as much original character as I can but also make it reliable, easy on the highway and low. I'm going to convert to 5 lug, or I could live with 6 lug if the right deal on a rear end came along. I have another NP440 in my attic, but I'd have to find or modify a shifter to work with it. The electrical system will need some attention. The body isn't too bad, the rust will be one of the last things I'll tackle.
I'm coming across some decision points on suspension. I'm shooting for the same 4.5"/6" drop that I've got on my C10. 1) this is a leaf spring truck. I measured 52" eye to eye on the springs...is this how the squarebody trucks are set up too? Seems like a set of 1/2ton springs and a flip kit would be a no-brainer. 2) I love the ride of my C10. I could swap to a trailing arm setup instead. Probably more expensive...convince me why I should. 3) CPP makes conversion spindles that use the stock 3/4 ton lower a-arms, but I want to rebuild the whole suspension and the MOOG balljoints are $$$ and the inner tie rod joints are unobtanium. If I swap arms, i'd prefer to grab the early lower arms and steering linkage so I can use CPP's drop spindle that doesn't change track width. I can find squarebody trucks in the pickn'pull any day but I don't like the track width change that comes with using those arms and spindles. Seems like no great solution here. 4) I want to try manual brakes on this one with the stock squarebody discs. What MC bore size works for that combo? |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Don't know the spring lengths- I can measure my 87 tomorrow.
Trailing arms and coils are a FAR better ride. Converted our 67 to coils with a No Limit long travel kit and it's SO much better, and really hooks a corner. From my experience the arms are the same, size wise. Find a square and get the PS box and crosslink ('82 and up are different). Some spindles push out less than others. There are some charts kicking around for all this, lolife99 has a good one. Don't know about the MC- Rokauto I have found to be a good tool for digging that kinda stuff up. I'd do the 3/4 ton caliper upgrade. this ought keep ya occupied- https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=647790 |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Awesome! I will help if i can with any extra parts i may have that you need.
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
I love GMC trucks, good find !
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That looks like a real nice survivor.
Looking at a picture of my 65 C20 frame, the rear crossmember sure does look similar to the one on my 63 |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Doh, just realized I could measure off my own C10! Certainly looks the same.
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Hey I used rear axle out of a 76 c10 with original leaf springs and flip kit that included u-bolts for 73-87 c10 also have to reuse axle shock mounts from original axle hope this helps pm me I can send photos of my swap
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...EF05D57CD.jpeg It's a start. Now I'll need to find the rest of the rear suspension parts to mount it! Current challenge is to rebuild the front brakes enough to move it in and out of the driveway and get it down to the DMV. thankfully the front brake parts are pretty inexpensive. On the way back we came across an awesome collection of old trucks and automotive oddities in Pomeroy, WA. This GMC still looks like a workhorse... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...20B89A670.jpeg |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Brakes work. Truck moves forward and backward. Good enough to get to the DMV in 6 weeks.
In other news I snagged a horn button from eBay for a good price. The speedometer is the only other GMC-specific item I need to replace. |
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I’m rethinking using the conversion spindles…my concern is the inner tie rod ends. LMC has them in their catalog for <$20, and NAPA has them for $150. Anybody have first hand experience with the LMC c20 inners?
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Parts are starting to pile up...rear wheels, front tires, drop spindles, brakes, axle, trailing arm suspension, springs, etc etc...
Found a seat from a 67 down in Newberg. Needs a new cover but the springs and foam are good. Kinda like the green and tan combo... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...CD1CA7FC0.jpeg Tried straightening out the bed side...i think I'm gonna have to grind out all the bondo and try again. I have cleaned up the wiring and it's impressively intact and functional. Fuel pump started leaking from the weep holes, so that got replaced and the oil was changed. Took it for a lap around the neighborhood and it was terrifying. Brakes are super sketchy and the carb is probably junk. But it was still fun! DMV appointment is next week, then the fun begins! |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
The DMV appointment was successful, I have plates and a title on the way. The drive to the DMV highlighted a weakness in the radiator, so I need to pull it out and get it repaired. But other fun stuff is happening.
I started stripping down the truck and mocked up the front brake setup. I'll be welding tabs to the upper a-arms to mount the squarebody brake hoses. I had to bend the hose end at the caliper a little bit to clear the upper part of the spindle, apparently a common thing to do on the square trucks. I bent a line that goes forward to the crossmember under the radiator, across and to the other side. A 40" pre-flared line worked perfectly for that. i'll also be replacing the ball joints and outer tie rod ends. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...93AF05AD4.jpeg I also started with the new brake system. I installed a 1" bore dual master cylinder that I had on my green truck. I found out it was too sensitive for the power brakes on that truck so I thought it might be perfect for the manual brake setup I want to try on this one. The master cylinder bolted right up, doesn't look like I'll have to mess with the pushrod or anything. I'm waiting on a t-fitting before I finish running the front line up to the master. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...014785B60.jpeg Also started pulling the rear end apart-driveshaft is out, parking brake and shocks disconnected. I will be pulling the bed off next in order to get the upper shock mounts and leaf spring mounts out and to install the coil-spring shock crossmember. Not really much to see there. Last, I installed the Holley so I can figure out fuel line fittings/routing. I don't love the polished finish but it was the most affordable version, so i'll live with it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...08E0465F5.jpeg I'm kind of hopping around, doing stuff that I have parts for while I wait on other parts to show up. I have wheels at the sandblaster, balljoints in the mail, a bunch of fasteners on order with Fastenal, etc. Should start coming together soon though. |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Went camping this weekend so only had a few hours tonight to make progress.
Turned the driveway into a mess - took off the bed and got the 3/4 ton rear end out of the way. I love my wife :) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...26E9C99D5.jpeg Started cleaning up the remains of the rear half. Cut out the exhaust right at the center crossmember - it was pretty rotten and pretty obvious that it wasn't going to work with the trailing arms. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...C33DC29C3.jpeg |
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Progress! Coming along!
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Heck I bled on mine a time or two during the build. :)
Great progress and thanks for the heads up. |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
This truck wants to mangle my hands. Smashed a finger while replacing balljoints, too. But I'm pretty much healed up now.
Got everything put together on the rear end. Just lots of grinding out rivets and replacing with 3/8" grade 8 bolts. I started with 5" drop springs and 2" blocks. Front end has new ball joints and outer tie rod ends. CPP modular drop conversion spindles, and standard squarebody brakes. Going with a manual brake setup, 1" bore master cylinder...we'll see how it does on the street. I ended up with a pair of mystery front springs...might be 1.5" drop cheapies from ebay. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...1EAE3D4AF.jpeg I used a CPP intermediate shaft assembly...ended up making a frankenstein rag joint from my old one, since the new one had a flat and my steering box is fully splined. Ground the DD using somebody's method on here with a block of wood as a guide...worked awesome! And this is what it looks like in the driveway, before and after: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...E0BB713A1.jpeg It's low...probably equivalent to a 5.5/7 drop. I have the c-notch, so I have to decide if I want to leave it here... Radiator is getting repaired now. When that comes back I can start putting some miles on it and see what else is broken! And I'm also thinking about a big back window conversion... |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Oh yeah, that's a good look
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OOOOOh! So Much better!
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Thanks guys. Some learnings about the front end spindle swap that might help someone else: This truck started as a 1964 GMC 1500 (3/4t). In 1964, the 3/4t trucks had lower a-arms that bolted to the crossmember, not the u-bolt style mount. That rules out a simple swap to 1/2t lower arms. The alternative was to swap to a newer 1/2t suspension, but I figured it would still need to be completely rebuilt plus I’d have to go through the extra expense and effort of installing the core suspension.
Also, CPP still lists two styles of conversion drop spindles but only the modular style is still available. |
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Love the look! great job so far....
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Just got the quote to re-core the radiator…$650!!! I will be ordering an aluminum unit from Champion tonight.
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I got quoted 400 to re-core my radiator back in 2016. I also went with a Champion. Many trouble free miles since then
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
New radiator arrived and is installed. I cut strips from a leftover fuel filler hose to replace the original rubber bumpers in the brackets, since the tanks on the new radiator don't have the same shape as the original Harrison. Otherwise it fit up well.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...7FBF81553.jpeg With that, I was able to take the truck for a run around the block with the new suspension and brakes. First impressions are that the brake feel isn't as good as I had hoped and it needs the c-notches before I drive it anymore. I need to put some steering stop bolts on the spindles, too. It looks great though! Saturday morning, tried to roll it onto the street to back it into the garage and it stalled and wouldn't start...neighbors helped me push it out of traffic and I ran out to get a new battery. Pushed my luck with the one that came in the truck, I knew it wasn't good for much more than one start on an overnight charge. Got it turned around and stripped off the bondo on the passenger rear of the bed. It was was oil-canned out with a bunch of hidden damage. I spent the better part of today pounding on it, learning to use a shrinking disc, re-welding the brace over the wheel opening and teaching myself how hammer and dolly works. Now the bed side holds shape in a relatively straight line from front to back. There's still a big concave area and some high spots in bad places that I need to work on. This photo is from when I bought it: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...C831174D0.jpeg This photo is just after I stripped out the bondo. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2CC1D1AFE.jpeg This is after all the beating and shrinking: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...66F0C063A.jpeg I'm going to get this bed side pretty close and then start cutting it down to a short bed. |
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Great job!!
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nice work! good to see another local, my current truck is a 64 GMC swb with chevy front sheetmetal..I plan to coil convert mine soon
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Speaking of rivets, took out a few more so I could install the notches. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...022065AD1.jpeg Have to figure out shock placement/mounting next. Had some bad rubbing between the front wheels and the lower control arms. I looked at grinding back the control arms but didn't like how much it looked like I'd have to remove. I'm trying out some 1/4" wheel spacers instead to see if that helps. Does anyone make 16" OE-style steelies that take 10.5" hubcaps? |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Got to take it for a bouncy cruise without those rear shocks. The wheel spacers in the front seem to have solved the wheel-to-control arm issue. The c-notches solved the axle-to-frame issue. The engine seems pretty strong, the trans makes a lot of noise even for an SM420 and the clutch is hammered.
I also converted to a 66-up style parking brake setup. I just used the stock '65 cables that came with the rear end, a reproduction cable support rod and coupler kit, and made my own cable to join the two coming from the rear wheels. The cable kept stretching so I had to keep making it shorter, but I got it eventually. I actually used my MIG welder to zap the ends of the cables to hold the cable stops...soldering the cable stops was not working. I decided to go with this rear shock setup. Made the new uppers tonight, the paint is drying and hopefully i can install tomorrow. https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...errerid=134070 |
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I was able to put some test miles on the truck last weekend and it felt great to get it out and moving. I got the shock mounts made and the shocks mounted and the ride is pretty good. No bottoming out with this setup, even on some pretty big whoops in the road. The brakes take just a little too much effort so I bought a 7" booster for a little bit of assist. Felt like there might still be some contact between the front wheels and the control arms so I probably need to take a grinder to them. For looks I found some Oldsmobile dog dish caps - they get the job done.
The trans and clutch sound so bad though. Growling, banging, squealing...good thing I have this hanging around the garage... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...0276D8B05.jpeg Its an AX15 from a Jeep Comanche that I totally lucked into. I bought the front adapter from another forum member, and after some panic that I might not find a slip yoke, I found a part number on a Jeep forum and thank goodness it worked! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...5C738CE17.jpeg I need to pick up front and rear seals and a pilot bushing. I'm waiting to install until I shorten the truck so I'm only buying the driveshaft once. I spent a little time polishing on the paint to see if it has any life left. I think it'll shine up pretty good! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...D9CF68F0B.jpeg Progress is gonna have to stall for a little bit - my buddy's '62 C20 developed a leaky head gasket, and since he has no garage and it's rainy season it's gonna get fixed in my garage. Once we have him running again, I think I'll bust out the sawzall... |
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Good find on the transmission, keep us posted.
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Very Cool truck!! Keep the pics coming!
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Thanks for the encouragement! I can't wait to see your red truck come together hardwaa...
Waiting on schedules to align with my buddy so I got a few more projects started. I installed the little brake booster. I used a Speedway 7" booster, and I ordered the 55-57 brackets along with the aluminum plate adapter that I used on my C10. Turns out I didn't need that, since the bolt pattern on the GMC matches the master cylinder and the 55-57 brackets (I should have realized this since I had already replaced the MC). I could still add a couple of bolts but I don't think I need it, the pedal force is all in line so it shouldn't flex. I'm waiting on a pedal clevis and I'll see how much it moves around once the pushrod is connected. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2D5A2A83A.jpeg http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...7D54D7E05.jpeg The truck was converted to an SM420 a long time ago, and it already had the removable floor panel, but it never had the firewall filler panel swapped over. I can confirm that the panel that's advertised for the 60-63 trucks will fit in the 64-66 trucks. The only difference I found was that the area where the accelerator pedal is mounted is flat for the pedal that bolts through the floor, rather than the style that snaps onto the ball studs. Maybe this is how all the 4-speed trucks would have been for all years? http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...2C5CCE4EF.jpeg http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...83301A210.jpeg http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...36D9DF5D7.jpeg I ordered a new pedal and a rivnut tool - I'll use rivnuts to hold down the floor panels too. I'm not going to weld in the firewall filler panel - it's way too convenient to have access to the bellhousing bolts. |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Subscribed!
Beautiful color, it's a GMC and you kept he V6!! Thanks for that AX15 info and look forward to that swap coming up... :gmc2: |
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For the shock placement - I installed notches and shorter springs.
I swapped the lower shock mounts L-R and re-drilled the holes more inboard to allow the shocks to mount outside the frame - almost vertical. I used standard front shocks on the rear and although I have not driven the truck with this setup - it seems to be a common modification that puts the shocks in a far better angle to work well. worth considering now you have a really solid fixture on the notch - the truck's looking really good... Quote:
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
I did exactly what you described on my green truck and it worked well. I found the plans and a Monroe part number for another mounting method that seemed pretty simple so I’m trying that out. So far, with limited testing, it seems like it’s effective. The overall ride is softer than my green truck but I also seem to have some pretty stiff dampers on the green truck. I can always switch to the outboard mount later and do some head to head comparisons!
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Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
Finished up my buddy's engine refresh, survived Christmas travel and illness, and now back on the truck. I was able to chop down the bed over the last couple of weekends. 8" behind the tire and 12" in front of the tire. I kept the stake pockets and placed my cuts on the top rail to get rid of the most severe damage. I had more warp/shrink on this truck than I did on my Chevy, so I had to do some dolly work and use a little filler. I hope it all disappears when I get some color-matched paint.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...7373E5438.jpeg http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...B6E0A4CF4.jpeg Now I can pull the bed off again and start laying out the cuts on the frame and borrow some more jack stands... |
Re: 1964 GMC Palomino Tan Survivor
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...09EB11CDF.jpeg
More room to move around in the garage now! My buddy and I pulled the transmission and started looking at the AX15 and realized we have a problem. The GMC bellhousing doesn't appear to be removable without removing the flywheel. The AX15 and Novak adapter, as designed, need to be mounted from inside the bellhousing. In order to run the top transmission mounting bolts into the bellhousing from the transmission side, I'll have to carve away at the transmission case to make room for the socket head cap screws. I'm thinking about it for a bit longer before I start grinding, hoping for a better answer. The area to be cleared out for the bolt is as wide as the sharpie outline, but would have to extend further back along that rib. It looks pretty much the same on the other side, except it also gets really close to a locating dowel pin. I wouldn't have to cut all the way through that lip, probably a little over .125" deep into it. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/gallery/...7A7012609.jpeg I doubt the transmission would ever be stressed enough for the case to break if I cut into those ribs. What do you guys think? |
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