Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

While I love to see the modified trucks and ideas you all have, I have to admit I prefer mine as close to stock as possible. Having said that, every once in a while I stumble across something where I think to myself "I sure wish GM had done this (or that) back in the day." And I mean things they could have done, with GM parts or concepts that were available in 67-72 or some decision they could have made with what they had on hand (so as much as someone might wish GM had an LS engine in 72, that's not possible).

Here's one that comes to mind for me - as some of you may know, I'm a big fan of the Custom Two Tone paint scheme (i.e. no white anywhere). I think the 565 paint combo (Black roof, Hugger body) is pretty awesome (below pic for reference is very much "the one that got away.." in my case) - and I've always wondered why the black roof wasn't offered in a factory RPO paint scheme in combination with at least a few other primary colors.

So here's my time machine wish: I wish the black roof Custom Two Tone combo would have also been offered with (516) orange, (525) light yellow, (519) yellow, (514) red, and (521) white primary color trucks. I particularly think the light yellow with black roof would be a great lookin combo... :) (so much so that I've considered building a bone stock truck in this paint scheme, but I could probably never bring myself to actually do it... ha).

As a close second wish - I find myself sometimes wishing GM had offered the big block on Ks back in this era.

So, if you were GM king for a day back then, what would you have done differently or additionally?

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

.

I know this is lame but…

Driver side 4th door on the burb.

Quad cabs.

-klb

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

How about a high performance COPO C10. Something with a L88 or LS6 BB.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I'm thinking on this..

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

What, you missed the Corvette option C10?

Right now, the only thing I can think of is a larger fuel tank for the Blazers.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Rust protection for the rockers, something like galvanizing.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

How about the overdrive unit used on 3 speeds available on 4 speeds and autos?

They were made by Borg Warner IIRC, and I was under the impression they were strong, reliable units. (Never owned one.)

Not wanting to take this thread sideways with details, so I'd wish this if it was technically possible.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Copo 427 yenko style, that’s a short bed C10 I could find a real use for.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I wish the RS camaro hide away headlights had made it past the concept stage for the trucks as well a Super Sport type option. That was kind of the theme I took my truck was something more car related than even what the CST or Cheyenne Supers did.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Obviously 4 door burbs is a good one.

K30 big block.

Metal floor longhorn.

I wish GM of USA documented stuff like Canada so we could reorder our build sheets.

4 door pick up trucks like square-body era.(I hate square body dashes and LOVE our dashes. It's actually a deal breaker)

Factory Volt gauge; factory temp gauge with actual numerical readings.

Factory Delay-wiper.


It is my opinion that most of the cab rust starts with leaky drip rail seam sealer. So I wish they dealt with that better.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Rust protection for the entire vehicle! There was little to no protection on these. The lacquer paint was not great at protecting the steel under the finish. They primered the underside, but little to no paint on top of it. The steel quality was questionable. Many of these fine trucks/Blazers died solely due to the tin worm. I personally cut up 2 '72 Blazers in the mid '90's due to them being rotten.

I just saved a total rust bucket '70 Blazer. The body was in horrible condition in 1987 when I was gifted it. I scabbed it together then and drove it 10 years. Now it's getting the proper treatment it deserved then, when I had little money, knowledge, or parts availability.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

A little more leg room and head room.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Most are mechanical: 16" 8 lug solid wheels, custom camper option should have included camper style mirrors, no upper molding option on fleetsides unless it is a tu tone, more complete rear axle ratio coverage, 5 speed, 5 speed overdrive ( heavy duty truck type). TH400 with any engine. Agree with jumpsoffrock, a factory 4 door crew cab with suburban type doors.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I wish that 67-68 trucks would have had a upper moulding option like the 69-72 trucks had. But one unique to them, not the same as 69 up.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I am a 4x4 guy.
*15x8 factory 1/2 ton 4x4 wheels (Non-rally) stock
*Big Block 4x4’s especially some of the 69-72 427-454 blocks
*k30’s or dually 4x4’s from factory
*Chrome factory step bumpers
*Factory crew cabs would have saved me a few years.

I wish they would have made this era as long as the square body. The squares timing was perfect for the creature comforts to start coming into play, but also overdrive transmissions, diesels, Dana 60’s, etc.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

All trucks to get full Foam Seats and folding (bench)
2" lowered seat (bench)

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Dmjlambert beat me to it.
An extended cab version my 6’ 3” frame would appreciate. ;)

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Make the Toroflow diesel an option in 3/4 and 1 tons. Continue the V-6 after 1969. Factory crew cab.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Small window cabs past the 1967 model year. How come the medium Duty's got em up until 89? I mean I know we later year owners can do a cab swap but, why not have a 72 Cheyenne 10 with a small window from the factory? And some attempt at a full console I think would have looked cool, you know that stops just in front of the gas tank and go all the way to the dash.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

All metal inner grille for 71-72 (even if it visually was the same design).
Stainless steel headliner trim.
Telescoping column?

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

X2! For those daily high mileage and higher GVW hauls, you can't beat diesel power. Running the larger and more refined toroflows up to the early 80's could have been a game changer for GMC.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Would have been nice to have Disc Brakes whether stock or optional equipment 67-70.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

AM/FM radios standard equipment would have been nice.

Even though FM didn't flourish till the late 70's.

:chevy::chevy::chevy:

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Muncie M22 in 1/2 tons and 4wd in 1 tons. Everything else is perfect.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

No wooden bed floors.
Buddy bucket option thru 72.
Seal off the cowl crap catcher and delete kick vents.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Absolutely not! The kick panel vents & the wing windows are the two best features of these trucks.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Times two!

My own would be.

1 1/4" sway bars on all the trucks.

Door lock key cylinder on 3rd door on Suburbans.

3 point seat belts standard in all three rows of Suburban seating.

Fold flat second row Burban seats like the squarebodys came with.

Rear heater or defogger grid on Burban/Panel rear windows.

An 18 to 22 gallon tank instead of the 15 gallon fuel tank on Burbans and Panels.

Loving the 3 door life! :mm:

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Actually, I have reconsidered.
I love the kick vents, they have made me a lot of money over the years repairing them for people.:metal:

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

How about continuing this body for another decade before going to the square one. That would have allowed GM to institute all the thoughts above.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I wish GMC trucks would have continued to offer Pontiac V8 engines till 72.
Like they did in the late 50s, a torquey 428 or 455 would have made a great truck engine.

Greg

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

A few dealers did Toroflow swaps on V-6 pickups, it was almost a bolt in swap. Supposedly GMC did give the idea some thought.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Look close at this page from the 67-72 'Assembly Manual' and tell me what you think:

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Actually, overdrive as standard on all three-speeds…my ‘67 L6 is really revving at 80 mph in 3rd gear…the truck gets 15 mpg (on the highway anyway), which really ain’t nothing to gripe about considering, but a few more mpg’s along with lower rpm’s would be nice….

Otherwise, absolutely NOTHING!!!

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Wider stance on the drum brake trucks or offer disk brakes in the early years of our series.

Inside frame-mounted gas tank. Cab mounted tanks are such a throw-back to the 1930's.

A REAL 4-speed manual. The ch-465 is a 3-speed with a granny gear.

I can't believe that any of these changes would have added much to the cost of manufacturing our trucks.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Enjoyed reading these. I definitely agree with more rust protection but to be fair nobody had that at the time. Disc brakes earlier would have been nice. External fuel tanks would have been nice. Delay wipers would be awesome. But how about an LT1 (but with TH400 trans) engine option from Camaro and Corvette of the day. I will never understand why GM did not offer Tuned-Port fuel injection from the IROC in the 88-95 timeframe trucks. I would have much rather had an SS350 (or even SS305) with a Tuned-Port than an SS454 with a throttle body.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I'm 6'3" but very skinny, and my head almost hits the ceiling.
But I always thought it was because it has the wrong seat in it lol
I guess it's not just me :lol:



Careful there, pal. Or we're gonna get "taken care of" by the mafia.....
:ito:




Yeah, they also should have offered a "sport truck" option: LT-1 From the Vette or Z28, M22, 12 bolt posi, nicer interior, Maybe a different more aero grill.
Really surprised they didn't see the sporty stylistic potential of these trucks and offer them to the people who don't care to use them for work.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Judging from the photos in "Development/Concept photo thread" it is apparent that the younger design group employees did recognize the sporty truck market. Unfortunately all the decisions were made by 50 plus year old conservative executives who earned their bones with the Advanced Design and Task Force trucks. There were no John DeLorean's were in the truck group. Just stodgy old men safely finishing out their careers.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I like these previously mentioned items, full foam seat standard, front stabilizer bar standard. I will add, full syncro 3 spd standard, GM continued to use the older non syncro 3 speed in '67 and '68 on 6 cyl pickups:devil: when they had the newer full syncro 3 spd box on the same era V8 pickups. Rear leaf springs optional on '67 2wd 10-20 series.

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

Too cool! An actual option that nobody ordered, or an almost-option that got canceled? Or maybe a dealer-install only?

So close, yet so far...

Re: Your time machine wish: things you wish GM had done in this era...
 

I am thinking GMC was considering going back to Pontiac V-8's to keep their trucks 'different' than Chevys, particularly after the V-6 was dropped.

The diagram is clearly of a Pontiac V-8 (unique heads and exhaust manifolds, starter on the left, oil filter on the right) in a 1970 GMC (models CE-CK 150-250).

The engine wiring harness would have been unique to the Pontiac V-8 with the starter wiring on the left and oil pressure switch/temp. sender on the right. Of course B-O-P pattern Turbo 350 and 400 transmissions would have been used, possibly manual transmission trucks could have used the '55-'59 bell housings.

Looks like the Pontiac V-8 idea got a little further along than just talk.