Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Doing a two year buildup of Cannonball C10 has left me with a bunch of extra parts that we've decided to not use on it. After looking at just how much I have sitting here I was faced with either selling it all in parts, or finding another truck to use this stuff on :) I've got a spare LS3 motor, full repro '74 wiring harness, exterior trim, interior pieces, seat, hood, and a bunch of containers full of misc. extras.

So I started browsing for another suitable candidate at the start of summer. My requirements this time was a 73-76 fleetside shortbox with original condition body and interior. Prices seem to be slightly higher than last time (mid-2013) with an average price of $5000 for smog-exempt trucks.

Anyway, a couple of Saturdays ago I received a craigslist alert on a tired, but original '74 GMC. I was on the phone with the seller after only 25 mins of posting and he already had a previous call on it. He'd only had this truck in his possesion for a few months and he had just swapped a trans into it but hadn't driven it. Registration status was unknown, but he did have the pink so that seemed good enough for me hahaha.

I convinced him to hold the truck for me as we had to do the two hour drive up from San Jose to Elk Grove. It was also the first time I'd had the opportunity to take the new squarebody ramp truck that was aquired over the summer...

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psxkea4tv5.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psotohlmdq.jpg

The truck is pretty original and mostly clean. Bad: Rust in the fenders and over the wheels, but the floor is solid. Hood is totally done and the tailgate won't open. Good: It's a full load truck with deluxe interior, A/C (not working), and even the cargo light.

The seller had another 10 calls on it during our drive up so I wasn't about to mess around on this over a few hundred bucks. I paid the man $3k and we loaded it up :D

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psfdh0fhnv.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...pselrk8nvz.jpg

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Allll riiiiight...... This oughta be fun.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Obviously the first thing we did after unloading back at the shop (which was past midnight) is to try and get it running.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psa2t3pxac.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps0ilivsot.jpg

The seller had claimed carb issues so we dropped on another good carb, but it wouldn't stay running...lots of pops and misses. We started to play with timing and pulled the distributor thinking it might be bad...and that's when we found the milkshake colored oil :)

We then realized that we hadn't even pulled the dipstick while "checking over" the truck. I was only concerned about the body and interior. However, unlike what I did with the last truck, I want to drive this one around while upgrading it and dropping in the LS3 isn't planned for a couple of months.

So Sunday morning we started to pull the intake and heads...

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...pszo2popge.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psscgezaeg.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...pstwbyinfc.jpg

I haven't done a head gasket job on a Gen 1 small block so I was actually looking forward to tackling this. I got everything off and cleaned the top end, grabbed all the neccessary gaskets and seals, and was prepping the heads for reinstallation when I noticed this...

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps5fjjd4st.jpg

Boo! Cracks in the passenger head on cylinder 4 and 6. Not wanting to spend any more than neccessary, we hit up O'Reillys for a couple of replacement heads. All of this for a truck that hadn't even moved under its own power yet.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps0ceifdaf.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psfhnb522a.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psycgv2ltk.jpg

After most of another day we had it running under its own power!

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps8bkwizcg.jpg

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

The moment it hit the street we found the tires are toast; dry rotted and split doesn't make for a good ride so its still undrivable. Instead we towed it back to my house where it currently sits in the driveway :)

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psl07auyb9.jpg

Since I'm putting new tires on this anyway I really wanted to run rally wheels, so I've ordered the Wheel Vintiques Style 41s in 15x8 and 15x10, which are out for delivery today. I'm going to use those with 245/60 fronts and 275/60 rears. Hopefully I can get them mounted and take this thing around the block sometime in the next couple of days.

I did get the truck registered last week...after finding $650 in back taxes owing :( But at least its still got blue plates.

Until the wheels arrive, I've attempted wet sanding with 800 grit to get back to the original Hawaiian blue. It has worked so far, but its not an easy job.

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps6dcmnezv.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psygtcdnbm.jpg

I like patina (which this truck has a lot of), but with the amount of cancer creeping through the paint I just can't handle it hahahaha. I've ordered some replacement fenders and bedsides, and the plan is to do a quick repaint in the original colors.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

very cool! i've been on the lookout for a gmc swb myself. i'd like to finally build the daily driver i've been talking about all these years.

thanks for sharing and keep us posted!

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Great story on the find! I am tagging along. Oh, is that a Roadkill episode on the computer?

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed, hard to miss the Blasphemi.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Awesome build thread! Your garage shelves looks like Costco; man style lmao

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Yup, I find old Roadkill episodes really pass the time while doing something boring like wet sanding :D

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Haha thanks. The One Off Customs shop is filled with cool parts on those shelves.

Well the wheels arrived tonight so I'm hoping to get everything mounted in the morning and maybe take this thing around the block tomorrow evening.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Got the wheels mounted and balanced. Hope to get them on the truck and driving tonight...

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...swb1t71yl.jpeg

If anybody is interested in the old wheels then PM me. I need to get rid of them.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

please tell me you are going to use the highway patrol cap! haha, that's "my look".

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Dang, now I can be jealous of two of your trucks. What size are the wheels that came on it?

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

That would be cool, but I just grabbed some standard 73-87 rally caps. These wheels may be temporary anyway.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

It had 275/60R15s on it, which were hilariously trashed. There is a 2 inch bulge in the front passenger tire and I can see between the cords on the drivers side tires.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Got the new tires and wheels mounted

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psyvzfpaqc.jpg

And took it out for it's maiden voyage!

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...pskipapyci.jpg
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psyfxd2jxu.jpg
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psdxlljgkl.jpg

Issues: Leaking ATF, riding on the bumpstops in the rear, no turn signals, no dash lights, soft brakes, needs an alignment, heater stuck on hot

Current plan is to put in a proper drop kit with notch and suspension refresh on Friday.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

My mistake, I was thinking car rally's. Truck Rally's with the stock cap and no rings is muy bueno also.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it - sub'd.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Who had 10" truck rallies in stock? Heard they had problems getting them. Looks good, diggin' the beaterriffic vibe. Will the OG hood off of Cannonball fit on it?

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

The big question- is Cannonball gonna make SEMA?

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Yeah I had a hard time finding the 15x10s in stock. Called wheel vintiques and they said its a 10-12 week backorder right now. Googled one more time and found that Jegs had them all in stock. Only downside was the week wait to get them here to California.

it looks "good" in the patina/beater look right now. Unfortunately its become obvious to me that I can't own a patina truck, especially a full load truck like this. So, yes, the OG hood from Cannonball is going on this truck shortly. Its already blasted and primed, and sitting in my storage locker waiting :D I've also got some replacement fenders and bedsides, and the plan is to do a respray in the original Hawaiian Blue/White. Hopefully we can get it done in the first week of November as I'm planning to drive this to Dino's Get Down!

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Unfortunately we aren't even close to making SEMA :( I really didn't want to rush the assembly phase as that's the part of this whole process I've really been looking forward to. We also came up with some interior ideas that I want to get incorporated before putting it together.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Started to clean out the interior this morning before work.

Before:
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...psjuendbi0.jpg

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...ps9umrq8j0.jpg

After:
http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/y...sfstqxkbu.jpeg

Floors are in pretty good shape. Only a couple of spots that need to be filled and the rest should be fine with the wire wheel and POR-15.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Tuning in for more of this one.

Re: Project Two - '74 Sierra Grande
 

Nice!