20 years later

[dgodecke]

After being parked at a ranch in NV for 20+ years this project is headed for WA.
It ran when it was parked and has a 427cid 425HP L-72 under the hood.

Photos attached (I hope)

[silvereagle07]

Nice find! What's the plans?

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

Nice find! What's the plans?

Past restoring that monster motor I am looking at finding a next genaration (89-98) stepside bed for it. A nice paint job and a lot of work inside the cab to get it livable again.

What I don't know is do I lift it a little and put big tires or do I street it and lower it even thought it is 4X4. I havent decied on that yet.

[Driveway Dreams]

Looks like I very nice start. Give us the story. How'd you find it? What are you gonna do with it? Yadda Yadda Yadda.

[russgt]

Looks like its got a dana 60 under the front

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by russgt

Looks like its got a dana 60 under the front

It has a 10 bolt in the front and a 12 bolt in the rear Not sure if it is a dana yet.

[198plus]

Great find.....The 427 - 425 hp motors are getting hard to find.

[kghtrdr272]

Very nice, rock on. I'm currently doing a frame off on my 85. Start a build thread on it so we can watch the progress.

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by russgt

Looks like its got a dana 60 under the front

I got a good look at the front end and it is a Dana 44 according to the casting numbers.

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

Looks like I very nice start. Give us the story. How'd you find it? What are you gonna do with it? Yadda Yadda Yadda.

The story:
This truck belonged to a good friend. He is a batchler and the owner of 3 ranches in NV and CA. About 20 years ago he went out and bought a new Ford and just parked this truck in the back yard.

Prior to that he bought the truck with this motor in it. He took out the motor and changed the pistons to 10:1 because gas had been degraded so much it would no longer run on pump gas At the same time he put in new bearings and did a valve job. That was about it. Same cam and all the other goodies it came from the factory with are still in the motor.

One day I was down visiting and I asked him what he was going to do with that truck. I know the history and had even driven the truck a few times years ago.

His answer " I don't know, you want it?" "If you think you can do something with it take it." That was last Nov and in Feb I took the trailer down and he helped me load it up, signed off the title and it is now in WA in my shop.

That is the story and all it cost me was the fuel to drive down and back.

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by dgodecke

The story:
This truck belonged to a good friend. He is a batchler and the owner of 3 ranches in NV and CA. About 20 years ago he went out and bought a new Ford and just parked this truck in the back yard.

Prior to that he bought the truck with this motor in it. He took out the motor and changed the pistons to 10:1 because gas had been degraded so much it would no longer run on pump gas At the same time he put in new bearings and did a valve job. That was about it. Same cam and all the other goodies it came from the factory with are still in the motor.

One day I was down visiting and I asked him what he was going to do with that truck. I know the history and had even driven the truck a few times years ago.

His answer " I don't know, you want it?" "If you think you can do something with it take it." That was last Nov and in Feb I took the trailer down and he helped me load it up, signed off the title and it is now in WA in my shop.

That is the story and all it cost me was the fuel to drive down and back.

There you go, True Friends Are Priceless, I have a few and I would give the shirt off my back to each one of them.

[Ceeten]

" I am looking at finding a next genaration (89-98) stepside bed for it."

Please please please don't!

[Ceeten]

Nice truck though. Should be fun!

[Driveway Dreams]

That's a great story! Good buddy. And great deal on your behalf. I think a lowered 4x4 would be a cool change.

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by Driveway Dreams

That's a great story! Good buddy. And great deal on your behalf. I think a lowered 4x4 would be a cool change.

I agree a lowered 4X4 would be different. It is not going to be a daily driver and I have no intention of taking it off the road and go banging it off rocks and stumps, lowered would be a cool look.

[Driveway Dreams]

And hey, 4 tires grabbin' pavement will only help with transferring that power.

[dgodecke]

I got her up on the lift today and got a good look at her underside. Found a TH350 and a NP205 transfer case. Not sure that TH350 is strong enough to hold this motor. Any tips on how to beef it up are sure welcome.

A lot of funky wiring from end to end. I think a new wire harness is in order.

Also found the dash and instruments are toast. All cracked and broken plastic for the most part. It was hacked up to add a gauge at one time also.

[russgt]

Ah, I see now that its 6 lug and not 8. Please dont put the newer stepside bed on it, they just dont look right on an older truck.

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by russgt

Ah, I see now that its 6 lug and not 8. Please dont put the newer stepside bed on it, they just dont look right on an older truck.

I thought it would look nice with the smoother lines. I will have to morph some photos in photoshop and see what it looks like before I buy one. If not I will still go stepside. the fleetside is just boring to me.

[70k52wd]

What a great score. The price is unbeatable. I do agree a newer style bed wouldn't be my choice. However, it's your truck, do what you like. My thoughts are that the center piece will be under the hood. Who cares what bed you have when you have that 427. incredible!!

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by 70k52wd

What a great score. The price is unbeatable. I do agree a newer style bed wouldn't be my choice. However, it's your truck, do what you like. My thoughts are that the center piece will be under the hood. Who cares what bed you have when you have that 427. incredible!!

You are correct it is all about the motor.

When it comes time to find a bed the determining factor will be what I can find for a good price and how much work it will need.

[89muscletruck]

Another member on the board 85_praireboy has done the newer bed swap, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371586 IMHO it looks pretty good, enough of the bodylines match up so that it doesnt look too unnatural. The new box would probably require some tweaking to look perfect but it could be done.

By the way sweet find!

[bigblazerboy]

good looking build so far. newer beds look better on this body style than the 67-72 thats for sure but they look good on some not all. might look good on yours

[dgodecke]

Originally Posted by 89muscletruck

Another member on the board 85_praireboy has done the newer bed swap, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=371586 IMHO it looks pretty good, enough of the bodylines match up so that it doesnt look too unnatural. The new box would probably require some tweaking to look perfect but it could be done.

By the way sweet find!

WOW, thanks for that link it is what I have in mind and didn't know how the two would look together. That answers my questions.

[centexan]

I have to admit, as a 4x4 guy, it's making me tear a little to thing this truck may be dropped. If I found that clean of a truck here in Texas I might have had to resort to illegal things to acquire it. It has everything I want EXCEPT the motor; axles, transfer case. WOW that is a find. I am definitely subscribed to this one. Got to love the GMC's. I have a '74 GMC Jimmy. GREAT score there buddy!