1971 real barn find

[JoryS67K20]

Last month I was finishing up on my 65 suburban ls swap project and my coworker told me about a truck he had that he drove in high school and had been parked since 1990 in his barn. I had to have it. Well I was desperate to make a buck and i turned around a sold it for profit to a friend of mine who already had a 71 lol. So I finished up on the Suburban and then a few days ago he called and asked if I would be upset if he sold it. I told him I wanted it back and my wife overheard the conversation. She surprised me when she said she wanted it, so the suburban got sold and the barn find came back to me. Never should have let it go but ecstatic to have it back. Here she is. All original, numbers matching, great patina, and it runs!

[LockDoc]

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Good deal. Glad your wife wants to drive it too.

I will move to pickups message board.

LockDoc

[Davidf]

Cool and a/c truck to boot. But, what do you mean by numbers matching? Only the frame and vin tag can be numbers matching. Engine on these trucks never were numbers matching.

[70cst]

r built to last

Good deal

[Chevyland]

Originally Posted by JoryS67K20

Last month I was finishing up on my 65 suburban ls swap project and my coworker told me about a truck he had that he drove in high school and had been parked since 1990 in his barn. I had to have it. Well I was desperate to make a buck and i turned around a sold it for profit to a friend of mine who already had a 71 lol. So I finished up on the Suburban and then a few days ago he called and asked if I would be upset if he sold it. I told him I wanted it back and my wife overheard the conversation. She surprised me when she said she wanted it, so the suburban got sold and the barn find came back to me. Never should have let it go but ecstatic to have it back. Here she is. All original, numbers matching, great patina, and it runs!

Originally Posted by Davidf

Cool and a/c truck to boot. But, what do you mean by numbers matching? Only the frame and vin tag can be numbers matching. Engine on these trucks never were numbers matching.

I’m glad you were able to get it back
And even cooler that your wife wanted it
I think we all get the spirit of your post

People say all the time these trucks were never numbers matching
I don’t know if you have the protecto plate or not
But
There is a number stamped on it
That number is also stamped on the pad, front passenger side
Of the block

If those numbers are the same
It ‘IS’ a numbers matching engine

If you don’t have the protecto plate
You can decode the block stamping
And get a good idea if it is the original engine

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Davidf

Cool and a/c truck to boot. But, what do you mean by numbers matching? Only the frame and vin tag can be numbers matching. Engine on these trucks never were numbers matching.

I'm sure he means the title/registration, SPID, VIN tag, & frame.

LockDoc

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice catch!

[Chevys4life]

What more can you ask for!!!!

[Keith Seymore]

Good deal. Sounds like your wife is a keeper, too!

K

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Good deal. Sounds like your wife is a keeper, too!

K

Keith, those are 5 lug. Did they offer 5 lug 16 inchers???

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Keith, those are 5 lug. Did they offer 5 lug 16 inchers???

16" wheels were a factory option (though NOT listed on the SPID glovebox sheet) for government/mil delivery. My 71 C10 (forest service truck) has factory 16" wheels with dog dish caps and documented on the factory build sheet found under the seat.

Congrats to the OP for acquiring and posting about these barn finds.

[michael bustamante]

are those 16" wheels?

[JoryS67K20]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

are those 16" wheels?

no they are 15s

[JoryS67K20]

December 2021 update, the truck has been running phenomenal! We've taken her to multiple car shows and brought home several awards. My wife is very proud to own it. I traded my 67 K20 with the flatbed for a truck that better matches this one. My new one is another barn find like hers, been sitting since 92. Its a 69 GMC (350/400) with AC and great patina like hers.

[special-K]

I like your '69 (and her '71). I have a thing for "weathered, once a pride & joy look", surviving from another era look.

[JoryS67K20]

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I made a quick video on her yesterday. Here's the link
https://youtu.be/axf1de8hzOE

I started to try and fire it up after the video but found out why it was dumping oil everywhere. The oil filter adapter was cracked.

[special-K]

that ain't gonna work

[special-K]

With these trucks the option was the tire size and the wheel was what the tires size called for. Wheels were not an option because they were just wheels back then, what we call steelies today. The only difference was diameter or width. 16" tires were an option for anyone that wanted to order them. These are rallye wheels, which came later, and those were only offered in 15"

[LT7A]

Two cool trucks. Great that you both enjoy having and showing them.

[JoryS67K20]

Wow, been almost 3 years since we pulled "Sassy" out of the barn. That's what the wife named her. Shes taken ownership and we have driven the crap out of the truck. I've done alot of trading vehicles around in search of happiness but ended up getting my very first truck back. Sassy is still doing ok. I just rebuilt the Qudrajet last weekend and realized that the reason I keep plugging filters and ruining this carb is because the fuel tank is RUSTY. So I got a tank from my uncle (he has a 71 Custom Deluxe too) that has never had ethanol fuel in it, so I bought the POR15 tank sealer and the necessary prep stuff. Tomorrow I plan on swapping tanks and starting over with fresh gas.

I'm gonna go ahead and replace the fuel pump too since its leaking and we plan to take it on the 3rd annual Hot Rod Tour of Texas. We are excited, this will be our 3rd tour in the truck. I was a bit worried after last years tour because it was running so bad, but after the tune up and a compression test, I'm no longer worried.
I replaced the radiator some time last summer with an aluminum one, the original one was just so nasty and the truck kept wanting to run a bit warm. That did the trick.

As much as we drive the truck I no longer care so much if its "all original" if the original drivetrain gives up, I think I have the wife convinced to LS swap it.

Enjoy the photo dump.

[JoryS67K20]

more photo dump since my facebook is private. I do have a Youtube page where you can find updates on the truck and what's happening. I'm still growing the page so go to "videos" and not the "shorts" because I upload a crap-load of shorts to gain subs. ANYWAY, here's more of "Sassy"