67 GMC Fleetside start

[67Run]

sorry guys, i don't have pics yet, and i'm completely new to this site, and i'm just starting my build. so i'm sorry if this isn't the correct place for this

i have a 67 GMC Fleetside that i've had since i was 18 years old. yep, i was a broke kid, saved up and bought this on my own. and a big YES, it's my first vehicle. that was over a decade and a half ago.

anyways, i feel like a loser posting here with such nice projects that everyone has. well, i finally have some money saved up and this is what i'm taking out of my truck and what i'm putting in:

out:
late 70s olds rocket engine (350) - headers
350 turbo trans

putting in:
350 chevy engine
.040 over. summit racing cam - summit racing flat to pistons - high flow oil pump - metal clip retention style valve seals - all new bearings in cam crank piston rod - distributor rebuilt with summit racing kit - holley carburator - hooker headers - 3hp sbc high torque starter
-poly motor mounts
-89 vette tpi system with painless wiring - so the holley setup and distributor is coming out
-front disc brakes with brake booster (currently all drums)
700r4 trans


the outside i plan on sanding myself and teaching myself about body work. i have some rust under my cab and the parts that tie down the cab to the frame seem really rusted. has anyone encountered this before?

i'm sure someone has a similar setup than what i'm starting with. i don't have much money, but this is a huge part of my savings going to this. so i will be back to saving again to do more, but it's a start.

i'll try and get pic of my new setup soon.

[VA72C10]

Welcome to the board! Don't feel like your project isn't worth sharing...we all love watching projects on here! Looking forward to pictures when you get time.

...and yes....about 98% of the trucks out there have rust in the cab mounts under the cab. Even mostly rust free trucks have issues in this area...

[raull]

welcome !!!!!

[67Run]

a few things i want to start looking for. first, what is the best way to sand current paint? i was thinking of getting a low rate corded orbital sander and some 100 grit paper and just get started. thoughts?

also, speaking of the mounts under the cab....are these easy to replace? I was really looking under it the other day and i definitely need new bushings for the cab. omg, they look original. lol. the frame doesn't look that bad, just the parts coming off of it.

i know i've seen pieces for the kick plate under the door that i need to do on the cab.


btw, some mechanic tried to talk me out of doing this truck because of the rust. i just couldn't get rid of my baby.

[Tinkermc]

welcome a board, I also have a 67 however, mine is a short box stepside. I will watch your build with great interest. they are very worthwile builds, can't wait to see pictures so far.

[67Run]

found some older pics. yes, i hate the paint. soon as i get it back from having the guts ripped out i will be learning how to sand on it to get rid of it.


and i know it's a chevy bowtie, but i love the louvered tailgate. and the rails on the bed are from an older leather toneu cover. i won't be putting it back and the rails will be going away.

[fishbone95]

Real nice truck to start out with. I'm looking forward to see your progress.

[71swb4x4]

Looks nice, almost too nice to tear apart but that's the way it goes.

If you are doing the rust repair on the cab yourself look into boardmember ebfabman's videos. I bought them and they are awesome, especially for a beginner. Send him a message and see if he has any left: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=3599

It sounds like you are referring to the cab supports to being rusty, very common. Here they are on GMCPaul's website:
Prices: http://www.gmcpauls.com/Patch_Panels.htm
Photo: http://www.gmcpauls.com/pictures/frontcabsupport.jpg

[67Run]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

Looks nice, almost too nice to tear apart but that's the way it goes.

If you are doing the rust repair on the cab yourself look into boardmember ebfabman's videos. I bought them and they are awesome, especially for a beginner. Send him a message and see if he has any left: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=3599

It sounds like you are referring to the cab supports to being rusty, very common. Here they are on GMCPaul's website:
Prices: http://www.gmcpauls.com/Patch_Panels.htm
Photo: http://www.gmcpauls.com/pictures/frontcabsupport.jpg

thanks. yeah, those look like the supports. they come off of the frame to the cab. i inspected further and the frame just has the basic surface rust we all face. the supports just look so terrible to me. but nothing to be worried for at this point.

appreciate the links!

thanks for the comments guys. i almost sold this truck twice when i was younger. so glad i didn't now. this site makes it really official too.

[Tinkermc]

glad to see you got the picture part figured out. Keep them comming

[67cheby]

Welcome, excited to see your progress !

[67Run]

so, i'm getting closer to finally getting my truck back. tpi is done, ecu is being flashed to handle the new bigger cams and vaccuum issue, brakes done, exhaust done, headers done, engine bay painted, etc.

what rims do you guys recommend? was thinking of looking for some 20s. not sure i want to go any bigger with that. i don't want to buy the rubber for the current rims i have. the only thing is i don't know what i should be looking for.

5 lug 20s. are they 5.5"? also, i don't know the offset. can anybody by judging my pictures and other 1967 gmc trucks know this information? i guess i can learn how to measure this stuff.

[VA72C10]

20's look great. The bolt pattern on a 67 is usually 6 on 5.5 unless it's been changed...most upgrade to the newer 5 x 5 bolt pattern when they upgrade to discs and I've seen many also use 5 x 4.75 since they can use a car rear and get the front breaks to match. definitely need to measure up what you have. And if you change the front you'll have to get conversion axles for the rear, have them drilled out, or buy a 5 lug rear to match...

And...for backspacing issues...make sure the width of your rear...67 should have the narrower rear axle which will allow you to run a wider lip on the rear, but that axle easily could have been changed at some point...

[71swb4x4]

Make sure you measure correctly. It is not center of stud to center of stud. It is outside of one stud to center of stud across.

http://www.mrt-wheels.com/boltpattern.html

[67Run]

awesome guys, i appreciate the info. soon as i get it back i will check.

the tires in the pics are brand new, maybe only 10 miles total on them. but i bought those a while back and they sat so the side walls are terrible. i figure if i'm going to buy that much rubber, maybe i should just get different wheels.

can you guys recommend a good buffer to start getting some paint off? i definitely want the wording gone. i mostly want to start working on removing the color. i'll leave the white until i get the cab rust work done. not trying to spend more than $40 on a dual action sander though. i figure ebay?

[tsali39]

Way Cool project!g

[67Run]

ordered some staggered 22s.

truck is sitting on rails right now on jack stands and is completely blown apart. since last i posted, i've decided we are doing a full frame up resto and will be blasting the frame, boxing in certain areas, bags, the works.

engine is now a 350 tpi setup, all black, powdercoated, 700r4 trans, disc in front. also, even though i hate it, we are converting from 6 lug to 5 lug, just because rim choices are very nil for what i want. BUT, this gives me the opportunity to also put disc in the back and get better stopping power all around with the change.

and my visor is going bye bye, so if you know anybody who wants one, i can sell it to you. it's in pristine shape, i just have no use for it anymore. rims n tires as well, although, i doubt anybody wants the ones i have. i also have the hooker headers and exhaust that i no longer need as doing bags will require a new setup. sucks cause it's all brand new. let me know if any takers.

here is an updated pic of it going into the suspension shop and my new dash cluster. of course, no paint work has started, but the doors and bed are being sanded now. cab should be coming off shortly.

[67Run]

sitting low. should be some good progress next month.

not my wheels in the pic of the rear. my rims on the front pic though. fender isn't mine, just for mockup.

Sorry it's been a while. Slow process.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Do you have any history on the truck, like was it ever in a magazine? I swear it was in custom classic or classic trucks years ago, maybe even 90s?

[67Run]

Sorry bud, but not that I know of. I've had it the last 17 years or so. It used to be very cherry though as I really took care of it.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I've had mine the same amount of time. Did you buy it finished like that then? 17 years ago that was a bad ass looking paint job.

[67Run]

yeah, off of a family member in the middle US. I've had many many offers over the years. I took care of it for a long time.

[gdavis]

you can go to the parts board on this site and pick up some cab bushing cheap sometimes. That is where I bought mine. There is also a company in St. Peteerburg Fl. called Dennis cassic parts. he also ships and he sells stuff real cheap (new Parts)
The cab bushings are real easy to do. I take it you are not pulling the cab. Just do the back ones first and then the front ones. I used a floor jack with mine.

[lolife99]

Nice work.
I like what you are doing to this truck!
What shop is doing the chassis work?

[67Run]

gdavis, we will be pulling the whole cab eventually as some rust work underneath needs to be done and the frame is getting all sandblasted and powder coated.

lolife99, it is lowboy motorsports in mesa. pretty cool shop.