FNG here..... 1970 Chevy Longbed 350 (lotsa pics)

[chrislehr]

My first Chevy ever, and I go and buy a 47 year old one!

Sorry if this many pics is too many on this board, Ill edit if someone complains and make thumbnails or something.












And what EVERY old truck should come with:


Picked it up in Austin for 2800 - good deal?

Runs, should pass inspection OK (one bulb out on a marker I need to fix first)

Thoughts? Questions? Plans?

Im hoping to get disc brakes on the front first, investigating this now (as well and finding out how much I will spend at LMC)

[Longhorn Man]

that's possibly the least rust I've seen on a truck that didn't come from the desert!
BTW... you can NEVER post too many pics.
I wonder how many ppl are wondering what that last photo is.... no body say what it is... I wanna see who the first person is to say WTF?!!!!
2800... you did good.... dam good.
Welcome to the board from central ohio.

[MrBeast]

Awsome truck, I love the color, I am in Corpus, you need any help with it, or need parts let me know. I am also a Welder.

[corn]

Someone here's gonna complain about too many posted pics.

That my friend is the funniest thing Ive heard all day! Welcome to the boards! Nice old truck you found...

[lukecp]

Beautiful truck....looks very original and unmolested! Good deal too. Welcome to the board from a fellow Austinite!

[QKENUF4U]

THATS AN OLD SCHOOL SODA CAN POP TOP I THINK

OH AND SWEET TRUCK TOO.

[HavinSomeFun]

That truck is terrible..... You should bring it to my house and get it out of your sight.

good score on that one.

[odog]

Great truck, I like how I see very little rust. I love the pics too you can nevr have to many pics.

I know what that last pic is of and I'm only 29. I used to ride around alot with my dad when I was little

[slammed1]

That truck is in nice shape. I am looking for a long bed in that condition for a daily driver. Im getting tired of newer vehicles and want a new ride for family and wife but Im ready for a classic to drive again.

[hvychve]

This guy loves lots of pictures, never have too many.
nice find and seems like a smok'n deal. congrats, and welcome aboard.

[Blue'72]

My first Chevy ever, and I go and buy a 47 year old one!

Is that a 60 Chevy??

NICE NICE NICE!!!! However old it is!

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Blue'72

Is that a 60 Chevy??

NICE NICE NICE!!!! However old it is!

Dang it!

[LockDoc]

-
..to the board from the Corn state. I have a friend in San Antonio looking for a truck like that for me down there. Good thing he didn't find it first it would be in Iowa instead of your driveway.... Nice find.

LockDoc

[chrislehr]

Thanks all.. As I first hit submit, I was afraid I would get run off with "you paid HOW much?"

Good. Thanks.

I have a box of parts to go through, first things to do are replace the inside mirror and outside mirrors (they jiggle SOOO much and keep losing their places)

I want a new grille too, but the stock one new is shockingly costly (800$!!!?!?)

Junkyards? Is there a better option on that?

Also looking at a 2"F and 4"R drop (springs and drop shocks)

I know on my old dodge, people swapped a Dakota front end in to get PS, disc brakes, and a drop - is there a Chevy equivalent?

[67_C-30]

Welcome to the board! Awesome original truck. We are all picture whores on this board, and we are actually why you posted so few!!

71-72's have disc brakes so you can swap them or out or do 2 1/2 drop spindles instead of springs on the front. If you don't want to change the rear axles you will have to go with 6 lug rotors since the 71-72 trucks came with 5lugs instead of 6. This stuff is available from places like Classic Performance Products (CPP) http://www.classicperform.com/ or Early Classics Enterprises (ECE) http://www.earlyclassic.com/.


I'd give your $2800 back for it in a heartbeat!

[67_C-30]

BTW, I just went through the grill dilemma for my '69. I couldn't justify spending $800 for a grill on a truck that I drive almost daily. I bought a repro grill from Christian's Classic Truck Parts for $300. This grill doesn't come with CHEVROLET letters stamped into, but they do come with decals in the same size and font. When installed, you really can't tell it unless you are like 2 ft away. 99% of people out there will never even know the difference. The thought of spending that much on a GM grill just to see it get sand pits and eventually see it fade from driving in the summer made me decide to get one that could be replaced almost 3 times for the same amount of money if need be. If it were going to be a show truck or something I only drive on the weekends, I'd spring for the GM grill.

Also, most of the time LMC is kinda high for parts. Christian's Classic Truck Parts, GMC Paul's, Year One, and Paddock among others all have parts catalogs for these trucks. Do plenty of research before buying. Tim Christian from Christians Classic and GMC Paul's are site supporters for this board. Give them a call and tell you are a board member and they usually give you a good price on parts.

I bought a pair of 5" round chrome mirrors Tim Christian last week, and its like driving another truck! No more jiggling!

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

BTW, I just went through the grill dilemma for my '69. I couldn't justify spending $800 for a grill on a truck that I drive almost daily. I bought a repro grill from Christian's Classic Truck Parts for $300. This grill doesn't come with CHEVROLET letters stamped into, but they do come with decals in the same size and font. When installed, you really can't tell it unless you are like 2 ft away. 99% of people out there will never even know the difference. The thought of spending that much on a GM grill just to see it get sand pits and eventually see it fade from driving in the summer made me decide to get one that could be replaced almost 3 times for the same amount of money if need be. If it were going to be a show truck or something I only drive on the weekends, I'd spring for the GM grill.

Also, most of the time LMC is kinda high for parts. Christian's Classic Truck Parts, GMC Paul's, Year One, and Paddock among others all have parts catalogs for these trucks. Do plenty of research before buying. Tim Christian from Christians Classic and GMC Paul's are site supporters for this board. Give them a call and tell you are a board member and they usually give you a good price on parts.

I bought a pair of 5" round chrome mirrors Tim Christian last week, and its like driving another truck! No more jiggling!

Tough call on the grill. Im sleeping on that a while, a WHOLE lot of other stuff needs work before I start replacing body parts

How hard is relocating the gas tank and hiding the cap in the taillight? I found some AWESOME pics on this forum of this, and I can do the mechanical part of that, but I absolutely FAIL at body work (looking at some threads, some of you all are amazing)

I will be the guy with checkbook in hand for body work, however.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by chrislehr

Tough call on the grill. Im sleeping on that a while, a WHOLE lot of other stuff needs work before I start replacing body parts

How hard is relocating the gas tank and hiding the cap in the taillight? I found some AWESOME pics on this forum of this, and I can do the mechanical part of that, but I absolutely FAIL at body work (looking at some threads, some of you all are amazing)

I will be the guy with checkbook in hand for body work, however.

You can pull the tank and cross members right out of a 70's or 80's model blazer or suburban, and stuff em right into your truck, some times with out even having to drill anything, then you will also need the sheet metal with a fuel fill door, I prefer using the fuel fill door from a 90's moded suburban. Allthough there are many more out there available. Done right you can completly hide the install and no one will be the wiser to the fact that it didnt come that way if they dont know thier chevies.

The other great thing about using that tank setup is because it is a GM tank, it is compatable with your fuel level sender and what not.

[72lb4x4]

That truck looks really good!

Get under it, check for rust in the outer cab floor, supports, inner/outer rockers, cab corners and the area under the battery. The rain gutter and windshield rubber often leak causing rust.

Assuming the rust isn't too bad in the above areas, I wouldn't think the price is bad...

[Blue'72]

What other plans do you have for it chrislehr? I would love to have started with a truck in that condition! Great find!!

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Blue'72

What other plans do you have for it chrislehr? I would love to have started with a truck in that condition! Great find!!

Just mild stuff for the first bit.


disc brakes, a drop, some wheels, relo the gas tank, fix all the annoying bugs, do some rewiring, overhaul the engine a bit (maybe rebuild, maybe a swap, no idea yet) and finally paint and body work.

Im liking the stock grille with 4mm billet as well, but I need to take apart the front clip and make sure everything under it is solid too.

Im guessing about 2 years from now I should have maybe half of that done.

[Chevyholic]

Great find! I sure am wishing I would have waited a year to buy my truck. I think I bought at the height of the market and there appears to be much better deals being had now. Love the orange! Enjoy!

[Premium72]

nice truck but do yourself a favor look on the board an buy parts here first , check out brothers, LMC shold be on the bottom of the list. pics are always welcome.

[Hook'em]

I'll keep an eye out for you. Looks nearly identical to mine, but mine has a later grill.

[chrislehr]

Originally Posted by Hook'em

I'll keep an eye out for you. Looks nearly identical to mine, but mine has a later grill.

Wow, lotsa Austin folks - too bad 1431 is no more - do any of you go to any car show outings?