New to everything, please help

[spavinaw]

Hello all, I stumbled across this site and cant get enough of it! I found a 1968 GMC 3/4ton 4x4 with 66,000 original miles. I think Santa (aka-My wife) is bringing it for my Christmas. I cant wait to get ahold of it. The thing is, I am not a mechanic. I am not ignorant to wrenches and mechanical ability but I dont know anything about working on trucks. I dont have any pics to post but my plan is to make this a daily driver. I dont need, at this time, for this truck to be show room condition.

Here is my thoughts, add power steering, add disk brakes, switch from a manual transmission and possibly change out the rearend so it isnt so low geared. let me know what I am up against?

Also, how difficult is it to add AC to a truck like this?

Let me know what you all think.

Love the forum!!!!

[weircc]

glad to see a new member and welcome too your new home. as far as making all the changes im sure you will find tons of answers around the site one thing to keep in mind on a 4 wheel drive you have to have matching gear ratios front and rear so if you change rear you will need to change front as well and last but not least we LOVE PICTURES so get them up asap lol

[mr48chev]

Welcome to the board.

The first thing I would do after getting the truck is to buy a factory service manual. That is one of the ones that GM sent to the dealers for use in their shops. Mine came with side notes and fingerprints off Ebay. Those are the only manuals that have detailed instructions for everything and repair on the trucks. They are usually written so anyone who can read and comprehend can understand them too.

I'll be honest though, If I wanted a truck with disk brakes and an automatic I would be hunting for a 71/72 that came with the disk brakes and find one that had the automatic already in it.

You can swap everything over but you will be money and headaches to start with one that already has the stuff on it.

[spavinaw]

Thanks for the quick replies. Mr 48, I dont plan on doing this all at one time but I do understand what you are saying. The price I can buy the truck for, IMO, makes it worth doing this work.

[Wideopenracing15]

Well brakes, power steering could be the easiest or the hardest part. I'd say find a local 67-72 parts dealer (most of the time an older gentleman with a lot of spare parts and time) and you can usually get disk brake parts off another truck and the same with steering and trans.

[71meangreenc10]

Well,
If you have any ounce of mechanical abilities (Some people dont, thats when I make a little on the side) Then youll be ok, good news is these trucks are as simple as it gets, finding parts can be a hunt, just as stated above, 4x4 PS can either be there or youll be looking for a while.....

Good luck and hope Santa delivers the goods.

Pics are a definite plus.....

Smitty

[spavinaw]

Thanks for all the input so far. I will get some pics up just as soon as I can. Can someone chime in on adding AC to a truck that didnt come with it? Do i try to find salvage parts and peice it together or get an after market system?

[71meangreenc10]

Aftermarket,,,,,
Youll get a better system, (my opinion) Old Air has a sweet setup, alittle pricey but it has a nice setup. But if you want AC your going to pay...

Smitty

[hayhauler71]

Welcome post some pics when you can and start asking questions. Lots of good people here to listen and give lots of good advice.

[Shyguy]

Welcome to the board from Southeast Missouri.

All you mention can be done, but getting it road worthy and driving it would be nice.

That way you will be able to enjoy driving it while you get your plans and parts together.

No matter what you want to do you will find a lot of help on this board.

Danny

[tcb-1]

^^what Danny said.

and... you couldn't get an easier vehicle to start your mechanical future on.

the electrical system is straightforward.

the engine bay is easy to manueuver in.

and these trucks were built and designed well in the first place.

good luck on your new rig. we will want pics when you get it!!! welcome to the forum as well!!

[cdowns]

welcome to the board

if it's a truly 66Koriginal unmolested truck keep in mind most of the mods you have planned are not thhat hard to do BUT will in the long run probally lower the value substantially

[72BlckButy]

to the board from Mid-MO!!!

Best of luck with the truck and can't wait to see some pics... well after Christmas morning of course.

As many of the members have mentioned, take you time, pace yourself, pick up a manual specific to the truck, and then search through the 1,000s of posts available on the board. Everything you have mentioned above has been covered, and more than likely, documented down to a "t".

Best of luck with the purchase, and can't wait to see it!

[CCCC]

Welcome to the forum - good to have you here. Your joy in getting this truck is priceless, as is your enthusiam to modify it to the way you want it long-term. Yes, there are challenges in what you want to do - and there is some excellent info and advice given above by members - but in dealing with the challenges you will LEARN a ton about these trucks - stuff you will not forget, so you will find out why so many of us love the 67-72s.

The mods will enhance its value to you, which is the important part. Yes, they can make it less valuable to a "collector", but there are lots of reasons why people like and enjoy these trucks in varied ways. Some restore them, others rod them up for quickness/power, others trick them out and make them almost too fancy to drive in normal conditions, and others do nothing except keep them running well. It's all fun. In my case, I try the get them looking like nice rust-free drivers - nothing beyond that with cosmetics - and try to optimize their operating condition so they are all ready to go wherever I want to take them. In that condition, they seem as good as new to me and (here's my bias) better than most everything on the road. Enjoy, and ask here.

[70cst]

from Ohio spavinaw ... Sounds like you have a very special wife. I really can't add a whole lot but do a lot a research and you will find many answers to your questions. Sounds like you have a very solid truck to start fixin up.

[spavinaw]

Originally Posted by CCCC

The mods will enhance its value to you, which is the important part. Yes, they can make it less valuable to a "collector", but there are lots of reasons why people like and enjoy these trucks in varied ways.

This is exactly why I am here. I am the "collector" in this case and want this truck like I want it. To add a little bit to it, my daughter will be driving in about 2 years and we plan on making it her daily driver. It will be hard for me to turn lose of but that is what dads do. This truck, hopefully, will never be sold out of our family so the mods are for me and not anyone else.

[unclewatts]

If you plan on having your teenage daughter driving it, I hope that the truck is an automatic with power steering and power brakes. A manual trans, manual brake and manual steering truck is a bit of a bear to drive, ie a "Man's Truck". Better to get her a Toyota Corolla. I have one. It's the easiest car in the world to drive.

[jay6891]

Welcome from Arkansas!

Got any pics yet?

[spavinaw]

Originally Posted by unclewatts

If you plan on having your teenage daughter driving it, I hope that the truck is an automatic with power steering and power brakes. A manual trans, manual brake and manual steering truck is a bit of a bear to drive, ie a "Man's Truck". Better to get her a Toyota Corolla. I have one. It's the easiest car in the world to drive.

I appreciate and understand the concern. But, with all do respect, you would have to know my daughter. She is meaner than a wet cat and tougher than boot leather. Us country folk see the auto trans and pwr steering as a luxury and not necessity. When time and money allow we will begin to “keep up with the Jones’s” and get the good stuff. Until then we will drive, with pride, the best looking truck in town.