Chucks SWB Fleetside

[highperf4x4]

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[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by jojo

Looks like a fun project.

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Well you know its fun when you have the money for parts and not so fun when it gets low. I have some parts coming from a few board members. A 68 GMC tailgate, A 68 GMC grill topbar, A tach,vac,speed warning dash, (I know, there goes the stripped down plain truck idea but I think their just cool)

I'm taking the turbo 350 to get it rebuilt tomorrow. I have a shop lined up to look at my 454 redo.

I also got a frame in on a trade and I think I just might use it instead of the one I have right now.

[gcburdic]

Chuck, I noticed you picked up that vac tach speed warn dash.....that is a sweet buy!!!....guess you have the loot after you sold the stepper!!!

[thelonerife]

I think the sw dash will be a nice addition to the truck. I'm told that they came on this year of truck but I think the vac was for big trucks. I would like to have a air pressure guage instead but I can find one later.

[thelonerife]

I got the GMC grill topbar in today and just set it on the old grill. I just wanted to see what they looked like. I've had GMC's before but never a 68. The front clip is all loose so thats why it looks out of whack. I think I like the 68 GMC grills better than the later models.

[VA72C10]

Looking good.

[highperf4x4]

I see you've got a Chevy bumper on there.

[thelonerife]

Yeah. On 68 they used a chevy bumper. At least almost all the ones I've seen have them. I thought that was odd at first.

[highperf4x4]

Man, I can't keep up with all the different ways they did things on these trucks.

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

Are the fenders supposed to be painted white like that for a GMC grille?

[thelonerife]

No I just haven't done anything to them just loosely put them on.

[67chevy1series]

hey i got a quick question you have a swb wood floor right how many sills are there

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

No I just haven't done anything to them just loosely put them on.

aahh so those are actually chevy fenders then?

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by 67chevy1series

hey i got a quick question you have a swb wood floor right how many sills are there

Well, theres the rear one and three of the other ones.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by highperf4x4

aahh so those are actually chevy fenders then?

yeah the 67 or 68 Chevy fenders are the same as 67-72 GMC fenders. I think that is correct.

[thelonerife]

I got some bad news on my transmission. It seems that it was obliterated inside and they priced me 650 to rebuild it. I don't really want to put that much $ into a turbo350. I would rather put some more with it and get an OD tranny. But which one?? Any suggestions.

I also dropped off my 454 to a builder. I forgot to take my other heads with me though I'll take them next week. We took off a head and he looked in and didn't make any bad facial expressions so I think its good lol.

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

We took off a head and he looked in and didn't make any bad facial expressions so I think its good lol.

I think the 67 fenders didn't have side marker lights so it must be the 68-72 gmc's that are the same as a 68 chevy.

As for the tranny, I stuck with the TH400 so I can't say much but aren't there some 700R4's that just use a tv cable and bracket and don't need a computer?

[gcburdic]

Chuck...I had my th400 rebuilt too, but I think I would go with a 4 speed next time....lots of guys here have talked about the 200r4 or the 700r4....do a search....lots of chatter about both!!

[thelonerife]

well a little update-The guy tore down my 454 and found that the crank bearings were worn into the copper. So It was NOT a 20 something thousand mile motor as I was told. I'm glad I didn't sell it to anyone when I had it for sale. It also had an oddball piston and a different head gasket on that side so I guess it dropped a valve or something sometime in the past. It hasn't been bored and it isn't real bad (cyl.walls) But also picked up a 350/350turbo and some other parts from a 3/4 ton chassis. Got to hear it run and it sounded good but want my eng. guy to look into it while I had it out. We may do some trading if it all looks okay. He keeps my 454 and I get a rebuilt 350.
Heres a pic of when I was coming home with it.

[highperf4x4]

Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. You will probably get better mileage out of the 350 anyway and you'll end up with a new engine!

[thelonerife]

I hope so. Everybody asks me why I want a big block. I just think I would like to have one someday and we'll see how the motor situation turns out. Still collecting some parts. I'll post pics when I get some. The 68 GMC tailgate came in but I don't have any pics yet. Also my 8'' stockers.(wheels)

[67chevy1series]

if its not to much to ask could i see some close up pictures of the sills in the bed

[highperf4x4]

Originally Posted by thelonerife

I hope so. Everybody asks me why I want a big block. I just think I would like to have one someday and we'll see how the motor situation turns out. Still collecting some parts. I'll post pics when I get some. The 68 GMC tailgate came in but I don't have any pics yet. Also my 8'' stockers.(wheels)

Yeah I have the 402 in mine and I'll probably stay with it. It does use more gas but the difference in torque over the small blocks is worth it. However, if someone was going to give me a new engine and tranny I'd probably swap!

[thelonerife]

I got the tach,vac, speed warning dash in the mail. I just put in the dash. Its not hooked up.


I also got the 8'' steel wheels. I think I'm going to paint them white.




I also got the 68 GMC tailgate. It needs some work but it is what I was looking for.


I got the motor and tranny off of the 3/4 ton frame and got to see that its a 4 bolt main engine. I have them both loaded up and I'll be dropping them off Monday.

[highperf4x4]

Awesome!