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#1 |
72 C30 Trailer Queen
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: SE MN, USA
Posts: 794
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My first truck, a “short” story…
My dad emailed me this picture that he found at home recently: (thats me laying under the truck, and my younger brother helping).
![]() This picture brought back a lot of memories, so I wrote some of it down, here goes... The year was 1983, and I was 15 years old. My father and I were visiting a local farmer, and somehow the discussion turned to the old truck in his shed that was covered (literally) with household garbage. I could only recognize it by the taillights, as that was about all that could be seen. We were walking by the shed and he looked in and said it was time to haul the garbage to the dump, and this time he was going to call the junkman to come get the truck. I asked how much a junkman gave for a truck, and he said $50. I asked if he would sell it to me instead, and he said he would for $75. My father approved, and shortly after we were digging the truck out of a large pile of garbage bags. What we found was a 1967 Chevrolet C20, home to many mice and missing its small rear window. We pushed it out of the shed, and lifted the hood to reveal a 283 V8 2 barrel with no PS or PB. Of course it had the manual 4 speed with granny low. It was still wearing its factory red paint, although very weathered looking. I noticed assorted dents and scrapes, but for now it was perfect. It was mine! I don’t know how long the truck had sat in that shed, or how much time had lapsed since it had run. We gave the battery a boost, and after a few shots of gas down the carb it fired up and we drove it about 5 miles home. I remember the ride home, windows down on a very cool spring day in MN to try to avoid the stench that can only come from mice and rats making themselves at home. I remember my dad trying to honk at some kids on the way home, but the horn didn’t work. Instead he leans his head closer to the open window and hollers at the top of his lungs “HONK!! HONK!!”. I think I was amused and embarrassed at the same time, but we got a good laugh out of it. I spent many hours working on that truck to get it ready to be my driving to school ride when I would turn 16. First was a massive cleanup, and I remember waxing the truck before we even started any mechanical work. It had to look good after all, as my older friends might drive by and see it! Next, dad took me to a few local junkyards so we could find some needed parts. Got a small rear window for $10 at one yard, and a very nice black bench seat out of a suburban at another yard. I think I had to pay $40 for that. Those were the parts that we needed to get going, but I know we made a number of return trips to the local yards for bits and pieces. Then we got started on the mechanical issues. Dad walked me through a good tune-up: plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and points/condenser. It ran better but still not great, so we set aside a few hours one Saturday morning to rebuild the carb. After that and some miscellaneous rubber lines, and a new fuel pump, it ran great. We used it quite a bit that summer for yard chores, lots of firewood hauling and dragging stumps around. I bought some great used tires from a friends dad, and the old truck was just about ready to be hauling me to school. It did need brakes so we did the fronts in the driveway, but didn’t feel we had the knowledge to do the rear brakes. We drove it to the local gas station, and had them done. After fixing the rear brakes, the shop owner popped the rear brake line on the test drive. He ordered up some line and parked it outside the shop for the night… That night (or early the next morning), a driver “feel asleep” while driving home. He jumped the curb and nailed my truck hard in the right front fender and door. So hard in fact that my truck hit the truck parked next to it, which hit the car next to it. I was totally crushed, all my hard work down the drain. His insurance company did end up totaling the truck, and somebody else did end up fixing it and driving it for a work truck. If I had known then what I know now, I would have kept it and fixed it myself. At any rate I took the insurance money and bought a 1967 GMC K10, but that is another story and somewhere around 25 trucks ago…
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Chris H 72 C30 133" 72 C30 157" flat-dump 69 C10 short fleet 71 ElCamino 2000 K2500 crewcab shortbed (sold, sorry old friend) 2005 GMC 2500HD shortcrew Duramax 2006 K1500 RCSB and a couple other projects/parts |
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#2 |
The LuvShack Garage
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side)
Posts: 30,477
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
WOW, That's a
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Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T |
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#3 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Sorry to hear the ending, but at least your dad got you started off right.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kernersville, NC
Posts: 599
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
good story but hate the endin. same thing happened sorta with my '69 the day after if it runnin, except it was because of my right foot. chris.
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its a work in progess. 71 c-10 lwb, in the middle of frame off restoration. 69 c-10 swb, drag truck, 406 sbc, balanced, comp 292 cam, ported, polished, gasket matched, and bowl blended pro comp 210cc heads, 2.02/1.60 ferrea valves,1.6 roller rockers, re curved hei with msd 6al box, 2-step rev limter, accel 300+ wires, ported victor jr intake, holley 750 double pumper carb, dynomax 1 5/8 headers, 4 spd munci m-20 with super case and iron midplate, mr. gasket vertigate shifter, 5.38 pro gears with full spool, 33 spline moser axles and c-clip elimators, line-loc, 5 gal fuel cell, holley blue pump. ![]() ![]() 7.807 @ 88.37mph 1.60 60FT 80 g-20 van, tow rig, cammed 305, th350, 10 bolt 88 jeep wrangler, dd, 258, ax-15 swap, 4.5" lift, 33x12.50's, lockers, 3.55's |
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#5 |
TOTY 2006
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Magalia CA USA
Posts: 2,270
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
I think you are one of the rare ones, starting off with one these trucks as your first driver!!!
Great Story!! |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Franconia,N.H.
Posts: 1,029
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
cool story i liked right
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(Only) Member of the CPNE Fan Club ![]() ![]() 67 C-10 350 with 3-speed tranny and 308 gears swb step ![]() 82 Z28 Camaro 355 small block over 350 hp and a borg warner super t-10 (blown engine) 72 Chevy K20 Suburban (future project) 70 Chevy K20 now 68 GMC K2500 2003 Chevy 2500hd ccsb 4X4 (daily driver) |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 605
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Good story and your still with the same trucks!
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2008 Ford FX2 Screw 1971 C10 project in shop now! 2004 Pontiac Grandam (wifes) 2000 Cavalier z24 (gas saver) |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2001
Location: Independence MO.
Posts: 7,698
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Great story Chris!! I knew your were raised right!!!
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72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale |
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#9 |
State of Confusion!
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,923
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Kool Story and picture Chris
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Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! |
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Olathe KS (Greater Kansas City MO Area)
Posts: 2,070
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Really awsome Chris.
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Moore, OK..73160
Posts: 207
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
The first vehicle that I ever bought was my 69 short fleet. I have had many other vehicles to drive while it sat in a coma. It has survived an f-5 and an f-4 tornado, a house fire, a divorce (barely) and at least 6 address changes. I, JUST TODAY, hung the last of the sheet metal on it. Next week I get to start the fun task of dent repair (although there are only a handful) if all goes well MAYBE by summer it will have a nice coat or two of at least primer on it and like willie nelson be "On the road again" LOL
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Bismarck, ND
Posts: 4,285
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Re: My first truck, a “short” story…
Cool pictire. You never forget your first love!
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Unrestored 68 C-10 CST. Original 327. 4-Speed CH465. 50k or so miles. TREASURER, Drum Brake Club. |
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