68 gmc c2500 396

[Chknlyps2]

I picked up a 68 GMC with a 396 a couple months ago. It was at my friends place for a few years (along with 2 others, both 70's but that is for a later thread) and he only started it every couple months and the gas was starting to smell bad. I siphoned out all I could and added 5 gallons of fresh gas and got it running. It ran real rough, like on 5 or 6 cylinders but it idled and still drove ok but had zero power. Master cylinder was dry and the brake pedal went to the floor so we filled it up and bled the brakes several times and got them to work so so.

I hopped in and drove it 3 miles home on back roads, it ran rough, has a pretty harsh 2 to 3 shift on the 4 speed tranny but it drove nice and straight and the road feel felt good.

I figured the rough running was one or more of the following. Bad gas, carb needing rebuilt, plugs, wires or points. I have a couple HEI's so I thought I would put one in with plugs and wires to rule out the ignition system. The plugs were terrible, 3 were light brown/tan and the other 5 were so black and covered with fried oil buggers that I am surprised it ran at all. Below is a couple pics of the truck and a few of the plugs good to bad.