Free '76 3/4 Ton Project

[adis]

OK, I've fought the good fight for almost 5 years, but I'm giving up on the '76 - I just don't have the time, expertise, money, equipment, facilities, or patience anymore. So, I'm offering it up to the forum first. After a week I'll put it on CL, and if nobody bites - it's going to the yard.

It's a '76 3/4 ton standard cab LWB K20 Silverado, 8400 gvw, 44 (4.10)/400/350/203/14 AC truck. It's very rusty underneath, but I think it is rust from sitting in a field or something, because the steel higher up seems good. Or I think it might have begun life in Canada, so maybe bad winters just ate away the metal. The frame and suspension is pitted and probably only fit for a work truck. I started work on the back end, got new springs, hangars, scrubbed and Por50'd the frame, new repop gas tanks, etc. - but it's still pretty gnarly. The bottom of the cab is completely rusted through (supports and all) as is the bottom of the rad support, but the interior is still pretty nice. Fenders, doors, OK - hood taco'd.

Here's the story right now: last april I finished rebuilding the trans and took it out for a road test. Something blew up. At the time I thought it was the tranny - since I tried to do all the nifty upgrades to it and figured I did something wrong. I didnt have time to do any more to the truck before I deployed, and now I'm back. I tried to pull the trans to take a look, but I can't rotate the engine by hand to get the last converter bolt out. The truck sat for 8 months, so maybe the motor is frozen, or maybe I blew the motor and the trans is fine - I don't know, and I am fed up trying to figure it out.

There are some good parts, and I'm sure you could pocket some money if you have the time and desire to part the truck. Or, maybe you can make it go - I had it for almost 5 years, and besides the 100 mile trip home from when I bought it - I've probably only put 10 miles on it. It is beyond my ability to fix.

I'm keeping the bed/box, and bumper brackets, as well as maybe a few choice parts (I may take the AC parts out), but other than that - it is a complete truck.

I'm not interested in tire kickers, if you want it and can take it, then come get it. It will take some finagling to get it on your flatbed since it doesn't move on it's own and my driveway is on a hill off a pretty narrow lane. But if you can bring some help, we can figure it out.

I have a good OH title, and the truck is in Crownsville, MD (near Annapolis) PM me if you're interested. Look at my profile for a picture - it hasn't changed too much in the years since that was taken. - mark