Survivor ‘76 Crew Cab

[ACS]

Originally Posted by ACS

The day I stopped by it was in use - otherwise it was usually kept inside a metal pole building. So, yes, the same condition more or less.

I’m just outside of St Catharines - Niagara Region. The truck was sold new in St Catharines, and possibly the engine was built here, prior to final assembly in Baltimore.

Did some cleaning under the hood yesterday. Block has the K stamp - McKinnon Industries, GM St Catharines. Engine was built in the town where the truck spent its life.

I’ve stockpiled a few things to toss on the truck. I’ve got plans to drive it bunch this spring and summer, so first up will be to replace the original rad hoses and heater hose. The GM belts still look good, but I’m going to pull them off too.

Does anyone have a recent experience with a receiver hitch that works with the factory step bumper and let’s you keep the spare in the factory location?

[1976gmc20]

Probably have to have it custom made. We had one like that for our 1971 K10 made by a trailer hitch place. This was back in the days when bolt on receivers were basically unheard of.

[stomper]

Originally Posted by ACS

Did some cleaning under the hood yesterday. Block has the K stamp - McKinnon Industries, GM St Catharines. Engine was built in the town where the truck spent its life.

I’ve stockpiled a few things to toss on the truck. I’ve got plans to drive it bunch this spring and summer, so first up will be to replace the original rad hoses and heater hose. The GM belts still look good, but I’m going to pull them off too.

Does anyone have a recent experience with a receiver hitch that works with the factory step bumper and let’s you keep the spare in the factory location?

Try contacting U-Haul. They made one for my 72 K5 for $200 . A K5 is unique because it has the rear tank and 72 is unique because the frame ends are different so this is a one year 1 model only unique hitch. I thought it was a pretty good deal for a custom fab all welded not a universal bolted together.

[ACS]

So I guess the common hitches all require moving the spare to the bed?
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[1976gmc20]

I've actually never had a squarebody pickup with a receiver, but I had two square Suburbans with bolt on receivers so they do fit around the gas tank. Upon reflection it seems that they would fit around the spare tire, but a lot of people move the tire to the bed just to make it easier to access.

In the old days, the fabricated receivers were probably heavily over-engineered. The receiver hitch on the 71 K10 that we had consisted of a welded up and gusseted "goose-neck" of 2" square tube that went up behind the bumper and forward between the frame rails above the spare with a couple heavy angle iron cross members to connect to the frame. If I remember correctly it was built by the Reese dealer and it clearly wasn't meant to come off the pickup again.

The bolt on receivers all or mostly depend on a "torque tube" crossmember under the bumper that connect to arms that reach forward and bolt to the bottom of the frame. Those arms should clear the spare tire depending on how far forward they reach and the diameter of the tire.

[ACS]

Pulled this out from under the seat today:

[factorystock]

Glad you retrieved the build sheet in one piece. One of the most important documents and shows dealership and build dates. Many GMC dealerships also sold Pontiacs and Buicks or visa a versa.

[ACS]

[ACS]

Started switching hoses and belts. PS belt checks out:

[Matt Man]

Love your truck. What kind of clamps are on the radiator hoses?

[ACS]

Heater hose are all the “tower” style. The rad hoses are worm gear. Maybe they’ve been replaced?

[ACS]

Not sure where I left off. I’ve been through the normal tuneup stuff, replaced all the hoses, belts and fluids. While I was replacing hoses I discovered the short rubber vacuum advance piece had a hole chewed in it by a mouse. Replaced it with silicone hose - amazing how much better it runs without a vacuum leak and with the advance working

We’ve been using it a lot lately. The more I drive it the better it runs.

[Big Chip]

Is the GMC embossed in the center of the tailgate or offset? I have a friend with a 76 but no tailgate and he's not sure what to look for.

[ACS]

Originally Posted by big chip

is the gmc embossed in the center of the tailgate or offset? I have a friend with a 76 but no tailgate and he's not sure what to look for.

@Big Chip

[Big Chip]

Originally Posted by ACS

@Big Chip
Attachment 2028145

Thank you!

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by ACS

Not sure where I left off. I’ve been through the normal tuneup stuff, replaced all the hoses, belts and fluids. While I was replacing hoses I discovered the short rubber vacuum advance piece had a hole chewed in it by a mouse. Replaced it with silicone hose - amazing how much better it runs without a vacuum leak and with the advance working

We’ve been using it a lot lately. The more I drive it the better it runs.

Attachment 2027796

Nice to see you keeping it original and using it for a truck

[ShortHaul]

What a beauty!!

[ACS]

The front bench has had a bit of movement and squeak with it since I drove the truck home last year. Finally had enough of the wobbling and decided to deal with it. As I put the 9/16 socket on the first of the 4 seat bolts, I sensed I was headed down a bit of a rabbit hole.

Took the seat out - simple fix, the track was loose on the seat base. No broken springs in the seat base either.


Now seemed like a great time to clean under the seat and scrub the floor mat. I started with it in the truck, but ended up taking the door thresholds and shifter boot off and taking the mat out for a scrub and rinse.


I tried not to, but I had to at least peak under the jute sound deadening pads...Now I’ve got a coat of rust converter drying and will probably spend a few evenings this week painting it and redoing the seam sealer at the A pillar on each side. Amazon order for some foil deadener is set.


Some surface rust wasn’t really a surprise, super glad there aren’t any holes.

[SKT]

.

Wow, that is clean!!

.

[LT7A]

"I sensed I was headed down a bit of a rabbit hole."

Haha, it is always so hard to know, isn't it. Before I remove anything I try to think about what's under it and what dominos I might be knocking over. FWIW, I think you're going to be real happy that you treated the minimal rust, painted, and added some vibration and heat protection.

[Pontiac1976]

Hum I see that this 76 had the not common per-72 gas peddle. But this one is M/T. all I seen 73-87 have the slanted larger peddle except 3 73 auto's seen in pic's or in yards shows so far. But can say how many M/t had the older style peddle most times did pay to much never how most of the time to them because I had A/T. So you only looked at parts would be the same might be good or you needed around 2005 I want a nice new peddle, ordered new they sent me the wrong one for my 77 the gm bag id: 67-72 and told me that what it had in it. So ever since I pay attention
to the Gas Peddles now. I have a nice used peddle now. OEM 76-72 on parts shelf some where.
Yes your truck great looking, keep up the good work.

[ACS]

I took one of the striker cover plates (not sure the regular cab trucks have these) to the paint lady at the local hardware store and had a quart of rust paint mixed.


Seam sealed the A pillars to the floor on each side last evening. I used a throw away brush and painted over the rust converter with my hardware store paint. Yeah there’s brush marks, but I’m not too worried about it. It’s soon to be on the underside of some sound deadener.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by factorystock

I had to really hunt for this photo because base models in original condition are hard to find. Everyone will have an opinion on what to use, but IF there is no PO3 option on spid, it came with these painted hubcaps. This painted hubcap is specific to '73 thru '78 base models only. Yes up to '78 on base models, not up to '75 like the stainless version. The white wheels and white hubcaps and white front bumper will contrast great with the red body and white roof. Here is the correct cap on ebay, not mine https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-1972-G....c100667.m2042 Seller does not have a clue on years used.

Another very hard photo to find. Basically, the stainless hubcap on your red '76 was last used on the '75 model. The '76's got the new flat aluminum hubcaps on higher trim levels which were used well into the 80's and some early 90's, base '76's could have the new flat aluminum hubcaps if they came with the PO3 option. Two photos of base model '76's submitted to this thread, both with painted hubcaps. Bottom line, it's your truck, do what you want, I'll just supply the facts.

[Factory Guy]

error in post.

[ACS]

I’ve watched for GMC 12” 3/4 ton caps since I got the truck. Lots of 1/2 ton 10” caps out there. Not many 3/4 ton.

I only have the 2 stainless. Ideally I’ll find 2 more, smooth out any imperfections and get them powder coated along with the 16” ford van rims. The truck still has the 16.5” wheels.