Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

zion73 · 07-06-2007, 02:58 PM

Hey guys,

I've lurked here for a little while and finally got around to posting some pics of the truck I bought a few months ago. It's an old army truck that spent many years ranching up in Wyoming after being surplussed. The cab has a lot of rust, but I do have a welder(Hobart 135) and the desire to give it a shot. I'll probably end up buying the efabman video to guide me. What do you think? I like that it's an army truck. What I plan on doing is trying to fix the rust and using it as a work truck until I can afford a full on restoration or buy one already fixed up. It's got a 250 with a 3 speed. It's already become storage for the jeep hardtop.

Alex

grayw0lf · 07-06-2007, 03:20 PM

Looks like a decent start to a project! I think you'll find all the patch panels you are looking for w/ one of the many board vendors.

Welcome.

Southedisto · 07-06-2007, 03:26 PM

Fix it and drive it, sure will be worth it.

jgrh64 · 07-06-2007, 03:29 PM

from the pics the outside doesn't look that bad , don't trash it , I've seen guys with worse trucks fix them up great

OLDIRON69 · 07-06-2007, 03:45 PM

Seen much worse, not a terrible job to fix!

eedgell · 07-06-2007, 04:36 PM

Awsome! Stay with it. When you get burned out, come talk to us. We will get you going again. It is a labor of love, so to say.

'68 longbed · 07-06-2007, 04:42 PM

it would be cool to make it a "army" truck again.

mvpco · 07-06-2007, 05:31 PM

Look at the one I did 2 years ago

http://www.mvpc.com/1972chevy.htm

pritch · 07-07-2007, 12:34 AM

Hey West Jordan, good to see another Utahn. I'm up in Coalville. Head over to the soutwest section and find the Utah Roll Call thread. There's 8 or 10 or more of us here.

AuggieStyle · 07-07-2007, 02:25 AM

I have the same exact truck wagon wheels and all. in the process of fixing her up. and truck will not be painted. gonna leave the original paint just gonna fix the drive train. and lower her and going with 5 lug and hydroboost brakes and 4 speed muncie. i will post pics of the build. DO IT BUILD IT you wont regret it.

mnunn454 · 07-07-2007, 08:16 AM

I think it deserves fixing up, particularly given it's Army heritage. The more you can dig up on that, the higher its ultimate value.

That said, don't underestimate what a labor of love this will require in terms of both parts and schedule. Several "Project Scoping" posts have been discussed her. Spending a couple thousand hours and tens of thousands of dollars isn't unrealistic for a full restoration.

When I faced this decision a few years ago, I opted to buy a vehicle that was already mostly restored and to "finish it off". This choice has it's drawbacks though, because the "theme" for the ride has already been set whereas with a fresh project like this, all the options are open for you. (For example, I'm electing to put the filler neck/cap for the rear mounted fuel tank inside the bed rather than in a normal fender-mounted door because I don't want to have to repaint the truck).

I'm not saying don't. I'm just saying, think about it, have a final goal (mental image) in mind, make some decent time and money budget estimates and keep both eyes open when making the final decision(s).

JMO.

retodd7711 · 07-07-2007, 08:34 AM

Very cool, and btw, WELCOME from Tennessee!
I think you should go for the fifty-cal, hood mounted, auto tracking,laser guided machine gun

Bishops Trucks · 07-07-2007, 08:54 AM

Welcome to the site. Bring her back to her glory days. It will be fun.

ChevLoRay · 07-07-2007, 10:33 AM

Have some fun with it! Restore the body and repaint it with USArmy insignia and markings. Do the suspension that you want, and same with the drivetrain. Add some wheels and tires and make the interior comfortable. If you do that, and it gives the appearance of what it was "back in the day", I am of the opinion that it would be cool and parade-worthy.

It would be different, for sure.

P.S. I still want to do a '68 El Camino SS396, like the one I drove when I was in VietNam. In VietNam....a chase vehicle for the U-2.

brak · 07-07-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Should I resuscitate

Nope!!!
but don't worry, I'll bring a trailer by later and take that pile off your hands

FRENCHBLUE72 · 07-07-2007, 06:23 PM

Very cool truck I would try to get her back to a solid state.

zion73 · 07-08-2007, 01:59 AM

Thanks for looking. I have thought about mounting a machine gun to a truck before. Haven't we all? Anybody? I'd love to go the n2billet route with any truck but for now I think fixing the rust and getting it back on the road would be my only goals. I'll certainly keep as much of the original paint as possible and it'll stay olive drab green if and when I do decide to paint it.
Thanks for the encouragement. Now if I can only find the defibrillator. One more pic of the tag that's suppose to be on the glovebox door.

68GMC454 · 07-08-2007, 02:07 AM

another utah person..cool im in tooele,,just down the road from the depot...looks like a good start on a cool project...id buy the new panels to fx the rust,,then drive it...
billy

mvpco · 07-08-2007, 10:03 AM

Here is my Army Truck I did 2 years ago. I have an extra glove box door and extra yellow labels that go on the front of the glove box door. I also added A/C, P/S and cruise control to mine. get the floor pans, rocker panels and cab corners replaced. All parts are easy to purchase.

http://www.mvpc.com/dash062.JPG

http://www.mvpc.com/tire3.JPG

http://www.mvpc.com/tire2.JPG

Build thread:
http://www.mvpc.com/1972chevy.htm

ChevLoRay · 07-08-2007, 11:28 AM

What color green is that, Army green? I can't tell for sure....it looks to be a metallic color.

mvpco · 07-08-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

What color green is that, Army green? I can't tell for sure....it looks to be a metallic color.

yes, metallic, I messed up at the paint shop and forgot to tell them to just make it flat.

keith nohner · 07-11-2007, 06:06 PM

Wow the first picture of the cab floor, I thought it was my truck!! I have a 71 swb stepside in as rough or rougher shape than yours, it was also an ex air force base truck. I am in the process of re doing the brakes and drive shaft right now, has no motor or tranny, originally a 350, th 350 driveline I will have to post pictures of my truck, I pulled it out of a field last fall, it was laying on the ground, but was only 100$ or it was going to the crusher so I had to have it. Good Luck with your project, and it motivates me to see pictures of yours!!!

longhorn70gmc · 07-11-2007, 08:54 PM

I think that would be a swell ideal on getting your Army truck back up to specs. To me this truck is rare because how often do the guys find old Army or Navy vehicles that were ordered by the services back then. Some of them might even have really cool and different options. I know when I was younger and the town had parades, it was always really neat to see the old Army trucks in the parades or out for the shows. Good Luck and hope to see it in its glory again.
Respectfully

07-06-2007, 02:58 PM	#1
zion73 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Jordan, UT Posts: 4	Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Hey guys, I've lurked here for a little while and finally got around to posting some pics of the truck I bought a few months ago. It's an old army truck that spent many years ranching up in Wyoming after being surplussed. The cab has a lot of rust, but I do have a welder(Hobart 135) and the desire to give it a shot. I'll probably end up buying the efabman video to guide me. What do you think? I like that it's an army truck. What I plan on doing is trying to fix the rust and using it as a work truck until I can afford a full on restoration or buy one already fixed up. It's got a 250 with a 3 speed. It's already become storage for the jeep hardtop. Alex Attached Images

07-06-2007, 03:20 PM	#2
grayw0lf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Clanton, AL Posts: 1,253	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Looks like a decent start to a project! I think you'll find all the patch panels you are looking for w/ one of the many board vendors. Welcome. __________________ 85' CUCV M1009!!! The newest addition! 6.2diesel, Th400, NP208, & only 36k miles! 70' C-10 LWB Fleetside - Looking good these days! 05' Dodge Neon 88' Winner Escape Sport 1750 - 4.3v6 94' Seadoo SP 84' Honda TRX200, bare nekkid. Just a frame & tires. Always looking for another project or any good deal!

07-06-2007, 03:26 PM	#3
Southedisto River life...... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Soldotna AK Posts: 1,078	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Fix it and drive it, sure will be worth it. __________________ I like wheelin in Dixie!

07-06-2007, 03:29 PM	#4
jgrh64 Prestige member Old Farts Club Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cleveland Posts: 502	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? from the pics the outside doesn't look that bad , don't trash it , I've seen guys with worse trucks fix them up great __________________ Hey sombodys gotta do it!

07-06-2007, 03:45 PM	#5
OLDIRON69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ben Wheeler,Texas Posts: 992	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Seen much worse, not a terrible job to fix! __________________ 05 2500HD 6.0 excab 69 LWB-Gone but not forgotten! 68 Dodge Charger 383/727 69 Dodge Charger-440/4spd

07-06-2007, 04:36 PM	#6
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Awsome! Stay with it. When you get burned out, come talk to us. We will get you going again. It is a labor of love, so to say. __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

07-06-2007, 04:42 PM	#7
'68 longbed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mississippi Posts: 181	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? it would be cool to make it a "army" truck again.

07-06-2007, 05:31 PM	#8
mvpco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 400	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Look at the one I did 2 years ago http://www.mvpc.com/1972chevy.htm __________________ Jeff Smith Pensacola, FL mvpco@yahoo.com

07-07-2007, 12:34 AM	#9
pritch Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hoytsville, Utah Posts: 3,365	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Hey West Jordan, good to see another Utahn. I'm up in Coalville. Head over to the soutwest section and find the Utah Roll Call thread. There's 8 or 10 or more of us here. __________________ '68 Panel Project Boogie Chillin' '68 C-10 Ol' Green

07-07-2007, 02:25 AM	#10
AuggieStyle Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Dallas,TX. Posts: 499	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? I have the same exact truck wagon wheels and all. in the process of fixing her up. and truck will not be painted. gonna leave the original paint just gonna fix the drive train. and lower her and going with 5 lug and hydroboost brakes and 4 speed muncie. i will post pics of the build. DO IT BUILD IT you wont regret it.

07-07-2007, 08:16 AM	#11
mnunn454 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 602	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? I think it deserves fixing up, particularly given it's Army heritage. The more you can dig up on that, the higher its ultimate value. That said, don't underestimate what a labor of love this will require in terms of both parts and schedule. Several "Project Scoping" posts have been discussed her. Spending a couple thousand hours and tens of thousands of dollars isn't unrealistic for a full restoration. When I faced this decision a few years ago, I opted to buy a vehicle that was already mostly restored and to "finish it off". This choice has it's drawbacks though, because the "theme" for the ride has already been set whereas with a fresh project like this, all the options are open for you. (For example, I'm electing to put the filler neck/cap for the rear mounted fuel tank inside the bed rather than in a normal fender-mounted door because I don't want to have to repaint the truck). I'm not saying don't. I'm just saying, think about it, have a final goal (mental image) in mind, make some decent time and money budget estimates and keep both eyes open when making the final decision(s). JMO. __________________ 69 C-10 SWB Fleetside 454/TH400 (For Sale) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/c...ct=1299&cat=12 70 El Camino 454 TH700 29 Model A 4-DR Sedan Deluxe Last edited by mnunn454; 07-07-2007 at 08:17 AM.

07-07-2007, 08:34 AM	#12
retodd7711 chrome makes it go FASTER! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cleveland Tennessee Posts: 2,884	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Very cool, and btw, WELCOME from Tennessee! I think you should go for the fifty-cal, hood mounted, auto tracking,laser guided machine gun __________________ She can't cook and she won't clean. But she looks good in a skirt and she brings me beer. She can stay for now. EDIT:: But she left me anyway, So forget her. 1962 GMC Stepside V6 4 speed My rolling resto thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324226 My old farm truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3465005

07-07-2007, 08:54 AM	#13
Bishops Trucks KEEP ON TRUCKIN' Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sterling, Va. Posts: 5,730	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Welcome to the site. Bring her back to her glory days. It will be fun. __________________ JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 Father/Son Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER"

07-07-2007, 10:33 AM	#14
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Have some fun with it! Restore the body and repaint it with USArmy insignia and markings. Do the suspension that you want, and same with the drivetrain. Add some wheels and tires and make the interior comfortable. If you do that, and it gives the appearance of what it was "back in the day", I am of the opinion that it would be cool and parade-worthy. It would be different, for sure. P.S. I still want to do a '68 El Camino SS396, like the one I drove when I was in VietNam. In VietNam....a chase vehicle for the U-2. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

07-07-2007, 06:23 PM	#16
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,606	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Very cool truck I would try to get her back to a solid state. __________________ GO BIG GREEN GO DUCKS MEMBER #6377 72 k-5 daily driver 6'' lift 35'' 350-350-205 slowly getting rust free. Project "7DEUCE" check out my build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=267665 Tim Powell..R.I.P EastSideLowlife..... R.I.P..



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07-08-2007, 01:59 AM	#17
zion73 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: West Jordan, UT Posts: 4	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Thanks for looking. I have thought about mounting a machine gun to a truck before. Haven't we all? Anybody? I'd love to go the n2billet route with any truck but for now I think fixing the rust and getting it back on the road would be my only goals. I'll certainly keep as much of the original paint as possible and it'll stay olive drab green if and when I do decide to paint it. Thanks for the encouragement. Now if I can only find the defibrillator. One more pic of the tag that's suppose to be on the glovebox door. Attached Images

07-08-2007, 02:07 AM	#18
68GMC454 THE VILLIAGE IDIOT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tooele, Utah Posts: 1,405	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? another utah person..cool im in tooele,,just down the road from the depot...looks like a good start on a cool project...id buy the new panels to fx the rust,,then drive it... billy __________________ honestly honey,,i have no idea how that truck got here.

07-08-2007, 10:03 AM	#19
mvpco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 400	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Here is my Army Truck I did 2 years ago. I have an extra glove box door and extra yellow labels that go on the front of the glove box door. I also added A/C, P/S and cruise control to mine. get the floor pans, rocker panels and cab corners replaced. All parts are easy to purchase. http://www.mvpc.com/dash062.JPG http://www.mvpc.com/tire3.JPG http://www.mvpc.com/tire2.JPG Build thread: http://www.mvpc.com/1972chevy.htm __________________ Jeff Smith Pensacola, FL mvpco@yahoo.com

07-08-2007, 11:28 AM	#20
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? What color green is that, Army green? I can't tell for sure....it looks to be a metallic color. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

07-11-2007, 06:06 PM	#22
keith nohner Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Thief River Falls Mn Posts: 30	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? Wow the first picture of the cab floor, I thought it was my truck!! I have a 71 swb stepside in as rough or rougher shape than yours, it was also an ex air force base truck. I am in the process of re doing the brakes and drive shaft right now, has no motor or tranny, originally a 350, th 350 driveline I will have to post pictures of my truck, I pulled it out of a field last fall, it was laying on the ground, but was only 100$ or it was going to the crusher so I had to have it. Good Luck with your project, and it motivates me to see pictures of yours!!!

07-11-2007, 08:54 PM	#23
longhorn70gmc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Ridgecrest. CA, USA Posts: 1,715	Re: Intoduction-1969 Army Stepside-Should I resuscitate? I think that would be a swell ideal on getting your Army truck back up to specs. To me this truck is rare because how often do the guys find old Army or Navy vehicles that were ordered by the services back then. Some of them might even have really cool and different options. I know when I was younger and the town had parades, it was always really neat to see the old Army trucks in the parades or out for the shows. Good Luck and hope to see it in its glory again. Respectfully __________________ Billy 1970 GMC Sierra Grande 402/TH400 (Longhorn)14 years and counting rebuild! 1975 (Build) Chevrolet SWB 4X4 350 SB Lifted 6 inches 1970 Ford F250 Ranger 390 BB 2010 Ford Super Duty F250 XLT W/4 inch lift kit and Pro Comp Tires Hub Cap Freak! *I need another truck like I need another hole in the head!* I'M IN THE MARKET...AS IT WERE!

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