1969 engine & interior questions

[69Special]

Hi. Just my 2nd post (I posted in the new user section). I am having a hard time finding some numbers and information for GM/GMC trucks. I'll just number my questions so they're easier to respond to.

ENGINE
1) Did Chevy and GMC use the same engine codes and casting numbers in 1969? I'm guessing yes?

2) I just purchased a '69 GMC Camper Special. I am told it has a 396 in it. What are the correct casting numbers for the block and the heads. Also, I assume there's a suffix and date code stamped on the block as well like the Chevrolet passenger cars?

If someone could provide me with at least the potential block casting numbers for '69 and the suffix codes, that'd be great. I have Chevy By The Numbers, but sadly, that doesn't apply to trucks.

INTERIOR
The worst part of my soon to be truck is the butcher job they did on the interior. Put ridiculous padding on the doors, changed out the seat, put in crappy carpeting.

1) What color was the metal on the interior painted? Did it match the outside color or was it painted to match the color of the interior fabric? I believe my truck interior should be Saddle. Exterior appears to always have been white, although I haven't confirmed it.

2) Like the GM cars, is there a trim tag stating all of this information, or does one rely on the glovebox door sticker. I've only seen mine in photos, so I haven't had a chance to see what it exactly says.

3) Dash gauge cluster face--for some reason, mine is blue at the moment. I'm not sure if this was taken out of a blue interior or painted. If my interior should be saddle, what color should the dash face be? Was there a saddle colored one or was it just black.

Also, if someone has some pics of an unmolested '69 interior, I'd love to see them.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks.

[w3lfd]

1. Not sure, I would assume this is the case.

2. http://www.mortec.com/bbc.htm - lots of info elsewhere on this site as well.

My 69 is a custom 10 and is fairly close to unmolested, but it is a chevy. There are going to be some variables involved as far as differences in trim packages. My interior is red, and my guage assembly comes in black. Not sure on the answers to your questions though, as I am fairly new to these trucks as well.

[sameyrasmea72]

interior
1 The metal on the interior was the same as the outside except in 1967 it matched the color of the interior.

2 no trim tags for 1967-1972 trucks.

3 Gmc had a color coded guage bezel, so it sounds original. You might of had a blue interior originally. Chevy had a black face on their bezels.

[69Special]

Thanks guys. I ordered a couple of new books for GM Big Block suffix & stamping codes from Summit Racing, so I should be covered on that end.

As far as the interior goes, it's tough to say, really. While I have not seen the truck in person, through pictures I've obviously seen conflicting results. The sticker on the inside of the glove box door says it should have Saddle cloth interior. While the glove box door could have been changed out, the truck also has saddle seatbelts. I guess someone could have taken the door and seatbelts out of another truck. It would have been less work than switching out the dash gauges, bezel and dash pad (all are blue).

At the moment, even the steering column is painted white, so I can't use that as a deciding factor. I'm hoping I can scratch off some of the crappy white paint on the column and see what color the interior might have been (unless they were black, but I'm guessing that was painted interior color).

Good info on the Chevy vs. GMC bezels.

[too much stuff]

If you can get the casting info off the engine and heads, post the numbers here. There will be a date code on the parts also.
I think the steering column would be interior color unless it is a tilt in which case it would be black. I think the tilt came out in 70. And gmc did have color matched gauge bezels to match the interior. Unless it was a sierra grande it would have woodgrain then. I think that package was 1970 also. Make sure the vin number on the glovebox door matches the title and door jamb. If that all matches you should be able to figure out what you have. Sometimes a build sheet is stuffed in the seat springs. Check that out. Good luck, Eric

[69Special]

Originally Posted by too much stuff

If you can get the casting info off the engine and heads, post the numbers here. There will be a date code on the parts also.

Thanks Eric. The seller was supposed to get me the codes yesterday, but failed to do so. Even if the truck is a small block, it's so cheap that it doesn't really matter as long as it runs (which it does).

Originally Posted by too much stuff

I think the steering column would be interior color unless it is a tilt in which case it would be black. I think the tilt came out in 70. And gmc did have color matched gauge bezels to match the interior. Unless it was a sierra grande it would have woodgrain then. I think that package was 1970 also. Make sure the vin number on the glovebox door matches the title and door jamb. If that all matches you should be able to figure out what you have. Sometimes a build sheet is stuffed in the seat springs. Check that out. Good luck, Eric

I'll definitely have to check out the VIN and see if everything matches.

Here's some pics:

[too much stuff]

It is a big block and looks correct as far as brackets and such. Something on the intake doesn't look quite right, but hard to tell for sure in the pic. I also can't read the spid from that pic.
Looks like a decent truck...

[71blksuper4x4]

I can make out that it had Saddle Cloth Trim, so the truck would have had saddle (brownish) interior like the seat belts and such. The gauge bezel would be painted saddle where it is blue, dash pad saddle, and seat saddle, along with carpet unless it originally had a rubber floor mat instead which could have black or saddle. (I think, please correct if wrong on the rubber mat).

[69Special]

Oh, I thought of 2 more questions.

1) there appears to be a crappy aftermarket radio in the dash which means one thing: they cut it. Is there a patch for this that can be welded in? I want to go back to a stock stereo. (or at least a Retrosound)

2) Based on the pics, what is the biggest tire I can fit on the truck? I think the rims are 16" (not 16.5), and it's currently running 235 65R16s on it. I was thinking of going with 235 70R16s, but if I could go slightly bigger, I might do that. Opinions?