How rare is this truck?

[DLCNC]

I'm going Monday to pick up a 72 GMC Stepside. It has factory air, power steering, power brakes and factory tach. Everything is original except for the engine. It currently has a 327/300 with headers, aluminum intake and small cam. The AC compressor comes with the truck but isn't on the truck since there is no way to mount it with the double-hump heads. Plans are to give it a good detailing and maybe change the heads so that I can put the AC back on the truck. It has some rust in the rockers but other than that it is pretty rust free. Also, it doesn't have leaf spring rear suspension...I thought all GMCs back in the 70's had leaf spring suspension. I'll post pics once I get it home.

[davepl]

Coils were available up to the 3/4 ton.

Without the original motor, it probably doesn't matter how rare it is or isn't. But it sounds like it has a nice set of options. Post pics!

[DLCNC]

Clarification, I'm getting the original engine with the truck, it just isn't currently installed in the truck.

[RenoKeene]

Not really that rare as far as the amount produced, but desirable. Now if it was a factory big block 1/2 ton short bed......
My 70 GMC is a factory coil spring rear.

[LockDoc]

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'67-'72 Chevy trucks came with coils and leafs were optional, and GMC's came with leafs and coils were optional....

LockDoc

[WIDESIDE72]

FYI The factory ac compressor mounts did not require holes in the heads. Is it still running the factory short water pump setup with the alternator on the driver side? I would be willing to guess no.

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

FYI The factory ac compressor mounts did not require holes in the heads. Is it still running the factory short water pump setup with the alternator on the driver side? I would be willing to guess no.

Making sure that the compressor is the long heavy A6 type.

If you could find a 70 or earlier car, or 72 or earlier pick that has the short water pump, and get the complete set of pulleys and brackets, you might be able to make it work.

1972 was the last year for the short water pump in pickups. You can tell the difference by looking at the front of the timing cover. The short pump nearly butts aginst the cover, the long cover, you might be able to get your hand between the two....

Snatch it up, w/ disc brakes, you are doing good. I have a 67 and 68, both will be converted to disc before being EVER driven again, not a big chore, but the 67-70's (disc was an option in 70) don't stop worth a crap. The disc brake part of your truck is a very good thing!!!

[davepl]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Making sure that the compressor is the long heavy A6 type.
1972 was the last year for the short water pump in pickups. You can tell the difference by looking at the front of the timing cover. The short pump nearly butts aginst the cover, the long cover, you might be able to get your hand between the two....

Snatch it up, w/ disc brakes, you are doing good. I have a 67 and 68, both will be converted to disc before being EVER driven again, not a big chore, but the 67-70's (disc was an option in 70) don't stop worth a crap. The disc brake part of your truck is a very good thing!!!

Was disc an option in 70? It does -not- appear in my shop manual, and I don't recall it in the supplement. If it was, I'll add a Disc Brakes tag to my tailgate because I have 72 discs on it. But not if it wasn't available.

You can also tell the short water pump by looking at the owner's face. Installing the bypass hose without kinking it on a short pump changes a man.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by WIDESIDE72

FYI The factory ac compressor mounts did not require holes in the heads. Is it still running the factory short water pump setup with the alternator on the driver side? I would be willing to guess no.

I think you get to learn me something today. Passenger cars swapped the alternator to the passenger side in 1969, right? Did trucks keep the old driver-side setup all the way to 1972? Both big and small blocks?

If so, I wonder why they'd change the cars and not the trucks, even with the same engines.

I also wonder why they opted to change the water pump. Was there a disadvantage to the short pump?

[too much stuff]

Originally Posted by davepl

Was disc an option in 70? It does -not- appear in my shop manual, and I don't recall it in the supplement. If it was, I'll add a Disc Brakes tag to my tailgate because I have 72 discs on it. But not if it wasn't available.

You can also tell the short water pump by looking at the owner's face. Installing the bypass hose without kinking it on a short pump changes a man.

Discs came out in 71. And 71 was the only year that had the disc brake sticker on the upper corner of the tailgate.