Finally Got 'er

[yosemitesamiam]

Aiiiight...after MONTHS of waiting, I finally got my grandfather's truck in my driveway. I'll snap some pix of her later today...she is beat for sure! My uncle drove her for 5 years after my grandfather had passed, and used it everyday as a plumbing work truck, carrying three tool boxes and copper pipe for about 80,000 miles. She has around 300K on her frame now...and about the same 80K on the engine. Running good, A/C works, frame is straight...everything else needs work. The driver door and fender were hit about a year ago while it was parked on a street. It really did a number on the camping mirror that side as well. It also needs a passenger front fender from a previous run in with GODKNOWSWHAT. Other than that, just a wee bit of bubbled-type rust on the nose of the hood that can be dug out and filled real easy, and some light surface rust in places inside the bed...and that is all. Valley truck, been in SoCal its entire life. Needs the interior gutted, and needs in the worst way, a driver side seatbelt...sucker is shredded to bits! Needs paint bad. Needs weather sealing all around...again, valley truck....they don't rust, the wrot!

Mechanically, has a trans leak in the TH350...coming from the speedo tube extender. I have been told this particular case will require taking the trans apart to fix from the inside. Seriously considering Right Stuff instead. Other than that, runs fantastic...oh also, pretty sure the silenoid is dead for the driver side fuel tank...just auto switches back to right side...would be cool to get that fixed, since 16 gallons will about get me to the next station and not much more.

Anyhow...just good to have her still in the family.

-Sam

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1976 GMC C25 Camper Special. Reg Cab, 8' bed. 350/350.

[streetstar]

cool man ----- you know how this board is -- we just like old trucks, doesn't matter if its tired and beat, or a 75k custom

fire up a pic

[old Rusty C10]

i love to hear about a family member getting hold of an old truck that was beat on and neglected and restoring it to its original or better.. its only a shame your grandfather wont get to see it back in its glory... welcome to the board and keep us updated with lots of pics

[yosemitesamiam]

Yeah buddy! Restore is in order. The truck isn't as bad as I had thought. Really hadn't seen it in 4 years or so. Like I said, surface rust. The weather moldings are in worse shape than the body!

As for pix, they are coming now...going to get them uploaded to my server, and gett'rdone!

[yosemitesamiam]

second thought, hold that thought...my card reader is still packed somewhere!

[84 400]

Welcome aboard from NH,

Always great to hear about a truck with sentimental meaning getting the TLC it deserves. Aside from the overall clean up what is the plan? Daily driver or something crazy? From the sounds of it your going to restore it bit by bit and that sounds good to me.

Good luck with your project

[86swb]

After all that work the truck has done over the years it deserves to be restored. Pictures please.

[slug]

glad to hear you aquired your grandfathers truck. i hope to hand my 83 down to my kids when they get old enough to appreciate it. i know your grandfather would be proud to know your takeing on this project. good luck.