71 GMCw/406

[GMC406]

My 71 GMC is about to be reborn. About 9 months ago the tranny went out and it has been in my backyard ever since. It currently has a mild 355, with a z-28 camero cam and dual plane intake. Just recently I traded my car trailer I never use for a hot street built 406. It should be finished put together this week and delivered next weekend. The performance shop is estimating 425-450hp and around 475 torque. I bought a cheap used stock tranny to use for now, im sure it wont last but a few months, long enough to get me by untill I can get a bulletproof, th350 bought. I spent alot of time trying to find a site devoted to these trucks, finnally found this. Alot of you have some gorgeous trucks in the galleries, as you can see this one isnt that far yet. Body work is still to come, it can be a sleeper for awile;). Any input from all of you on here is apriciated. Little hints, tips, tricks, ect. Also, does anyone out there have a decent front grill? I hit a deer and dont wanna pay 400 bucks for a new gill. The older stock ones are much better quality if you can find one thats not beat up. Well it wont let me put the pics on here for some reason but I will try again later. Hope to hear from my fellow 71 GMC enthusiasts!:gmc2:

[GMC406]

I think I got the pictures to work, so they should be here now.

[GMC406]

The machine shop sent me some pics of the eng. It is shown with a Victor Jr. Intake, but since Im using it in a truck, he is changing it to a dual plane. For now Im gonna have to stick with the HEI ignition, not sure what route I want to take later on for ignition, again input apriciated.

[Hipper]

Thats a great looking truck and engine. Great to see another Kansan with a 71 GMC. Good luck on the grill I looked all over and ended up repairing the one I had. Check out the Meat in OKcity comming up on May 30th It will be awsome.

Hipper

[GMC406]

Dunno if you seen my other deal hip but there is a really nice car show / drag race in Atwood on the 15th 16th 17th. Not too far of a jog for you at all, bout 30 mins north of Colby if you know where that is.

[Hipper]

Yep I know where that is, have a car show here in Satanta on the 9th then have to get the truck road worthy again for the ok meat.

[highperf4x4]

Subscribed.

If it were me, I'd go with a TH400 tranny instead of the 350.

[GMC406]

Why the 400? I havnt been around them much i guess always 350s and 700r4. I always use a place called mad dog transmisiions in florida, guess now they are Outlaw Transmissions. I can get a 350 build as heavy as possible shipped here with a torque converter and no core for 1400. What advantages would I gain with a 400? And what would I have to do to make it work?

[highperf4x4]

The TH400 is GM's workhorse transmission. You said you wanted one that was bullet proof, that would be the TH400. Like Chrysler's 727 Torqueflite or Ford's C6. It's what they used in 3/4 tons, 1 tons, big block applications, etc for many years. You can dump alot of money into a 350 tranny but you're not going to make it as strong as a 400.

The only change you need to make to the truck is cutting out the tranny hump in your floor board, then finding a "high hump" cover and bolting it in.

[GMC406]

So I woke up this morning bored and not working so I decided to dive in to the tear down... The trans and eng are out, took off the front bumper and grill to get to the damaged, headlight bucket.

[GMC406]

The deer damage had the passenger side bucket pushed all the way to the front end... I bent it back the best I could, it dosnt look perfect, but I think it will work. Seems to be pretty darn close to where it needs to be. The grille however is a lost cause....

[GMC406]

Been awile since I posted any progress. The engine bay and parts are all cleaned up and painted, a new grille is in the mail, and im just waiting on the radiator and carb, should be just a few days, and a tranny, hopefully only a few days.... Panted the bumper black, think it will look better! Those hood hinges took alot of time to clean, 38 years of dirt and grime takes its toll. Spent about 2.5 hours each with a wire brush and scraper, talk about boring....

[highperf4x4]

It's lookin good!

I'll be waiting to see the pic of that black bumper on the truck.

[nuke1]

oh yah, another four lighter, i love it. the best kind of grille goin. great build so far. i know the feeling about the outside looking rough but under the skin is what counts, mine will be in primer spots this year and i got a 500hp 358 under her. booyah. btw, great choice on the toolbox, same as mine for work., what kind of car is that in the background, a triumph or something?

James

[GMC406]

Yes it is a triumph. 69 GT6 to be exact. Project that has to wait years untill i have the time and money for that one, it needs ALOT of TLC so its on hold for the time being. Know where your at on the primer too, all i need is some rocker pannels and some work on the doors and mine will be wearing primer spots for awile too. Paint will come in due time but hey sleepers are fun anyway right? Nothing like taking money from every kid in town when they try to race what they belive to be a beat up old farm truck! Glad to hear from another GMC enthusiast! Those 4 lights make a big difference I absolutly LOVE the look. Want to find a 71 or 2 Jimmy to be its 4x4 twin!

[GMC406]

O ya and thanks for the comment on the box, I got that about 4 years ago when I went to Diesel Tech, from what snap on told us we were the first to get them, We were suposed to get smaller ones with tops and all but for some reason we ended up with theses HUGE bottoms, I love it. Couldnt have afforded it if it wasnt for goin to school, just stumbled on the invoice the other day accually, list on that box was over 5 grand! Rediculous! But its awesome getting 26,000 dollars worth of tools for 12.000. Gotta love them student discounts!

[GMC406]

I know this is off topic just a friendly reminder of what happens when you buy a Ford. I6 5 Speed I accually like that part of it. Was running errands yesterday and the e-brake bracket broke and my truck went barriling down the highway accross two lanes of traffic and into a crowded parking lot where it decided to T-bone itself into a pole! Liability only...go figure.

[highperf4x4]

Holy crap! That is a drag dude!

[GMC406]

Well yesterday evening I managed to finish painting the back bumper black, just a quick spray while it was on the truck, I polished the front one down to bare metal but the rear is rotting through so it just got a coat to make it look good from a distance. Today the engine and trans found their resting places. Just wait for the parts I need hopefully mid week. As long as I can drive it for my 23rd birthday friday I will be happy, kind of a present to myself, finish the eng transplant! Those wheel on my 90 GMC GT are going on my 71 as soon as I get two new tires for the fronts.

[highperf4x4]

Ok, since you're stripping the red truck.......... I'll take the hood!

[GMC406]

Ha ha, ya I prolly shoulda stipped it piece by piece and sold it, would have made more money that way! The same guy that built my eng bought it but didnt want the wheels. I only got 1000 bucks for the truck! Tried selling if for 1500 or 1200 for a really long time, aparently no one has any money theses days so I had to take what I can get.

[highperf4x4]

Wow, that's crazy. I see $1000 just in the front end. Does it run?

[Hipper]

yea nobody wants to pay what something is worth any more. I sold a 77 suburban 3/4 ton with a very good 454 and took $600 for it just to get rid of it. I hadent drove it for 2 years and still had it taged and insured. The engine was worth more than I got for the truck.

[Hipper]

Ohh yae Gmc looking good and ford looks bad

[GMC406]

Ya its a bummer letting stuff go like that but I know what you mean. Had this truck forever and just cant get rid of it. And ya hyper your right there is over 1000 in the front clip, plus a mild buil 350 and built 700R4 with around 30,000 runs fine, fires first crank. It needs a paintjob and cab corner and a few little misc things, think thats what jaded people off it. Oh well, one less truck to tag and 1000, buck towards the 71!