My first truck, purchased April/2011

[Root_Drum_Co]

This is my first go at the whole forum thing, so bare with me haha.

Here's my new buddy. 69 GMC stepside. Bought for $400.

Things done so far, (will post pics of each later)

-carb rebuild
-replaced belt
-got the back drivers wheel un-stuck...not fun
-cleaned out the fuel tank
-new fuel lines
-new fuel pump
-all new brakes (lines, pads, cylinders, hardware)
-painted the front bumper
-buffed the grill out as good as i could

lemme know what u think!







'69 GMC stepside
'76 Triumph TR-6

[propanemudtruck]

Welcome from Michigan and nice truck! What's the chassis in the second pic?

[Root_Drum_Co]

Thanks! glad to find this forum its pretty awesome!

and the frame is from a '74 Triumph tr6 haha. don't know if anyone on here will need it but it's for sale!

[yuccales]

She's a good looking truck. Keep the pics coming as you progress.

[Root_Drum_Co]

thanks yuccales, and i'll be doin my best to keep the build photos coming for sure.

here's one from when i went to pick it up. the back wheel was frozen tight as you could tell in the pic lol. we drug it around 100 yards total once we got it home and it wouldn't budge until i got on it with a torch and a big enough hammer...probably not the best idea but it worked! u should have seen the rust inside that thing.....

[chevy72pu]

Good looking starter truck. Welcome from another Georgia Boy.

[VA72C10]

Looks like a good project! Welcome to the forum!

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Good looking stepper and welcome to the board..

[Root_Drum_Co]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

btw i just bought my rallys yesterday. ill post pics once i get em on my computer.
they're 15x8" and 15x10" vette rallys with chrome police centers. $200 on Craigslist
and the guy let me keep the 2 tires on the two 10" ones and even threw trim rings in too.

more pictures to come......

thanks!

[Root_Drum_Co]

my new wheels from craigslist.

[litew8]

nice!

[VA72C10]

Wow, killer deal and those will look great!!!

[Root_Drum_Co]

thanks! they were such a good deal i bought them even tho they are 5 lug and my truck is 6 lug....maybe a bad decision. i figured even with buying new parts to convert my lug pattern im still going to come out cheaper and also have more wheel choices in the future.

let me know if i am an idiot for doing this or not haha. also any advice or tips on how to get my 6 lug over to a 5 lug would be great!

thanks

[71Sleeper]

Welcome to the forum. I am also new here and have already gotten tons of advise off other builds here. Also, have found some parts I needed from members. I'm sure someone here will beable to assist on the lug conversion. Nice project! I don't see many GMC steppers out there. Great deal on the wheels.

[Root_Drum_Co]

Thanks 71Sleeper. yeah, every time i googled anything to do with trucks, this site came up about 500 times so i figured it would be a good idea to join! haha. i've already found alot of help from other user's threads and it's been a big help so far. i can't wait to get all my other pics up from my progress. maybe i'll work on that today.....


Root_drum_co

'69 GMC stepside 1500
'76 Triumph TR6

[Root_Drum_Co]

[Root_Drum_Co]

[Dieselwrencher]

Welcome to the board! Man you have a super straight truck to start with! Keep up the great work!

[Root_Drum_Co]

Thanks Dieselwrencher! yea, i think i got lucky on this one. never been wrecked and there's not much rust. what little rust there is i think i can take care of it with my amature metal working skills haha

****things left to do;

-replace busted rear shocks
-fix the shift linkage (way to loose or something, any advice?)
-get my rally wheels to actually fit...
-install lowering springs/shackles
-get all the wiring sorted out (no guage, tail, turn, reverse,brake lights etc. etc.)
-body work and paint
-new wood bed
-replace rear bumper
-misc. interior work
-removal of the gun rack.....

[bigguy69]

Awesome truck! Your garage looks exactly like mine!(climate controlled )
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[PhileCool]

Wow you got a steal on this. I'm new here too just got a 1970 Chevy C/20 Camper special.about the same shape as your truck just needed less work, mainly alot of cleaning as you will see when i post some pics of it.l I look foward to seeing more of your truck as you get more done.hmm I figured this out. here are 2 pic's 1 when I got it in May 2011 and another after i got it cleaned. Had to wash off 25 yrs of farm dirt.

[milner]

Nice find! Man I think I want a stepper now

[Root_Drum_Co]

haha thanks bigguy69. and that garage is climate controlled...fans in summer and pot belly stove in the winter

and thanks philecool, yea a good wash goes a long way for sure. i kinda half-assed my wash job for now till i get ready to start body work. i figured if it looked to good after a wash, i might not ever get around to painting it haha

@milner-that fleetside u have looks nice as hell.... i'll trade u straight up for it if you want a stepper bad enough haha

[milner]

Actually I took the body off of that frame and put it on my 72 K20 frame...and it looks better in the little pic...but I will give you the $400 ya paid for it!

[Root_Drum_Co]

There's a strange story that goes along with this truck that i think i should share. I've wanted a truck for a long time now, and 6 months ago i decided to start actually looking. the job i have requires alot of driving around the local countryside delivering appliances so i see alot of old rust buckets and forgotten farm trucks. the only problem was that i couldn't find a 67-72 stepper out here for some reason. i saw alot of fords.....i mean alot of fords, and a few early 80's gm trucks and a few gm fleetsides from various years, but never the right year stepper in the right condition/price range(aka rusty project truck)

So, we were out in the country (way out in the sticks) one day this past April and i told my co-worker "Man, i bet you i'll find a truck out here today" and he tells me "Nah, they've probably been picked through too much out here, you ain't gonna find anything." So we pull up to the house we were delivering to which was at the dead end of a 5 mile dirt road and there sits this beauty, with poison ivy and deer stands all over the bed.

I asked the lady if it was for sale and she replied "Oh my god yes! we've been trying to sell that thing for 6 months but no one would come and get it" and i said "well ill be back next week to take a better look and make a deal" and here we are.....it was meant to be!