65 GMC First Ride

[65GMCFirstride]

We purchased a 65 GMC about 1 year ago for my 16 year old son. He and I spent that last 10 months restoring it. Thanks to everyone on the site that helped us with the restoration.

There was a lot of learning along the way. We learned how to cut, grind, weld, block sand, and paint (just to name a few) We are going to post some pictures that tell our story. We will try to highlight some of the challenges that we dealt with with the hope it helps others. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

We will start with a before and after picture and then fill in the details.

[65GMCFirstride]

The PO completed the drive train and suspension. It has an 83 K-Member and rear-end. It has 305 V-8, 700R4 transmission, power steering, and power brakes. Fortunately, we did not have to do a lot to the drive train and suspension. The most significant thing we did was replace all the front-end suspension components including upper and lower ball joints, tie-rods, etc with Moog parts. Not a huge job, but well worth the benefits.

While we were in there we chopped a coil off the front coils. Also, we took the third leaf off the rear suspension and installed lowering shackles.

[65GMCFirstride]

The body was a different story. It had "all" the common areas of rust. Lower front doors, floor pans, rocker panels, front fenders/cowl drainage, frame supports, inner fenders, and rear wheel wells. Not to mention someone had cut holes in the back panel of the interior for speakers. So, we purchased a Lincoln welder 140. We watched the DVD and started welding.

We started out by disassembling.

[65GMCFirstride]

We spent about 7 months doing body work. All the rust was cut out and replaced with new metal. Our welding got better over time once we figured out some of the basics. Like, clean the metal before you weld and don't get the metal too hot.

We stripped all the panels with a DA and some 80 grit. We had the bed bead blasted.

My son became a "block sanding specialists". We skim coated and guide coated the entire truck at least 5 times. A more experienced bodyman could have done if faster, but that is not the point.

We used very good body and paint materials. My thinking was "good materials can cover-up our inexperience". I think that turned out to be true.

We used Rage Gold and Ice body fillers. We went through 2 gallons of Rage Gold. Most of it was sanded off, but that gives you an idea of how much sanding was involved.

We used PPG Shopline Epoxy Primer and Evercoat Slick Sand. Slick Sand is awesome! It is like spraying body filler. Fact is, the panels on these old farm trucks are full of waves and require a lot of work to get straight.

Everything was reassembled to verify fit prior to paint.

[65GMCFirstride]

I never painted a vehicle before, but decided I would give it a try. I used a high quality HLVP paint gun and PPG DBC 2000 Base Coat and 2002 Clear. The dash was painted with a single stage Black Acrylic paint. The cab and outside were painted with a GM 2010 color Mocha Steel Metallic.

The dash, cab, firewall, inside bed panels, jams, under side of hood, and top of cab were all painted at some place other than a booth. I rented a booth to do rest of the truck. It took a lot of planning to get the truck painted in a day. Unfortunately, it was 90+ in the booth that day. If I had to do it all over again, I would have waited for a cooler day. The paint was drying too fast. At one point, the paint crystalized as it came out of the gun. We had to stop and wet sand the entire bed of the truck with 800 and repaint.

Lesson learned...next time, I will wetsand the base coat to catch any imperfections, spray a final coat of color, and clear the next day.

Fact is, I could not be happier with the paint. The panels are straight and it blings!

[65GMCFirstride]

The Interior -

We rebuilt all the windows prior to installing the door glass. I had a professional install the front and rear glass. That was way beyond my skills.

We purchased a rebuilt tilt column out from a 70's van and installed it. The wiring is the most difficult part of the installation, but not too bad.

We purchased second row seats out of a 90's Suburban for $80. I had to cut and weld on the frames to get them to fit, but they turned out awesome. The thin back seat makes them very good choice for these old trucks. And, they come with a cup holder and armrest.

Safety was a big concern of mine. We went to a junk yard and purchased 3 pt seat belts out of a 2000's GM truck. We had to weld a platform for the main unit to bolt the floor. We cut a 6"x6"x1/4" plate and installed it behind the rear panel. We connected the seat belt through the rear panel and plate. Sure don't want that coming loose during an accident. The seat belts turned out great.

We installed sound deadener in the floor and topped it with black carpet.

Finally, painted the gauge cluster black, refaced the gauges, and installed new lights. The gauge cluster is just ok... One of these days I would like to replace the entire cluster

[65GMCFirstride]

More interior photos

[65GMCFirstride]

The wiring was in pretty good shape. There were a few 'ugly's" that had to be cleaned up. Mainly just cutting out old wire and replacing with new. We did install a 3rd brake light. It was very easy to install and is a nice safety feature.

[65GMCFirstride]

Well...that is about the whole story. We appreciate everyone's help along the way. If you have any questions for us we are happy to share our experience with the hope that it saves you time and heartache. See you on the forum.

[j.kirn]

Nice lookin ride,Great work

[collins10672]

thats a great looking restoration.to start from scratch and learn as you go you guy's did a A1 job on that gmc.you guy's are very talented.

[Captainfab]

You'd never know from looking at your truck, that you had never done that sort of work before. I would say you definitely did your homework and learned very well. I have seen work done by so called professionals that don't look near as good. This is undoubtedly an experience that both you and your son will always have good memories of.

[4dranch]

Super job..And nice to see another youngster interested in these trucks.

[65GMCFirstride]

Thank you. He is hooked for life!

[Chad215]

I'm using a V8 305 as well since it's what I have available to me. Any power issues? Are you happy with the performance? Anything added to the 305 (different heads, etc)? Any mods to the steering column, or did it drop in pretty easy?

[65GMCFirstride]

I am happy with the 305. Runs great and does not burn oil. It has headers on it and really crappy exhaust. Two small crimped pipes run together into one crimped pipe out the back. We have new cherry bomb exhaust and plan to install dual mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust this winter. I think that will have a huge impact on performance!

There is enough power for me. I don't ever think it is a dog. We have 2.73 gears in the back. One of these days we may change that, but I am not in any hurry to make the change.

With all that said, I think the 350 is the motor to have. There are a lot more aftermarket parts for the 350 that makes it a little cheaper to work on. And, its not like the 305 is getting great mileage. Not sure exactly because the speedo gears need to be changed, but we are filling up often.

In regard to the steering, I had to shorten the connecting rod that goes into the steering box. Simple chop and an adapter to connect the connecting rod to the steering column. It was about a 1 hour job once I figure out what I had to do and had the adapter. Wiring was about 3 hours figuring it out and 30 minutes hooking it up.

[rustyrodknocker]

I have never seen this level of work on someones first go around. amazing. what a great first vehicle for a young man. best of all he understands what it takes to get it.

[McMurphy]

Hello and thanks for the post, your truck turned out great!
I too will be doing the 3point seat belts in mine (my Tempest seems to be stock without them but I need the PHS paperwork to be certain) and have day dreamed about how to add a back plate to the shoulder anchor.

I hope my son asks to do something like this soon, he is growing up so fast that we have fewer summers ahead of us than we do behind; before he is off to live his own adventures.

What is your hood emblem, do you have any closer pics of it, and where did you get it/how much?
I like that it is low profile and does not take away from the general look of the truck or the body lines in the hood!

[fryer1979]

What a killer first ride for your son, that huge smile in that last picture says a lot for him. Very nice job!

[Chad215]

Originally Posted by 65GMCFirstride

I am happy with the 305. Runs great and does not burn oil. It has headers on it and really crappy exhaust. Two small crimped pipes run together into one crimped pipe out the back. We have new cherry bomb exhaust and plan to install dual mandrel bent 2.5" exhaust this winter. I think that will have a huge impact on performance!

There is enough power for me. I don't ever think it is a dog. We have 2.73 gears in the back. One of these days we may change that, but I am not in any hurry to make the change.

With all that said, I think the 350 is the motor to have. There are a lot more aftermarket parts for the 350 that makes it a little cheaper to work on. And, its not like the 305 is getting great mileage. Not sure exactly because the speedo gears need to be changed, but we are filling up often.

In regard to the steering, I had to shorten the connecting rod that goes into the steering box. Simple chop and an adapter to connect the connecting rod to the steering column. It was about a 1 hour job once I figure out what I had to do and had the adapter. Wiring was about 3 hours figuring it out and 30 minutes hooking it up.

Awesome, thanks for the info, and again, great job!

[kieth]

Hey firstride, you might want to run the end of the chain on the tailgate upside down and then over the latch, they can pop out when driving down the road......if they are just slipped in like you have them. Kieth

[65GMCFirstride]

McMurphy - The hood ornament was on the truck when we got it. Not sure if the dealer added or it was done by one of the PO's. It is similar to what you might see on a Buick, but with smaller wings. I will post some better pics of it.

[65GMCFirstride]

Keith - Thanks for the input. Not sure if I understand what you are describing. You have any pics?