Let me introduce "The War Wagon"

[flyngti]

This past summer, I had the opportunity to join the Brotherhood of the 67-72 Trucks with this 1969 GMC 3/4 ton Stepside Longbed. Some friends of mine bought it a few years ago and decided they didn't want/need it anymore. I already have a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram for hauling our camper and horse trailer, but I'd always wanted another pickup to do parts and dump runs. It's a pretty tired truck, but at $500 I couldn't pass it up. Now that I've got it, I'm not sure what my plans are.

Here's what I've got according to the SPID:

G50 HD REAR SPRING
M28 HD 4 SPD C R TRANS
Z53 AMMETER-OIL GAUGE
517 MAROON
F60 HD FRONT SPRING
G70 R SUSP-LEAF SPRING
U63 RADIO-PUSH BUTTON
Z62 CUST CONF&APPEAR EQ
636 BLK CUST CLOTH TRIM

The first order of business is to rebuild the engine. It's just as tired as the rest of the truck and can barely push me up a hill. Judging by the amount of smoke it spews and oil it burns, a rebuild is at the top of the list. While the engine is out, I'll have a look inside the gearbox too.

Next is probably the body. Amazingly, there's not a ton of rust on this truck even though it's probably been parked outside for the last 40 years. The hood and fenders have been replaced at some point (I see the old green paint under the maroon). The doors and sills are the worse part and will need some attention. I'm on the lookout for some rust-free doors to replace mine. Aside from surface rust, the cab and bed are in decent shape. The bed wood is all rotten and someone screwed down a sheet of plywood to make it solid. Check out that completely bald spare tire on a split rim!

As you can see, someone in the past put some painted hands on the back, kind of like an old indian war horse.

I've got lots of other projects going on, but I'll post updates as I can. I have a feeling this will be a pretty slow build. Thanks for looking!

[feller]

awesome dude! great price. looks like a war horse or a hippie ride not sure yet but verry cool!!!!!

[Meatman]

I like the custom air cleaner hold down. Thats a piece of engineering there.

[feller]

didnt notice that verry custom!!!!!!!!

[OARNGESI]

like the hand prints

[special-K]

I'd love to come across a truck like that. Let me know if you need an extra hand on that truck.

[71swb4x4]

It looks like the last owner was really hands on.

[slomotion]

Originally Posted by flyngti

..........The first order of business is to rebuild the engine. It's just as tired as the rest of the truck and can barely push me up a hill. Judging by the amount of smoke it spews and oil it burns, a rebuild is at the top of the list.

As you can see, someone in the past put some painted hands on the back, kind of like an old indian war horse..........

Maybe the hand prints are from spirits pushing?

Great find!

[yuccales]

Darn good work truck! $500.00, no way you could pass that up.

[RenoKeene]

Thats war paint all right! Hard to believe someone didn't want that truck anymore. I like it!

[sean1969c10]

Nice score!!

[flyngti]

Thanks guys! The "custom" air cleaner hold down strap is because the fin inside the carb is broken where the air cleaner bolt attaches. I can't take credit for that brilliant engineering I did, however, do something similar to keep the passenger's side exhaust from falling off. One of the exhaust manifold bolts is broken at the flange and I didn't want to risk the pipe falling off while I was driving so I used some metal straps as a temporary hold.

I have to admit, this thing is a hoot to drive. Big steering wheel, manual steering, 4-speed, heavy clutch!

[flyngti]

I've heard that long bed stepsides are pretty rare. Is that true? I didn't think much about it until someone mentioned it to me. Then I started paying attention and it seems like every stepside I've seen in person or in pictures is a shorty.

[redbaron69]

what a beast! love the maroon color.

[Bert W]

A befitting name for that old work horse. When you repaint it, you are going to have to put at least one of your hand prints on the rear fender, like the TV indians in the old western movies. You could always go with "yes" and "no" like Mongo in Blazing Saddles.

[fine69]

That is a factory color. 69 only color.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by flyngti

I've heard that long bed stepsides are pretty rare.

They are uncommon yes. It's kind of like a Mustang with a front bench seat, rare yes, more valuable no.

[feller]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'd love to come across a truck like that. Let me know if you need an extra hand on that truck.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! extra hand looks like hes got plenty of hands

yeah long steppers are kinda rare here, in iraq i saw a "butt load" they were every where, 67-72 mostly but saw plenty of others too. i had always heard that there was a long stepper but had never seen one for real till i went there, and still im not sure i have seen one here in the states in "real life"

[68 SHORT-STEP'N]

Looks like the perfect work truck . Great deal !

[flyngti]

I've had the truck now for a few months and have done absolutely nothing with it except for a few lumber and dump runs. I parked it waiting for my next move and this weekend, I finally figured out what my next move is -- another truck as a donor!

I found this on Craigslist. It's a '67 C10 longbed fleetside with small rear window. The cab is rusted pretty badly but has good doors and a running V8. It's not the original motor, but it runs better than the one in the '69 so I figured I'll swap for now. It'll give me some time to get the '69 motor redone. Someone added power steering to the '67 so I'll use that too. I had briefly thought about swapping out the front clip but I think I like the '69 GMC front end better with the higher 3/4 ton stance. I'll use what I can from the '67 and part out the rest. I came with Enkei wheels and the factory 4.11 posi rear end so I should be able to get some money for those.

I was able to find a space under the carport so, let the disassembly begin!

[RenoKeene]

Your on a roll now! I like the 67 too...there is just something about the 67, I've got 2 now.

[special-K]

I need to spend some time in front of the fire so I can run across some of these trucks!