'70 GMC SWB Money Hole

[nlped]

Well, I pulled the trigger Thursday afternoon and bought me a new place to piss my money away on. I rode my bike 230 miles up to take a look at this old truck and for the price, I just had to risk it. Loaded the bike up in the bed and drove it home... With a few minor issues... Bald tires and a monster rain storm just north of Chattanooga equals slow going... Wipers worked though . Battery had dead cell in it, and I didn't find that out until I stopped to put gas in it and the damn thing wouldn't crank back... Had to buy a new battery to get back on the road (closest place was 2 miles up the road, but a very nice Indian fella gave me a ride there and back...Thank Goodness!!!). Made it to within about a mile of my exit and the lights started dimming to the point of NONE, made it off the interstate safely and pulled into a parking lot and it died. Had to get my girlfriend to grab a battery out of my mustang at home and bring it 25 miles...at 10:30 at night to me. While I was waiting I got to fiddling with the alternator wiring and tracked down a break in one of the wires, cut it, spliced it back together and put some duct tape on it (all I had with me) and once I put the new battery in...It was amazing how much brighter the lights were .

Oh...and did I mention that I drove it all the way home with NO brakes...NONE!!!

Well, here are some pics to begin the thread...The morning after!!! I know it's ugly, but it's a starting place

[nlped]

Here are few shots of what really sold me on the truck...The floor pans are perfect, the door pillar areas are magnificent, and the windshield frame and such are all good. It needs both rockers replaced and the left lower cab corner has a small hole in it, and the left rear bed side is full of bondo...but that can be fixed. Best I can tell after crawling all around under it, it pretty dang rust free considering.

The paint job is pitiful, but I will certainly be addressing that soon enough...

[nlped]

Decent running 350, with a newly rebuilt TH350 (he paid more for the tranny build than I did for the truck), and new exhaust that sounds pretty decent.

[nlped]

First thing I did was pull the brakes apart to find out what the issue was...

3 out of four leaky wheel cylinders, both axle seals were totally shot, and the left rear adjuster apparently had completely come apart because when I pulled that drum off, half a dozen parts fell out... I can't believe I drove this thing home without crashing into someone or something. I was EXTREMELY cautious of being close to ANYONE. Downshifting and never getting close to another vehicle was the call of the day!

Here are some pics of what I found...

[nlped]

Tenative plans are to fix the brakes so I can use it as a truck while I round up parts for it revamp...

The plan is a 5.3L and 4L60E that I'd bought for my '76 Blazer that I never got around to doing. Body off frame to do paint & body work and to strip everything off the frame for sandblasting. A small weld in C-notch, and swap in my 12 Bolt out of my old Blazer (McGaughy 13" rear disc brake set up, 3.73 gears, Auburn Diff and all new bearing and seals) and on the front I'll swap in the '76 K-member, steering, 13" McGaughy brakes & front suspension and my 18" staggered BOSS 338's that I already have. And clean everything else up and make me a super nice, comfortable, reliable, SAFE driver.

My initial paint scheme is like this one, but Imperial blue metallic (where the orange is) and Silver ice metallic (where the white is)...

[nlped]

Here is a shot of the donor of the wheels, suspension, rearend and brakes. It's going back to stock ride and I'll probably sell "him".

[j carter]

good pick up

[Hotrob72]

Oh...and did I mention that I drove it all the way home with NO brakes...NONE!!!

I'm not sure what to say....kinda lucky?

[nlped]

Originally Posted by Hotrob72

I'm not sure what to say....kinda lucky?

Lucky, but also VERY careful...

[nlped]

Oh, I guess I need to clarify that it had brakes for the first 20 miles or so, then they quit working. I wouldn't have bought it without any brakes. I've since replaced all the wheel cylinders, hardware, star adjusters, and shoes and have now come to find out that the M/C took a puke too... I also went ahead and replaced the axle seals, they were shot!!!

And the right rear trailing is totally cracked right under the spring perch!!! Can't believe I didn't die buying & driving this thing home. I hope I can get it straightened out...

[nlped]

OMG!!! Got the trailing arm out this morning to try and weld it up and it was a BIT more to the crack than I thought...

Did I mention that I drove it from nearly Knoxville Tn., home with my V-Rod in the bed

[nlped]

Went to fix the trailing arm and met a guy at the welding shop that had 7 of these trailing arms behind his house. He gave me one . The Pumpkin is alive again, and the brakes work like a champ!!!

[CC69Rat]

Updates?

Ahem .. you have a really nice seat to go in it ?

[nlped]

I did actually get the seat put into it, but I haven't done much else. To dang hot to work on it much, but I am close to getting a start on it.

I finally got the CPP deluxe bent panhard bar kit and a set of "conversion" saddles for my '76 built rearend that I'll be installing under here. I've still got to get a shock relocation kit, but I'm seriously considering just building my own. Otherwise, I just need a new set of brake hard lines for the new suspension/McGaughy 13" brake set up.

[nlped]

Well, I have finally started towards progress. I bought an extra SWB rolling frame from a member on here for a great price and in the mix of it, found quite a few other parts that I'll be bringing home very soon.

[nlped]

I have decided to strip all the suspension off my 2wd '76 Blazer and use it on the new frame. I'm using the frame so I can keep using the GMC until I'm closer to ready to start paint & body work. I'll mock up all the suspension and such on the "new" frame, get it all figured out and then strip it all back off and sand blast and paint everything before final assembly of the chassis. I have a few parts for the leaf spring rearend to trailing arm conversion on the '76 built 12 bolt already...CPP Deluxe Trailing arm kit, perches for the leaf spring rearend, and 4" drop coils for out back

[CC69Rat]

Kinda sucks for the Blazer though .. ?

[nlped]

Not really... I'm going to put another stock 12 bolt back under it and put the stock front coils & spindles under it so it'll roll and I've already got a guy who wants it. He will get the rolling blazer (beater wheels) and the m&t will still be in it. He's going to redo the suspension and use it for his shop.
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[CC69Rat]

Come up to Chatt when you get it running, or if you need an extra pair of hands give us (Dad and I) a call
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[nlped]

Heck, I'd rather come work on your GMC. It's closer to where I wanna end up. You let me know when you need an extra pair of hands.
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[nlped]

Got most of the suspension stuff swapped over. Still have to figure out the OE hardlines to the new Master Cylinder/Proportioning Valve stuff, change out the rear u-joint to a conversion one, build a shock relocation set-up, fill the rearend with new dope, bleed the brakes, fab up the parking brake cables, cut off the tailpipes (they are squashed between the rearend and the frame ), and then see what else I've forgotten. All just so I can drive it, and most of all...STOP it!

Then I'll actually start on the other frame. I'm going to do all the mock up for the 5.3/4L60e swap, the PB Stage 2 deluxe rear set-up, rear mount fuel tank, and get all the lines run for the fuel and brakes with necessary brackets and such. Then I'll strip it all down and blast it and paint it and put it back together. Then the paint and body work will begin...Hopefully I can start on that in Febuary.

[CC69Rat]

You need some shock relocation brackets? I have an ECE set I wont be using.
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[nlped]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

You need some shock relocation brackets? I have an ECE set I wont be using.
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I sure do!!! PM me whatcha want for it.

[CC69Rat]

Send me your address and I'll put them in the mail. I got them pretty much free in a trade deal. They're used, but .. just pay it forward for someone else (?) cool?

No charge. They're yours. I have both sides, top and bottom, including the bracket / shim thing to even them up. The whole set. I have some Nitro Drop shocks too (Bell Tech) but one of them is leaking. They're a little dirty around the bolts but I'll clean them up for you. Shoot me your address and I'll get them on the way brother !

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by nlped

Tenative plans are to fix the brakes so I can use it as a truck while I round up parts for it revamp...

The plan is a 5.3L and 4L60E that I'd bought for my '76 Blazer that I never got around to doing. Body off frame to do paint & body work and to strip everything off the frame for sandblasting. A small weld in C-notch, and swap in my 12 Bolt out of my old Blazer (McGaughy 13" rear disc brake set up, 3.73 gears, Auburn Diff and all new bearing and seals) and on the front I'll swap in the '76 K-member, steering, 13" McGaughy brakes & front suspension and my 18" staggered BOSS 338's that I already have. And clean everything else up and make me a super nice, comfortable, reliable, SAFE driver.

My initial paint scheme is like this one, but Imperial blue metallic (where the orange is) and Silver ice metallic (where the white is)...

you got a solid foundation if the floor is ok nice start.