'69 GMC Long Step "Dirty Green"

[guitardude127]

This truck was my grandfather's farm truck. I learned to drive this truck when I was 5 years old in low gear driving "circles" in the pasture while my grandfather would throw hay out of the bed. I've always had a deep love for this truck and my grandfather would never sell it to me because he loved it more than I. He passed away in 2006 and in 2008 my grandmother gave it to me. It had not run or moved in about 3 years, but I went out and in about 10 minutes got it running and drove it around on the back roads for about a year. In 2009 I started my project and have gotten a little side tracked. This is what I've done so far, and will now become a build thread as I continue work on it. This is a 1969 GMC 3/4Ton 2WD Long Bed Stepside with a 307 and Turbo 400, all factory. My grandfather bought this truck from the original owner in '72 and it's never left the family since. Here are a few pictures from when I got it, and some from a year or so ago. I'll update it with new pictures when I get home (traveling currently.)

[guitardude127]

Let's try the photo's again...

[guitardude127]

Here's some after I pulled some of the front end off.

[guitardude127]

I wasn't able to get much done over the last few days except get the garage cleaned back up to do some work. We had a baby a few months ago and a lot of unused furniture had been stacked in the garage so it was unusable. Not anymore!

You can see in the photos above that the passenger side radiator core support mount on the frame had been eaten away by battery acid. I got the torch and had to cut the old mount to pieces so I could actually get to the rivits to cut them off. I wanted to cut on the mount side instead of the frame side for added protection to the frame. I didn't get an opportunity to put the new mount on, but will today. Pictures of that upcoming...

[guitardude127]

I'm ashamed to say that my truck largely looks like it did 8 years ago when I posted this. Three children, three moves (one of which had no place for my truck so it had to be stored at a family members house), career change, and medical expenses have all but stopped the work on this truck...until recently!

I've ordered parts, gotten a lead on a 350 to replace the 307 (although it is rebuildable), I've removed the welded in 1/8" steel bed my uncle installed in the 90's, and I'm about to get the front suspension replaced.

It has been far too long for this truck to be off the road, but I'm not giving up. Our budget now allows for progress to be made, and my children love working with me on the truck. This is becoming a family project that I will finish!

I hope to post some photos of the progress soon. In the meantime, keep doing what you do, and keep enjoying these old trucks!

[MDPotter]

It's good to see another four eye build! The trucks with sentimental value always mean the most.

What are your big picture plans for it? Work on small items here and there and keep it mostly original?

[cornerstone]

There is no shame in putting your family needs before wants! Fact is it's honorable. Now you will have even a more memorable time fixing it up with your kids being into it! Looking forward to updates.

[guitardude127]

Originally Posted by MDPotter

It's good to see another four eye build! The trucks with sentimental value always mean the most.

What are your big picture plans for it? Work on small items here and there and keep it mostly original?

I'm going to keep it mostly original. I'll post some more pictures soon of where I am in the build. But this weekend I got it back on the ground (off of jack stands) for the first time in about 7 or 8 years. Control arms and ball joints installed, brakes and rotors were installed new after I parked it, so they're in good shape. Next comes the rest of the steering linkage, then brake lines, then wiring harness, then engine.

My goal is to do the body work after it is running and driving again, little by little.

[guitardude127]

Originally Posted by cornerstone

There is no shame in putting your family needs before wants! Fact is it's honorable. Now you will have even a more memorable time fixing it up with your kids being into it! Looking forward to updates.

Absolutely. Family comes first.

[guitardude127]

Been working quite a bit lately. Put new ball joints and control arm shafts. Then reconnected the whole assembly to the frame. Reinstalled the springs, put wheels back on, and now it can roll on its own! Rolled it outside the garage yesterday to wash the dirt off the rear frame ( which is. Ow visible after I removed the steel sheet that had been welded in place of the wood bed. Also removed an old seat cover, exposed the fuel tank, and vacuumed about 43 pounds of dirt and leaves out of various books and crannies.

[cornerstone]

That sounds like a bunch of work. With Texas weather finally being cooler it sure makes easier, doesn't it!