1967 GMC - SWB, great patina

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

I spent 90mins with a grinder & wire wheel on the frame, getting a first pass on the exterior. It’s not as clean as my ‘68 (which was beautifully coated in a TON of old oil, grease, grime etc which perfectly protected the frame), but this was a nice surprise. No pitting, no significant scale. Just dry surface rust that came off in a big red cloud.

Some frame stampings were exposed, and I realized the leaf spring frame has bulged ribs by each leaf spring shackle, where my coil spring ‘68 frame was just straight flat frame rail. I assume for strength.

Parts continue to slowly roll in….

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

After a week and 6 unreturned asks to buy a used engine lift on Marketplace, I slunk to Harbor Freight and bought their $99 cheapie - will hold the 6.0. I searched Craigslist but that place has officially died. Searching “engine stand” get you used cars, mixers, hiking boots, anything but an engine stand.


The dipstick had broken / rusted off flush with the block, and I picked up a 302-1 oil pan kit. The truck pan hangs below the crossmember in my ‘68 so I wanted to change that this time around. From the underside the cylinder walls still have some crosshatch showing, and nothing looks awful. Used a brass punch to pound the dipstick back up/out. The Dorman 917-303 tube I bought would NOT fit. It measured 0.010” larger diameter than the original tube. I’d already dinged it up attempting to install, so used a flap wheel on a die grinder to turn the OD down a sniff. Covered it in never-sieze and sent it home.

Waiting on a timing cover alignment kit to arrive from the Bezos to continue work…

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

Removed as much rust and scale from the LQ4 as possible with an a needle scaler then various wire wheels before hitting the block with POR15 engine enamel.

Took apart the rear axles to get measurements for an order to Dutchman. I had to cut off the retainer, and bearing for measurements but the new axles will come with bearings & retainers installed.

Specs
29-5/16” & 31-5/16” length
30 spline
5x5 bolt pattern
Pilot hub turned to 3-1/16” to fit most standard rotors EX Wilwood
Outer flange turned to 6-1/8” OD for fitment in most GM applicable rotors if I go that route

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

The Dutchman model of axles for an early GMC Dana 44.

By changing the pilot and outer diameter, I deviated from a “stock replacement” with only a pattern change and was moved to “full custom order”.

$499 shipped for the pair.

[WorldsCrappiestTruck]

Documenting for anyone in the future needing the info.

I used a large pipe wrench on the yoke and breaker bar on the pinion nut after making a reference mark with a die grinder for reassembly. With no crush sleeve, I’ll tighten the nut to where the marks line up again.

Ordered some rebuild parts today for the Dana 44

Pinion seal
DANA 44895

Axle Seal
CENTRIC 41766015