'69 GMC Build Thread.

[samwise68]

hmm. a bit of drop would be nice, i won't lie. especially with some big rubbers stuck up under it.

if i ever do go that way, it'll be mild. very mild. i like the stock look; especially when everyone is chopping and notching and Z-ing. which, i mean, is fine. it's awesome. but...not quite my cup, at the moment anyway. especially since moeny is short. hah, i love tuition.

at the moment, my main concern is my six cylinder build, and getting a straight bed on it, along with some better paint. aftwards...who knows. the skies the limit, eh?

-Sam.

[lukbrw]

Concidering what you started with....you ened up turning it into a great truck for this area. Get through school and at the same time do a little this and that to it. That is the same thing I did. There are a ton of cheap rims and tires around. Lowering it a couple inches won't cost much and will turn even more heads. But if your going to throw it around the logging roads up there...don't go to low.

With the six, are you going to keep the exhaust out a side or go to the rear? My opinion...keep the exhaust dumping out the side, it is the best look on the 67-72. Trying to decide if I want to do the same on my 76. But first I have to tend to the paint and rims.

[toomanytoyz]

Just read your entire Thread & want to Congratulate you on a Job well Done, Was Nice how you Took lots of Pics & Gave a Good Description of your Progress. How much did you thin out that Paint for Spraying? I have brushed it on Frames & It seemed to be a Heavy Consistancy, I Think Im going to Try Spraying Paint like that to a Cab Im gonna put on my Wrecker.............

Thanks, Rick

[BurnoutNova]

i think i might try some implement paint to on my '67 i just got... i just have to get the same motivation you have!

[samwise68]

Thanks for all the kind words guys! i really appreciate it.

Luke - i've grown really fond of my exhaust coming out of the sides. it's really not that loud, plus, i love the way it sounds.

another plus is that it's out of the way of backing into snowbanks when i park at school, or backing into the lake with the boat; the pipes aren't out the back, but out the side being high and dry.

Rick - the paint is thick, i will admit. we thinned it really specifically. enough thinner til it would just stream off the mix stick. not drops, but a nice little thin line. yup, very specific. . if i did it again, i'd measure. and do better body work. but, as far as the paint is concerned...i couldn't be happier about the durability of it.

besides. it's just paint. it can be sanded off, and reapplied. as long as it stops rust, i'm happy. .

Burnout - I would HIGHLY recommend implement paint, especially if you want a truck as a truck. It's durable, has a gloss, surprisingly, and lays on nice.

And as far as motivation...well. give 'er hell, and don't look back, i spose. haha. .

thanks again all. it's nice to hear words from people who appreciate old iron, instead of just getting glares and stares from people in the parking lot at school.

oh well, they're just jealous. haha.

-Sam.

[toomanytoyz]

Thanks for that Info on Paint, I thought it would have to be something like that. Did u put any hardener in with the Paint? I was a Tractor Supply Today & Bought a Gallon of Brite Red to Try on my Cab, What did u thin it with??

Thanks Again for the Great Post & Advise, Rick

[samwise68]

Rick -
We put hardner in it as well, just followed the directions, stirred, and let it sit for a bit before we put it into the gun and sprayed.

and we just used paint thinner; i was on a budget, and probably shouldve used naptha or something a little better. but, $4 a gallon paint thinner caught my eye, and fit the budget,. haha.

and no problem, i hope it turns out well and you're satisfied with it, as much as i am with my hay field paint job.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

well, it's about time to give a real update. haha.

after some pretty messy issues with the gf (soon to be ex...heh.) it's been so nice to work and drive to truck. so, i've just been driving the wheels off of the old girl.






i did some calculations at my last fill up, since i fill up at every half tank, so basically a week of driving for me. and i'm getting a whole 13.17 mpg! w00t! thats thanks to the carb not being choked unknowingly, the screws opn the carb being adjusted, and the timing being advanced a bit.

I still have to gap the plugs out to about .60, to really take advantage of the HEI, but i'll do that when i get a set of AC plugs, instead of AutoLite's. while at the parts store, a new fan belt, and air filter are in order as well.

what else..umm..

i installed my other two speakers today! so, i now have 2 6's in the stock location, and 2 6x9's under the seat. i have another set of 6x9's, but i don't think those will be going in anytime soon...haha.









yup, some major tunage will now be had. it'll be nice to have full sound, instead of just the 2 6x9s.

also got the tachometer my parents got me for christmas installed this weekend.





it's just a little Sunpro, but, it's nice to see what RPM's i'm running down the road. maybe it'll help with gas milage...or something. haha. or, i'll just giggle since i'm turning 2000 rpm's at 55 mph. ah, i love it. she might not have a whole lot out of the hole, but she makes up with it for long legs on the highway. plus, that downshift into 2nd gear at 55 to fly up to 65-70 and pass people...is a blast.


also did some accessorizing as well.



fuzzy dice. i don't care how tacky. i like 'em.

oh. and proper footwear is essential while working on the truck.



so, thats where she sits as of now.

tomorrow, i'll slide across that saddle blanket seat cover, pump the gas pedal once, choke it, crank it, and listen to that tree oh seben rumble through those pipes. it's another day of driving old iron, and when that shifter clunks into 1st, and i ease the clutch out and head out onto the black top, the truck will sing to me all the way to school. enjoying another day of life as a workhorse and showing the new cars on the road what style really is.

-Sam.

[1LoC10]

nice.. gotta rock the Chucks

[samwise68]

hells yes to the Chucks. i try to wear them whenever possible; but it's been pretty cold. i figured today was a good day to start though.

yeah. i wore them to my senior prom. i thought they were cool. my prom date...eh...haha.

thanks for the props man.

-Sam.

[msgross]

how about the nice "springy" sound that your clutch pedal makes... gotta love it, nice speaker setup....

[samwise68]

thanks for the compliments on the speaker set up Mike. it's nothing fancy. but, 100 bucks for the head unit, and 4 speakers, and almost null for instal. i can't kick it.

and i dig my springin' squeaky clutch pedal! haha. there's just something about these old trucks that add so much character - it's like having a friend, not just a ride.

thanks again.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

Well, it's about time for an update.

Lately, i've done a whole lot of nothing to the ol' girl. i changed the oil last weekend, and put a new air filter on it, along with a new fan belt.

And boy, does it make a different. atleast the clean air filter does.

there has been a tendancy to chirp the tires when going around corners and getting on it as of late. but i didn't think anything of it, because it's a corner, and usually kind of wet.

well, today after topping off the gas tank, i pulled out of the gas station, and got going straight, barely off idle. well, i punched it, and the tires broke lose. not chirped - but spinning, starting to slide, and squealing....had to get off it, and act like nothing happens. .

now, i'm not saying my 307 is ANY form of horsepower monster. i'm just saying...she can get out of her own way alot more now.

and as far as gas milage, i've been keeping track of my fillups, and the things i do to it that week, to try and get an idea of what is making a difference.

it went from 11 to 13, with adjusting the timing, the choke, the carb, etc. now, it went from 13 to a little better than 15 mpg, with the air filter, oil change, and fan belt. and thats with driving..quite frankly..like a bloomin' idiot. haha.

this weekend i hope to eaiter regap my plugs, or put new ones, AC's!, gapped correctly, back in, and that should help a little bit as well. or, atleast it can't hurt.

and thats really about it...i have spring break next week, and i intend to enjoy it quite thoroughly. yes, very much so. bwahha.

thats about it all.

-Sam.

[Palf70Step]

Good job Sam. The 307 will move you when tweaked up.

[msgross]

does it have an HEI distributor? if not get one of those $45 procomp (or pro something) ones off ebay.... run a new 12 volt wire and opn the plugs to .45

[Bob 68327]

Awesome !!! Someday soon I hope to be driving mine again !! Still waiting for some snow to melt and things to dry up so I can pull my new motor and get going . There is something about driving these old trucks that puts a smile on your face . The Prius dorks just don't understand !!!! Enjoy it man !!! Bob

[samwise68]

Bill - she's doing ok. .

Mike - yup, i have an HEI, put i only have the plugs gapped to .35..maybe .40. so, i know i can open 'em up some more.

Bob - i totally agree. i love sitting at stoplights, and people just gawk. and i mean..c'mon. 39 year old technology, competing with present day computers for gas milage...i'm more than satisifed.

and yup. they always look confused when you got that big grin on your face.

oh, and what are your plans for the beast now Bob?

thanks guys!

-Sam.

[Bob 68327]

Can You Say Blower Motor !!!! Well maybe without the blower at first but soon after the engine proves it's worthy !!! Here's the prototype pics I posted for SprayBomb Bob Can't figure out mounts and flywheel yet !! LMAO

[samwise68]

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[samwise68]

well guys, have no fear!

I have, in fact, NOT fallen off the face of the earth. I've just been driving my GMC, and dealing with life.

I am now a free man, which means more money to pay for gas and buy parts, and more time to spend driving with that newly purchased gas and working on those newly purchased parts.

...she just didn't get the whole old truck thing. and the whole living on a farm thing...being close to my parents thing...and going to school thing...

bwahaha. i'm better off, i say!

But, as far as an update goes...I haven't really done anything recently, aside from drive the ol' girl. A few girls have asked for rides in the ol' girl, and they pretty much all agree that it's loud, old, and completely bad ass. Yeah, driving rocks.

However, as I posted, I did make a gas pedal.

shoe.


shrink, trace, and compare.


rough, cut, and shape.


and artwork!



and installed.


Even if I end up not liking it, I think it looks pretty cool. We'll see if it enhances performance when i drive it to school. I anticipate a 10-15 hp gain with that sucker. .

and...a low quality video recording of the exhaust. because I could.



and thats about it..

Don't worry, a burn out video is on the way, as soon as I can convince someone to hold the camera for me. :p.

and thats where she stands at the moment.

-Sam.

[Bob 68327]

Sounds Good Sam !!! Keep up the good work !! Bob

[Palf70Step]

Don't you need to wait a few months for the snow to go away Sam before you do that burnout?

[samwise68]

haha. the roads have been dry for a couple weeks now...until tonight. we're supposed to get 6-10 inches...yay!

Easter Sunday, as per holiday tradition, I did a few. But no one would hold the dang camera. they must not trust me or something...:rollseyes:.

good news on the gas pedal...it didn't work out too hot. and yes, it's good news. Did it look neat? sure. but, i admit, common sense started to get the best of me, and i realized how fruity it was.

that, and it kept flipping off the two little nubs.

so, i made another one!





I like this one alot better. It's fairly plain. its riveted onto an old metal/rubber gas pedal i found in my '69 K20, and it stays in place very well. Just, don't tell me that rubber/metal gas pedal was worth something..because i'd feel like a dumbass. more so than usual. haha.

whats next? perhaps clutch and brake pad covers out of diamond plate, for continuity. unless thats a bit excessive...we'll see. haha.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

Well, I haven't gotten a whole lot of anything done to the ol' girl as of late.

Just been driving it...hah.

Tomorrow, if I can get a few spare moment, I may throw a tonneau cover on, to see if that helps with appearance, or just cleaning up the bed, along with theoretical gas mileage.

also may hook some air horns up...

Yeahhh. boredom has ensued, due to the long winter.

I'm waiting for it to warm up a bit more, or atleast the rest of the snow to go away, before i start the major stuff again.

I plan on..well. redoing the whole thing, basically. a different frame, which won't take much to clean up. maybe a different engine, pending what kind of funding is around.

I also really want to fix the bed sides, because they're acceptable, but in retrospect, I can do SO much better. or, atleast I hope I can...haha.

So, we'll see about that. I have an idea of doing a no-buck wood bed conversion, but thats all up in the air.

and...thats about it. The plan right now...is to drive the living hell out of 'er. and as I can acquire money and materials, slowly build up pieces and get it all ready for the grand frame swap.

Oh! and news regarding my schooling. In case you all didn't know, I'm attending a technical college in town here, taking care of my Gen. Ed's in preperation for transfering away to a University. However, it is now possible for me to get my B/A in communication, through the Tech school via online classes.

That means I can stay at home! And, I know, I know. I won't get to experience the "full college experience"...like keggers and a room mate that I hate...

But it also means I can work on my truck more, drive it more, and enjoy that I'm living with my Mom and Dad, taking care of the farm, and basically..enjoying the life that I make.

So, that's where it all stands right now.

I'll keep you all updated.

-Sam.

[samwise68]

Well.

It's been almost a month since I've posted on here. But for good reason - I haven't done anything to the ol' girl. Just been filling the tank and driving 'er.

I'm getting a fairly consistent 16 mpg, which translates to about half a tank a week for me driving back and forth to school.

and. because I was driving to school, and the camera happened to be in the truck, I figured I'd strap it on the dash, and take a video.

Yep. Displaying those glasspacks in a prominent manner. Until the batteries went dead, that is. Hense why it is only me getting into 2nd gear. heh.

anyway. enjoy.



-Sam.