Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20

[SCHRUMGMC]

Love seeing old trucks being saved and the sentimental value attached to them

I’m currently trying to get my grandfathers old Gmc truck back and would love for nothing more than to drive it and use the ole truck


Keep up the great work

[desertnick69]

What is happening with this build?????

[davem815]

desertnick69, finally some small progress on this project. I was able to get it started, after putting a battery in it and filling the 1 gl jug with gas, and drive it under it's own power into the work bay, after sitting for more than a year. It runs, but no working brakes.

About 13 months ago, it got moved out of the shop/man cave area to a storage bay to get ready for a graduation party in the shop/man cave. It was supposed to be a short break, but here we are.

After the graduation parts I planned on getting the fire truck ready for the 4th of July parade. Well it needed more than a rear brake line replaced. After replacing two rear brake lines, the front drum was hanging up. This is a much bigger truck than I have ever worked on. The rear brake line I replaced were short jumper lines from the main wheel cylinder to the second wheel cylinder on each rear wheel. On the front drum brakes, I replace the wheel cylinders and the flexible hoses. The hoses had red overspray on them from when the fire truck was painted, so they had to have been 1963 originals. 1963 Ford C750/Howe. I had never worked on Budd wheel before, but got those reinstalled without much problem. I also replaced a leaking clutch slave cylinder. Missed the parade.

Then the wife '66 GMC got selected to be in a magazine, so we spent about a month on cleaning, phone interviews, transporting and photographing it.

Son is also running Cross Country, indoor and outdoor track in college, so spent some weekends traveling.

Then I need to replace front brake pads on my wife's 2004 Wrangler Rubicon. After I replaced the front pads, the calipers were hanging up, so had to tear it apart again to replace the calipers and hoses. Front brakes, calipers, and hoses later, the rear brakes also needed replaced. And found several worn out rubber bushing and Heim joint in the lift kit that needed replaced.

So what I thought was going to be a month or two delay, turned into 13 months. But it is back in the work bay, the son is home from first year of college and is wanting to work on it. I need to finish installing all new brake lines and he is going to work on the front brakes.

The pre-bent line I ordered worked great for the front, but the rears were for a different combination that what I have, 3/4 ton, coil spring/trailing arms, and Eaton axle. So I need to cut the front to back line, and splice in a run to the axle. I don't remember the details. The front hoses I had bought were too short, but I had bought new longer ones. I had most of the lines ran, but not clamped in. I hope I can remember where the clamps go, didn't take many pictures because it was just going to be apart for a few days. lol.

Sorry for the long update, but a lot happened in thirteen months. Also replaced a window that the mower threw a rock though. And had back troubles for a month.

[bwl101]

Awesome build, glad to see you're back working on it! Can't wait to see it back on the road!

[davem815]

Finally made some progress this week. I got the front to rear brake line made. The kit I bought came with a 2pc line, I needed 1 pc. I was able to make what I needed out on the two pieces. I got that line installed and frame clamps on.

I noticed the pass side rear brake line was not bolted together. That was a reminder to myself that the brake bleeder broke off on that side and I needed to replace the wheel cylinder. I got the Eaton full floater tore apart and the wheel cylinder on. I need to get a new axle nut locking washer, the one that came off, the locking tabs were all torn up. It was a replacement axle because the brakes were rusted fast on the original. And I got 4.10.

Rebuilt the front calipers and installed new pads. The second set of rubber brakes lines did not fit. The first set was too short. This set the frame end did not have enough width where it went through the frame bracket to get the clip in. Tomorrow I will go to a place that makes brake lines on the spot. They made brake lines for my fire truck that were not available.

I got delayed again in June and July. My son ran in the Great Race on youth team, they were sponsored by the National Auto and Truck Meseum where he volunteers. We followed from Ohio to North Dakota. Then we got back home in time to have three trucks in our local 4th of July parade, car show, and touch a truck, my wife's 66 GMC, my son's 70 GMC, and my fire truck. All three were running at the same time.

Then on the way home from a cruise in, the 66 broke a clutch Z bar ball stud in the block. I had to fix that.

[davem815]

I got a lot done last week and weekend. I got both rear wheel cylinders replaced.

I had front brake hoses made matching the originals I took off. They didn't fit the calipers I put on, they were used I had laying around. The brake shop said they could rebuild the original caliper, so that is what I'm doing.

I got the booster, master cylinder, and proportioning valve off. The wife cleaned and paint the brackets. The brake shop is going to rebuild the booster, and built up the assembly.

Huge shout out to Brakes and Materials in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

When I laid the brake hose on the counter, he ask if it was for a 72 Chevy 3/4 ton! I said no, a 71.

Tonight I took the passenger side door handle off that the plunger was pushed in. The pin was rusted to the square bracket, so the button had pushed the square bracket out of the bent over tabs. I was able to free it up and rebend the tabs. Now the passenger door handle works. I was expecting to fix it with the 1" square aluminum tube repair I found on this site. I didn't take any pictures because it went too quick.

[72 tigger]

Nice progress! Brakes and materials are good guys

[davem815]

I had the radiator rebuilt. They put a new core in it for me. I got the radiator and new hose installed, so the cooling system should be done. New thermostat was put in during the engine swap.
I bought a junk tailgate at the junk yard for the handle. The latches turned out to be usable too.

[davem815]

I'm behind on updates. I've got the brake system finish, all new or rebuild wheel cylinders,hubs, bearings, calipers, brake lines, booster, master cylinder, proportioning valve. My son came home from college yesterday afternoon and today, he helped me bleed the brakes and work on lights.

I was able to drive it about a quarter mile to a dead end road and down the dead end road. Brakes worked good, I could lock them up on the gravel road. Engine started right up after sitting since spring. Shifted through all these gear with the column shifter.

I've got rear marker light, taillights and one brake light working. The socket is bad on the pass. side brake/taillight. I've got power to some of the front parking and marker lights but they are not lighting so it must be a ground.
I need to work on the dash lights and warning lights. Replace the pass. taillight/brake light socket.

Over all a big win to make a successful test drive.

[72 tigger]

Glad you had a successful drive

[Louisvillekytruck]

Great story

[davem815]

Picture from yesterday

[bwl101]

Awesome! Glad to hear it is coming along! You'll be so happy once you get it back on the road after all the hard work! I love driving around in my grandfather's old truck, especially knowing that I saved it from becoming just a rust pile in a back yard!

[davem815]

A little slower progress this week. I spent more family time.

Another short drive, one of the head light came on! Sounds like a ground. I did a few little things. I took the roller wheels and tires off and put on good road worthy wheels and tires.

I had bought a patina tailgate without hardware. I bought a junk tailgate from the junk yard and salvaged the hardware. I got everything installed and the tailgate matches perfectly.

I had spotted a painted sports rear bumper painted black it will replace mine that is bent up enough that it hits tailgate when it's lowered. I went to the junkyard and got it this morning.

The actual metal licence plate came in the mail today.

[davem815]

It's been a while since I worked on the truck, but made more progress this month.

The engine would start and idle OK, but did not run good under power and rpm's on the road. I had dropped the distributor in, but not set the timing because is started up and idled OK.

Before I could tune the engine, I needed to get the exhaust quieted down. I had patched the original Y pipe and bolted on a muffler I pulled out of the scrap bin at a muffler shop when we had my son's truck exhaust reworked. It worked for getting the engine running in the shop, but needed to be fixed to make it drivable. I added a new muffler and short exhaust pipe behind the Y pipe. It dumps behind the cab. I reworked my repairs to the Y pipe with muffler wrap and muffler putty. I tightened both Y pipe to manifold donut connection to eliminate leaks there. It's now quite enough now to drive. This will work until I get the truck far enough along that I can drive it to the muffler shop for a new exhaust system.

Now that the exhaust is quite, I tunned it up with new plugs and wires, set the dwell, set the timing, tightened carb down to seal vacuum leaks and adjusted the carburetor. The wife walked in and could not believe how smooth it was idling. It runs good at speed now, maybe just a little tweaking.

Next up was an air cleaner. I thought I had the right air cleaner for the engine. The 307 air filter did not fit, so I exchanged it for one the fit the air cleaner. Then I figured out the air cleaner was for a 350. I found the 307 air cleaner and pieced all of the misc. parts from the old and new engine together and have a complete air cleaner now. I just need to clean the dust off, the paint is good.

[68Gold/white]

So, I guess the new engine is a 350???

[davem815]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

So, I guess the new engine is a 350???

I fixed the typo to 350.

The truck originally had a 307, it went bad and in 1985 I swapped in a 350. It never ran right and dad got sick and passed in 1987, so the truck set outside until 2017. I found a cheap low mileage 1971 307 from a board member, so I bought that and put in it.

[davem815]

This is the AC Delco tune up machine I used.

[davem815]

Saturday I took the '71 to a local car show. It was the first time in at least 36 year the truck has been out in public. I still have some electrical issue to sort out before it is truly road worthy, but this was a huge milestone.

I forgot to take any pictures, but my son took this one.

[davem815]

Last night I drove the truck out to my Mom's 87th Birthday party. Mom got to see the truck in years. It is 5 miles away.

It drives good, I let my wife drive it part way home.

Once again, I forgot to take pictures with Mom, but here is s picture when we got home.

[SCHRUMGMC]

It brings a smile to my face to see builds like this.

I finally was able to buy back my grandfathers 71 gmc Sierra and it’s been the best experience ever in a vehicle, I smile every time I turn that key and hear it crank up

Where did you get your brake kits from? I am needing to have the front and rear brakes replaced eventually and might as well replace the axle seals and so on

The truck has a little over 75,000 miles on it when I was able to finally buy it this last April and now it’s well over 80,000 original miles

What would you recommend for a brake booster and master cylinder combo. Mine is the original ones and it appears the original master cylinder may of been rebuilt at one point in time

I also see you fixed your steering column situation. My turn signals won’t stay clicked and I’ve noticed the steering feels loose? If that’s the best way to say it

Overall, it makes me genuinely happy to see someone else put their heart and soul into an old truck

Especially their grandfathers

[davem815]

I had the original brake booster/master cylinder and calipers rebuilt by a local shop, Fort Wayne Brakes and Materials. The brake pads and rear wheel cylinders probably came from NAPA.

This my Dad's truck and one of the vehicles I learned to drive a manual on. My son named it "Grandpa's Truck" and the name stuck and I call it that now, even though it was my Dad's.

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

It brings a smile to my face to see builds like this.

I finally was able to buy back my grandfathers 71 gmc Sierra and it’s been the best experience ever in a vehicle, I smile every time I turn that key and hear it crank up

Where did you get your brake kits from? I am needing to have the front and rear brakes replaced eventually and might as well replace the axle seals and so on

The truck has a little over 75,000 miles on it when I was able to finally buy it this last April and now it’s well over 80,000 original miles

What would you recommend for a brake booster and master cylinder combo. Mine is the original ones and it appears the original master cylinder may of been rebuilt at one point in time

I also see you fixed your steering column situation. My turn signals won’t stay clicked and I’ve noticed the steering feels loose? If that’s the best way to say it

Overall, it makes me genuinely happy to see someone else put their heart and soul into an old truck

Especially their grandfathers