Joe's 1969 GMC Shortbed

[GMCJOE]

I am making progress on the truck, even from here in Afghanistan. Though, it's not putting any actual work into it and probably irritating the wife. I am getting parts gathered, and I believe it's to the point where I will have to wait for some larger bills to accumulate in the bank. I guess that is how it goes with this passion. You get what you can afford, and wait around to get the rest.

With what I have, and what I plan on having purchased by the time I am home. There will be plenty of pictures to follow that return.

Thanks to a few members on here, your parts will be put to good use and appreciated.

[GMCJOE]

Decided I would decode my VIN today. Been thinking about it for a while, though it doesn't give me much of an idea on options(paint, trim, and such). Previous owner scraped the SPID, since it no longer there.
I have been thinking my truck was an inline 6 because of the basic options that it has. Not true. I will share some info on the VIN.

C: 2wd E: V8 1: GVW 3900 OD: Fleetside S: Assembled in St. Louis A: 1969

I am suspecting it probably had a 305 in it. I do know it was a 3 on the tree. A very basic work truck.

[GMCJOE]

This is my current steering wheel. I really like it and only paid $109 compared to the original $200 and some change price tag that was on it.

Anyone know where I can get a billet adapter and horn button? Would like GMC on the button, but not a deal breaker.

[GMCJOE]

Originally Posted by GMCJOE

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This was no fun with the plumbing, but I ran a few hoses together and such and got it done. I used a painless wiring harness to wire up a dual fan set I bought from a salvage yard from a dodge mini van for $20.

Been looking at ways to clean up my plumbing from the water pump to the radiator. Well, let's just say I made a mistake plumbing my hoses for this LT1 swap and lucky I haven't done any damage to the cylinder heads that I know of. Nor have I driven it more than 50-100 miles.

Number one, I should have done the research instead of assuming that the upper outlet on the water pump went to the upper on the radiator and the other from the pump went to the lower. This is where I was wrong, and want to help you guys that do these LT1 swaps.

Most of us know that the LT1 of the 90's ran a reverse flow cooling system. Well, let me tell you even the outlets are reverse (hook up wise). So, instead of the conventional older model 350 with a belt driven water pump. The thermostat housing outlet goes to the lower radiator out let and the one on the side of the pump goes to the upper outlet on the radiator.

Here is a diagram, it is for the Camaro and Firebird LT1 plumbing but gives the basis of the flow design. A Corvette water pump can be swapped on to the engines and have heater core outlets on the right side of the engine. Hope this all helps anyone that is doing the swap or thinking about it.

Hose 1: Inlet hose, runs from lower radiator
Hose 14: Outlet hose, runs to upper radiator

[GMCJOE]

Found a billet GMC horn button my wife is going to get me for Christmas. That is, if she remembers. I also purchase a Tach Conversion Kit from Brothers because it was on sale. My only complaint is that it was on back order, not that I am home to put it to use. I just like my parts right away when I order something.

[Low Elco]

Looks like a fun truck, I like the wheels! Roll low and get home soon!

[GMCJOE]

Adding another part to my collection. Thanks to member sduckworth13 working with me on a black headliner he posted. He saved me a few dollars from buying a brand new one. Now I have to hunt some trim down.

[Manny063011]

Thanks for the add! Looking good GMCJoe and keep up the good work!

[sduckworth13]

Thats a nice truck Joseph, looks nice.

[GMCJOE]

Been a long while since I been on here. Haven't had the time to get anything done on the truck other than swapping on the new carb. The Army has kept me quite busy, and relocated me to New York City causing me to store it in my buddy's garage. On a good note, he drove it in the local parade and took it to the car show afterwards. My truck claimed 3rd place in Custom Classics with the hood closed. First trophy, so hopefully there will be more as I go.

[GMCJOE]

3rd place trophy sitting on the bed.

[GMCJOE]

It’s been since 2013 since I’ve posted on here. Had to leave the truck stored with a friend for longer than expected. But she’s home now tucked in her spot in the garage.

Time wasn’t wasted while being stored. It got a new heart beat in the size of a 350 crate motor from a 91 Chevy backed by a built 700R4.

Bought and restored a tach dash, yet to be installed yet.

Tilt column out of a van.

McCaughy’s 2” drop spindle disc brake kit

New wheels and tires.

Fuel tank for under the bed, yet to be installed.

Needs some cleaning up under the hood.

[GMCJOE]

Engine/trans install

[GMCJOE]

Factory Tach Dash Resto

[GMCJOE]

Tach Resto #2

[GMCJOE]

Tach Resto #3

[Redneck Rydes]

Very nice work on the dash.

[Stickman]

Very nice looking and Thank You for your service sir.

[Sparky dave]

Nice work. What went wrong with the 454? Did it die?

[68Gold/white]

And..did you convert to disc yet??? New wheels look like 6 lug, but I know there are 6 lug disc setups, available...

[GMCJOE]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

And..did you convert to disc yet??? New wheels look like 6 lug, but I know there are 6 lug disc setups, available...

Thanks for the replies. The 454 didn’t die, it needed a repair on the outer ear of the block for the starter. I also wanted to tame it down for better streetablility, it was heavy built and required very high stall.

As for the wheels, yes they are six lug and the drop spindle disc brake kit has been installed. There are several companies out there providing 6 lug disc brake kits, I went with McCaughys. I chose to stick with 6 lug due to it originally being a 6 lug truck and I prefer to keep it that way.

[GMCJOE]

Been a long while again since I've posted on here. Got a few things done since thing besides spending money on it. Probably be further if I wouldn't have purchased a Cobalt SS and rebuilt the engine in it.

Installed Boyds under bed tank.

Installed van tilt column after restoration on it. Attempted to rebuild steering gearbox due to it leaking, but it decided to let loose and just spun in circles. Guess a ball got lodged and broke it right as I pulled in the driveway. Bought a remanufactured from NAPA, problem solved.

Put a 2 inch cowl induction hood on.

Replaced the worn out rear coil springs. Either they'd been heated by prior owner to lower it, or the old exhaust that ran right up against the springs did the job. Decided the raked look I was after is too much, will be ordering another set to drop it down a few inches.

Decided I'm going to ditch the carb and go with an EFI system. Found a hell of a deal on one of the FB pages, bought a Holley Sniper EFI kit brand new in box with everything to plumb the fuel also. Decided I'd purchase the CD box, coil, and distributor to match. Should be happy running engine with the other goodies I purchased.

Decided it was also time to purchase an updated blade fuse wiring kit to replace the hacked up one that's seen better days. Caught it on sale on Brothers Trucks.

Then I decided it was time that a purchase a set of heads to get rid of the swirl port GM ones. Bought a set of BluePrint Engines 195cc aluminum heads. Should wake it up a bit with the combination of the Holley EFI kit.

Also purchase Holley finned valve covers and air cleaner assembly to dress it up a bit.

After all that, I guess it'll be time to start saving towards body, paint, and interior work.

*tried posting pictures, missing security token error keeps populating. Maybe due to the fact I currently deployed to Korea*