Came across this...

[KevinK7]

First, a HUGE congrats on getting that truck, that is amazing

The story behind it is priceless along with all the 'trinkets' still inside the truck, ...and the original condition is unreal.
How cool is it, when you can sit behind the wheel and just imagine where the Young (at the time) couple had taken it.
A really neat truck, please keep the pics coming and keep us posted

[Happy_dan]

Great story!

[weim55]

Gosh, I can’t help but wonder if he painted the truck gold when it was near new? Is the red underneath all that unmolested? I’ve never done it, what if the gold was sanded off to the original red?

Steve weim55 Colorado

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by Classic v6 GMC's

Well after weeks of research and stopping numerous times I finally got to meet the 83 year old gentleman that bought this 67 when it was new or very close. He bought it as a chassis Cab and sent it from Arizona all the way Illinois to a "Long Bar Coach Company" who built the bed custom for him and also built/installed the oversized coach. He and his wife drove this all over the west coast and to every camping spot and lake when they were young. This was there home on wheels, it has everything. He built the awning on the rear and added a deck on the roof so the could sit up there. He was in the pest control business and would take his equipment around them and they would buy/sell jewelry in there travels along with other jobs.. His wife even drove this coach to work at Motorola for a while. This truck was there life when they were young.
He has over an acre of stuff, campers/trailers/cars and trucks and he says he wants to let most of it go. I chatted with him for a couple hours and he said the 327 runs great and has lots of power even loaded down.

What an awesome life & story. And quite the rig too, big congrats. I've always heard a little 327 was big on power, that must weigh above 7K dry.

[RenoKeene]

So glad it went to a real good home. I would have loved to own that one.
Take good care of it. I know you will.

[68Gold/white]

LOL, I like that Dixie cup dispenser!!!

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by Happy_dan

Great story!

😊

Originally Posted by weim55

Gosh, I can’t help but wonder if he painted the truck gold when it was near new? Is the red underneath all that unmolested? I’ve never done it, what if the gold was sanded off to the original red?

Steve weim55 Colorado

I think that he probably painted it when the bed was put on so I think it would probably have been pretty early on. I had the same thought about getting back down to the red paint but don't know if it would be possible. The more I look at the bed and camper I can really see that they were built for each other. He said he had the bed and camper put on so I wonder what the truck was used for before he got it

Originally Posted by KevinK7

...that, ...and the pillow in front of the radiator , ...for those long hauls when you just don't know when you might need to pull over for a nap lol
Joking of course, but either he really was trying his best to seal the thing up, or their last trip was in a cold area.
SO so cool to see all the original stuff on this truck...

lol I was thinking the same thing! His brother said that he had it parked up north for about a week in snowy weather and the truck sank to the frame rails and he couldn't get it out... a suburban pulled up and was able to pull it out, maybe that was the time he took it out

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

What an awesome life & story. And quite the rig too, big congrats. I've always heard a little 327 was big on power, that must weigh above 7K dry.

Thank you and it really is, glad I got to meet him and get the history.

Originally Posted by RenoKeene

So glad it went to a real good home. I would have loved to own that one.
Take good care of it. I know you will.

Thank you, it is the coolest Chevy truck we have ever had!!

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

LOL, I like that Dixie cup dispenser!!!

Lol there is a toothpick dispensers as well! Everything you needed to live in and more

[54blackhornet]

This is like finding and opening the “Arc Of The Covenant “ ! Congratulations on your perseverance...

[KevinK7]

I keep coming back to look at this cool truck
Just noticed the mirror brackets. The 'fly-swatter' type bracket used with the larger mirrors...

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 54blackhornet

This is like finding and opening the “Arc Of The Covenant “ ! Congratulations on your perseverance...

Thanks, it's been a fun ride!

Originally Posted by KevinK7

I keep coming back to look at this cool truck
Just noticed the mirror brackets. The 'fly-swatter' type bracket used with the larger mirrors..

Every time I look at this truck I find more stuff! The mirror brackets are very unique, he must have replaced the mirrors at some point but I'm glad he left the brackets

[68Gold/white]

Don't let that emblem of the hunter, on the back of the camper, go with it, that looks cool!!!

A member on my Pontiac website, is an engineer. He's now retired. Told a story of how farmers used to drain the crankcases of their tractors in the winter. They' put the oil in large glass containers. The sediment would fall to the bottom. They'd siphon off the clear oil and put it back in the tractor, and top it off with new oil (yes, this was a LONG time ago!!!) BUT, I was wondering about the same situation with your 327 in this awesome pickup???

Carry on!!!

Thanks for sharing, can't wait for next installment!!!

[Custom 68]

Wow it is like opening a time capsule with all the stuff you are digging out.

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Always wanted a service truck, camper/coach has gone to a new owner
After looking the bed over I believe the truck had a previous life as a service truck or something. The camper had been built specific for the large wheel wells in the bed and the bed has a few areas with some large holes drilled that had been taped over before the camper was installed.

[54blackhornet]

Man what a post ! Congratulations this is the most interesting vehicle I have seen in a long time....America ingenuity at it’s finest.

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by KevinK7

Very cool on the documents
Just really neat finding the history of these trucks for sure

That's for sure!! Every truck has a story!

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

That's some cool find/info.

Originally Posted by toolboxchev

Great Story and Great Find.
Keep up posted as to your plans and finds!

Originally Posted by 54blackhornet

Man what a post ! Congratulations this is the most interesting vehicle I have seen in a long time....America ingenuity at it’s finest.

Thank you! I will keep the posts coming. It's a special truck

[Classic v6 GMC's]

So I purchased all the parts to give the truck oil change and tune up. After sitting for almost 40 years I figured it would need a new distributor cap, rotor, points, condenser, plug wires and spark plugs. Started by spraying down the engine with degreaser and rinsing it off. Looks better.
Next up I pulled the oil plug and out came what looks like brand new Lucas or a mix of it and STP. Wish I would have drained it into a cleaner pan so I could get a picture of just how clean it was. Very intrigued, I pulled the old rotten belden plug wires and the spark plugs. All the plugs are clean with good plug gaps but I went ahead and put in the set of new AC Delco plugs. Pulled the distributor cap and inside looked like brand new, the distributor cap is an original delco. Put the cap back on and installed the new plug wires. Installed a new oil filter and filled it up with new oil and a can of CD2 oil additive (more on oils/additives in a future post). Set a good battery in and hooked up the cables. I ran a fuel line from a gas can tothe fuel pump and time for the moment of truth.
Cranked the truck over a couple times and then poured a little gas down the carb and she fired up and ran for almost 10 seconds. Poured some more fuel in the carb and she ran for 10 more. And then the fuel pump started leaking so pulled the fuel line and hooked up my little electric fuel pump and turned it on. Poured some more gas down the carb and she fired right up and runs great! Let her run for close to 3 minutes and she idles perfect and is a smooth as any of the engines we have rebuilt. Honestly I never thought it would run that good!

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 68Gold/white

Don't let that emblem of the hunter, on the back of the camper, go with it, that looks cool!!!

A member on my Pontiac website, is an engineer. He's now retired. Told a story of how farmers used to drain the crankcases of their tractors in the winter. They' put the oil in large glass containers. The sediment would fall to the bottom. They'd siphon off the clear oil and put it back in the tractor, and top it off with new oil (yes, this was a LONG time ago!!!) BUT, I was wondering about the same situation with your 327 in this awesome pickup???

Carry on!!!

Thanks for sharing, can't wait for next installment!!!

I wish I could have saved the hunter decal off the back of the camper but I didn't want to cut a hole in it.
That very well could be about the oil, but I won't know until I drain it. I have some other unique stuff I'm going to post tomorrow that was very interesting.
I will keep you updated!

Originally Posted by Custom 68

Wow it is like opening a time capsule with all the stuff you are digging out.

It really is! I will have to share the other time capsules.. they are really cool as well

[HO455]

Thanks for sharing all of this. I love these kinds of treasure hunts, however the old lady doesn't so I only get to do it vicariously. That service box certainly seem not to to be an off the shelf model. Maybe it was a lube and fuel truck with a set of tanks in the bed.

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Well I have been busy working away. First things first, I found some information on who owned the truck and what it was originally used for. Hiding above the visor was this registration holder and inside was one of the last registrations (1981), a few of the last gas receipts from shell stations and best of all at the very back was the "Application for Arizona Title and registration". It's dated 11/24/1969 and the truck was purchased from Cialoni Marine Service in Crystal Lake Illinois.
Not sure how the previous owner came across the truck all the way in Illinois but it lines up with him sending the truck to the Lombard coach company located in Illinois. He might have had the coach installed before the truck came to Arizona.

[KevinK7]

Very cool on the documents
Just really neat finding the history of these trucks for sure

[Ol Blue K20]

That's some cool find/info.

[toolboxchev]

Great Story and Great Find.

Keep up posted as to your plans and finds!

[68bowtie]

She’s alive!! That’s great news.

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm glad to hear that it's showing some life! AWESOME! KEEP TRYING!

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

She’s alive!! That’s great news.

Yes, it is!

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

I'm glad to hear that it's showing some life! AWESOME! KEEP TRYING!

Me too. You never know what to expect on classic vehicles and especially one that sat for many years.

Slowly going to get it back on the road!
Lots of parts coming