My Highschool Project truck a 1969 GMC C20 (Old Blue)

[Wideopenracing15]

I think that might be your starter Farmer. I'd just put a new one on.

My locks surprised me pat, they only took a little bit of working and they came right around. I'm not sire about my regulators because I haven't had them apart yet. I don't want to take them apart yet because it's my daily driver but some weekend I'll get them off. Any tricks?

[292farmer]

have u managed to work on your truck any more or u just been driving it as is?

[Wideopenracing15]

Havent done much more than put gas in it I've been saving up and keeping my eye out for a 1/2 ton. I plan on restoring this truck and a 1/2 ton soon.

[Wideopenracing15]

Im on a roller coaster so now I'm thinking about just rebuilding this truck. But who knows I might change my mind tomorrow.



As far as the truck goes, Its running like crap, I'm hoping its just points. I was looking at it the other day and It has GM goodwrench valve covers on it. I know there are crate motors with the same valve covers. How do I really tell?

[oldblue1968chevy]

running like crap is good time to go HEI

is it running like crap cause timing related carb. related? or other lol if other explain.

[Wideopenracing15]

Well the points were bad and it got a little better but still runs like crap.

When it builds up R's it starts to miss and backfire and acts kinda like a limiter. It is also just running rough all around. It idles like it has a huge cam, its cammed but not that big.
I'm thinking distributer or timing chain.

[oldblue1968chevy]

lol i work on my truck (seems like) every day after shchool lol so its ready for school the next day, raid the change jar to scrap up enough money for the 25 mile round trip lol (about 10$ a day) LOL need to put that money towards parts...

keep 3/4 unless your lowering it 3/4 is cool!

maybe some blocks out back to level it....

ya drivin it to schoo yet

[Wideopenracing15]

I'm pretty sure I'm just going to keep the old girl. I'm definitly going to lower it I'm just not sure how much. I really need it to ride softer. It keeps shacking up my pepsi


Yeah I've been driving it pretty much all winter. It's like 6 miles one way and I burn like atleast a 1/8 tank everyday just from drving to school. Notnto mention if I go and do anything else.

[oldblue1968chevy]

haha any complements on the ol girl?

YOU HAVE CUPHOLDERS! HOW SHOW ME I NEED SOME

[Wideopenracing15]

Well she runs like a raped ape Its loud fast and abnotious, just the way I like it. It's quite the head turner, to the younger crowd myabe not the good way but to the older crowd their definitly good looks! Everytime I stop at a gas staition at least one person talks to me about it or asks to buy it.

As far as cup holders go, get yourself a A/C cab. Take out the A/C vents, and instert favorite beverage into the hole in your dash

[Wideopenracing15]

Well the timing was off, helps a little. Still running like crap so I got a distributor from my neighbor. He's got a few laying around from his race car. Hopfully I can put it it tomorrow.


So the things that are holding me back right now are:

new intake manifold

Bearing for driveshaft

I need a welder

need to get boat sold to get room in the garage so I can do body work.

Need a radio

doors

[292farmer]

did u get the distributor in? did that make it run smoother. if you can find out if the carbs lean mine was rough off idle was fine 1300-2500rpms then after that hisses bucked and sometimes died, was too lean got it cleaned and adjusted the float and it helped greatly. u might get some fuel mileage back, motors usually get crappy fuel mileage when running lean. as for if its a crate motor i guess check numbers off head and block they may match to heads/blocks used on crate motors or tell you the year those heads/blocks were used. might narrow it down. too bad u dont live near me my boss is selling his welder...

[heidick70]

nice score man im also from iowa i will fallow this build and maybe see u some time at some shows... keep up the good work

[Wideopenracing15]

Ok so worked on my truck today and got it running good again. The reason why I couldn't explain what is was or figure it out is because it was a mix of running lean, vaccum leak, and dwell/timing off. Still need to put HEI in though.

Man 292farmer I really wish I lived near you. I REALLy need a welder.

Heidick70 yeah we should meet up at some shows or something. Let me know if you ever come through Des Moines I'd love to see a local member.

[Wideopenracing15]

Well I had some free time today and went out to work on my truck. I found out there is nothing to do it right now. I have a serious case of the truck blues. My truck needs so much and I have little or no money. More and more tiny things keep coming up and there is nothing I can do about it. My new chrome bumpers are starting to rust and all the rust is getting worse and worse the longer winter goes on. I'm sick to my stomach knowing my truck is rotting away and actually starting becoming worse then when I got it and there is nothing I can do about it! I can barely afford to put gas in the beast let alone buy anything new. I'm actually considering putting it up for sale and looking for something else. I really don't want to but I'm not sure if now is the right time to have a project truck.

Well thanks for reading my rant and seeing what goes through my head

[VA72C10]

On the bumpers...try to sand the backside and paint it....and use some naval jelly to get rid of the rust. you can use clear nail polish at the rust areas to keep it from spreading...

[oldblue1968chevy]

get a job (trying to convince myself this also lol)

dont sell her please..

wat needs to be done? is it roadworthy i guess it is cause you say you cant afford gas, me niehter pal!

[Malibu Monte]

Keep the truck! GMC's are cool. 3/4tons are cool. Small Blocks are cool. The wheels are awsome. Sell this boat your talking about. Talk your parents into buying you some cheap old 4 or 6 banger car to drive and let the truck sit until you get some money. I did that and let mine sit for 4 years. Now I have it mechanically sound and can afford to drive it whenever I want to and fix any problems I have.

[Wideopenracing15]

I really want to keep her but some of the stuff is getting old you know? Now is not a real great time for me. Income is low, we had a garage fire awhile back and we haven't been able to get it completly rebuilt so I don't have anywhere inside to work on it, the holes in the floor are EXTREAMLY annoying (the road noise sucks), it has no radio, takes forever to get heat, rust is getting worse. But from all the negative I love the truck and I think I'm going to keep it and see if I can make it work.

Originally Posted by VA72C10

On the bumpers...try to sand the backside and paint it....and use some naval jelly to get rid of the rust. you can use clear nail polish at the rust areas to keep it from spreading...

How is the naval jelly supposed to work? Like what do I do with it?

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by Wideopenracing15

I really want to keep her but some of the stuff is getting old you know? Now is not a real great time for me. Income is low, we had a garage fire awhile back and we haven't been able to get it completly rebuilt so I don't have anywhere inside to work on it, the holes in the floor are EXTREAMLY annoying (the road noise sucks), it has no radio, takes forever to get heat, rust is getting worse. But from all the negative I love the truck and I think I'm going to keep it and see if I can make it work.




How is the naval jelly supposed to work? Like what do I do with it?

For the naval jelly just put it on the rusty areas and it dissolves the rust...eats it away...you'll be left with chrome or black areas under. just clean it off as soon as it works as if not it will stay hazy on there. Then seal up the cleaned area with clear coat spray or clear nail polish if small.

For the floor holes, on a budget I'd see if I could get some scrap mat or plastic/rubber thin and use some silicone caulk to hold it until you can repair it later.

[Wideopenracing15]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

For the naval jelly just put it on the rusty areas and it dissolves the rust...eats it away...you'll be left with chrome or black areas under. just clean it off as soon as it works as if not it will stay hazy on there. Then seal up the cleaned area with clear coat spray or clear nail polish if small.

For the floor holes, on a budget I'd see if I could get some scrap mat or plastic/rubber thin and use some silicone caulk to hold it until you can repair it later.

I'm going to try the naval thing soon as possible. As far as the floor goes, I have a donor cab that I THINK just needs rockers, but no A/C. But who knows its been sitting for awhile so it might need some more love. In the meantime i might just lay some cheap carpet down or something.

[culp7]

keep the truck!!!!!
15 year old freshman here with a c20 68 chev

can't beat a 3/4 ton lol

[Wideopenracing15]

Originally Posted by culp7

keep the truck!!!!!
15 year old freshman here with a c20 68 chev

can't beat a 3/4 ton lol

Good to know theres another highschooler to add to the list!




Update: Went out tonight and picked up some naval jelly, going to give it a try tomorrow. I need to pick up some sort of spray primer to put on my tailgate and fender, I'm tired of looking at that.


Can I swap out front A-Arms with a half ton? And are rear leaf springs interchangeable? Some sort of suspention upgrade is going to come this spring alone with a cab swap.


Got a radio reciever from a friend for free! Need to figure out some way to put speakers in it. Not exactly sure where I can besides the doors. Anyone have any ideas?

[292farmer]

the previous owner before me, made a stand that held the speakers at 90* and had them just under the edge of the seat. if u have the kick panel vents, like mine does that u pull a lever to open in close, (cheap ac i guess lol) u could get rid of the lever and vent door and put a speaker in that hole, so u dont have to cut your doors and its in a decent location

[Wideopenracing15]

Well I dont want to get rid of my vents, But I might try the seat thing. Maybe I'll make some sort of console or something.