Fix and Sale 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 K2500

[landarts]

Also got the doors on finally with the new armrest and new door handles, the old ones had no knobs and the armrest were down to the foam. Today was a good day of getting stuff wrapped up and Sunday will be the final assembly day with the following still left to do on the interior.

• install the heater control
• screws for the dash pad
• glovebox
• shifter lever on column
• dome light
• add screws to sills
• seat cover when it arrives

[landarts]

Finished installing the interior this morning, here are a few shots. last picture is to show how much dirt there was on the backside of the visor. A little hot water and soap, then a swipe of citrus degreaser and good as new. Only thing I found left to do in the interior is replace the GE 1445 bulb for the heater control and install the seat cover when it gets here on Tuesday. Also got the new dome light installed and left the wire hookup for a CB radio.

[undertaker72]

its looking good, nice job

[landarts]

Originally Posted by undertaker72

its looking good, nice job

Thanks Undertker72 I will be giving you a call this week to discuss the truck. Thanks again!

[jbailly]

I like it. Hopefully I get a chance at buying it, but I doubt the first guy will back out.

[landarts]

Added a inexpensive seat cover yesterday that i picked up to go over the original seat cover. It had a rip where the driver sits and the vinyl sounds a little brittle in that area. Should be good enough for the next owner and let them decide on seat cover preferences.

Looks like this weekend will be the final shakedown of brakes and transmission. I have the lower radiator hose to install along with the antifreeze, change out motor and transmission fluids and install the cowl back on. Add more gas to the tank and give her a test drive. It has been a fun project and like I said early I am considering converting the 68 GMC 3/4 ton which is my next project to a 4x4. I have located a 78 3/4 ton 4x4 and a 77 3/4 ton 4x4 local that may be donor for the project.

[landarts]

Here is a list of the running total of expenses and the items that have been replaced and repaired. There was a long list of other items that have been done that took time but no cost, to many to list. Also I had some supplies on hand that were used on resurrecting the truck, probably counted for another $400 to $500 to the bottom line.


Running total so far for the truck expenses:

-purchase price $1100
-starter $59
-rag joint $23
-parts ordered $402
--inner rocker/outer floor x2, rockers x2, sill plates x2, lower door skin, front cab support x2, fuel sender, shifter knob, armrest x2, dash pad, heater control switch, rear light kit
-Wheel dollies (tool purchase will not add to total since I will keep) $97
-new 3-way valve for aux. tank with fittings $28
-pvc valve and oil fill cap $16
-radiator $129
-passenger fender $60
-paint supplies from Napa Auto $133
-radiator hoses, heater hoses, extra fittings $52
-more radiator items, lower hose, thermostat and carpet kit $160
-floor underlayment $38
-seat cover $32

TOTAL $2232

Listed below are the new items replaced or added to truck

Drive Train
-radiator
-radiator and heater hoses
-carburetor rebuild kit
-fuel filter and hoses
-fuel sending unit
-3 way valve and hoses
-pvc valve and oil fill cap
-battery and new cables
-rag joint for steering shaft
-replaced some wiring
-oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid and filters

Interior
-dash pad
-shifter knob
-heater control switch
-heater lever and bulb
-seat cover
-floor underlayment
-carpet kit
-dome light
-arm rest
-door weather strip
-door sills
-inner door handles

Exterior
-rear lens kit
-inner rockers
-outer rockers
-floor sections
-front mounts
-lower passenger outer door
-single stage paint for new metal repair areas

[msgross]

I'll take it...

send me a PM if serious

[leddzepp]

I’m interested as well. Let me know when it’s for sale and a price, thanks!

[Turnip Truck]

If I wasn't 2,000 miles away I'd get in line. Very nice truck.

[ChevyTruckGuy68]

Gotta throw in my 2 cents. Love the big block 4x4, and you do great work.

[landarts]

While the project was on hold to do a few other items around the house and waiting on some paper work from the DMV I finally got back to finalizing the last few items that needed to be done or fixed. When I last left off the truck was able to start by pouring gas in the carb and running for a brief minute. It also has never moved on its own and did not know if the transmission was any good. So here is what I did to make it all happen.

I went down to the gas station a purchased 5 gallons of gas, came back and put all five gallons in the tank. The truck still did not start so I check the new fuel filter coming out of the electric fuel pump and it was dry as a bone. Then it occurred to me that when I had the tank out and cleaned it I forgot to put in the new sending unit that I purchased. So I pulled out the seat, removed old sending unit and installed the new one. Then removed the fuel pump and replaced with a brand new one from O'Reilly auto parts. Turned the key and started right up with out hesitation.

After the truck was running for a few minutes I went to close the hood to see if it would actually drive. Noticed that the transmission line that runs to the top of the new radiator was leaking. Took the line off and cut off about a half inch of hose and re-installed. Cleaned everything up with degreaser and shut the hood.

Started up the truck put it in reverse and bingo we have movement. Took it for a spin around the neighborhood. Pulled in the driveway with a big smile on my face knowing that I saved this truck from being parted out.

[Greg58]

I wondered what had happened to this truck. Great to see your progress.
How is the drivability?

Greg

[landarts]

It actually drove well. It has a new exhaust system that P.O. installed, looks like glass packs which makes it very loud. Only did a lap around the neighborhood since the tires are all dry rot did not want to take a chance on open road. Will be changing out exhaust and have a line on a set of tires.

[landarts]

Here is a photo I found this morning that is a before and after of interior. Still have a few more items to do. Plan on replacing gauge bezel and update the steering wheel since it is broken and missing plastic in a few places. Maybe even add 3 point seat belts like I did to my Fixrupr build, really like how well the look and the safety factor is a good thing also.

[Greg58]

I see your new dash pad is saddle, I had to do the same on mine, but the PO had recovered my seat in saddle as well.

Greg

[landarts]

Originally Posted by Greg58

I see your new dash pad is saddle, I had to do the same on mine, but the PO had recovered my seat in saddle as well.

Greg

Yes it is Saddle, it is nice and much of an improvement over the old original one that was in about a dozen pieces. It is not tightened down now because the center bolt needs to be adjusted, when I tried tightening it has a high spot in center. Need to pull of and tweak the center bolt and then secure it.

[landarts]

So I now have the other piece of the puzzle for repair the body panels, picked up a very straight drivers side bed panel locally. I already had the front fender from the same provider. Anyways it looks like I will be working both pieces to get them ready for paint and installation. While I am at it I will be spraying the front bumper and possibly the rear.

Hopefully this will take this build one step further and make someone a nice solid truck to start with and the parts are original parts instead of repop. I will save the front fender and bedside that I take off and it will go with the truck if the new owner wants them. If not I will cut up later for replacement panels for future builds.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice! I keep seeing nice pieces for these on the west coast. Shipping just makes it tough.

[landarts]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Very nice! I keep seeing nice pieces for these on the west coast. Shipping just makes it tough.

Yes shipping can kill a deal on those parts. However if you buy either one of these as a repop part from a dealer you will still be paying high price on shipping. So the way I was looking at the situation was would I rather have a original part or repop to replace the two areas, and how much work to get them looking good.

[Dieselwrencher]

I won't argue that at all.

[landarts]

Started working on removing the driver side bedside. Was able to get the wheel tub off in a reasonable time. Not so much on the actual bedside bolts, most of them just want to spin. I have soaked them in Kroll oil which I usually have good success with. If I can not get them off this evening I will probably just spot weld a flat bar to the top of the heads and just break them off. While I was waiting on Kroll oil to do its job I started up the truck to see if I could detect any exhaust noise coming from a possible leaking exhaust manifold gasket. Before I could even look into that, I noticed a noise from the fan shroud. So I turned it off and found that the fan was hitting around the bottom. Tried adjusting the fan shroud a little and no luck, so I removed it for time being. After removal it looks like the P.O. might have cut down the shroud a bit to accommodate the big block motor. I have another fan shroud in the shop and will see if it will work, if not I will need to source a shroud for 4x4 big block or go with electric fans.

[landarts]

Worked all weekend on removing drivers side bed panel to replace. Wow did that ever turn out to be a difficult job. All 8 bolts holding the bed to frame had to be ground down on the head then drilled and knocked through with hammer and punch. Glad I did it any ways those bolts were really worn through in places and eventually would fail. Was able to get the wheel tub off and all but a few of the bedside bolts came off no problem, the other half had to grind and drill out.

Removed the rear bumper and lifted the bed with my engine hoist, slid a few 2x4 under the rails. This allowed me to pull it back from cab and get access to the 2 screws and 3 bolts on front panel. Last thing to do is cut the three welds in the back where the tailgate fastens and post meets bed bottom. Again this job was not as easy as I thought it was going to be.

[Dieselwrencher]

I feel your pain. I've torn a couple of steel bed floors apart to get the floors out of them and that proved to be a lot more work than I had planned.

[landarts]

Here is a few more of the bedside getting ready to come off. I built the little bed lifter a while back and add an extension to engine lift......really makes it easy for one guy to do the job. The second picture shows why the bedside is coming off and being replaced. I spent a bit of time with a come-a-long and other tools trying to get the bed rail to stay lifted and straight....the bed rail won that battle. I did have an opportunity to cut out a large section and replace but IO felt that would just raise more issue, so a used bedside it is.