Putnam

[thelonerife]

I recently won an online auction on Govdeals.com. Its an 87 GMC shortbed with a v8 305 and turbo 400 tranny. It has pb,ps,and AC. It was owned by Putnam county's vehicle maintenance dept. It has a well worn interior and is showing some rust here and there. The floor supports are good and inner rockers are also good. The rockers and cab corners will need replaced. I had to put a starter on it first thing. When it started it smoked pretty bad. There was a huge cloud of smoke that kept getting bigger and bigger. It looked like my house was on fire. I plan to do some stuff to it but not a lot. Mainly fix what is broken and worn and make it look a little better. It may not warrant a build thread but at least I can go back and see where it started. This will be my daily driver. Heres some pics.

[flashed]

Im in to see this one ,looks like fun.

[thelonerife]

more pics

[thelonerife]

pics pics

[thelonerife]

more

[thelonerife]

some more

[thelonerife]

This truck used to be a forestry truck so the original color was green. The guys at the shop where I picked it up said that it ran good but it had been parked for a while. Since I got it running I have been driving it to see if the smoking would get better. It has gotten a lot better and I don't see any smoke now at all. I bought the truck since it said in the auction that it ran good, didn't smoke and the AC worked. Well I took a gamble and I think that its gonna be fine. The Ac didn't work. The clutch on the compressor didn't even cycle. I took it to Tony Kennedys Crains automotive where I get all my stuff done that I can't do and he determined that the compressor was bad and leaked bad. So new compressor,drier and now its cold in the cab. Just the way I like it. I also scored some wheels that are Corvette style rallies from my friend Josh (jcblue) that I had actually sold to him years ago. I got them painted. I ordered caps and rings for them and some BF Goodrich tires. 275 60 R15. They should all be here next week.

[thelonerife]

Things that don't work that I'll be trying to fix, funky things and missing stuff:

missing- folding jack handle, spare tire holder

don't work- radio, interior lights, passenger side tank leaks and needs replaced

funky things- interior smell and should be cured by new seat cover or seat altogether, the right turn signal indicator on the dash comes on when you turn the lights on. The outside lights work fine but that light comes on every time. I'm guessing the printed circuit or a wire somewhere is the problem. Any ideas?

I'll be hitting the junk yard for the missing stuff soon.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by flashed

Im in to see this one ,looks like fun.

Thanks flashed.

[thelonerife]

I plan to change the big elephant ear mirrors on the doors. They are so ugly. And the rear bumper has to go. I'll get one similar to the front.

[DPowers]

Interested to see where this one goes- It's name is Putnam then?

[thelonerife]

If you guys can give me any advice I would really appreciate it. I have done 67-72s for a long time and this is a learning experience for me. Thanks in advance.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by DPowers

Interested to see where this one goes- got a name yet?

Im just gonna call him Putnam.

I work for the local school maintenance and another maintenance company so I think I'll leave the maintenance shop truck logo.

[GAc10boy]

Very cool truck! Dig the maintenance logo on the door. Good find.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by GAc10boy

Very cool truck! Dig the maintenance logo on the door. Good find.

Thanks GAc10boy

[jcblue]

I'll be watching!! What kind of caps did you order?

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by jcblue

I'll be watching!! What kind of caps did you order?

The same kind you showed me. I'll be making them fit like you did.

[jcblue]

This one?

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by jcblue

This one?

Yes. I like them better than the larger style. and your truck looked great with them.

[Katrina/10]

Like! Still got TBI on it? A/C work looks good.

[72 Super]

Looks like a very solid truck. That is going to be a nice little driver.

Ray

[LT7A]

I like that little white truck, logos and all. Good find and hopefully still a good deal even though the ad was misleading. A build thread seems completely appropriate for what you have in mind. I, for one, enjoy seeing these trucks improve a little at a time as we fix stuff. Carry on!

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

Like! Still got TBI on it? A/C work looks good.

Yes it still has it. It runs good but a tune up would be good preventive maintenance for it. I'll do that when I get some other things taken care of.

Originally Posted by 72 Super

Looks like a very solid truck. That is going to be a nice little driver.

Ray

Thanks Ray. I think so too.

Originally Posted by LT7A

I like that little white truck, logos and all. Good find and hopefully still a good deal even though the ad was misleading. A build thread seems completely appropriate for what you have in mind. I, for one, enjoy seeing these trucks improve a little at a time as we fix stuff. Carry on!

Thanks LT7A, I like seeing transformations too. Even if its slow and small.

[lilpoindexter]

SWEET! Leave the logos on the doors, and just cruise around enjoying your cold AC and cool truck.

[thelonerife]

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

SWEET! Leave the logos on the doors, and just cruise around enjoying your cold AC and cool truck.

Thanks lilpoindexter I will enjoy the cold air for sure. Anybody that knows me knows I gotta have air. I'm a spoiled baby lol.