1969 GMC 3/4 Ton Build Thread

[ksbeatty]

Here is where I started.

[ksbeatty]

Then we did this and that.

[krue]

Are you gonna put a GMC clip on it? I hope so.

[ksbeatty]

Yes. I have a 69 gmc clip I putting on the front of it. I will take another picture tomorrow if the engine and tranny mounted with the frame painted. You can see my two donor vehicles in the background of the second pucture and the one in back is the GMC Custom.

[LOW DOUGH]

Cool... Can't wait to see more

[krue]

Love a GMC grill in the air.

[ksbeatty]

Here are some pictures of where I am at.

[ksbeatty]

Here are some more.

[Yukon Jack]

Looking good!

[ksbeatty]

I received my new ouput shaft yesterday for my 700r4 now I have to figure out if I am going to replace it or take it to someone. Any thoughts?

[ksbeatty]

Last night I took the plunge a removed the tranny 700r4 so I could replace the output shaft. It wasn't as bad as it would seem. But I was working with a fresh rebuild and everything was right to begin with. I have to button it up tonight with the installation of the pressure regs and get it back into the truck. I am then ready for the transfer case 205 and then the rest of the drivetrain. I am moving the motor and tranny forward an inch and a half to help clear the distributor. This will allow the transfer case to bolt right in and then a few holes to drill for the engine cross member. How exciting.

[ksbeatty]

I got it done! Tranny is back together and ready to install. This was a good night.

[GREASEMONKEY72]

looks like some good progress, keep us updated

[ksbeatty]

This weekend is it. I hope to have the transmission and transfer case installed. I need to remove the the shifer for the transfer case to set the cab and have the shifter modified a little. I want to shorten it so it isn't that tall. Man I can almost start the truck. Then I go to the body.

[RedZ71]

did you pick up the cab and clip, when it was all bolted together?

[ksbeatty]

Red: As for the original yes. But for the 69 GMC we pieced it out before removal so not to damage any of the rust.

I did get the tranny and transfer case in tonight. I need an extra set of hands. Theat thing was heavy. I unbolted the cross member and slid the engine forward the 1.5" to match the tranny mounts for the 700r4. Maybe I'll clean the garage tomorrow and get ready for the next step. Na, I will probably sandblast afew marts and get them painted.

Pictures tomorrow...

[ksbeatty]

Here are the latest pics. i know I should have waited to get the cab on just because it would be easier to work on a few of those hard to get places. But I needed some room in the garage.

[ksbeatty]

I also needed to get the motor started and check out the tranny which was just rebuilt. I am highly motivated by a running vehicle. This project was meant to clean up a daily driver not make a show truck. i can see the copper poly now.

[ksbeatty]

A lot of things have happened since I wrote last.

cut hole in cab floor for transfer case. Using a 2wd body with future access panel.

connected driveshafts.

working on linkage. I have read all of the posts regarding linkage and I am going to modify mine to see if I can make it work good. If not i will switch it out for a Lokar. Remember 700r4 is installed and I moved the motor forward 1.5"

Installed dual electric fans to radiator. I will wire later. One with temp switch or toggle in cab the other off a sensor.

The last picture is what I want the truck to look like but a lwb.

Any questions would help to make sure I am thinking of everything.


Thanks

[ksbeatty]

I started wiring. I bought a Centech Kit and have installed the fuse box on the firewall and ran a few of the wires. I was concerned with the look of the connections. Not from Centech but my own doing. I think they turned out okay. I am installing two electric fans so two relays. One will be controlled by a 185 thermo and the other an adjustable so they do not come on at the same time. The hardest part is where to run it all...

[ksbeatty]

So I spent the day yesterday getting everything rady to turn the motor over. i can't install everything permanent since we are painting the inside of the cab. I hooke up the tranny lines to the new cooler. Installed or set in the gase tank and the fuel line and hooked up the carb. Installed the ignition switch and got it wired up. I am using the Cretex wiring harness ans so far everything is going well. Of course this is just the first stage.

I am still looking for a top radiator hose and I can hook up the heater hoses until the cab is painted since I am using a vintage air system and I have to alleviate some rust. I am thing of switching cabs.

So last night about 8:30 I called a buddy of mine to help walk through the start to make sure I did not forget anything. Since it would not start right up. We had spark and fuel and the timing was good or close enough.

It seems that when I adjusted the valves before they had oil in them. so my valves were open a little. not too bad though. So we loosened them up and compression the last key to the equation. It ran. This may not be a huge deal for most guys but I don't get to this that often and with a re-wire and a whole new motor which I finished from the short block... I am one happy man...

Now I can move onto the finer things like tightening and adjusting. Oh yeah an exhaust system would be nice and linkage for the tranny.

Then it is ready for the body work. Notice I said it is. I am cheating... I am going to have brother and his father-in-law take care of this. I too imapteint to paint. As an Engineer I like the mechanical aspect. Now to work.

[jeffspower]

Looking good! I'm doing a similar project. I have a bigger engine hoist than yours, but no concrete

[ksbeatty]

Thanks for the reply Jeff. It is nice to have the concrete especially with all of the rain we are having and a garage too. I still want to get the shed though so I can store everything. Made a hard decision though this weekend I am switching cabs again. The one I found is in much better shape and will take less time to do the body work.

[ksbeatty]

So I have decided to switch cabs. I am cleaning this one up. As much as it looks worse it is so much better. This cab also had a few more bells and whistles. Such as a rear cargo light, vacuum activated fresh air, cab dimmer and A/C. So I don't have to do any cutting to get my Vintage air into my dash. I will still have a GMC front clip from a 69. I like the dual headlight look and I may out a 67-68 GMC grill on it and no GMC letters on the hood. Just to clean it up a little. Here are a few pictures of the cab clean up process. Sand blasting of the rust is next.

[ksbeatty]

Here are the rest of the pictures and I included a proud moment for dad. This is Kati catching for machine pitch league for the first time. She has the Johny Bench style like Dad. She did a great job and didn't flinch at all.

As for the cab I thought the stock A/C marks on the firewall were cool. I may leave the firewall unpainted just for that since I am going to paint it back the same color. Someone else decided to change the rest to the, excuse me for those who like it but, crappy brown color. This cab was originally white, bronze and then white again on the bottom. I plan to paint it all bronze and maybe put the trim back on. I do like a clean look though. Let me know your thoughts.