my '71 GMC 2 wheel drive conversion

[Toadfrog]

I bought a really nice survivor 71 GMC Sierra longbed 2 wheel drive that I bought with the intentions of building a wheel drive with it.I have drove the truck for about 2 years while I have been finding parts for my project,I use it as a daily driver and really enjoy driving it.My original plan was to use a '78 model frame mainly because of the abundance and availabitity of them,but after taking my truck apart and trying to work out the mounts for the cab and radiator support,I decided to back up and find a factory 4 wheel drive frame for it.I found a '70 factory 4 wheel drive on Craigs List for sale locally with a ver rough body but complete for a donor.I stripped it down,took the frame to the sandblaster.I got it back last week,I replaced some broken springs in the back and got it painted with POR-15.I bolted up a set of Superlift 4" front springs that I bought and have a shackle reversal from DIY4X4 for the back along with thier disc brake conversion kit.I have a corp 14 bolt rearend cleaned up,painted and loaded with a Truetrack locker,for the front I am using a corp 10 bolt with new Moog ball joints,new bearings and steering comp.I am going to use a 350 turbo trans matted to a NP208 transfer case,I am in the process of building a 383 stroker for it with a new Eagle rotating assembly from Summit,an extreme 4x4 hydraulic roller cam,Edelbrock airgap intake.I have a set of 315/12.50/16 BFG ko's mounted on Mickey Thompson streetlock 16/10 wheels.I work out of town so I only get a couple of days at a time to work on it but plan on getting my axles and cab mounted my next time home.My plans are to have it done by spring,but I am in no hurry,I just want to build it for a daily driver,use it to pull my camper and enjoy driving it.My dad had a '69 GMC that he bought new,I learned to drive in it and drove it to high school,a lot of people prefer the Chevy frontend but I like the different GMC look myself.I will post more pics during my build up.

[Maxxd07]

Nice, cant wait to see it done.

[Dieselwrencher]

Man, that's almost like cheating! Great looking project so far!

[bad68bowtie]

Looking good, man. I'll be keeping a close eye on this one, I'd like to do the exact same kind of build on down the road.

[BLAZERMAN]

Thats going to be a really Tuff lookin truck...I'm Diggin that black & white two tone!

[Toadfrog]

Here are a few pics of my body over on the '78 model frame,I left it sitting on there until I get back home and get the axles under it,then I will put the cab over on the '70 rolling chasis.

[Toadfrog]

I had it sitting together on the '78 model frame with my new tires and wheels to get an idea of how it was goin to look.Not a very good pic,but you can get an idea of what my truck is goin to look like

[thirdstreettito]

Updates?

[Dieselwrencher]

Your truck is going to be sweet for sure! My next one may have to be black!

[Toadfrog]

Thanks guys,I didnt get to go home this weekend as planned to work on my truck,but plan on getting back on it week after next when I get back home.Hopefully I can get my axles under it and the cab sitting on my '70 frame.

[Dieselwrencher]

Cool deal, good luck!

[71veronica]

i am doing the exact same thing right now but yours is in better condition. good luck cant wait to see it finished,

[Toadfrog]

Thanks for the compliment,I got lucky and found a really good truck to start with but just plan on building it to be a driver,to use and enjoy.Post some pics of your truck,I for one would enjoying seeing your truck and how its coming along

[71veronica]

these are the only photo i have on my computer from a few weeks ago since then i have put on the doors and i am going with a small block instead, i have just picked up a painless wiring harness for $250

[71veronica]

Originally Posted by Toadfrog

Thanks for the compliment,I got lucky and found a really good truck to start with but just plan on building it to be a driver,to use and enjoy.Post some pics of your truck,I for one would enjoying seeing your truck and how its coming along

I agree with you as well i am building mine to be a daily driver, when i get it done. i want to take it on a road trip. just need to sell my other truck so i can fund this one.

[Toadfrog]

Originally Posted by 71veronica

I agree with you as well i am building mine to be a daily driver, when i get it done. i want to take it on a road trip. just need to sell my other truck so i can fund this one.

Good job,I like the fact that your building a GMC and the big block!I have had my truck for 2 years and have been trading,buying parts for my build while I drove it,it takes time and patience to build one the way you want it.Even for a driver,the build is a big part of the pride and joy of owning one of these trucks.

[Toadfrog]

I havent posted anything on my build in a while,but making slow progress due to working out of town with limited time for my build.I got my axles back under my truck,the cab,bed and front end sat back on.I used a corp 10 bolt front with disc barakes and a corp 14 bolt rear which I have a disc brake conversion for a well.I got the body sat back on so I could take back to my garage to put the rest back together

[Toadfrog]

I sat the frontend back off to cleanup the firewall and repaint it,I also installed a new heatercore and cleaned,painted the heaterbox.I ordered all new stainless brakelines from LMC to run comlete to the back,I also ordered a Wilwood adjustable porportioning valve.I wanted to get these done before I put the engine and trans in.

[Toadfrog]

Here is a pic of my new engine,its a GM performance crate engine shortblock,I installed a Howards hydraulic roller towing cam complete with thier pushrods,1.6 roller tip rockers,it has a cloye true roller timing chain,the heads are aluminium with all the goodies,giude plates,screw in studs.I have a MSD atomic fuel injection for it,I think I will have plenty of power and the cam should work great for this.

[Toadfrog]

I had a friend build me a new trans for it,it is a 350 turbo with some really good parts in it,I am just running a new stock converter and going to run a NP 208 transfer case which my friend also went through and freshened up

[Toadfrog]

Here is a picture of it as it after I first brought it home and put my new tires and wheel on it,I thought I would be able to clear my 35" tires ok with a 4" lift but I decided to go with a 6",I used a shackle reversal from DIY on the back so I it would ride better and not have a block in the back either.

[Toadfrog]

I still have a lot of work to do,I am going to get my brakelines run while I am home this time and hope to get my engine and trans in the next time.I will be off from Dec 18th until Jan 8th,I hope to get most,if not all of it finished then.I found the only pic I have of it as a 2 wheel drive,it was a good truck then and I enjoyed driving it,but I am going to really like it when I get it finished.I look foward to driving it,I took it apart last Nov and have really missed driving it.

[bilfman]

Looks great!