1970 GMC Custom Camper Found

[GASoline71]

So after I was looking at the one "craigslist" post here the last couple of days where there was a 1972 Cheyenne with a BB and A/C for sale here locally for a rediculous low price... I was talking to my girlfriends Dad about the truck, and he said, "I've got an old GMC you should go look at. If you like it, $500 bucks and it's yours." He's been holdin' out on me! I've been dating his daughter for a year. He loves my 1972 GMC. But he never mentioned the '70 till yesterday.

So I go look today and there is a gold 1970 GMC 2500 Custom Camper sitting there. It's kinda rough, but it runs. Has a 350/TH350 in it with what I believe is a Dana 60 rear end. It still has the original AM radio in it. The SPID shows that it had a power brake booster in it at one point. But someone removed it along the way. The cool mirrors are gone and there are some that I don't even think are Chevy mirrors on it now. It has all the rust and rot where you'd expect it here in WA. But the one spot that troubles me is the cowl area on the cab. Not even sure if there are patch panels for that. I dig how the bed has been extended by the cab from the factory. Didn't know that Custom Campers were done that way. Or maybe it's a GMC thing.

Anyways... I'm gonna buy this truck from him. I'm thinkin' about removing the cab and bed from the frame and goin' through it. The wooden bed is shot too. I'm thinkin' maybe a good candidate for a 6.0L LS engine swap with a 4L80E tranny to go with it. Keeping the Dana, and making this rig my puller. It'll be stuffed in the shop and worked on over the next few years.

Whatcha think? Any info would be greatly appreciated from you'se guys!

Gary

[GASoline71]

More pics...

Gary

[GASoline71]

Couple more...

Gary

[GASoline71]

Oh! And the blue truck with the big "service box" on it is a 1969 Chevy C20 with a 350/TH350!

Gary

[big bad orange]

I saw that and I am like is that another 67-72 in the background? How about some pics of it, WE (I) love pics of trucks you know.

[hugger6933]

The "extended" part of the bed makes it what chevy called a longhorn, 9ft bed. It is kinda rare compared to the rest of the 3/4 ton stuff I think. There are several on here and a lot of guys dig 'em

[GASoline71]

Question... if I wanted to do a cab swap... Are the Chevy and GMC cabs the same?

Gary

[doubleb's69]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Question... if I wanted to do a cab swap... Are the Chevy and GMC cabs the same?

Gary

Good score! Her dad must have been feeling you out for the last year. The cabs are the same. There is a patch panel for the cowl area that is rusty on your truck but after parts and labor it might be cost effective to find a new cab with little to no rust.

[GASoline71]

Yep! He must've wanted to make sure I'd still be around before he told me.

I did see that the patch panels are available for the cowl. Almost as expensive as a new floor. I can do all the welding a fab work. Since it needs a lot of work on the floor too... it might just be good to look for a cab. The cab mount supports are in great shape though. It's just the rockers, the floor near the seat on both sides, and the cowl. The roof doesn't seem to be in bad shape either. My '72 is rusted out worse in the roof near the pillars than this truck.

I just think it's cool for that 9 foot bed on a GMC. That's why I wanted to make a puller out of it.

Gary

[Beat68CST]

It's a Longhorn.

Not a 9ft bed but 8.5ft bed.

Nice truck though, restore it! You'll definitely score some brownie points!

[ricks71pu]

nice truck,nice find. i have a 71 gmc 3500 longhorn, love it!!! need more of these on the road.

[GASoline71]

Thanks for all the info so far you'se guys!

This will definately be a lengthy project for me. Especially tackling all the rust, or finding a new cab. My girlfriend is pretty excited, because since its her dads truck, she has a lot of memories from when she was a little girl.

I know that finding parts for Eaton rear ends can be difficult. But how about the D60's? I also wanna someday doing a front disc brake upgrade. But I fear that having the 8 lug hubs/rotors might hold me back on that.

Gary
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