What would it take to get it running?

[White70C20]

My uncle is thinking about getting rid of some of the old trucks/machinery that's in his fence row. One of these trucks is my grandfather's 1970 C20. It has a 250 I6 and 4 speed tranny. It's been sitting in the fence for about 25-30 years. I am very intersted in having it as a project while I'm in college.
Being in Kansas, the only major rust it has is in the rocker panels.

My question: What all will it take to get it running/driving? I know the obvious answers like new oil, fresh gas, battery, and possibly new brake lines, but I know some of you guys have brought these kind of trucks back to life and I'm just curious what all is neccesary to get it back on the road.

Thanks!

[White70C20]

Seriously? Nobody on this site has ever saved a truck from the fence row?

[Daner]

Here is the order of things that I do when first tackling a new/old vehicle.

1. Change the oil and filter.
2. New battery or charge/boost old
3. Visually inspect all wires/connections.
4. Take a peek at the points and spark plugs to see if anything needs done. Regap points.
5. Make sure radiator has coolant.
6. Disconnect ignition somewhere and crank the engine to get oil pressure and get it splashed around to interior parts.
7. Dump some gas down the carb and see if it fires or you can fill up the carb bowl. I wouldn't suck out of the tank til you know whats in there.

If you want more specifics or tips you will have to ask specifically.

Resuscitating old engines is probably my favorite part of a vehicle to work on.

I wouldn't mess with brakes until the thing can move by itself. Just make sure the reservoir if full of fluid before you push the pedal. Usually this lets you get away without bleeding the brakes if nothing else is wrong. Kansas is wide open right

I tried to post this earlier but the server was to busy and it wouldn't go through.

[70c10stepside]

Depends buddy! Got any pics? Fresh carb, hot battery, could fire up! Never can tell.. Then clear the brake lines and bleed them. Just never can tell!

[mike550]

You got a Ton of variables after 30 years is motor froze up very possible sitting that long through the seasons probably every seal and gasket be dried out or bad wheel seals wheel cylinders carb engine ect is gas tank good clean eny kids put dirt in it over the years wile they were playing seen it many of times on rigs that have sat for years got one of my own right now that way 48 jeep neibors grand kids did it playing check it out dump some gas in it and give it a try if it starts drive it and go from there if its froze up dump sea foam in each cylinder let it sitting for a day
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[ironroad9c1]

yep, make sure you can turn it over by hand with a breaker bar first, if you can't thats when the fun begins...

[70 GMC GUY]

Feller' to anyone in my opion who has a true intrest in anything on this site or has a deep
love for family and keeping some memory alive then it should not matter how long, because
Us who are on this site are here to help each other to make our collective passion live on. So,
ask away and I'm sure it ain't gonna take long.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by mike550

You got a Ton of variables after 30 years is motor froze up very possible sitting that long through the seasons probably every seal and gasket be dried out or bad wheel seals wheel cylinders carb engine ect is gas tank good clean eny kids put dirt in it over the years wile they were playing seen it many of times on rigs that have sat for years got one of my own right now that way 48 jeep neibors grand kids did it playing check it out dump some gas in it and give it a try if it starts drive it and go from there if its froze up dump sea foam in each cylinder let it sitting for a day
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I agree. Does it turn over by hand? Will it roll? Why did he quit driving it?

[White70C20]

Thanks for all the input guys!

MARKDTN, I'm not sure why they parked it in the weeds. That's one of the things I need to ask either my uncle or my dad.

I definately want to try and save this truck. I never knew my grandfather (he died in the early-mid 80s, I was born in '89), and I feel that by restoring his truck I'll have something to remember him by.

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

I know what you do need to do though and that is to post some pics!

[In The Ten Ring]

Yes! Please get us some pics.

You have some factors on your side: these trucks were very popular and many are still out there for parts. Lots of vendors make and sell parts. The trucks themselves are pretty simple, predating thin metal, heavy plastic use, and computers. This site is full of helpful people....I myself am so happy to be here!

[White70C20]

I would love to get you some pictures, but the truck is in kansas on my uncle's farm 400 miles away. i'm going down there in august, so i can get you pics then.
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[truckster]

Before you do anything else, I would pull the plugs and put a good shot of your favorite penetrating oil in each cylinder. Let it sit a day or two and then try turning it over by hand.

If you break a piston ring you're going to be tearing down that engine.

[1972RedNeck]

Battery and ether.

[70cst]

Hey White70C20 ...

It would be neat if you could fix up your Grandfathers truck.

Subscribed and hope to see some pics

[Hubscrub]

Check for major damage before working on it lol, i spent a week messing with the 235 in my 59 thought it was seized only to crawl under it do find two holes in the oil pan with a rod in it Work slow, soak the internals and try not to break anything forcing it to turn over. Hope it works out for ya.

[ChevLoRay]

Vehicles that are parked, are usually parked for a reason. It may be that nobody remembers why it was parked. You can usually bet it didn't just run out of gas.

If you watch Fast N' Loud, then you've heard Aaron say, "All engine want to run". Sure they do, but they had to have still been running when they were parked, whatever the reason.

If it is stuck, pull the plugs and spray some rust penetrant or WD-40 or Seafoam into the cylinders. Put the plugs back to keep out moisture and other "stuff". After a day or so, try to see if you can turn the crank....pull the plugs first. If it won't budge, spray some more into the cylinders. After repeating this for several days, try again to see if it will turn...with the plugs removed. If it breaks loose, then your next step is to see if it will crank with a battery. If it does, then it's time to add some fuel to the carb or get some starting fluid to see if it will hit. If it does, then you have a starting point.

Get to work.

[White70C20]

Ok. I've finally gotten over to my uncle's place to visit my grandfather's truck. Sorry the pictures aren't very good, the brush has grown up since the last time I was out there.








I think it looks like it'll clean up pretty good. I'm going back out there soon. I'll try to get some good pictures of the interior and engine compartment.

In the meantime, what do you guys think? Does it look like a good project?

[White70C20]

Originally Posted by White70C20

My uncle is thinking about getting rid of some of the old trucks/machinery that's in his fence row. One of these trucks is my grandfather's 1970 C20. It has a 250 I6 and 4 speed tranny. It's been sitting in the fence for about 25-30 years.

Thanks!

Correction: According to my dad, the truck has only been parked for around 15 years. So hopefully the engine is still good.

[Sillyoldman]

This is an interesting thread with some sound advise. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[flashed]

I bought a 74 that sat in a barn for 20 years (250 6cyl ,3 speed on the column)with just under 60,000 original miles .I had it running in 30 minutes and today it is my current daily driver. I poured 5 gallons of gas in (it was empty) ,took all plugs out and sprayed some lube into each cylinder and put new plugs in ,put a hot battery in ,poured a little gas in the carb and it fired right up .I did have to replace the tank and sending unit as well as fuel pump and all soft lines .Good luck with it.

[slow-1]

Looks worthy to me...and as soon as you get her going you can join the "Driving Grandpa's Truck" club...there seems to be a lot of members on this forum.

[In The Ten Ring]

Um, where is the fence? LOL

I guess you're expecting to load it onto a flat bed and pull it home? *If I wanted it, that's what I would do. For me, that would mean getting help from a knowledgable friend, renting a trailer, and borrowing a truck that could pull it. Might have to rent that too.

Keep us posted!

[mmiddle]

Awesome! I would pull the plugs and spray PB Blaster in the cylinders for a few days before attempting to rotate the engine. This will help un-freeze the rings. Also a full tune up and oil change before starting it. Parts are cheap. The tank is likely nasty and needs to be flushed (WELL). All the brakes are trash (likely).
You might get lucky and have a good running truck.

[buddylj1990]

expect the unexpected anything can go wrong i'm doing the same thing but i got mine as a daily driver here every thing i've have done so far .bell crank or also called zbar broke for the clutch , water pump,master cylinder,wheel cylinders , front rubber brake lines, tires,battery,holley carb,and carb adapter
[cost]
truck=1400
zbar=20
brake struff =free came with truck
water pump=36
tires used=80
battery=80
holley=75
carb adapter=40
(((but its all worth it))) people wavin u down everyone askin if you'll sell it
there ain't been day go by that someone ain't ask yo look at it
67 c10 factory everything down to the 327