70 GMC 4wd version

[70stroker]

I have owned this truck for 11 years, bought it when i was 15 years old. I have done way to much to it to list. Small block converted to big block, 4.11 gears in the rearend, lowered it the right way after it was heated coils when i got it, so on and so forth.

I have always wanted a 4wd 67-72 and have never been really happy with the truck in 2wd configuration. Well last weekend i was browsing craigslist not looking for anything in particular when i came across a 71 4wd frame for 500 bucks. Needless to say i went and picked it up and brought her home.

Plans are
Strip frame either powdercoat or master series paint or chassis saver (Opinions welcome)
Re-gear front axle 4.11s to match my current 2wd rear axle.
Rebuild the front suspension
Swap over my bbc
swap in a 700r4 208 combo i have setting around
Get drive shafts made
4 inch rough country lift
33 inch mickey mtz's

Im sure there is alot i am missing. Pretty much i am shooting for a nice looking older truck that can still be used to pull a trailer, go to home depot and load stuff up. A truck that is taken care of but still used and not just driven on nice days.


Here is a a picture of the truck as it sits





Frame day i brought it home




New rear tires and stuffed in the garage


Tonight when i got home i pulled the front axle, here is what it looks like currently

[mud.man.rj]

Very interesting build, I love 4x4's for their usefullness, good all year round, truck is cool as is but looking forward to see the change. keep it going.

[bilfman]

Cool build, always love the four by's !

[swamp rat]

Why not just find another donor truck for the body ect and sell the nice one you have already? Just think its too beautiful to tear it apart.

[argonaut]

Nice truck. The body swap should be easy.

My only thought was that you could change the suspension on your 2wd chassis to make it a nice handling tow vehicle, if you didn't really need the off road capabilities of 4wd.

But if you're set on the 4x4 then I can't wait to see more progress!

[70stroker]

thanks for all the kind words guys. i dont really need the capabilities of the 4wd because i have my 05 crew cab for that, however as of right now i have put 400 miles on the orange truck in the last 5 years, mainly because i dont really enjoy a lowered rig anymore. i enjoy 4wd so much more then i ever did a 2wd, so thats my reasoning on that.

also yes it would make sense to sell the orange truck and just buy a body, which this frame had untill i offered to just buy the frame not the whole truck. my reason for using the body of the orange truck is because that was my highschool truck. i have alot of great memories in that thing, now that i have two young ones i would like to make more memories in it, i am hoping it now being so low to the ground will bring the love back for the truck i once had.

not to mention the orange truck was a original 4wd cab, that someone swapped to the 2wd frame well before i ever got it, so my title has always said 2wd anyhow.

[mud.man.rj]

See, go for it, was made to be a 4wd again. Can't wait to see the body riding high, will look cool.

[swamp rat]

Well, guess you cant argue with the sentimental part of the reasoning. As for me i have the same sentiment with my truck, been in the family for a long time, won't ever sell it if i can help it, but i also dream of having a 2wd and at one point i thought about making it into one but decided that someday when the time is right i'll just buy another. Good luck, i'll be watching the build!

[70stroker]

In the process of stripping the frame still, i only get to work on it about an hour a night so its slow but steady.

In prep of getting things ready i have been looking for shackle bushings. For the front leafspring rear location, and the rear leafspring shackle location, pretty much the bushings that wont come with the lift springs.

Does anyone know where i can get some of these? maybe in poly?

thanks in advance.

[swamp rat]

Offroad design has some super nice greasable bolt kits and bushings, the bolt diameters are stepped up one size, they will need to know what springs you have because different spring Mfgr's have different eye diameters. I used them on my install.

Not sure about where to get rubber bushings except a truck vender like Classic heartbeat?

[john@thepier]

The only shackle bushings I found for the frame are Skyjacker and I bought them through Jegs item # 825-se-12c

[70stroker]

john thanks for the info.

Got one side of the axle torn down this weekend, need to finish the other side and send it off to get it regeared and new seals and bearing.





Started to paint the front end parts also.

[70stroker]

Guys i need some opinions, i am up in the air on wether to poweder coat the frame or use master series frame paint on it. I have seen members use both, just would like some good opinions.

I can get the frame powder coated and sandblasted by the same guy for 400.00
or i can get the frame sandblasted by that guy for 200.00 to 250.00 and then buy the paint for about 100.00.

so the price difference is not that big, just wanted some opinions.

I was originally going to strip the frame myself and then use the master series, but after working on it for about 2 hours i think it would be money well spent to pay someone to sandblast.

thanks in advance.

[argonaut]

I stripped mine by hand and in hindsight I should have had it blasted. A little cash saves lots of time and ensures all rust is gone. For me paint was better than powder coat due to the ease of touching up later as I modified the suspension, transmission, hitch receivers etc. and needed to drill new holes in the frame.

[vectorit]

I had mine blasted and painted, but that was before PC was so accessible and affordable.

I'm extremely happy with the pained frame.

Today if I were to do another; taking the hassle factor and convenience into account, I'd do the PC since it's so quick and easy to get it done now a days.

[mud.man.rj]

I agree on the paint, sure some day in the future you will need or want to touch it up or modify something as mentioned.

[john@thepier]

Sand blast then come back and hand sand with 180, then prep and paint with an epoxy paint, then top coat with chassis black. Powder paint is for show cars that never live in the real world. If you expose any metal from underneath the powder paint rust will start and spread underneath the paint. Look at any snowplow frame, trailer hitch, etc. etc. Epoxy paint is what is use in tanks at water/sewage treatment plants and chemical plant tanks and pipes etc. Best your going to use and will last longer than anything I have used. Good luck.

[70stroker]

Guys i need some help. Im pretty bummed right now the driver side front axle kick my butt the last two nights taking it apart. Every piece in the hub was damn near siezed on the spindle. In the process ruined my front axle stub shaft and the threads on the spindle are messed up from where it looked like someone cross threaded it on.


couple questions

Where can i get a replacement spindle, i assume this is what its called here is a picture. Does anyone have some extras laying around?



Also one of these nuts where split as i tore it apart. Where can i get replacements? part numbers?



Also a member has some late 72 axle for sale, he informed me that 71 and early 72 axles are different then late 72. The guy i bought the frame from said it was a 71 or 72 frame, does anyone with knowledge on this subject know from my spindle what year my frame and front axle are?

Thanks in advance.

[swamp rat]

I'm at work right now but go take a look in my build thread, i replaced both of mine on my 72, they if i remember correctly were manufactured by Yukon. There are 2 different sizes if i remember correctly, the bearing journals tell the size story, need to be able to mic them. I'm pretty sure still have both of my old ones but as my post states there is a bit of a lip where the bearings ride. I'm pretty sure i can find the part number. I'm sure any local 4X4 shop could order them but if i can help you with the part number you may find them cheaper on line.

[bilfman]

Totally agree here. I did the sandblast epoxy on a hard offroad wheelin Toyota that I had. After 6 years it still looks great. I used a 2 part product called endura.

Originally Posted by john@thepier

Sand blast then come back and hand sand with 180, then prep and paint with an epoxy paint, then top coat with chassis black. Powder paint is for show cars that never live in the real world. If you expose any metal from underneath the powder paint rust will start and spread underneath the paint. Look at any snowplow frame, trailer hitch, etc. etc. Epoxy paint is what is use in tanks at water/sewage treatment plants and chemical plant tanks and pipes etc. Best your going to use and will last longer than anything I have used. Good luck.

[swamp rat]

My replacement spindles were Yukon YP SP706529. Brg journals were 1.625 and 2.0. Cant help you with the nut but Yukon should be able to help.

[70stroker]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

My replacement spindles were Yukon YP SP706529. Brg journals were 1.625 and 2.0. Cant help you with the nut but Yukon should be able to help.

Thank you, do you know wether your truck had early 72 axles or late 72 axles?

[swamp rat]

Cant remember for sure sorry, pretty sure they were the last change before the 73 version, like i mentioned its the bearing journal sizes that tell, i believe in 73 the bearing size went up in the inner bearing but don't quote me on that.

[70stroker]

Does anyone know of a tank like this but with a 90% fill so I could run a stake fill.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281261979685...84.m1423.l2649

[dbash]

Looks like your axle has endured some abuse, you might want to check the axle housings to be sure their not bent. The one that came with the stock frame I bought for this same purpose ended up with a 1-1/2 inch bend/sag in it from hub to hub. He'd to pul everything apart and have it straightened and welded again.

Cool story line with your build, cannot wait to see your complete 4X4.