1971 GMC Cross Country Hauler

[LF_MN_71GMC]

I found the truck in Reno during a job out in Northern California. Decided I couldn't live without it and bought it for cheap figuring I could nurse it back to Minneapolis........

The first time I was pulled over was in Minden NV, in a 40 year old truck, with no plates, showing the cop my texas license and explaining how my plan was to drive it back home to Minnesota. He took a step back, looked at it and said, "good luck".

[LF_MN_71GMC]

The pictures are as I bought it

[LF_MN_71GMC]

The following morning I left the hotel in Minden and as I left the lot, the truck died and wouldn't restart. In its defense, it was in the 40s and I assumed just slightly cold blooded. Morale still at 9/10.

The drive north and west went well until mile marker 4 outside of Reno when it died again....I purchased three fuel filters prior to departure. Fuel filter one was installed and the trek continues.

Somewhere near Valmy Nevada I was pulled over again and again the cop gave me the "you must be out of your mind" look and said 'carry on'. Google maps let me down and took me through RURAL idaho on the way north and I found myself in pure desolation with night coming on.

Good news, lights work, bad news, heat doesn't.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

I made some promises to the pickup that if it didn't die again in the middle of nowhere Idaho in the middle of the night I'd fix some things. It died again, fuel filter number two installed in the dark. Morale at about a 8/10 here.

Continue driving into Yellowstone (about 2am at this point); realize the gas tank is leaking fumes into the cab so the window remains open, no heat. Ambient temperature has dropped to about 30-35 degrees. Decide the best course of action is to turn on the laptop and hold it in the lap for heat.

Make it through Yellowstone and sleep in the cab in a Walmart parking lot, install fuel filter three because it has that familiar feeling to it.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Depart Walmart again, reloaded with more fuel filters and sandwiches (no radio so I buy a small battery powered radio and a small tool kit). Pulled over again east bound through Montana, cop is disbelieving of my story and again 'good luck, carry on'.

Party hardy in Dickinson ND with some buddies(day two of trip), fuel filter number four replaced somewhere between Dickinson (day three) and Bismarck. Pull into Fargo to see family and replace fuel filter again for good measure.

Truck promptly dies and will not restart in sisters driveway. LMC delivers a new fuel tank two days later. Truck is back on the road and running great. Minneapolis achieved shortly thereafter and the fix begins.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Carb work and brakes, a new heater core and lines. No problems for the next year, uncle calls says I can have the boat if I pick it up. Ready the green (ish) machine for cross country trek number two.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Leave Minneapolis en route to San Diego. Truck picture is taken somewhere in New Mexico, in the middle of the night. Bounces so much I think I have shaken baby syndrome.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Make it to Sedona and sleep in the cab again, its actually pretty comfortable. Drive through the dunes to get the boat, hook it up.....looks, well, it was probably the hottest ticket back in 1971. Boat is a 1970 Renielle.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

I should say at this point that my family thought I was out of my mind, but this truck and I have some kind of understanding that no matter what happens we make the trip. Promises are again made, this time referring to a future paint job when coming back with the boat through New Mexico's mountains.

Truck is floored and the speedo indicates about 27mph as we lumber through the pass and into colorado, I have mentally sold the truck my soul at this point if we make it.

MPG - 9.3 with the boat
MPG - 13.1 without (miracle)

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Truck rides like a caddy with the boat engine in the back and boat in tow. No more shaken baby syndrome.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

The truck and boat make it home without a single fault, drop of oil burned or overheating issue. Plans are made to start the body work.

I realize I don't know anything about body work and decide, trial and error, why not? The job of stripping every inch of the truck by DA and angle grinder begins in earnest.

I realize you don't truly know a vehicle until you've stripped every inch of it by hand.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Bed comes off, floor is shot. Make the future wife (at this point, wife now) help me sand and stain the new floor with five coats of marine varnish.

[calvin78612]

You are a brave man ! I too made promises to a couple of trucks on similar trips. I'm in for the build.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Body work, just.........body.work. So much work, sanding, priming with DP40, slick sand, mig welding patches, fixing, pounding dents, pulling dents.

This goes on for about a year. Girlfriend amazed at 'how long it takes me to get it finished (also, i travel for work)'.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Get the door hinges repaired, cut out and weld in new rockers on both sides. Regap the doors (remove, regap again and again and again).

Weld the antennae hole closed in anticipation of having an actual functional radio with a hidden antennae. More bondo, slick sand, sanding and sanding. Girlfriend still surprised how long this whole 'restoration project' is taking.

Good news, girlfriend (now wife) no longer makes these comments for fear of being drug into the garage as my 'helper'.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Some delightful PO decided drilling 13 holes in the door (each door) for installing every make and model option for mirrors over the last 40 years is not appreciated. Weld all the holes closed, more slick sand and skim coat.

[Bassdude404]

Love the commentary!!...Had a '72 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd that sometimes I had to talk to it for it to start...Threats to drop it off at the scrapyard would result in it starting up...lol...

[steelhorse]

Great story. I too have done some crazy road trips in old trucks but I was in my early 20s and parts stores still kept parts for these trucks in stock back then.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Set up the paint booth in the garage after much prep and sanding. Wet sanded to 400 and started covering the garage gear. Went pretty basic with the box fans and filters. Air flow was good for the basecoat but I think the filters were clogged when I sprayed the clear.

The girlfriend was thrilled with me when I was painting, several sideways comments about a certain 'aura of chemical' when I would come in the house.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Side note: never use newspaper to tape off a truck. It bleeds through but you can fix it with some wax and grease remover if you catch it soon enough.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Painting the truck was an experience.......Really, really learned a lot. If you decide to do it, you should probably prep it to the point where you are ready to put paint in the gun and then take the week off. This way you aren't rushed.

Not me. I like to get it to the point of spraying and give myself about two days to paint and clear the whole thing, and toss in a required marriage course that takes up an entire saturday (painting started Thursday evening until 2am).

What a horrible idea, haha. Basecoat went just beautifully, got a couple coats on the truck Thursday night, couple more coats on friday afternoon. Started to spray clear and didn't realize the filters had clogged on the fans, the whole garage was filled with clear in the air. Had to open a new respirator, sweating terribly at this point, I was spraying clear late into the night.

Wife, God bless her came out and helped me tape the cab about 2am so I could clear the cab and jambs. Figured out the filters and the flow came back instantly, accidentally touched the front passenger fender with the air hose. Devastating. Lesson learned: Have a spotter, don't spray on no sleep, drink more water.

[LF_MN_71GMC]

She made me throw that NDSU hat away, it was a total loss.

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

Nice! Can't wait to see some pics of it back together! Paint job came out nice. Reminds me of when I painted my truck in the garage.

[396ci]

love the color and the story...keep on trucking!

[LF_MN_71GMC]

Fixed the clear coat issue and started the long reassembly process. Painted the frame with Eastwood rust encapsulator and then some chassis black.