New guy here with a 65 GMC 3/4 ton

[65 GMC]

About 20 years ago I had a 65 C-10 that I sold and have regretted ever since. About 2 weeks ago I saw an ad for a 65 GMC 3/4 ton with a 230 ci six banger and a 4 spd trans. It was a one owner farm truck with only 90,000 miles on the odometer. I thought about it for a few days before calling about it. Long story short I bought the truck for $400.00 and trailered it home. It hasn't ran in about 15 years and has water in the oil. My guess is that the engine is toast. Which isn't a really big deal as I have a good one in a 64 Chevelle 4dr parts car. I'm in the process now of pulling the engine from the truck and getting ready to put the one from the car in it.

[hotrod66]

Any pics? Hope yours is geared higher than mine as mine has 4:56 from the factory in 3rd gear just getting out the driveway.

[65 GMC]

No pics yet, I'm not sure how this one is geared. I have thought about updating the suspensions with later model stuff , both for reliability and parts availability. I know that the front can be done by changing out the crossmember fairly easily, but what works on the rear? My younger brother says to leave it alone that the truck will be worth more all original, so I'm not sure what direction I will actually go with this truck.

[Grizz1963]

Welcome from the other side of the world.

I trust you will start a build thread or report in the Builds section when you have it all figured out.

Great to be able to have a "Project Second Chance" to fix the "mistake" of selling the last one.

[TJ's Chevy]

Leaving the truck original Will hold more value. But it all really depends on what your wanting out of the truck. The stock suspension is fine for daily driving. Heck....I'm leaving all my suspension stock, but I'm adding front and rear sway bars. It'll be great for on the road driving and handle turns 100% better than before. You sure there wasn't water in the oil because the engine sat for so long? Really depends on How much water was in the oil. What new engine you puttin in there? Hope to see some pictures.

[sanford66]

Welcome from eastern Kansas. I agree we need some pics. Joseph

[Boedean1981]

Welcome to here fellow kansas member. I agree need pics lol. Lots of us don't read so good lol.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

A GMC 3/4 ton will likely have a Dana 60 which should have better gearing than the Eatons did. If you do want to change differentials, the rear springs should have enough movement to be able to bolt up a '73-'87 differential, either a 12 bolt or 14 bolt.

[BigDan3131]

You can can get a 3.54 gearset for the Dana 60. With all the late model full size truck's still using the 8 on 6.5 bolt pattern you can find plenty of wheels for it. Mine has the 16.5 rims which I will sell once I get my tires for my 18" rims.

[65 GMC]

Well I got the old locked up six ready to lift out of the GMC. I will start getting the good six ready to pull out of the donor car this week, and hopefully get them both out next week end. Then I can fix some oil leaks on it and get it ready to install. I do need to find a set of wheels for the GMC it has the old split rim wheels right now and they need to go. I don't get a lot of time to work on it as we are in the middle of a bathroom remodel, and I also have 2 other old Chevys to keep me occupied.

[cooperhw]

Good deal. The front crossemember is an easy swap as is the rear end. I swapped both out myself in one day. I used 73-87 donor stuff. Even re-used the u-bolts from the later model rear end. The front is way easier to swap with the motor out.
You would need to buy a couple things from Captainfab here on the board. But one days work and disk brakes/power steering.

[BigElittleg64]

Welcome, never knew so many people in Kansas were on this forum. LOL

[padresag]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Welcome to the forum

A GMC 3/4 ton will likely have a Dana 60 which should have better gearing than the Eatons did. If you do want to change differentials, the rear springs should have enough movement to be able to bolt up a '73-'87 differential, either a 12 bolt or 14 bolt.

would it not just be better to move the spring perches over 3/4" on either side, that does put averse pressure on the spring pins and bushings doesn't it
ron

[Captainfab]

Yes Ron it is better to cut the spring perches off and move them over, but it seems many guys get all overly concerned when it comes to cutting and welding. Is it really 3/4" per side? It seems to me that it is a bit less than that. More like 1/4-3/8". Many years ago I put a '73-'82 12 bolt under a '66 GMC and just took the slack out of the springs and bolted it up.

Originally Posted by padresag

would it not just be better to move the spring perches over 3/4" on either side, that does put averse pressure on the spring pins and bushings doesn't it
ron

[65 GMC]

Ok guys got newbie question. I found a 78 GMC 1/2 ton, it is a complete running truck that has a bad head gasket. Will the front crossmember from the 1/2 ton bolt up to my 3/4 ton frame? If at all possible I figured that I could use all of the suspensions from the 1/2 ton, then I would have 5 lug wheels with disc brakes and power steering. The 78 has a 350/350 turbo combo. Who knows I may decide to build the 327 I have in the garage and use the 350 turbo behind it.

[Captainfab]

Yes the '78 C10 front suspension will bolt up to your C1500 frame just the same as it will to a C10 frame. You will have to drill one hole each side and elongate one hole each side.

[65 GMC]

Thanks for the information guys.

[padresag]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Yes Ron it is better to cut the spring perches off and move them over, but it seems many guys get all overly concerned when it comes to cutting and welding. Is it really 3/4" per side? It seems to me that it is a bit less than that. More like 1/4-3/8". Many years ago I put a '73-'82 12 bolt under a '66 GMC and just took the slack out of the springs and bolted it up.

well they are not that hard to take off and weld back on. I can see where one could get that difference if they measured from inside a set of newer springs to
inside a set off 63-66 rear springs as the newer springs are wider. If one does go from middle of center bolt to middle of centre bolt I believe that it is 3/4" on either side. at least it was when I put a 14 bolt in mine
or is it the 71/72 are a little different?
ron

[65 GMC]

Picked up the donor truck today. Now I just need to get caught up on the bathroom remodel so I can work on the truck.

[65 GMC]

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...1&d=1440894408

I finally got some photos of the old GMC today. I think I did pretty good for $400.00. What do you guys think?

[Classic v6 GMC's]

Truck looks to be in good shape and you got a great deal!!!

[62jimmy]

Man I couldn't buy the bed off that thing for $400 around here, I'd say you did real good

[TJ's Chevy]

A steal at $400! I got my 64 for 500 complete with the v6, p/s, and p/b. They're fun trucks! Windshield has been replace. haha

[65 GMC]

Well guys I've been busy parting out the 78 GMC donor truck that I bought to get my money back out of it. I paid $400.00 for it and so far I have sold $450.00 in parts off of it., and still have more to sell. So I'm ahead a little and still have the stuff I need for the 65 build. Next weekend I'm going to start pulling the sheet metal off the front of the 65 to get ready for the crossmember swap. My question is will the power brake booster work off of the 78 and if so will it require any special bracket or will I just need to redrill some holes?

[Boedean1981]

Captainfab sells these and all of his items are HIGH quality. I suggest hitting him up.