New Member, New Truck

[fogowe]

First I would like to thank all the great members here for all the information! After reading up on what to look for in a truck and searching from Oregon to Arizona, I found one 4 miles from my house. She's nearly rust free but has been sitting for over 12 years in a garage and has all the mechanical problems that go with that.

Questions;
1. She came with 5 lug 16.5 rims and tires, this seems an odd tire combo, is this common? I will probably put 15" rims on her.

2. The side fuel tank, it looks like it had a small hole in it, is it worth the trouble to fix and reinstall a 46 year old tank?

3. Check out this rear bumper, it has a swing out spare tire.. I guess a custom dealer installed item. I may take it off, I like clean simple clean lines.

Thanks for all the information!

[outfield]

Really nice truck, great find! Can you post a picture of the spid from the inside of the glove box door?

I think that's a cool spare tire/bumper idea. I would not tow a trailer off of it though...

[fogowe]

Here you go, that bumper does look a little shaky, but a cool idea.



Found the build sheet behind the seat also.



Engine purrs like a kitten, put a new fuel pick up in, new HEI going on this weekend.

[rustytruck50]

Nice looking truck! Welcome to the forums! !

[dfwright]

That spare tire bumper is mega-cool!

[vespaholic]

Congrats!
I really dig the rear bumper!

[jocko]

Very cool truck.
Item #1! Make absolutely certain you don't happen to have 16.5 tires installed on 16" rims. Your build sheet shows your truck came with 16x6" five lug wheels (NOT common) - but 5 lug is the norm for 1/2 tonners, just normally in 15". Anyway - if you're assuming you have 16.5 rims because of the tires - make absolutely certain you actually have 16.5 rims - not safe otherwise. I'm not personally aware of anyone ever making 16.5 5 lug wheels... Doesn't mean they weren't made, but just make sure.

Or - did you just misread the build sheet (it states 16x6)? What size are the current tires? The rims look like 16" to me, they don't seem to have the 16.5 "curved lip"..

This is a very cool truck, congrats - and factory buckets to boot, can't wait to see more. And I'd keep that bumper forever. On the truck! And I'd keep the 16" rims, if that is what it has on it now. 16.5s, well, meh.... (Ha, I own a set too, but 8 lug, I like em)

[Bones72Super]

Nice find! Could you show us some interior pics please

[HO455]

Welcome aboard. Nice looking green truck!
I am digging that bumper. Any one who has had a flat in the woods with a full load of firewood can truly appreciate that bumper.

[tristan]

Great condition, great paint, great color, great SPID = congratulations. I love the rear bumper too.

[Steeveedee]

Welcome! That's an interesting rear bumper. I wouldn't be able to use that, towing a 26' trailer, but interesting nonetheless. And right handy, Vs laying in the dirt to drop the spare out from under. I have mine in the bed inside the camper shell and will be getting a mount for it soon.

Also, love your handle!

[Old_Gold]

Welcome, nice ride. I'm also a fan of the tire carrier. Way cool! If you need to tow with it, i would see if a receiver hitch would fit under it.
Just my 2 cents, while I try to find something better than a spare rolling around lose in the bed!

Jim

[fogowe]

Thanks everyone, I thought that some of you might like that bumper.

The interior needs some work, seats and carpet. the truck is just solid 98% rust free. When I saw it I new I was buying it. it just has issues from sitting, rusty gas tank, bad breaks, leaking valve cover gaskets, leaking tranny gasket and I am sure I'll find more. I can handle the mechanical I am no body man.

[fogowe]

Well jocko you got me thinking and hoping... I really want 16" steelies, I love that look. The rims measure seventeen inches across. I'll see if I can find something online with the rim measurements.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice find!!! Congrats on the purchase

[jocko]

Originally Posted by fogowe

Well jocko you got me thinking and hoping... I really want 16" steelies, I love that look. The rims measure seventeen inches across. I'll see if I can find something online with the rim measurements.

Difficult to measure rim diameter with tires on - the measurement should be from the bead mating surface on one side to the other side - so no way to truly measure it without the tire off and a gigantoid set of calipers, but you can approximate it. Sounds like you may be measuring from outer edge to outer edge?

Easiest solution is to pull a wheel tire assembly off, scrub the inside of the wheel and look for a 16X6 stamping

What size are your tires? It's labeled on the tire.

[Hutch]

What a find
Dark Green is awesome
Buckets too
Restore to original with vintage air and you are good to go

[fogowe]

Originally Posted by jocko

Difficult to measure rim diameter with tires on - the measurement should be from the bead mating surface on one side to the other side - so no way to truly measure it without the tire off and a gigantoid set of calipers, but you can approximate it. Sounds like you may be measuring from outer edge to outer edge?

Easiest solution is to pull a wheel tire assembly off, scrub the inside of the wheel and look for a 16X6 stamping

What size are your tires? It's labeled on the tire.

Tires are 9.50R 16.5 and fit the rims pretty good, they don't look to big. I do have the spare, I can take the tire off that and check. The rims are wide like 8" or maybe 10"

[fogowe]

Originally Posted by Hutch

What a find
Dark Green is awesome
Buckets too
Restore to original with vintage air and you are good to go

That's pretty much what I was thinking. Looking forward to making it a nice reliable ride.

[lilpanther]

That's a great truck you managed to find. I'm loving the spare tire carrier and I've always liked the toolbox in the side of the long beds.

Originally Posted by fogowe

Tires are 9.50R 16.5 and fit the rims pretty good, they don't look to big. I do have the spare, I can take the tire off that and check. The rims are wide like 8" or maybe 10"

You don't have to take the tire off, it will be on the backside of the wheel. This is for rally wheels but same concept as far as the stamping. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=462895

[fogowe]

Originally Posted by lilpanther

That's a great truck you managed to find. I'm loving the spare tire carrier and I've always liked the toolbox in the side of the long beds.



You don't have to take the tire off, it will be on the backside of the wheel. This is for rally wheels but same concept as far as the stamping. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=462895

Thanks! I see a weight rating stamp, I'll have to clean the rim up and see if I can find it tomorrow.

[RedRider]

I love to see where delivery was on the build sheets, yours looks like Lake Tahoe, CA?

[fogowe]

Originally Posted by RedRider

I love to see where delivery was on the build sheets, yours looks like Lake Tahoe, CA?

yes it was, then the truck ended up in Lodi, I was told in 1977.

[fogowe]

Originally Posted by fogowe

yes it was, then the truck ended up in Lodi, I was told in 1977.

Better pic;

[Rufas]

OMG!

Your truck looks a lot like my Dad's truck. Great color. This is what my Dad's truck looked like around 1974.





BTW I still have the truck. But not quite the same...