61 GMC Project-Slow and steady

[GMC406]

I posted a thread here a week or so ago wondering if I was gonna buy this truck. Well now I have, got it for $550 I will get it home next weekend(it is still 2.5 hours away, havnt seen it in person myslef) I plan to try and see if a little TLC will bring that V-6 back to life, and if it runs it will just be a beat around truck that I work on when I can. I have posted alot in the 67-72 area but figured I should introduce myself in here. Will be learning alot from you guys in the months to come! This is part two of my decade jumping trio I want.

[Corts60]

NICE! Good to hear your gonna give the V-6 a chance....instead of throwing in you know what......

Looks like a little pressure wash and a tune-up, be good as new...

If your interested in getting rid of those hubcaps, I'd give you some good $$$$, those are very very hard for us GMC guys to find.

Good luck!

-Cort

[MacAttack]

Congratulations on your Great Score!




That's going to be a nice project and it has plenty of potential.

Mac.

[GMC406]

I will prolly get rid of those wheels and tires shortly after it runs. If im not mistaken they are gonna be 16.5s correct? Prolly just get some cheap 15 or 16 waggon wheels for the time being. If that is the route I take I will put you first in line for those caps. Other than the wheels I am thinking hard about keeping it stock-looks anyway prolly need upgraded suspension, ect. I have a nice hot 350 that could be made to go in there but I dont know how much it would take to make work with trans and all so I may just hope this 6 runs and if not try to revive it.(Find out in the coming weeks) I haven't seen too many of these on here and the ones I have seem to have changed the hood to the 62-66 style. This one has grown on me for sure I love that its different! I am relatively new this era of trucks so all your input throughout will be greatly appreciated!

[monolith]

Beautiful truck and a beautiful deal!

[Corts60]

Definitely keep that hood! The fact that you don't see them often is what makes them great! That's why I've kept my V-6 too....

Can't wait to see your progress.

[GMC406]

Thats why I figured I would give the v-6 a shot. Progress will begin next weekend and will be slow as the title sugests. My 71 hogs most my time and money so this will just get a tinker here and there. I am just proud to own this piece of history. I know with my 71 there are 5 chevs to every 1 GMC, Am currious as to what the ratio is this old. See what it reveals in person but judging by the pics, it is extreamly straight and clean. Its gonna be a long week, waiting for it to come...

[hewlett2002000]

glad to see you saved it from the crusher. like i said before, if you go a different route please give me first dibs on the hood. sorry to keep saying that i hope you keep it original honestly. but i just really want a hood like that. good luck and keep us posted. has alot of potential.
John

[GMC406]

Ya at first I didnt know If I liked that hood, but in a weeks time I LOVE it and the fact that you seevery very few of them, its gotta stay for sure Thanks for the comments tho and good luck with your search for one.

[factorystock]

Looks like a very original 1 ton pickup with the 9' stepside. This is the heavy duty model with 17" rims.GMC called there 1/2 ton the 1000 series, 3/4 ton 1500 series and 1 ton 2500 series. The first thing you will learn about early 60's trucks is that they rarely have the power options that are common in the late 60's.

[GMC406]

The guy I bought i from thought it was a 3/4 ton, but a 1 ton is just as good to me! I thought that bed looked a little long, but wasnt sure if they had a 9ft back then. Thats cool I guess. Can any of you tell by the pics if it has power stering? Cant see a pump myslef but that sterring wheel looks small. At least smaller than my non-power 71. I also didnt know untill some reading on here that these had hydralic clutches. Worked on a 63 chev I used to have in HS and is was mechanical. A truck this old will be a learnig project for me for sure. Im only 23 so too young to know too much... I mean carbs are one thing, but 6volt, generators, and points, that will be something new. Never even seen points Dont get me wrong I have been through Diesel tech have more money in tools than alot of people do houses, decent mechanic, but just foregin to the oldies Pre-71 anyway. I want to learn them and will be counting on this forum!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Looks like a very original 1 ton pickup with the 9' stepside. This is the heavy duty model with 17" rims.GMC called there 1/2 ton the 1000 series, 3/4 ton 1500 series and 1 ton 2500 series. The first thing you will learn about early 60's trucks is that they rarely have the power options that are common in the late 60's.

Didn't I do a positive ID from the photo on 6-13 !

[GMC406]

Well its been about 6 months since I posted in this thread so here is an update. Bought a 65 with a freshly rebuilt 305E and a good radiator and gas tank. The rest of the truck was thougholy shot, most beat up truck I have seen in my life and that is saying quite a bit. But it runs really well and I got it for 400 bucks so by the time I sold a few little peices and take the rest to te crusher I will pretty much come out even, and get a free motor out of the deal. So next weekend I plan to get the motor out of the 65 and take whats left to the crusher. My cab is worse than I thought, there is rust holes above the windsheild and a caved in part in the rear center of cab, looks like someone dropped a pipe on it or something, the floors are worse than I first thought, doors are junk, ect. But luckily my dad has a 63 chev cab with good doors and glass. Its in far better shape so I guess I will just drop that on here. So all in all maybe by the end of summer I will have a running/driving 61!

[jbgroby]

I can't believe I missed this post for this long, DEFF. Give the V-6 a try. As you can see in my icon, what they can look like with a little TLC. Unless there is another in your area, you WILL get a lot of attention when you roll her out.

Any questions please feel free to contact me. ALSO don't forgot to join Jolly's 60-66 GMC truck group. All we have are V-6's. And you'll probally find a member close to you.

Jake

[GMC406]

Ya they are neat. First one I heard run was in this 65 parts truck I got. The one in my 61 is locked up and just planned to try to rebuild it at sometime but finding a fresh built 305 E for 400 bucks I couldn't argue with that. They fuel pump was not working but I just had a bottle rigged to gravity feed the carb to make sure it ran well before tearing the truck apart. Fires up good and sounds neat. Have to see what time gives me this summer. I have pretty much everything I need, new motor, better cab, need a set of front fenders and other than that investment should be minimal. Don't know what I want to do with the bed floor go back wood or what. I think I would like to paint it a deep blue with silver grille/bumpers. I love it, it just looks so massive in person, that extra foot on the bed adds alot. As you can see in my sig I have many other distractions on top of being a single dad. If I can free up enough time maybe it can be running and wearing primer by fall.

You prolly missed this thread because nothing ever hapened, lol. Finally got it home and there was rats nest half full in the cab, a locked up motor, more cab damage than I had hoped for. But now I have everything I need and selling a few peices off the donor put me back at about a total of $600 into the truck. See what I can turn it into.

[factorystock]

No power steering , but does have the double pulley set up. The 60 to 62 GM trucks were the guiney pigs to the more refined 63-66 trucks. These trucks look similiar but there are numerous changes under the skin. You will need a little more patience on these years. However, you will grow to appreciate the uniqueness of this heavy duty version of GMC truck history.

[Corts60]

The hydraulic clutch works good, a little frustrating to get the slave cylinder dialed in, but it works just fine. One thing I recommend is to replace the flex hose that goes from the master to the slave cylinder ASAP. It runs between the engine and firewall and is normally always deteriorated. You can replace the MC and SC all day long and still have a pressure leak down problem, well, there is your culprit.

Points are easy to set-up, just not as reliable as electronic ignition. If you want to convert to electronic with little hassle buy a Pertronix electronic convserion kit, I think the PN is 1162A. It goes right into the factory distributor. I have yet to do this but will soon.

Good luck man....

-Cort

[Corts60]

Oh, also, these trucks are 12 volt, so no worries there...

[jonzcustomshop]

looks neat , also looks like it was never molested, rare that you find one that still has the original wheels and hubcaps.
those hubcaps are for the 3/4-1 ton wheel. so they are the clip on type, if you (cort) want to use those you would have to find some 1/2 ton wheels that accept the clip on cap.

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by jonzcustomshop

looks neat , also looks like it was never molested, rare that you find one that still has the original wheels and hubcaps.
those hubcaps are for the 3/4-1 ton wheel. so they are the clip on type, if you (cort) want to use those you would have to find some 1/2 ton wheels that accept the clip on cap.

Got 'em!

[slorio]

Original is beautiful! A lot of information on the V6 on Jolly's site at
http://6066gmcguy.org/

A little pressure washing and I think you will find a real jewel under there.
Regards,
Steve
New Orleans

[Corts60]

Did you get her fired up?

[4dranch]

Originally Posted by slorio

Original is beautiful! A lot of information on the V6 on Jolly's site at
http://6066gmcguy.org/

Jolly's site is a great source of info.
check them valve covers, what color are they under that dirt??
good score, rig looks good

[BobS]

Nice truck! Keep the V-6, it's different and there are plenty of parts to keep them running.

Bob