My 77 GMC project!

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Howdy, I have been lurking for sometime. I just finally started my body off restoration of my menards running truck. I bought this truck last august for $500 just to have a truck to run to Menard's and back with. Over the last 10 months I have grown quite fond of this truck. It has 69K original miles and a 25 I-6 and a Three on the tree. Well for a MN farm truck that probably never saw a car wash or the inside of a garage it is pretty clean. Well a couple days ago the First hole in the floor finally broke through. Today I gutted the interior and tomorrow I will teak the front clip off in preparation of taking the cab off. I ordered new Floors and the cab mount as long as I am under there. I also have a set of OEm fenders. I am now turning this truck into as show/ driver. It will be 99% stock with the exception of Chrome front bumper, Power steering, and an AM/FM radio although it will fit in the stock hole. Anyways enough blabbering here are the pics.







I'll update this thread with pictures from time to time. I am looking for a rust free box, as mine isn't that bad for a MN truck but it would be cheaper and easier to start with a southern box. Finding a Pre 78 box without a Gas door is harder than one would think.

On a side note, I need mental help! I have my 75 Cadillac which has never seen a winter since I bought it, then I sold my Roadmaster and bought a built 95 Impala that has never seen a winter, and now I want to stop driving the gmc in the winter and make it a show truck. I really need to buy something uncool that I won't get attachment to or I will be hitching a ride to work after the snow flys.


~HJ

[gchemist]

Welcome to the site. The snow looks like ton of fun!!! Wish I could find an open frozen field like that around here. Got any videos on the snow????

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Originally Posted by gchemist

Welcome to the site. The snow looks like ton of fun!!! Wish I could find an open frozen field like that around here. Got any videos on the snow????

It's actually a Frozen lake. I had a Meet for a Ford ranger Club (used to own a ranger) and it was on the lake. It was a blast.

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/...ight=lake+meet

Here is a link to the meet pics and vids. I am not sure if there are many of my truck as I was the odd man out.

~HJ

[Pyrotechnic]

Nice! Is that a Sierra ? I have a 77 Sierra Grande with that same grill. Seems to be pretty rare grill and reproductions aren't being made.

Nice rifle rack by the way.

[Mr79C10]

Nice "power slide" pic of your truck on the lake.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

Nice! Is that a Sierra ? I have a 77 Sierra Grande with that same grill. Seems to be pretty rare grill and reproductions aren't being made.

Nice rifle rack by the way.

Yes its a Sierra. That sucks they aren't being made as mine is broken in at least two places. maybe I can find another one that is broken and cut it up and glue it to make one good one. There is a 77 GMC stting in a field just down the road from my house, I'll have to have a look. Its a pretty neat grill as the center bar is at an angle so it plays with the light. It looks like a different color at different angles and lighting.

~HJ

[bigblock73]

Welcome to the board John, another Minnesotan here. I live in Coon Rapids, about 20 minutes from ya.

I like your truck, had one just like it only green. What is odd about yours is that it has the sport mirrors, usually every "work" truck I have seen has the larger 3 point mirors.

Give me a shout if you need any help taking the truck apart.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that.

Does anyone know what reaer end this truck probably has? The SPID tag doesn't say a thing about rear gears, as a matter of fact the only option I think this truck has is an AM radio and a Cigarette lighter (I know that wasn't standard as I've seen one with a metal plug where the lighter goes). So I can only assume that it is the standard gears.

~HJ

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Started The resto today. I wanted to get the fron clip off, but I ran into a snag. I wasn't thinking that the hood would have to come off to get the fenders off. The fenders are ready to come off and as soon as I have some help from a buddy to remove the hood I'll be ready to start the cabs disassembly. this truck is in better shape than I thought it was, looks like unlike a normal MN truck, most the rust is from the outside in. I have new fenders, wheel well housings, cab floor and cab crossmember on order. Hopefully by the end of the summer the front end will be done awaiting paint. This is the Euphoric part of restoration, the part where you are still excited to work on it. Always a great time. Wish me luck in the next phase called, "What the #@%$ was I thinking?"

Here are the pics:

Last pic before resto:







I am leaving the front bumper on til the last minute as I don't want crap from the neighbors. I know it is a smaller town then the last, but i had the city on my ass for my parts Caddy and it is not a fun sight. Maybe I should get going on my Pole barn eh?

I will be updating this thread with pics periodically.

~HJ

[Russell]

That grill was used on 78 - 80 GMC trucks, shouldn't be too terribly hard to find in good shape

[tyjoja]

welcome John, this is a great site for what you have in mind. Your very lucky to have Bigblock73 20 min. away, he really knows his stuff and has answered a lot of questions for me. I have a 73 and it also has a 250 I6. It was originally a three on the tree but someone b-4 me switched it to a truck four speed on the floor. Anyway the first move I made was to buy a donor truck for its power steering gear and pump. It was an easy swap, and the best move I've made, its so much nicer to drive. I got my set up off a 76 bonaza that had a v-8, the pump and steering gear worked fine, I only had problems finding the brackets to the motor. Finally found them from a power steering specialist on ebay. Also had to change pittman arm. Maybe the 77 down the road in the field had power steering. good luck, and looking forward to your progress. Bob

[HAZZARDJOHN]

I worked on it a little more today. It was a balancing act getting the hood off by myself but I did it. I finally found a good use for the bug shield, it makes for a nice cushioned stand!:thumb: The only thing keeping the Front clip on now is the running boards. They are held on by slotted bolts with a square nut on them and it will take a sparkle wrench to get them off. Today was the firsst time I have been underneath it since last fall and it is alot more rusty than I remember. It will definitely need new rockers and a cab cross member. but what amazez me is that one area is completely rusted to crap and the next will be solid as a rock with the factory undercoating in place. I am still shooting for haveing the cab off by the end of July. I'd like it sooner but I have something going every weekend till mid July.





^ here is what is holding me up!:think:

^ here is that Factory light/plate holder I intend on restoring! talk about attention to details!

~HJ

[68GMC454]

welcome to the boards..looks like a good truck...my dad had one just about like that one..great trucks...must be cool to drvie on the frozen lakes like that..

[DURRTY]

for us there is nothing we can not or will not get attached to . If its 2WD (car or truck) its gonna have to be low and fast 4X4 it will have to be big and strong. Its a disease we have I think. even if you did get a honda civic or fiat something about it would suck you in (those are RANDOM im not trying to say you like that stuff LOL) and you would have an attachment to it.

So welcome in and don't sweat it. build it and run it

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Woo hoo! It pays to know people. My Friend Sean's Girlfriend is from a ranch in Kadoka South Dakota. He called me and told me that the next time he goes out there he will pick a truck out from the row of retired farm trucks to use for a cab and box. In South Dakota they Don't use salt, so all the trucks are rust free. Granted they might be banged up, but dents are easier to fix than rust. He said I can Have as in Free any of those trucks. The Family is a GM family so they are all GM's. He said "i bet they got a dozen of that generation".

~HJ

[bigblock73]

Cool score John! Any new updates on the 77?

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

Cool score John! Any new updates on the 77?

Nah, I was going to work on it yesterday but it was Muggy as hell, so I stayed inside and did some house work. Today is supposed to be nice so I will work on it when I get home.

~HJ

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Well I have been on Vacation and working on my Impala last week, so it is back to work on the GMC. Any advice on taking of the cab? I hope to pull it this weekend.

~HJ

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by HAZZARDJOHN

Well I have been on Vacation and working on my Impala last week, so it is back to work on the GMC. Any advice on taking of the cab? I hope to pull it this weekend.

~HJ

4 bolts, the wiring, steering column, E-brake cable, shifter linkage...and that should be about it. Get two friends to help remove...and remember...it is extremely front heavy (like a TV set), so be careful.

Taking the doors off will help, and removing as much other stuff too won't hurt.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

4 bolts, the wiring, steering column, E-brake cable, shifter linkage...and that should be about it. Get two friends to help remove...and remember...it is extremely front heavy (like a TV set), so be careful.

Taking the doors off will help, and removing as much other stuff too won't hurt.

Thanks, That's what I thought, It's a shame I got to take of the e-brake cable. It still works and I was quite prous of showing that off. When I went to look it over the guy I bought it from started it up and it started to roll, he slams the e-brake to the floor and I just cringed, but low and behold it still worked.

~HJ

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Well just a little update as I just worked on it for an hour tonight. (Just got back from up north) I got one fender off and it was a bear. These damn running boards are a pain. I need to borrow a cutting torch to get bolts off. I tried everything else. I also discovered a present in the Cowl! The original Keys and the dealership Stock number tag. Since I am the second owner I can only assume it is the dealer it was bought new at. He must have put them there for safe keeping. These are the little things that make me nostalgic for old vehicles.

Anyway on with the pics.



^Lots of bondo and a plastic sheet used as a backer!




~HJ

[Rc 415]

Thats a pretty awsome find wish I could find that on my truck!

[HAZZARDJOHN]

Well I bought a parts truck!

It is a 74 Chevy C20 camper special from California. The cab is really solid except for one soft cab corner (a lot easier to fix then the hole underside of the cab) It has a decent pickup box, although it needs new box sides. but structurally it is in way better shape than mine. It also comes with a crap load of extra parts so maybe I can sell them to recoup the expense. It is an air conditioned cab so it will help with my desire to add air to my truck.

Here are the pics.





^this cab support is nonexistant on my truck, I didn't even know it was shaped like a triangle. It looks rusty but trust me, I was under there with a pick hammer and it is solid.



~HJ