1966 GMC 351E Rare?

[cbrwags]

I just got a pickup and would like to know if it is rare. The truth is I have 2 pickups, 65 chevy that is clean, and the 66 gmc that has a little rust. I plan on selling one and working on the other. I want to know how rare this gmc is before pricing it, my 65 is a frame off and is a nice c10 lwb, the 66 gmc needs more work but might be a better truck to restore?. Ok, 66 gmc has, bucket seats, padded panels, power brakes, lwb, vacume gauge (dont know if it is stock), chrome grill and badges, 351e engine, 4 sp trans. vin# 1002zf14866a. I would like to know how many of the 66 gmc's had the 351e, and bucket seat options.

[Jakes-66-K10]

I see them every once in a while, but yeah I would still consider them "rare". Keep in mind though, that doesn't necessary mean they are worth more, just harder to find parts for them. An excellent resource for these can be found here: http://www.6066gmcguy.org/

On a more interesting note, yours is yet another case of a 1966 GMC with bucket seats. I've always had suspicions that the "buddy bucket" seats found in 1967 and 1968 were also available in a few of the 1966 trucks. Perhaps this was a rolling change before the switch to the new body style, or maybe dealers installed buckets as an option to clear out remaining '66 trucks?

I have never seen literature saying buckets were available in this year, but I've seen too many cases were they are there and looked like they've been there since the factory. Always only in 1966 years, and oddly always GMC specific trucks that are fully loaded that have buckets installed (power steering, power brakes, etc). Anyone else seen this?

[BobS]

Keep the 66. I don't know the numbers on the 351Es and bucket seats but there aren't a lot of them around. I have a 66 (short C-1000 Fenderside) with a 351E. It has most of the RPOs that were available in 66 including the bucket seats (actually Sports Trim RPO 0195), TH-400, Spicer 60 rear axle, PS, PB, AC, HD Cooling, Clock, Ammeter, Oil Gage and Custom Trim, I wish it had the big-window cab. It's in rough shape right now but I plan on doing a complete car show style restoration on it eventually. Here's the page of the 66 GMC Data Book showing the bucket seat option:




Close-up of the RPO:




Which 4-speed do you have? Are your door panels in good condition? How about the carpet?

Bob

[cbrwags]

Granny 4sp. The door panels are in good shape, they match the seats. I have no carpet, but the cover for the firewall cover is in good shape. The 66 is in great shape. The body has no dents that I can find, even the trim is good. The truck has a amp and oil gauge to the right of my leg, but I dont know if it is factory or not. I love the grill on this truck, so I am really looking for a reason to fix it up, but that meens selling the one I have put a lot of work into and taking a loss I am sure. I will try to post some pictures. Thanks for the info guys.

[cbrwags]

The gauges on the lower right?. Are they stock?. Also the vac gauge?. I will try to get a better picture. The old chrome on the gauge cluster was in poor shape so I got some navel jelly and cleaned it back to black.

[cbrwags]

[cbrwags]

[cbrwags]

[cbrwags]

[BobS]

The gages are not factory, someone added them. There is a turn signal cam/switch to get your turn signals and brake lights working properly again, I got one from Classic Industries, I think LMC and some other places have them as well. Any more pics?

Bob

[cbrwags]

[BobS]

Nice looking truck, yours is in a lot better shape than mine!

Bob

[cbrwags]

Yeah, I just did a new cam in my 65. I haven't had a lot of time to work on it, I am really trying to get the rust to quit, I live on the coast. Getting all the rust killed off then get to working on it is the plan.

[BobS]

We don't have salty air from the ocean in Minnesota so we put a bunch of it on the roads in the winter to make sure that things rust here too. It's amazing how quickly a relatively rust-free truck from somewhere else turns into a rust bucket after a few winters on the road here. I hate rust.

Bob

[cbrwags]

This is my 65 chevy.

[cbrwags]

[cbrwags]

This is my daily driver.

[cbrwags]

It hit a fence so it has some primer in spots but the body work is almost done then can be painted again, but I might just sell it as is, to fix up the gmc.

[cbrwags]

I hate rust too. I am hopeing I can save it without useing the welder. I think I can kill the rust and do a good opoxy primer I like flatblack anyways.

[cbrwags]

I would like to get a dash harness diagram?. For the headlights, dash lights, and blinkers. Are the chevy's the same as the gmc's wiring?.

[BobS]

The Chevy looks really nice, you've put a lot of work into it. I can send you a copy of the wiring diagram for the 66, GMC and Chevy are different, let me know if you need anything else.

Bob

[Rich 5150 69]

The aftermarket gauges are not factory but are time period correct addons, look to be RAC gauges if that makes any differance.

[cbrwags]

Thanks Bob. I sure will

Thanks for the info Rich, They look good I will leave them if I can get them to work.

[Jakes-66-K10]

Good info BobS. You've finally confirmed that buckets were available in '66. Makes me feel a whole lot better - I had suspected this for a long time and you just provided the proof. Now I'm super excited to upgrade the seats to buddy buckets in mine, knowing it was a factory option makes it that much cooler.

[cbrwags]

I got a for sale sign in the 65, hopefully someone takes it, so I can get the 66 rolling.