Newbie thinking about diving into a '65 GMC 1000

[jtrichard]

Aerotruck are you sure that is the sun style factory tach? in the literature you cant see the needle pivot on the one in this truck you can im thinking aftermarket

[Captainfab]

To me, that tach looks like a SW unit. It only goes to 4000 too.

Too bad someone put those 3 gauges in the dash but that can be taken care of. The asking price might seem a little high, but finding a truck of this age in this good of condition is rare.....especially a short fleetside. Someone needs to buy this truck and breath some life back into it. Like any truck this old, it is going to need some work, but this looks to me like a good one to work with.

[aerotruk63]

The tach font on a GMC is like the font on the speedometer. The tach in this truck is aftermarket.

[Praxiss454]

I'm heading out to look at the truck in person tomorrow morning. Per the suggestions here I'm going to take some fresh gas and fuel line to try to start it up.

One open question is whether it *actually* was converted to a push button start, or if the previous owner just pulled the ignition cylinder and never replaced it. Wonder how easy these trucks are to hot wire....

[jtrichard]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Wonder how easy these trucks are to hot wire....

VERY easy with a 6 few feet of 14 gauge wire from + battery to + coil and a screw driver from main battery cable on stater solenoid to "S" terminal on solenoid ........ Make sure its in neutral first

[factorystock]

Looks like a good buy. As a GMC, a few things will be different than Chevy, mainly a leaf spring rear with Spicer 44 with 3.54 ratio. Instrument panel, dash and wiring is a little different also. The worst thing about any old truck is a cheap repaint, big eye soar, especially in a different color. If the truck was left in original paint with patina, the truck right off the bat, would be worth 2 or 3 times as much. Luckily the interior still sports the original medium fawn paint from the factory. Here is a similar GMC ad in red in its prime. GMC did several ads in '65 in various colors, check em out on ebay.http://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-64-GMC-...cAAOSwQiRUmgvC

[Praxiss454]

Well, I went and took a look at it. Body seems solid. Trying to identify what engine it has in it. I snapped a couple of pics but I can't seem to find info on the numbers. I must be reading them wrong.

This is right next to the spark plugs. Looks like it says 4883F20 or maybe 1883F20. Neither of these numbers yielded anything on various sites I've checked.


And here is another stamp on the exhaust manifold (I think?). 3820578, or maybe 3829578. Hard to say. The 382 part seems pretty clear but even that yielded nothing.


Any ideas? Tonight after my daughter goes to sleep I'll post more of an update on the truck, along w/ a few more pics.

Cheers

[Praxiss454]

Okay, here is what else I found out.

1. Generally the body is in pretty good shape. The only part that looks to have been previously (and poorly) repaired is the left rear panel. Looks like there is a bit of bondo, and then I guess the guy got in another accident? Not really sure. The bed of the truck is all rotted wood, but it looks like the hardware is still there.





2. There is some funky wiring going on.
<EDIT: picture disappeared - check later post>

We put in a battery, hooked up some new gas, and tried to fire it up. The push button ignition would turn over, but it wouldn't catch. Discovered the spark plugs were not sparking. Tested the voltage on either side of the coil, and it wasn't getting any juice. Figured somewhere in the wiring nest something wasn't connected, so I jumped from the battery directly to either side of the coil. Not sure if this was advisable, but in any case it didn't work, and we still didn't get a spark. HOWEVER, when I jumped in this fashion, the dash indicators all turned on and started working. They previously were all dead, and I assumed it was a fuse problem.

I also wanted to see if it would roll, so popped it in neutral and my buddy hooked up a tow strap. We moved it about 30 ft in neutral while I tested the steering and brakes. Pedal brake didn't work, but hand brake did.

So, I'm feeling pretty good about the truck. It needs a ton of work, but I feel like I can figure out this electrical gremlin and get it running. With a bit of cleanup and minor maintenance I think I'd be in business.

We haven't finalized a price yet, but I am planning to make an offer this week.

[Captainfab]

That engine appears to be an I6? You need either the casting numbers on the rear drivers side of the block or the code stamped on the pad close to the distributor.

[TJ's Chevy]

I'd bet money that's a 230 or 250. Engine numbers will be on the lower side of the Block near the starter.

If the side covers are 4 inches tall it's a 230 or 250.

6 inches tall it's a 292.

Dished pistons. 250

Flat top pistons. 230 Easiest way to tell.

[jtrichard]

The wiring plug hanging down is where the IGNITION switch (that is missing) belongs

[Praxiss454]

The wiring plug hanging down is where the IGNITION switch (that is missing) belongs

That was my guess. Someone wired it w/ a push button that worked, but there was no "on" position as far as I could tell. If/when I buy the truck I'll be putting in a keyed ignition again.

Engine numbers will be on the lower side of the Block near the starter.

You need either the casting numbers on the rear drivers side of the block or the code stamped on the pad close to the distributor.

Speaking of engine components and locations -- is there a good exploded view diagram or microfiche that shows a '65 engine compartment, and in particular, a 230 ci engine?

[aerotruk63]

I'm sorry but I only have Chevrolet locating info from 1963. You can use the link and then the magnifier to be able to read the info.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...gL5qQpbkhPn0WF

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

I'm sorry but I only have Chevrolet locating info from 1963. You can use the link and then the magnifier to be able to read the info.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...gL5qQpbkhPn0WF

Thanks aerotruk63, I tried to buy a pdf version of a service manual before going but the only thing I could find was a CD-ROM version that would take a few days to arrive via snail mail. I'm picking up a used Chilton manual this week.

By the way, one of your pictures didn't load. I had similar issues when trying to share mine from Google Photos.

[jtrichard]

Prax your pic was there,now it's gone it was the one with the ING. switch wires.... If you get the truck one thing i would do is trim those WINGS off of the rear bumper they are great for screwing up the bed sides (see drivers side)

[Praxiss454]

Well, I've officially made an offer on the truck. Now we wait...

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by Praxiss454

Well, I've officially made an offer on the truck. Now we wait...

Any he's accepted it after a bit of back and forth!

Now I just gotta figure out how I'm going to tow the thing the ~140 miles home to Novato.

[aerotruk63]

You can borrow my car hauler & dually, just that it's a 7 hr flight, 43+hrs of driving one way, but then, I'll go for the ride with you, and then haul something back. All expenses paid by you. I know, such a kind offer

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

You can borrow my car hauler & dually, just that it's a 7 hr flight, 43+hrs of driving one way, but then, I'll go for the ride with you, and then haul something back. All expenses paid by you. I know, such a kind offer

What a guy!

[TJ's Chevy]

OR, I could pick it up and bring it to my house!

[Praxiss454]

I don't know if this photo is going to work, but, behind and to the left of the ignition switch plug, there is a round black plug socket, with one white-ish wire coming from ignition switch.

What is that round black component? Having a hard time getting a good visual of the wiring components and my chilton manual doesn't have very good pics.

[jtrichard]

I think its the brake light (hard to tell the angle in the pic) switch BUT not wired like that ( if it hooks to the ING. switch) brake switch should have an orange (power) and a white to the turn switch

[Praxiss454]

Originally Posted by jtrichard

I think its the brake light switch BUT not wired like that brake switch should have an orange (power) and a white to the turn switch

Thanks jtrichard. You can kind of see, there is an orange or red wire hanging down right in that area that has the same kind of connector cap as the white wire. I assumed it should be plugged in there but it wasn't when I took the picture.

EDIT: But if this is in fact the ignition switch connector, there is no way those two would have otherwise been hooked up because this wouldn't reach all the way to the stock ignition location. So yeah, I'm still confused.

This is the old manual that came w/ the truck. It has a ton of info but is the majority of it is not relevant to my specific make/model/options.

[jtrichard]

The orange and white wire may not even be hooked to that connector HARD to make out just what is going on with that rats nest with only one pic ...... hard enough in person let-alone with pics ... and chitlins covers to many years to be very helpful

[Praxiss454]

According to some eBay searching, it looks like my hubcaps are from a late 70s Impala police car. Makes me wonder if the wheels are from the same.