72 GMC 4x4 rebuild

[Crumley]

I figured since I am waiting on parts, I would start a build thread on the 72 GMC. Here are some picture right after I got it home. This truck is decent shape it needs cab corners and rocker panels (as usual). The floor boards have a small amount of rust but can easly be taken care of with a wire wheel. The inside of the doors will need attention as wall as the cowl area. A PO left it sitting under some old oak trees. There must have been 50lbs of leaves, sticks, acorns and other debris down in the windshield wiper well.

[Crumley]

Some additional pictures of the dissasembly. Front sheetmetal removed. Engine out, down to running gear and frame. Rear end removed.

[Truck Hippy]

Thats a good looking truck to start with and a helluva shop to work on it in.

[Crumley]

More pictures and its down to the bare frame. At this point it will be alot of wire brushing and scraping off very thick under coating. Lots of labor. Suprisingly a very rust free frame.

It looks like it has neve been wrecked and cross measures correctly. After weeks of cleaning and preping I finally brushed POR 15 on the frame. This stuff runs like water.

Starting reassembly, new 6" lift springs. At this point the camera has knoked out on me, I have got to get a new one.

Currently the running gear, engine, trans, transfercase, drive shafts, gas lines, brake lines, emergeny brake cables and exhaust have been installed.

I will up date with picture when I get another camera.

[Fubar]

Nice project, and nice shop! I love seeing 4x4 build's, keep the updates coming please.

[msgross]

nice build, this will be a big truck... be sure to check in those side vents if the cowl was full of leaves!

Here was mine

[Rack Man]

Nice....Keep the pics coming !!

Dan

[dieselarmy13]

Sweet. Cant wait to see more pics. Gonna keep the extra 6 inches? I'm suprised Andy and all of the other Longhorn/Custom Camper nut's haven't caught this one yet.

[Crumley]

Thanks for the replys. The shop (man cave) is a 40 x 60 (Finished it in 2007) and it still isn't big enough (they never are), i enjoy spending hours out there.

10-4 on the the leaves in the side vents, It took a vacuum cleaner and air hose to get them cleaned out. When I start the work on the cab I will cut into the side vent area and work on what ever rust has started in those areas.

I will run the 6" lift with 33 x 12.50 or 35 x 12.50 tires on either 15 x 10 aluminum rims or 15 x 12 widened 4 x 4 rally wheels. If ends up driving like crap I will put the old stock leaf spring and steering arm back in.

[sdailey]

First off from North GA.

Good luck on the build. It looks like it's going to be a sweet truck when you're done. Loving the "Man Cave" as well. I'm hoping to build a 30 x 30 myself this coming year.

As far as the lift goes I'd run 35's instead of 33's with a 6" lift.

Holler if you ever need anything.

[thirdstreettito]

Lookin good! Keep up the good work!

[ChaseDale3and8]

Looks like a really nice truck to start with. Nice looking shop to work in too! Good luck with it and be sure to keep updates! ...Joe

[nuke1]

i will agree on the tire choice, 33s will look smalll on her with a 6 inch lift, by the way nice vette in the garage.

[NEVERENOUGH]

Very cool project and like everyone has said very nice shop. I think you will like the 35's better when it is all said and done. Can't wait for more pics.

[ChaseDale3and8]

I'd go with 35s on a 6 inch lift. On the 71 GMC 4x4 that I used to have I put a 4 inch and 33s on 10 inch wide wheels. It looked good and no tire rub. I could have run 35s on it if I had wanted to because there's a LOT more room to work with than on the 73-87 body style! ...Joe

[Crumley]

Well I have gotten another digital camera and figured I would try it out. So here are some current pictures of the rebuild.

Nuke1 the vette is a future project. It currently is a driver to go to cruse-ins while I work on the truck.

My plan is to run 35x12.50 on 12"wide GM 4x4 ralleys.

[msgross]

did you do the exhaust, was it a kit?

[Crumley]

Nope not a exhaust kit. The PO had just installed a new exhaust system before I purchased it. I had to modify the exhauxt system and e-brake brackets due to the 6" lift (I didn't want to scrap the existing exhaust system). Trying to save money anywhere I can.

I had to move the emergency brake brackets from the top of the frame to the bottom of the frame to get the e-brake cables to work. When I changed the emergency brake bracket/cable location the mufflers interfered with the relocated e-brake bracket. So I had to cut the exhaust system apart and change the muffler location to get it all to work.

[NEVERENOUGH]

I love this project and can't wait to see some more pics of it.

[ChaseDale3and8]

Your chassis looks great! ...Joe

[jeremy zander]

Great project. por15 looks good..Are you going to put a new gas tank under the frame too??Keep up the great work....!>>!>1.!>1...

[Crumley]

I have debated back and forth about the gas tank location. Right now its looking like I will install the gas tank back in the stock location behind the seat. I don't want alot of money tied up in the truck (it will be my shop truck) and getting a gas tank to mount in the rear is just additional $$$ that can be spent on other items. My only concern about the stock location is the filler neck to cab gasket. From what I have read on here no one is making a decient cab to filler neck gasket, or one that doesn't start cracking after a few short years. If anyone knows of a place that has a decent gasket please let me know it would be much appricated.

[Crumley]

Its time to start on the cab. Nothing like thick undercoating to scrape off, oh joy. Well I guess its time to get the oxy./acet. tourch and scraper out. Heat this stuff up and scrape it off. Ahhhh, the smell of of burning hot tar.

As you can see by the pictures the rocker panels are eat-in up with cancer. The inners have been rusting out from the inside, so they will be replaced also. Hopefully that will be the extent of the rust. If you look at the picture of the top of the cab, there is a CB antenna hole right in thr center of the cab,that will need to be patched.

[Crumley]

More updates: Removing the under coating is a stinking filthy job but that is behind me now. I didn't re-under coat the outter portion of the cab due the the work that still nees to be done on the rocker panels and cab corners. Stripping paint off of the cab and re primering. Repaired CB antenna hole in roof, repaired small rust thru holes each side at lower back window, cleaned and primed and painted the radiator core support.

[NEVERENOUGH]

Truck is coming along nicely can't watit to see it rolling again.