Ole Rusty-86 3/4 4WD

[GMC91]

Well about a week ago I bought a 1986 C20 3/4 ton 4WD LWB from a friend of mine for $400. Its originaly motor and trans has been junked and my friend put a 305 with a TH350 in it. He already put a new transfer case in it too before I bought it. Well I started tearing it down. Not gonna be a real show truck restore but it will look good and it will be dependable. As it stands, I need new cab mounts, rear break re-build kit(all the springs and stuff), and shocks. That just after looking at it the past three days. So far I have taken the bed and shocks off. Tomorrow Im taking the cab, front clip and drive train out. But here are some pics of the beast. Im really happy with it actually since Im 17 and now own two trucks, this one I bought my self and my first one I got from my dad.

[GmtGmt]

looks like a good start better condtion then mine but what a bumper WOW

[GMC91]

Well here is the progress so far, pulled the front clip, pulled the bed, and pullede the motor. By the way, Im 17 and did all this in one day by myself.( with the help of a cherry picker)

[03cobrakid]

Looks like a solid truck.
Great progress Keep up the good work it's nice to see the younger generation appreciating the old trucks

[GMC91]

Well got a little bit done, would have got more but I got called into work. Painted some of the firewall black. But other then that, I just didnt have time.

[joe231]

Nice
subscribed!!

[GMC91]

Just a pic of me standing next to the motor before it came out.

[GMC91]

Alright well, had today off so i got a little bit of work done. Got the motor seperate from the trans. Got the motor on an engine stand. Put new front seal, real seal, and dip stick seal in the trans. So that should stop my leaking problem. Painted most the front of the cab too. Here some pics.

[GMC91]

Got a question here, The 70 style fenders, the ones with the marker lights going up and down, can I get a set of those and put on this one? will everything line up? I also wanted to change out the grill and headlights to the 70 style round ones. What all will I need to do this?

[joe231]

you will have to change out the entire front clip to get the 73-80 style fenders. fenders, hood, radiator support, inner fenders, hood hinges...the whole 9 yards and you will also need to change the windshield wiper shafts to the earlier, shorter ones to clear the older hood that has the built in cowl....I think you will have to modify the frame horns to run the correct bumper, and you may need to modify the radiator support mounts on the frame.

[GMC91]

So it would be better to just either buy the patch panels, or new fenders? And what about the grille. And where can I find lower patch panels?

[GMC91]

Well made very little progres last night. Got one inner fender painted. I used the dupli-color one stage gloss black that you get in autozone to paint it with, turned out good. Now I just got to do the core support and other fender.

[tvblazer78]

Doing a lot of work, good job man..

[GMC91]

I was thinking, would this build be better off in the 4x4 build section? If so would a mod please move it? I forgot this site had an off-road section. Just wandering.

[tvblazer78]

Originally Posted by GMC91

I was thinking, would this build be better off in the 4x4 build section? If so would a mod please move it? I forgot this site had an off-road section. Just wandering.

This is a build and your in the right place...

[GMC91]

I was just wandering, but anyway new questions and progress. I started wire brushing the motor so I can paint it a high temp. gloss black. Is there any easier way than just oven degresser and a wire brush when cleaning a motor? And also I got a set 350 Hooker Headers Im gonna run on this thing, is there enough room to run them? There long tube headers. Im going to Texas tomorrow with my dad, going to houston to visit family, hit some junk yards, and watch Pinks all out two days in a row.Thats it for now, thanks for ya'lls help and what not.

[GMC91]

Well, I stopped by the local pick n pull today. I got myself a nice new bumber with a set of fog lights already mounted on it. The metal peice the goes between the bumper and the grill,and the metal bar that goes up and down on the core support. Also picked up a nice set of blue bucket seats for $25 a seat out of a 90' model burb. Thats it for now.

[68Timber]

Great start. Those trucks are very stout. I remember years back when a local military base was selling off their 3/4 ton 4x4 crew cabs. I wanted one pretty badly but the money wasn't there.

What are your plans for this one?

[GMC91]

Right now is just to get the motor back in it and make it drivable once agian. Then I want to put about a 2-3 inch lift all the way around and mayby some bigger tires sitting on some crager soft 8 series wheel. Other then that just a nice stock truck that I can use as a daily driver.

[GMC91]

Well me and my dad talked it over, and I told him what I wanted to do, so he is letting me use one of the bays of his garage and Im going to be doing a complete frame up restore on this truck. So Ill keep ya'll informed on how it all goes. Should be interesting.

[GMC91]

Well I got the cab off today, the frame is in better condition then I thought. Here some pics of it, it does have one slight crack in it. Here are two pics.

[GMC91]

Does anyone know exactly how good Chassis saver is and is it worth it? If not what should I use to paint the chassis.

[68Timber]

I'm not familiar with Chassis saver, but I've heard good stuff about POR15. Well, except that it's messy to work with.

[GMC91]

Is this normal? I took the front axle out and on the brackets that are welded to the axle that bolt it to the leaf springs one hole is bigger than the other. Here is a pic if the bracket next to the pumpkin



Here is the other one on the drivers side



Is this normal?

[74 C-30]

maybe the spring perch was replaced at one time? doesn't look like too big an issue
nice work! you make the rest of us 17 year olds look bad