Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Milestones
8/23/2019 It's a roller, trailing arms and axle replaced
12/29/2019 new engine started for first time
9/5/2022 drove on road for first time in 35 years
8/26/2023 First time in public in 36 years at local car show.
9/2/2023 drove the truck to my Mom's Birthday party.

Grandpa's Truck is the name my son gave to my Dad's truck. It is a 1971 Chevrolet C20. It has been sitting since 1987. Around 1985/86 it developed engine trouble, Dad bought a used engine for it and I swapped it in. I think I went back night classes at college and Dad's cancer returned, so we never got the swap completely finished. Dad passed away in Oct. 1987 and 1987 plates are the last plates on the truck. It set behind a shed at Mom's house until recently.

Below is a picture as the truck looks now. I will try to add post to bring the progress up to date.

The Northern Indiana weather was not good to this truck that has set outside all of it's life.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Here are pictures of the truck sitting in 2013 and 2017.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

And here are pictures of it coming home in Nov. 2017. I had to wait for the right conditions of ground not being too soft and my brother not having crops in the field to get it drug out of it's sitting spot.

This is the first time in it's life it will has been stored indoors.

Edit: By the way, the red 2014 GMC K2500 and the 1971 Chevy C20 are brothers, both from the Flint factory.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I’m in to see this project. Went through Warren last night. If you need a hand, let me know. “The Northern Indiana weather was not good to this truck that has set outside all of it's life.“ The salt is hard on them too

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Tailgate looks well used....

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Memories
Speaking of weather/salt reminds me of an adventure in this truck when I was a kid. Around the time of the '78 Blizzard (could have been a few years before or after as there was several year with large snow falls) Dad was driving down a gravel road near our house. I remember the drifted snow was piling up on the hood on my side of the truck. Likely it was a road that had snow plowed to the side, and a fresh powdery snow had drifted back into the road.

I will add memory I have of the truck though out this build.

Tigger72, thank for the kind offer of help. You're welcome to stop in anytime your traveling through Warren.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I should add the goals for this truck. The goal is to get this truck back on the road as simply as possible. I would like to take my Mother on a ride in it again.

I will keep this truck as close to how it was as when Dad drove it. I will get it mechanically sound and leave as much of the exterior as possible, keeping the original paint and eventually patching rust where required.

The only thing that has been changed on the truck is the 350 that was swapped in and maintenance parts. I happened to find a running 1971 307 engine, so the engine will match how the truck was built at the factory.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

The tailgate is rusted beyond use, the bottom is total missing. the loading on the trailer with my brother's back hoe was a little rough on the tailgate too.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

8/23/19
It's a roller, trailing arms and axle replaced.
Son replaced the trailing arms in June. The Driver side rear brake was locked up and the drum would not easily come off. We found a cheap Eaton HO52, so we swapped in a new axle. This was quicker than trying to rebuild the brakes. In the process we went from a 4.56 to a 4.10.

Don't have any pictures with the axle out, but here are pictures when we pulled it to the house to clean it and one of my son when we pulled it back to the shop.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

THe 4.10 gear will help. You can at least drive a 4.10 down the road, have to limit your road speed to maybe 55, but it will help...4.56 is for boppin through the pasture, that's about all....

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Memories:
Speaking of highway gears. In the last seventies, we took a family vacation in this truck and went all of the way from northern Indiana to the Smokey Mountains and Mammoth Cave. Of course the speed limit was 55 mph and all vehicle ran high revs.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

11/30/2019 Installed engine.

Removed the old engine. Resurfaced the flywheel, installed new clutch, moved the bell housing, transmission, starter, and exhaust manifolds to the new engine. added a temporary exhaust system, patch up the holes in the original Y pipe, had new exhaust studs installed by muffler shop, and bolted on a junk muffler from the muffler shops scrap pile. Will be good enough to allow me to run the engine inside the shop. got the new engine bolted into the truck.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

12/29/2019 Started engine

Repaired 3 broken wires, hooked up vacuum hoses, installed distributor and set static timing. Wanted to make sure engine would run before I finished all of the installation.
No radiator hooked up, fuel supplied from 5gl can. I accidently bumped the key to start and the engine turned over. I couldn't believe that all of the starter and ignition wiring was functional. So I hooked up a remote start switch, gave it a shot of starting fluid and it fired. I unhooked the fuel line to the carb and cranked to make sure fuel pump was working. I got gas, so I hooked the fuel line up and it started right up on about the first revolution. It's running on the starter and coil from the original engine that sat outside for 30+ years and the fuel pump, ignition parts and carburetor from the new (1971) engine.
I was so existed when it started right up without having any issues.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

12/30/2019
Installed radiator, fan, and alternator. Checked the alternator output and it is working. It was from the original engine that sat outside for 30+ years.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

1/6/2020 Removed door panels

I had to drill out all of the door panel screws to get the door panels off because they were rusted/stuck. I had to drill out the passenger side from inside the cab because the door will not open. (The seat had already been removed) I needed access to the passenger side hatch mechanism and the window mechanism because neither window will roll down. I sprayed everything down with plenty of penetrating oil.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

1/7/2020 passenger door open

I got the window to roll down by helping them with pressure on the glass and working the mechanism back and forth until I got enough travel to go completely down.
I worked on the passenger side door latch from inside the door and worked it until I could get enough movement to unlatch the mechanism and force the door open. I will have to work on them some more until they operate freely, but at least they are functioning. The drivers door is sagging to the point it wont close, I will have to work on that later.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

2/4/2020 shift linkage working

The column shifter would not work. It would shift between Reverse and First, but would not move to the 2nd/3rd gate. The linkage under the truck was all freed up from installing the engine, so it had to be in the column.

I removed the steering wheel and disassembled the upper steering column. After I searched how to remove the turn signal collar (I forgot you had to leave the turn signal mechanism screws in slightly, and turn the collar counter clockwise), I removed the collar and turn signal mechanism to get access to the shifter handle and shifter sliding collar. I soaked it good with penetrating oil and I worked it back and forth until would move between all four gears. I let it soak overnight.
The next day it would move easier between all the gears, so I lubricated the collar and reassembly the steering column, installing a used steering wheel that I had bought at the Southeast GM truck nationals several years ago. It's so much better than the old cracked and dried out original.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I am caught up to date with my progress. I will try to keep this build thread up to date as I make progress and I will try to document my progress with more pictures.

Progress is slow because I have multiple projects going at the same time. After Christmas break when I got the engine started, I took a break from the truck and installed a sub-panel and wiring in the new addition side of my shop.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Keep it up, nice to see you guys working on a family treasure!

Greg

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

update
March I replaced all of the U-joints and the carrier bearing

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

In April everything was installed and I tried to move it. The clutch would not disengage far enough to get it into any gear. After adjusting the linkage all I could, I called the company I bought the clutch from, they determined I had a short throw out bearing and needed a long. I might have been given some bad advice, but they advised to change the pivot ball to an adjustable one. They said they did not sell the throw out bearing by itself. I probably should have went to Rock Auto and bought a long throw out bearing. Instead I bought the adjustable pivot ball. After pulling the transmission three time to adjust the pivot ball, I finally got adjust to where the clutch will disengage.

Last night 7/8/2020 I drove it out of the shop under it's own power for the first time. This is the first time since 1987 that it has moved under it's own power. Absolutely no brakes and the engine is running off of a gas can for now, but it running and moving.

I don't see that I can add a video, so here are a couple of pictures.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Cool back story and keeping family truck alive and bringing it back, good work so far keep it up.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Glad you saved it.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

7/9/2020 Emergency brake

I was hoping to get some kind of brakes easily hooked up so I could safely move it around.

Hooked up the emergency brake cables to the rear axle cables. I thought the adjustets on main cable from the pedal would too rusty to remove. I soaked them over night with penetrating oil and wire wheeled them and the nuts backed right off. Got everything thing hooked up, tested the pedal, and the rusty main cable pulled in half.

I guess brakes are going to be a bigger job than I hoped.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

The emergency brake cables that attach to the drums, will rust up solid. New ones are in order, in almost any kind of a build, especially with a standard transmission.

I'd be a buyer for that old tail gate, if you ever want to sell it...dang sure wouldn't have to worry about it getting damaged in shipping...LOL

Glad to see it's a 71. No need to convert to disc brakes....just buy factory replacement parts, man I like it that way!!!

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Love seeing old trucks being saved and the sentimental value attached to them

I’m currently trying to get my grandfathers old Gmc truck back and would love for nothing more than to drive it and use the ole truck


Keep up the great work

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

What is happening with this build?????

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

desertnick69, finally some small progress on this project. I was able to get it started, after putting a battery in it and filling the 1 gl jug with gas, and drive it under it's own power into the work bay, after sitting for more than a year. It runs, but no working brakes.

About 13 months ago, it got moved out of the shop/man cave area to a storage bay to get ready for a graduation party in the shop/man cave. It was supposed to be a short break, but here we are.

After the graduation parts I planned on getting the fire truck ready for the 4th of July parade. Well it needed more than a rear brake line replaced. After replacing two rear brake lines, the front drum was hanging up. This is a much bigger truck than I have ever worked on. The rear brake line I replaced were short jumper lines from the main wheel cylinder to the second wheel cylinder on each rear wheel. On the front drum brakes, I replace the wheel cylinders and the flexible hoses. The hoses had red overspray on them from when the fire truck was painted, so they had to have been 1963 originals. 1963 Ford C750/Howe. I had never worked on Budd wheel before, but got those reinstalled without much problem. I also replaced a leaking clutch slave cylinder. Missed the parade.

Then the wife '66 GMC got selected to be in a magazine, so we spent about a month on cleaning, phone interviews, transporting and photographing it.

Son is also running Cross Country, indoor and outdoor track in college, so spent some weekends traveling.

Then I need to replace front brake pads on my wife's 2004 Wrangler Rubicon. After I replaced the front pads, the calipers were hanging up, so had to tear it apart again to replace the calipers and hoses. Front brakes, calipers, and hoses later, the rear brakes also needed replaced. And found several worn out rubber bushing and Heim joint in the lift kit that needed replaced.

So what I thought was going to be a month or two delay, turned into 13 months. But it is back in the work bay, the son is home from first year of college and is wanting to work on it. I need to finish installing all new brake lines and he is going to work on the front brakes.

The pre-bent line I ordered worked great for the front, but the rears were for a different combination that what I have, 3/4 ton, coil spring/trailing arms, and Eaton axle. So I need to cut the front to back line, and splice in a run to the axle. I don't remember the details. The front hoses I had bought were too short, but I had bought new longer ones. I had most of the lines ran, but not clamped in. I hope I can remember where the clamps go, didn't take many pictures because it was just going to be apart for a few days. lol.

Sorry for the long update, but a lot happened in thirteen months. Also replaced a window that the mower threw a rock though. And had back troubles for a month.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Awesome build, glad to see you're back working on it! Can't wait to see it back on the road!

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Finally made some progress this week. I got the front to rear brake line made. The kit I bought came with a 2pc line, I needed 1 pc. I was able to make what I needed out on the two pieces. I got that line installed and frame clamps on.

I noticed the pass side rear brake line was not bolted together. That was a reminder to myself that the brake bleeder broke off on that side and I needed to replace the wheel cylinder. I got the Eaton full floater tore apart and the wheel cylinder on. I need to get a new axle nut locking washer, the one that came off, the locking tabs were all torn up. It was a replacement axle because the brakes were rusted fast on the original. And I got 4.10.

Rebuilt the front calipers and installed new pads. The second set of rubber brakes lines did not fit. The first set was too short. This set the frame end did not have enough width where it went through the frame bracket to get the clip in. Tomorrow I will go to a place that makes brake lines on the spot. They made brake lines for my fire truck that were not available.

I got delayed again in June and July. My son ran in the Great Race on youth team, they were sponsored by the National Auto and Truck Meseum where he volunteers. We followed from Ohio to North Dakota. Then we got back home in time to have three trucks in our local 4th of July parade, car show, and touch a truck, my wife's 66 GMC, my son's 70 GMC, and my fire truck. All three were running at the same time.

Then on the way home from a cruise in, the 66 broke a clutch Z bar ball stud in the block. I had to fix that.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I got a lot done last week and weekend. I got both rear wheel cylinders replaced.

I had front brake hoses made matching the originals I took off. They didn't fit the calipers I put on, they were used I had laying around. The brake shop said they could rebuild the original caliper, so that is what I'm doing.

I got the booster, master cylinder, and proportioning valve off. The wife cleaned and paint the brackets. The brake shop is going to rebuild the booster, and built up the assembly.

Huge shout out to Brakes and Materials in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

When I laid the brake hose on the counter, he ask if it was for a 72 Chevy 3/4 ton! I said no, a 71.

Tonight I took the passenger side door handle off that the plunger was pushed in. The pin was rusted to the square bracket, so the button had pushed the square bracket out of the bent over tabs. I was able to free it up and rebend the tabs. Now the passenger door handle works. I was expecting to fix it with the 1" square aluminum tube repair I found on this site. I didn't take any pictures because it went too quick.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Nice progress! Brakes and materials are good guys

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I had the radiator rebuilt. They put a new core in it for me. I got the radiator and new hose installed, so the cooling system should be done. New thermostat was put in during the engine swap.
I bought a junk tailgate at the junk yard for the handle. The latches turned out to be usable too.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

I'm behind on updates. I've got the brake system finish, all new or rebuild wheel cylinders,hubs, bearings, calipers, brake lines, booster, master cylinder, proportioning valve. My son came home from college yesterday afternoon and today, he helped me bleed the brakes and work on lights.

I was able to drive it about a quarter mile to a dead end road and down the dead end road. Brakes worked good, I could lock them up on the gravel road. Engine started right up after sitting since spring. Shifted through all these gear with the column shifter.

I've got rear marker light, taillights and one brake light working. The socket is bad on the pass. side brake/taillight. I've got power to some of the front parking and marker lights but they are not lighting so it must be a ground.
I need to work on the dash lights and warning lights. Replace the pass. taillight/brake light socket.

Over all a big win to make a successful test drive.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Glad you had a successful drive

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Great story

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Picture from yesterday

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

Awesome! Glad to hear it is coming along! You'll be so happy once you get it back on the road after all the hard work! I love driving around in my grandfather's old truck, especially knowing that I saved it from becoming just a rust pile in a back yard!

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

A little slower progress this week. I spent more family time.

Another short drive, one of the head light came on! Sounds like a ground. I did a few little things. I took the roller wheels and tires off and put on good road worthy wheels and tires.

I had bought a patina tailgate without hardware. I bought a junk tailgate from the junk yard and salvaged the hardware. I got everything installed and the tailgate matches perfectly.

I had spotted a painted sports rear bumper painted black it will replace mine that is bent up enough that it hits tailgate when it's lowered. I went to the junkyard and got it this morning.

The actual metal licence plate came in the mail today.

Re: Grandpa's Truck '71 Chevy C20
 

It's been a while since I worked on the truck, but made more progress this month.

The engine would start and idle OK, but did not run good under power and rpm's on the road. I had dropped the distributor in, but not set the timing because is started up and idled OK.

Before I could tune the engine, I needed to get the exhaust quieted down. I had patched the original Y pipe and bolted on a muffler I pulled out of the scrap bin at a muffler shop when we had my son's truck exhaust reworked. It worked for getting the engine running in the shop, but needed to be fixed to make it drivable. I added a new muffler and short exhaust pipe behind the Y pipe. It dumps behind the cab. I reworked my repairs to the Y pipe with muffler wrap and muffler putty. I tightened both Y pipe to manifold donut connection to eliminate leaks there. It's now quite enough now to drive. This will work until I get the truck far enough along that I can drive it to the muffler shop for a new exhaust system.

Now that the exhaust is quite, I tunned it up with new plugs and wires, set the dwell, set the timing, tightened carb down to seal vacuum leaks and adjusted the carburetor. The wife walked in and could not believe how smooth it was idling. It runs good at speed now, maybe just a little tweaking.

Next up was an air cleaner. I thought I had the right air cleaner for the engine. The 307 air filter did not fit, so I exchanged it for one the fit the air cleaner. Then I figured out the air cleaner was for a 350. I found the 307 air cleaner and pieced all of the misc. parts from the old and new engine together and have a complete air cleaner now. I just need to clean the dust off, the paint is good.