Fix and Sale 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 K2500

[Greg58]

Great work and progress. I'm starting to fall for this truck!!

Greg

[landarts]

Well sealed up the deal last night on the next project after the 4x4 is out of the garage. It is a 1968 GMC that has great metal on it, nice and straight everywhere except the front drivers fender (I have another drivers fender in white that matches, so that will be a quick fix). Cab mounts are 100% solid no rust, rockers look good. The only rust repair will be a small spot on both sides underneath where the door sill plates go. The camper will be removed, bed floor looks straight and rust free. Truck has a TH400 transmission and no motor, so I will put one of my running used SB 350 I have ready to go. Change out rims and tires and make sure anything mechanical and brakes are good and it will up ready for a new owner.

This deal I made was a two truck deal, the other truck is a running and driving 1/2ton 1968 LWB with a 327 and TH350. Possibly will be cutting down the frame and installing a nice short stepside bed that I have, and reusing the long bed for another project. ECE 4/6, buddy buckets and few other goodies I have.

[Dieselwrencher]

That is a nice GMC and the other truck sounds good too. Nice scores!

[landarts]

Spent some time this afternoon trying to finish off the door so I can get paint on it. Sand, prime, fill, and repeat....while primer was drying I was able to finish sanding down the front bumper, next in line for a little primer and paint after I fix one little bend on the bottom side. Was going to try a little heat and some hammer and dolly to get it back where it needs to go. Pushing to get paint this weekend wrapped up on floor, rockers and bottom of passenger door. If I can get this done I will start on assembly middle of the week and get a few of the new parts on like the new radiator and fuel 3-way control valve.

[landarts]

Spent Saturday morning wrap up a few small details on door so it would be ready for paint. Then prepared my bumper for install of tow bar to go pickup one of the two trucks that i purchased in a two truck deal. Gathered all the tools I need to take with me and off I went. All was good picking up truck, had to remove existing bumper, install my other bumper that I mounted the tow bar mounts onto and drop the short drive shaft that goes from carrier to axle.

After I got home I went through the box of additional items that went with the trucks. In the box were various items:

• nuts and bolts
• a very nice 67/68 steering wheel and horn cap and hardware
• new stainless steel sill plates still in bag
• new door weatherstriping new in bag
• a set of med. blue all metal door panels off 68 truck
• a pair of med. blue visors and clips
• door carpet kit
• extra tailgate handle and hardware
• all the boxes and paper work for new items installed on 327 motor of truck #2 (snowflake intake manifold, MT valve covers, MSD ignition, MSD coil, MSD distributor, Edelbrock carb, Mr. Gasket shifter, etc...)

Running total so far for the truck expenses:
-purchase price $1100
-starter $59
-rag joint $23
-parts ordered $402
--inner rocker/outer floor x2, rockers x2, sill plates x2, lower door skin, front cab support x2, fuel sender, shifter knob, armrest x2, dash pad, heater control switch, rear light kit
-Wheel dollies (tool purchase will not add to total since I will keep) $97
-new 3-way valve for aux. tank with fittings $28
-pvc valve and oil fill cap $16
-radiator $129
-passenger fender $60
-paint supplies from Napa Auto $133

TOTAL $1950

[landarts]

Flipped the passenger door over to finish prep sanding, then rust reformer on bottom of door and etch primer where I replaced the rusted out corner where there was bare metal. Will smooth off after it dries and hit it once more and add seam sealer before it is paint ready. I keep the garage heater at about 70 degrees inside and I have a few halogen spotlights that put a little heat on the area so it will dry good.

While I wait for that I will remove and install the new radiator and install the completed heater control assembly.

[landarts]

Attacked the radiator removal and install while primer was drying. I used a large plastic tote with a 55 gallon trash can bag to catch all the anti-freeze.......this worked out awesome and was able to recover at least 98% of all fluid into bag. Then I went to remove the transmission line and that would not move so I cut it off. Removed the rest and got the radiator out that was leaking at the neck, as you can see someone tried to fix before. Cleaned everything off with a bucket of hot water and then vacuumed out the bottom of the core support. Core support was in excellent shape no rust there. Installed new radiator that fit like a glove. Now I just need to get a few new hoses and tie it up.

[landarts]

Loaded up all the hoses from the old radiator and the fittings for the transmission cooler into bag to take to the local Napa Auto after work today. I have a list of replacements from RockAuto which includes top and bottom hoses, 190 degree thermostat with gasket, heater hoses, and new cap. If the total at Napa Auto is close I will go with local supplier when I can.

Working toward wrapping this project up in the next two weeks if no surprises pop up. Have a bunch new projects waiting for attention. Also need to go pick up truck #2 another 68 C10 from the double deal and back to the other side of town to pick up a nice short stepside bed from a fellow builder that I will probably use for my 67 4x4 project.

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm betting you'll do pretty well on this when you go to sell it. Nice score on a step side bed.

[msgross]

nice truck...

[landarts]

So I got all the hoses and items need for the radiator install at Napa Auto minus the lower hose. They did not have it in stock and it was $35 vs $16 on RockAuto online. I had a few more items in the cart so I added the lower hose to the order.

I replaced all of the heater hoses, rerouted the top heater hose to the water pump inlet, instead of the radiator. The old radiator had an outlet at the top next to the other outlet for the trans cooler that was for the heater return. The old hoses were in pretty bad shape so now all new an ready to go. Took the top metal pipe and wire wheeled it down to bare metal, wiped down with wax and grease remover, then sprayed two coats of rust reform/primer and two coats of black. Once that is cured up I will install with new hose for the top hose.

So once the order shows up for the lower hose I will install it with the fan and fan shroud. Pour the captured antifreeze back through a strainer net, then back into the radiator and check that project off the list.

[landarts]

Got the upper hoses and metal pipe installed on radiator. Installed the fan and fan shroud to wrap up as much as I can do until the bottom hose arrives with order. Also finished seam sealing the rockers and bottom of passenger door, Sunday I will paint the bottom of the passenger door, rockers and the outer floor area. One more item to check off the list.


Running total so far for the truck expenses:
-purchase price $1100
-starter $59
-rag joint $23
-parts ordered $402
--inner rocker/outer floor x2, rockers x2, sill plates x2, lower door skin, front cab support x2, fuel sender, shifter knob, armrest x2, dash pad, heater control switch, rear light kit
-Wheel dollies (tool purchase will not add to total since I will keep) $97
-new 3-way valve for aux. tank with fittings $28
-pvc valve and oil fill cap $16
-radiator $129
-passenger fender $60
-paint supplies from Napa Auto $133
-radiator hoses, heater hoses, extra fittings $52

TOTAL $2002

[landarts]

After several hours of cleaning, prepping, masking I finally got some paint onto the repair areas. Had a few mishaps along the way, ran out of tape and latex gloves so I had to make a run to the store. Then I poured the mixed paint into a small touch up gun I like to use for small paint projects. Just as I started to paint the door bottom with it it started to burp paint all over the place, not sure what happened there. Was able to get my larger gun out and pour the remaining paint left in the small cup into the paint liners I use for the set up I have for the larger gun.

[Dieselwrencher]

That looks really nice. That stinks about the gun. I've had a similar issue and it sure ticks ya off. Haha

[landarts]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That looks really nice. That stinks about the gun. I've had a similar issue and it sure ticks ya off. Haha

Guess I can't complain to much it was a Harbor Freight small touch up gun that I used at least a dozen times. So I would say I got my moneys worth, and it actually sprayed very well. I will look at replacing it with a Iwata touch up gun for the next project. I frequently used it for things like shooting small parts and inside interior.

[Dieselwrencher]

I've used a few of the HF guns and for what they cost I can't complain. I wouldn't spray a show car with it, but they do work. (I'm no pro painter though)

[landarts]

I think I placed the last order for the truck this morning. Needed to get the last bit of items for the radiator, lower hose, radiator cap, thermostat, thermostat gasket and a new dark saddle carpet kit.

Running total so far for the truck expenses:
-purchase price $1100
-starter $59
-rag joint $23
-parts ordered $402
--inner rocker/outer floor x2, rockers x2, sill plates x2, lower door skin, front cab support x2, fuel sender, shifter knob, armrest x2, dash pad, heater control switch, rear light kit
-Wheel dollies (tool purchase will not add to total since I will keep) $97
-new 3-way valve for aux. tank with fittings $28
-pvc valve and oil fill cap $16
-radiator $129
-passenger fender $60
-paint supplies from Napa Auto $133
-radiator hoses, heater hoses, extra fittings $52
-more radiator items, lower hose, thermostat and carpet kit $160.00

TOTAL $2162

[7dee2]

Very nice! I've always been impressed with folks that can stay focused throw a few bucks and some labor at something and make a tidy profit.

[landarts]

Originally Posted by 7dee2

Very nice! I've always been impressed with folks that can stay focused throw a few bucks and some labor at something and make a tidy profit.

Yes thanks, I have stayed pretty focused except for 6 weeks bought with my back issue. Sometimes I get to hurting and have to put the tens unit on and that seem to make it better so I can push through. My goal is to finish the next three projects and use the earnings to do a 4x4 for myself and make it a daily driver. by the way I am really lovin your K30 build, it looks the way it should of coming off the showroom floor ready to work.

[landarts]

While I was waiting on the order to come in I got ready to remove all the masking, plastic etc from the paint touch up I did few days ago. The more I started looking at it I noticed the color was off. I also found an area or two that had some small runs. Remember the issue with the touch up gun basic malfunctioning in the middle of the paint. I swapped out to another gun and finished the paint.

I went back to the paint store with a section of the original rocker that I cut off to see if they could do a better match. I browsed around in the store and was asking questions about certain new products on the shelves as I was waiting for the paint to be mixed. Once he had it done he opened the can and held a mix strip next to the original rocker piece and it looked so much better. So as I was paying my bill he asked if I brought the other quart for a refund, nope I forgot it. He said bring it back by with the receipt and we will give you a full refund. Out the door I go.

Friday I decided to work from home so I got up early went into garage got everything ready to paint. Then I had an idea to open the new can of paint and put a little bit on a acid brush and paint it on to the old rocker piece to see how close it was. Then I used a heat gun to cure it up and compare. It was way to dark, still not right. I know that paint will look different depending on how it is applied. This was still not right, so back to the store with the both cans of paint, one for the refund and one to get fixed. I showed them the rocker piece and they agreed. this time they did a spray out of the new mixed paint. I agreed that it was a good match, got the refund and off I go.

This time I decided to use a new gun I purchased about a year ago, the Astro EVO4014 1.4 mm LVLP. Mixed up a little over 4oz of paint and off we go. Wow I was really impressed at how well this gun sprayed out. So now I have it all painted for the second time.

Saturday got around to stripping all the paper, masking and plastic off of the truck. Started to work toward reassembly, first thing up was getting the door weather striping glued on. I had a few new pieces of weather striping I bought for another project and never used. So I did a dry fit and cut to fit. Glued and taped on. While that was drying I got the lower door trim piece old adhesive cleaned off and new 3m adhesive replaced and attached to door. Installed the new dash pad and starting working on installing under layment for the carpet kit.

[landarts]

One more thing I got done this weekend was clean out the 68 GMC that I just purchased in a two truck deal. Remove the camper and put the bench seat back into the cab where it belongs. On my way to work this morning the truck looked pretty cool in the lights so I took a quick shot with my cell phone. First picture is the day I picked it up and second is after the cleanup and camper removal.

This 68 GMC might be a great candidate for a 4x4 conversion. Sheet metal is in very good shape and it being a C2500 3/4 ton with heavier frame makes it ideal. So I might just start looking for a long wheel base 3/4 ton 4x4 donor.

Excited and motivated to get the last few items of the "Fix and Sale" project wrapped up. Mostly just assembly and test out the brakes. Once I get that wrapped up hopefully by end of next weekend the old truck will be ready for a new home.

[7dee2]

Thank you for the compliment earlier, it sounds like lot’s o fun getting that color right. Really curious to see how your sale goes on the fixer upper. You just gotta love those Idaho trucks our Blue C30 came from Caldwell.

[jbailly]

landarts,
I may be interested in this truck once it's finished. I'm going to PM for price and such, just thought I should comment here to keep up on the progress.
Thanks,
Jon

[landarts]

Started on putting everything back into the interior this morning. blew it out really good with air hose, then wiped everything down with wax and grease remover. Then applied underlayment for the carpet as seen in photo 1. Then proceeded to install the carpet, seat belts, seat, 4x4 boot.

[landarts]

While I had the 4x4 knob off I cleaned it up real good with citrus degreaser and hot water. then taped up the area around the imprinted gear pattern and added acrylic paint with a latex glove on. Wiped of what I could with the glove and went back to the interior install while it cured up. When it was done I used some cleaner wax an one of the micro-mesh kits to polish off the rest of the paint leaving looking almost brand new again.