Accident on freeway, GMC finished?

[WorkinLonghorn]

Not much luck at pick you part. Just found these off of a 1968 GMC sitting out there. At least everything has the right patina!

[WorkinLonghorn]

Threw in a hinge for good measure. $318 for the lot all done before lunch.

[Ol Blue K20]

Things are looking up already! Congratulations!

[ThreeQuarter]

Nice! I’d never expect to find a complete set of the right color/patina so easily. Keep us posted on progress.

[jjzepplin]

Dang! You are almost done already!

[Boog]

Look at you go dude! They're almost the right color too? You totally scored!

[Steeveedee]

That's quite the score! I bet you're feeling better about this now, and rightly so. I had a crash with my '68 Skylark where a guy cut in front of me to go into a driveway and I ran into him. I paid over $800 in '04 for parts, basically what you have there.

[zicc1835]

I take off the front clip do change motors ...like changing underwear ....glad you didn't get hurt and found your parts if I was your neighbor we have that done before the case of beer was gone good luck lets see it finished and back on the road

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by WorkinLonghorn

Through in a hinge for good measure. $318 for the lot all done before lunch.

Out here that wouldn't even buy a rust free fender. Nice progress on the truck

[gmc684x4]

Wow nice score and decent price seen guys ask that for a rusty grill

[WorkinLonghorn]

Thanks for the encouragement.
One downside is the hood. Some ding-bat took a sawzall and removed the brow (The part that curls down over the front with "GMC" on it), so it's going to look like ^&*( until I source a complete one. They gave me 1/2 off ($42). But all-in-all I'm feeling MUCH better about this whole thing. -BA

[BAD1916]

Glad to see you were able to locate parts. I was driving to work on the southbound 101. I saw you walking in front of the truck to take the pictures.

[duallydude63]

glad U OK it can/ will B saved !!! we have all seen worst so take your time we R here 2 help U !!

[WorkinLonghorn]

Had a few hours free today and tried on the new "customized" $41 hood. At least the color an patina is perfect!
I stood on the bumper and took a sledge to the rad core and it is pretty much in place to hold the radiator at least.
Only impact to the engine assembly was two fan blades bent a few inches. I bent them back with my hands so they don't hit the balancer any more.
Slight damage to the radiator where the fan impacted but no bow and the tanks look good. I will see if my radiator magician can repair it.
I wish I had the right fender and inner. that is the one most damaged and I can't open the passenger door. Anyway, here are some pics -BA

Oh, the battery is undamaged. How would a modern truck have fared after an impact like this? Now that would be a total i think.

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm glad you have some progress.

[notsolo]

Nice score on the parts, think of the hood as improved air flow till you find a better 1....Possibly you could pound out some of the right fender also till your next parts bonanza.....my father in law used hammers and blocks of wood to straiten bent sheet metal. You should be able to get another 24 yrs .

[WorkinLonghorn]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Nice score on the parts, think of the hood as improved air flow till you find a better 1....Possibly you could pound out some of the right fender also till your next parts bonanza.....my father in law used hammers and blocks of wood to straiten bent sheet metal. You should be able to get another 24 yrs .

HA ha, My thoughts exactly. I looked at it and thought "cold air intake" and started thinking about the improved performance I will reap (jk).
That's the plan for now, pound it with a BFH on some wood blocks and boards and just get it off the tire and get the door to open. At this point I just need to get back to work but I will be actively improving this truck as I can. -BA

[Boog]

up
You may be able to run a chain around the rad support on the passenger side close to the fender and pull some of that fender bend out and get some clearance between the fender and door again at the same time. Also you may be able to turn the wheels to the right and insert a bottle jack on it's side between the tire and lower fender opening to help push the lower fender forward. Got a come a long and a tree near by? Don't laugh. It works. While it has a good pull on it some of that fender bend will come right out and you can dolly some too while it has tension on it.
You may already know this but I offer it from body work experience.
You're practically driving it again already.

PS. Look that fan blade over real good when you get it running again. A wobble will cause vibrations and will wear out the water pump in short order.

[gmc684x4]

My understanding 68 72 gmc fenders are the same

You can use 69 72 chevy fenders as long as you use the gmc eyebrow trim to cover the indent for the 69 72 chevy grill

All fenders have same profile 67 has no marker lights 68 has marker lights
Diffrrence in 69 72 chevy is the indent on front of fender to allow grill to sit flush

[WorkinLonghorn]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

My understanding 68 72 gmc fenders are the same

You can use 69 72 chevy fenders as long as you use the gmc eyebrow trim to cover the indent for the 69 72 chevy grill

All fenders have same profile 67 has no marker lights 68 has marker lights
Diffrrence in 69 72 chevy is the indent on front of fender to allow grill to sit flush

Good to know. Thank you sir.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

My understanding 68 72 gmc fenders are the same

You can use 69 72 chevy fenders as long as you use the gmc eyebrow trim to cover the indent for the 69 72 chevy grill

All fenders have same profile 67 has no marker lights 68 has marker lights
Diffrrence in 69 72 chevy is the indent on front of fender to allow grill to sit flush

What I understand is only 68 Chevy fenders interchange with 68-72 GMC. A 70 GMC fender would not work on my fathers 72 Chevy.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Quote; "
up
You may be able to run a chain around the rad support on the passenger side close to the fender and pull some of that fender bend out and get some clearance between the fender and door again at the same time. Also you may be able to turn the wheels to the right and insert a bottle jack on it's side between the tire and lower fender opening to help push the lower fender forward. Got a come a long and a tree near by? Don't laugh. It works. While it has a good pull on it some of that fender bend will come right out and you can dolly some too while it has tension on it.
You may already know this but I offer it from body work experience.
You're practically driving it again already.

PS. Look that fan blade over real good when you get it running again. A wobble will cause vibrations and will wear out the water pump in short order." Boog

That sounds like great advice. Yes I have a nice Ash just feet away and I have a chain hoist, geared way way down that I can use.
If I replace the core support, that side won't line up at all so maybe I will wait until I have both fenders before replacing the support and do what you suggest to pull it out some.
I'll check the fan. Appreciate the tip because I would not have though about that.
It'll probably run like it is with a radiator but I'm not driving again until I find out what happened to my brakes! Thanks again, Brian

[gmc684x4]

Richard that would be from the gmc fenders not having a chevy grill indentation step on the front of the fenders

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

Richard that would be from the gmc fenders not having a chevy grill indentation step on the front of the fenders

69-72 chevy fenders are longer in the front. They won't fit the GMC properly.......

[54blackhornet]

I have a perfect radiator for a stick shift yours for shipping if you need it..Jack