Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Hey Guys. New to the forum and the world of trucks. Just picked up a 72 GMC long box and have already got the bug. It’s a fixer upper but is well on its way. Runs drives stops and someone has already done a lot of work to the body but I also think it’s a southern truck as it’s only been in Ontario since 2011 and it’s clean with no rot at all. Lucky me!

A couple of questions to get me started.

1) in the passenger side of the bed floor right at the back behind the wheel tub in front of the tailgate there are two bolts that come up from underneath with two wingnuts on them. This something the previous owner did for whatever reason or is this something that came with the truck to hold something down?

2) my doors have three holes for the mirrors to take the typical skinny stem mirrors but no mounting plates inside just nuts to hold the mirrors. Could they pre 1972 doors as 1972 mirrors look different to me or ?

3) the engine was swapped with a 305 80-85 year I believe. My starter went and it needs replacing. I have the three bold style one long one that comes from the back forward. Another that comes from the starter going back to the bell housing and one that goes straight up. Original style if I’m correct. Should I just got with this same style or might I be able to get away with one that will bold to the 305 block ? Haven’t looked for mounting holes on the block yet...

Thanks and excited to get some answers here!

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Here’s a pic or my C15 btw

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

If your doors are 72, they should have a plastic door panel and a screw underneath the wing window inside.
As far as your starter, sounds like you have a manual trans and should stay with the same starter. I would either rebuild your original or get a matching replacement.
The bolts in the box sound like a previous owner thing.
Welcome.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Thanks For the response.

Yeah there is no plate or anything inside the doors. Just bare door. Thinking the doors are older than 72 then.

Ordered a new (remanufactured) starter. $54 Canadian. Cheap!

I’ll ignore the weird wingnuts.

Thanks again.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Sorry just read the part about the wing window. You mean the vent window. It should have a plastic piece and screw. Ok I’ll look for that.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

It would be a phillips head screw recessed in the door just below the vent window. No plastic piece on a pickup door.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Welcome to Canada and this forum from the wet coast!
Pic in here on the 72 door.


https://oldchevytrucks.com/blog/index.php/tag/1972/

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Let's see pictures of the wingnut situation, sounds interesting. Your truck looks great!

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

See photos. I think it was just a previous owner thing.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Probably to hold something in place like a Jerry gas/water can base or something similar.

Re: Newbie questions- 72 Gmc C15
 

Check down inside the bottom of the doors. If they originally had that style mirror the mounting plates could be laying down there. People removed the mirrors and just let the plates fall to the bottom. Use a good light, sometimes they are hard to see. I have found a lot of them that way.

LockDoc