Bringing my Grandfather's 1972 Longbed Stepside C10 back to life

[67C10Step]

I like this one all the way around. The truck and the fact it was your grandfathers is just a good thing all the way around. The fact he had a furniture store explains the short stepper, perfect for that work.

[bwl101]

I was able to get a motor today, now working on figuring out what else I need to order to make it all correct for my '72. Per the code on the block, it is an '80-'85 305. I thought I was getting a 350, but it is a 305. And with costs of motors being crazy right now, a running 305 is better than a non running truck. It will need the carb replaced and a new distributor (maybe just cap?) due to a flame up when someone was trying to crank it by pouring gas into carb. Will probably use crank pulley off of my 307 since my truck doesn't have power steering and will use alternator bracket from the 307 as well. Planning also to probably do water pump, valve covers and oil pan. Here are some pics from transporting it and cleaning it up this afternoon.

[jimbosprint]

Cool truck! It'll be back on the road in no time.

[bwl101]

Motor cleaned up pretty well and seems like the oil was changed regularly as the heads and valve train looked pretty good. My neighbor is being nice and letting me work on it in his pole building. Hopefully I can figure out best carb and distributor for "new" motor. Then get the old 307 out and transfer over pieces I need from the 307 to the 305. Ready to get it back on the road!

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice neighbor, engine is looking good.

[bwl101]

Was able to swap the original fuel tank out tonight. I had ordered a new Spectra replacement tank from Rock Auto. Swap went fairly easy, lower portion of metal with mounting holes had to be flattened out as they kind of creased up toward the tank during the abuse of shipping. The filler neck also had to be worked on a bit to get it to center on the opening on the side of the truck. New filler neck gasket as well as new rubber fuel line pieces. Now will just need to replace the rubber fuel lines under the cab and new black paperboard cover for the tank. If anyone is thinking of using this tank, the factory gas cap will not work. If anyone knows which cap will that looks similar to original let me know!

[kev2809]

man that clay bar work came out great!

[bwl101]

Originally Posted by kev2809

man that clay bar work came out great!

It sure did surprisingly, not looking forward to doing the rest of the truck lol!

[bwl101]

Didn't have much time tonight so I swapped in the new cab interior light. Looks really good, but it has an LED in it so hopefully it'll be a good bit brighter than stock! Not too bad for $9.99 from Brothers Trucks.

[68bowtie]

Not a fan of Brothers, but I am a fan of this truck. Keep up the good work, I am enjoying the process.

[LT7A]

Great progress. Glad to see that McGuire's number 7 working so well for you. I had been looking for a product like that for a long time myself and was glad to find it. Just a thought, buy a spare engine stand, degrease that 307 and paint it up. That way you've got the original engine from your grandfather's truck. You can rebuild it if you get nostalgic and the 305 needs replacing. The 307s can do all right I think if you let them breathe. The 305 is designed more as a torque motor and so its potential is limited in the upper rpms.

[bwl101]

Old heater box on firewall has been removed, assuming you can see why, and am prepping the newer one to go on with a new heater core and new squirrel cage. I also swapped out the front and rear shocks with KYB Gas-A-Just ones. Also finished swapping out the old rubber fuel lines under the cab and used compressed air to clean all the old fuel out of the lines.

[Jiggers72-GMC]

Great build man, I love that it was your Grandfathers truck, it's nice to see the boy helping out, love the color and how it's turning out, great neighbour, ..........
I need to order shocks today, where did you get those KYB's, I was gonna order from Rock.

[bwl101]

Originally Posted by Jiggers72-GMC

Great build man, I love that it was your Grandfathers truck, it's nice to see the boy helping out, love the color and how it's turning out, great neighbour, ..........
I need to order shocks today, where did you get those KYB's, I was gonna order from Rock.

Yep I ordered them from Rock Auto. Unfortunately no performance report to give on them yet. I think they were about $35 a piece on Rock Auto.

[Jiggers72-GMC]

Thanks for the info, your truck really is in pretty good shape, hopefully your son can drive it someday ...........

[bwl101]

New squirrel cage and new heater core installed in a newer, I believe reproduction under hood piece that I got on Facebook marketplace. Getting there just a little bit at a time. Waiting for a few more pieces to put in the newer motor and hard to get schedules linked up with friends to pull the old motor out.

[Jiggers72-GMC]

Nice to have all the crap cleaned out of the heater box eh!!
btw, I got the KYB's from Rock and installed them already, thx again

[bwl101]

Originally Posted by Jiggers72-GMC

Nice to have all the crap cleaned out of the heater box eh!!
btw, I got the KYB's from Rock and installed them already, thx again

Awesome, glad to hear! Let me know how they ride since it'll be a little while for me to find out lol

[Dieselwrencher]

That's awesome you were able to get your grandfather's truck! Great work on it too. Do you know if the spare tire carrier was original to the truck? The spare carrier looks to be from a shirt stepper. That's great the paint is cleaning up really well too!

[bwl101]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

That's awesome you were able to get your grandfather's truck! Great work on it too. Do you know if the spare tire carrier was original to the truck? The spare carrier looks to be from a shirt stepper. That's great the paint is cleaning up really well too!

I always remember it having it, but not sure if it was original to the truck. I'll attach a pic of it without a wheel on it below so you can see the actual piece.

[bwl101]

Pulled the truck out yesterday to power wash most of the grime off the current motor and transmission to make the engine removal a little less dirty. I also got the fan shroud and fans from Champion Radiators to go with the radiator I got from them. New water pump, alternator and other odds and ends should be coming in this week to get the "new" motor ready to go in before long. Hope to have a good solid day off for me and my neighbor to swap it over!

[68bowtie]

That’s a good investment right there!

[bwl101]

Was able to get the 307 out today. Went pretty easily except the block and bell housing didn't really want to separate. Had to use some WD-40 and a wood block and a hammer. Able to get it out, so now I'll be working on moving some odds and ends from the 307 to the newer 305. Then will work on adding all the new accessories to the 305 then get it in the truck. Once it runs satisfactorily, it'll be off to the trans shop for a rebuild, new carrier bearing and a rear diff fluid swap.

[68bowtie]

Now we’re getting serious

[bwl101]

Starting to move some pieces over to the 305 from the 307 and cleaning it up.