The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1967 - 1972 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-12-2014, 08:27 PM   #1
Silverfins
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: LOWER LAKE
Posts: 1
Talking Dad's 1968

Hello all, I have an interesting truck in the process of restoring and I was hoping to get some information and opinions on it. I've been researching a lot, and this website seems to be my best bet at information on these trucks.

Firstly here's some history on the truck: My dad was a Vietnam vet who made a hobby of working on cars after his time in the war, he bought a 1968 GMC Stepside off of a friend and during the last years of his life spent most of his time working on it. After his passing my older brother wrecked it into a tree, completely destroying the front end. My dad had always meant for the truck to go to me when I was old enough, but I was only 9 at the time of his death.

After the wreck the truck was turned over to another family member who made it road worthy again, the original front end was replaced with a '72 front end, the motor was replaced with a late 70's 350, and the transmission came out of a 80's model. My fathers best friend contributed a 'Chevrolet' tailgate from his gold C10.

Now flash forward over a decade, I'm now 23 years old and I bought my dad's truck back for $3000, I plan on this truck being a life-long project of mine. I'm a complete greenhorn at restorations, and I'm definitely no mechanic - yet. So far I've replaced the battery, starter, radiator, distributor, spark plugs, and I'm currently in the process of installing an entirely new wiring harness inside and out.

What I've had on my mind the past few months was what to replace the front end with, as I'm never going to sell the vehicle I don't care too much about keep it vin# original. I can either:

•Keep the '72 Chevy Eggcrate.
•Restore it to the '68 GMC it came out of the factory as.
•Restore it as a '68 - '69 Chevy C10.

Now here's some questions

Since it currently has a '72 style hood/fenders on it, would it be hard to put a '68 hood back on it instead? I read that the front end dimensions were different between those years and I would have to replace the entire front end in order to do that.

Also I definitely want to keep my 'uncles' gold Chevrolet tailgate, and I'm kind of partial to restoring it entirely as a Chevy instead of the GMC it came out of the factory as, dat bowtie aesthetic and all. Is there any reason why I shouldn't? GMC's do seem to be a little rarer to find.

And finally, are there any differences to the interior between a '68 and a '69?

I'll add some pictures in my next post.
Silverfins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2014, 10:19 PM   #2
Jfarns03
Registered User
 
Jfarns03's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Manhattan Beach CA
Posts: 129
Re: Dad's 1968

I would do a full tear down. Paint the frame (yourself, harbor freight paint gun works great) lower it the correct way, drop a 4.8l or 5.3l into it and a paint job with the original 68 front end
__________________
A place for everything, everything in its place.
Check out my build thread!

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43#post6129043
Jfarns03 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2014, 01:04 AM   #3
70cst
Senior Member
 
70cst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: New Madison, Ohio
Posts: 21,337
Re: Dad's 1968

Hey Silverfins ...

to the forums and from Ohio.

Even though I have a 70C10 ... the 68 front ends are cool. I would go back to a 68 front end if possible. Just my opinion.
__________________
A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy.

67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk.

1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc

JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE"


Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!
70cst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2014, 07:17 AM   #4
hugger6933
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marianna Arkansas
Posts: 7,257
Re: Dad's 1968

While a ls conversion would be real cool in this truck, I would shy away from it with as little wrench time as you have. Not trying to insult you but a ls conversion can be rather involved and I would hate to see you did overwhelmed and discouraged. the story with the truck is a great one but it really will all fall on to you as to how you want the truck to be, if you were to change it back to the 68 style hood keep in mind the fenders and core support and grille and bumper are different as well. Pretty much the whole front cap is different. jim
hugger6933 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2014, 08:26 AM   #5
steelhorse
Senior Member
 
steelhorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Franklinton NC
Posts: 1,309
Re: Dad's 1968

Welcome and good luck with your truck. The direction you take depends on what it is you want.
steelhorse is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
1968, 1969, c10, gmc, restoration

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com