Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Nice truck and a great find with a great story.

So will you be working undercover this summer at any shows in Alberta?

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Just our local show in Whitecourt on July 16th! Don't miss it!

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

These are 8 lug rims. 3 of the rims came from a 1996 ford 3/4t truck. The other I found loose at the auto wrecker. I got the idea from JoesJunk, who used rims off a Ford Econoline van (90's Vintage). I did some digging in the interchange with my buddy who owns the wrecking yard and found they were also used on Ford 3/4T trucks (as well as vans) I think 1990-1999 model years (can't quite remember). Ford went to a metric bolt pattern after 99ish. They are cheap and easy to find.

I blasted the rims and had them powder coated. The hubcaps were a huge amount of work. Originally the truck came with white hupcaps, but it needs a little bling so I found some stainless caps and refinished them.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I dig the side fuel tank.My wifes granddad had custom tool boxes put on both sides.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Great story! I'm sure that there are many more stories on here and I think it would be great if we had a page that was dedicated to just documenting those truck tales.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I thought I would do an update on the truck. My plan was to get it ready for our local show and shine. It needed a few things done to make it driveable and presentable.

One of the first things I needed to deal with was the mouse problem in the truck. I started by removing the seat and rubber floor mat. I found a few mouse bodies and droppings there. I removed the gas tank as well because the fuel was very old and I could see some rust inside the tank. Lots of spray nine cleaned the mice "stuff" off the floor.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

wow, what a clean floorboard...and rocker!!!

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

nice find, where's a what's a block heater comment? my buddies from Turks and Caicos still think I'm making it up, along with the -50 weather hahaha

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I could still smell the mice stench, so I thought the heater might have some mice remnants in it. As well the heater control cables didn't work to well and seemed to be stuck. I borrowed a boroscope from work and stuck it into the heater box and yes there was a dead mouse in there. I decided to take the heater box completely apart to clean it properly. What a job that was - inner fender well, hood hinge, etc to get it completely apart. I found at least 17 mice skeletons and a nest. The little buggers even chewed the heater fan. I got all that cleaned up with more spray nine and got rid of the smell. The heater cables all work now.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

And a good thing we don't include the wind chill in the -50 temp!

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I spend a full day and a half with the the buffer and alot of meguirs product and buffed out the orginal paint. It came out very nice. There are still quite a few chips and some gravel road rash, but it came out way better than I expected. Sorry for the fuzzy picture

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

looks good, amazing shape for any 72, let alone one in Canada, now the question is, how much for those beautiful fenders;) haha I wouldn't change a thing, the caps look great, paint came out awesome, sweet truck you have there

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I removed the bumpers and took them to work and pressed out any dents. They were both the factory installed bumpers. Even the step bumper is on the SPID. I would prefer the non step rear bumper, but this is what it came with. I do need one of the factory license plate lights with the glass lenses. I had the front bumper powder coated white and the rear silver/grey to match the original colors. Once I got it cleaned up I took it to our local show and shine. Alot of people really liked the truck and couldn't believe the paint was original. I have been driving it around town quite a bit.

Next things I need to work on are a liitle more under the hood clean-up, brake job, there is a funny noise vibration at 50MPH - I think it is a u-joint or steady bearing, and order up a new floor mat. Oh yeah a new windshield!

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Unbeleivable...

I was really hoping to make it to more car shows this year, but work work work, and i never seem to hear of any till they are over.

You hitting up any more this year?

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

BTW, mind me asking how bad they hit you with the out of province inspection?

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

I might go to Peers Gold Dust day and or the Drayton Valley show and shine. I need to get the vibration figured out before I take it too far from home....

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

wow, nice...congrats

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Congrats, that's a pretty good "find". It's in great shape too.

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Wow great find..keep up the good work..

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Looks awesome!

Re: Barn find 1972 GMC Survivor ex-RCMP truck
 

Very fortunate it stayed in the family long enough to come back to you.
Usually thers a cusin bob or an uncle tom that sneeks in and thubs it before hand lol.
Welcome to the site by the way :)