85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I sold my step box and took this gmc as part of a trade. I will be fixing this old girl up and sending it down the road. It will need outer rockers, small patches on the cab corners, and some patch panels on the right box side. It has a rebuilt 700r4, and a pretty tired 305. It seems to drive pretry good, I drove it home from 3 hours away. It came with front drop springs, and rear lowering shackles, and a new grill, and a new sport bumper for the rear. So far all I've done is replace the driver side window motor, and switch, and cleaned the lock switch, and gave it a once over. I had to put my spare wheels on it, I really should paint them silver. Plan is to install the springs and shackles, try and find a good running cheap 350, fix the body and paint it all black. It also came with new chrome trim for the sides. For the interior I'll put new upholstery on the seat, clean the carpet, and put a dash cap on it.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I have been slow to start working on this project, I have driven it quite a bit, and it seems to be growing on me. The big puff of smoke on start up was getting to me, so I decided to start working on it. I started by pulling all of the emissions stuff off the engine, put valve stem seals in it, swapped in a regular hei distributor, and dropped off the carb for a rebuild. The carb won't be ready for another week, so I thought I would tackle some of the rust. I started on the right box side. I was able to work on it for about 5 hours yesterday, this is how far I got. I hope to get the box side done by the time I get the carb back.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Good start!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Any updates?

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

No updates for now, I put this truck on the back burner for now, while I finish up my winter beater. I did buy a parts truck with a goodwrench 350 in it for this truck though.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I know this one is on the backburner but I just want to keep up with it. When you do get back on it i will be ridding along.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

My winter truck is just about done, so I might get this truck pulled in next week and get some work done on it. I have another project coming in at some point, so I will use this as a fill in project for now.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Always love your builds, looking forward to this one!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Well the tired old 305 in this truck gave up on me! I have too much going on too spend any time working on it, I pulled and resealed a 350 from a parts truck I have. I installed a new oil, water, and fuel pumps, valve stem seals, rear main seal, and all the gaskets. A buddy of mine swapped the engines for me, it was pretty weird having someone do work on one of my trucks! He did a great job though, all I had to redo is swap the plug wires around, as he had the plug boots on the distributor. Now I just need to find a little time to tune the carb for this engine, but for now it runs and drives again.:metal: I had some hooker headers, and a nice exhaust with some flowmaster mufflers I had to install on it. The drivers side dipstick on the 350 didn't work with the manifolds that were on the 305.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Cool. At least she’s running again

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I had to pull this old girl into the shop to put a new heater core in it. I did some general maintenance while it was in here. I couldn't stand the black tube grille that was on it, so I rigged up an aftermarket grille that came with it. It's not set up for the marker lights in the grille, so the bottom corners stick out a little, and the emblem is for an s10, or mini van, somthing I found on ebay. Not perfect, but better than the tube grille.:metal: I got some NOS center caps, and got those installed, they are the best thing on this truck for now. Now I can put some miles on it over the winter and stay warm doing it.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Looks good to me.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Anything new on this one?

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Not much progress on this one, as I have "Dads79gmc" in my shop getting some body work done on it right now. I have been driving it a bunch though getting the bugs worked out after the motor swap. The new parts store fuel pump was causing a bunch of problems, pressure was to high causing flooding, and about 8 mpg! After I figured out what the problem was, I installed a fuel pressure regulator, and have been fine tuning the quadrajet, and I'm getting a little over 16 mpg now. I can live with that till I can get a wide band o2 kit ordered up. This one has definitely grown on me though, I think I will do a nice build to keep on it.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Well, I have been rounding up parts for this old truck, and I'm going to start digging in to it soon. The plan still remains the same, kind of a low buck refresh. Body wise, it needs floor pans, cab corners, rockers, and I have a right bed side, so I'm going to swap that out instead of fixing the one that's on there now. I think I'm going to keep it 2 tone, but go black and charcoal grey. And I will do a black spray in bed liner. The engine and transmission are working good, so they will just get cleaned up, and a couple seals replaced. All of the suspension bushings are going to be replaced, and the frame, and components will get cleaned up and painted. I have new fuel tanks, and a tank selector valve, and I have a 2 1/2"x4" lowering kit that I'm going to install while I'm at it. It won't be a super fast build, as I will have other small projects coming throughout the winter.:metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Cool! Keen to watch this one too!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Know me I’ll b watching

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

You about done with this? lol!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I have started working on this old truck, but it's not quite done yet Mike.:lol: I decided to start with the bed, so I pulled it off, and removed the right side, and end panel. While the bed was off I installed new cab bushings, then test fit the new bed side, and end panel, and test fit the bed back on the truck. Of course with aftermarket market stuff it's not just bolt on and go! So with the box on, and off a couple more times, I got the panels to fit pretty nice, cleaned up, and primed the mating flanges on the floor, and got the bed put together. I also got the fuel tanks removed, and the 4" drop spring hangers, and shackles installed before my final test fit of the bed. With a few shims, everything lines up nicely, and after a bunch of pushing, and pulling the tailgate gaps are acceptable. Now the bed can be removed again for body work, and paint.:metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

What kind of work did you have to do to get the bedsides to work? Just curious.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Looking good Boss!!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I have made some progress in the last couple of days, I got the front end, seat, carpet, and right door taken off. With that stuff out of the way I was able to get started on the right rocker panel. On the right side I got lucky, all I have to replace is the bottom 2" of the inner rocker, the outter rocker, and a very small patch on the cab corner. The floors have some minor surface rust, and the kick panel is fine. With the door on and off a few times, I got the outter rocker trimmed to fit nice, then pulled it back apart to do the inner rocker. I like to leave as much of the factory metal there as possible to fit the outter rocker, even if it's rusty, get it tacked in, put the door and fender on, and get the fit up nice, and make some alignment marks so that it goes back in the exact same spot after I take it back off. I find if you just cut everything out at once, it's too easy to end up off a little off here and there, as the aftermarket parts don't fit correctly without some work.:metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Some great learning points there! Great job Jayson.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Any update?

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

With the right side wrapped up, I got a good start on the left side. I got the floor, kick panel, inner, and outter rocker cut out and replaced. I have a small portion of the cab corner that needs to be done, but I'm going to take care of that when I have the cab off of the frame. That takes care of most of the rust repair on this truck, there is still a small spot on the left door to cut out and replace, and a little work to do on the left fender lip, but it is pretty minor.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Booom!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I had some time to work in the shop last night, I decided to tackle the front suspension before I finish tearing the truck down. All 4 control arms got cleaned up, blasted, new bushings, ball joints, and painted, and we're installed with drop spindles, and springs. The original plan was to do a 2/4 drop, but I have decided to go with a 4 1/2"/6". :metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

:metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Sweet

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Making some progress, slow but sure! Keep in mind this is a dirt cheap freshening up, not a restoration.:smoke: The idea is to take care of the few small leaks I have, new bushings all the way around, basically take care of all the wear items that get skipped over on old beaters. I will clean up the frame and shoot some paint on it to clean things up, but it's not getting fully detailed with accent colors, just some satin black to keep things neat and clean. The metal brake and fuel lines are in good shape, so they will stay in place, but all the rubber lines will be replaced with new ones. I also picked up new fuel tanks, and brackets, and a new selector valve. The plan for this evening is to pull the engine, and transmission, get them on stands, and start cleaning things up.:metal:

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Got the engine and transmission cleaned up.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

:metal::gmc2:Looking good! Nice fender in the background!!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Well, your picture of the cab on the MaxJax has answered something for me. Do you have them mounted to the floor or do you just move them around as needed? How do you like them?

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I love the maxjax! There are anchors in the floor to bolt them down, but when not in use all you need to do is remove 5 bolts per column and tip it back onto the built in wheels and roll it away. I only ever move the outside column, and I mounted the pump on the wall, and ran extended lines up the wall and across the ceiling. The system comes portable. Money well spent. The biggest vehicle I have is an 08 suburban, and it lifts that easy, it has a 6000 pound rating.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I had some time to scrape, wire wheel, and wash the frame, gave it a coat of epoxy primer, and some low gloss black.:metal: When I was pulling the motor I noticed a little more slack in the timing chain than I like, so I installed a new one. I was getting ready to put the transmission on the motor to slam back into the frame, and found a cracked flex plate, so I'll have to pick up a new one before the motor and tranny go back in. Also got the new fuel tanks, and brackets installed.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

Everything looks great....sorry for the set-back on the flexplate. You are moving fast! Mike

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I had a small block do that to the flex plate, except mine had completely broken out the center...

Good catch since you had it apart.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

I picked up a new flexplate and got it installed, and slammed the engine and transmission in the frame. I took the 2" springs out and put the stock ones back in, so it is 2 1/2" spindles in the front, and 4" in the rear. It was just a little too low. I got the front shocks in, and got the exhaust installed, but the tail pipe is just tacked in for now, so I can adjust it once the bed is installed. I must be getting old, I took out the hooker headers, and flowmaster mufflers, and put the manifolds on with a y pipe, and a regular quiet muffler! It even lined up with the factory hangers.:metal: The plan for tonight is to get the rear end serviced, and painted, and I have a few more leaf spring bushings to install, and I'll get the drive shat painted and installed. If things go well, I'll get the front calipers painted and installed, with new hoses.

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

man you work fast! Looking great!

Re: 85 GMC dirt cheap refresh
 

:smoke:Looks great Sir! Nice “Y” pipe!