'72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

So, I've had MANY...I can't even count. My first car(at 15) was a '68 Chevelle SS396...I was ruined. I've always gravitated toward the Squares, but my main obsession has always been the drive train I first owned.

i recently changed the locks, got custody of my sons, and had to sell my Square to finance the happiness of my sons, myself and my house....The Beast is gone;)

Anyways, I started looking for another. I've always been fond of the '73-'80s. As I was looking on CL, I sarted thinking the '67-'72s were pretty cool. I, not that picky...again, it's the drive train mainly.

4 days ago I was talking with my buddies son, who randomly mentioned a truck a friend of his dad's was selling...a '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside with a big block 400(I explained there is no such thing, he insisted is was a big block). A couple hours later I was looking at it.

Dude comes out and said, it was a family truck from TX willed to a 6 year old nephew. He was given the truck and money to fix it up. Said he put $7k in the drive train and drove it 200 miles in 10 years. On the kids 16th birthday...he tried to give it to him, and he didn't want it. It sat 2 years and he fired it up. He said "It blew the rear main seal, and I'm not mechanically inclined." There was no oil at there rear of the engine.

I looked under it and saw a 12 bolt rear, a TH400 and a Big Block. Told him I'd give him his asking price minus towing...he held his hand out.

I got it home, put a battery in it, fired in 10 seconds...sounded like 4 Harley's and lost 2 quarts of oil in one minute...the leak was from the oil pressure guage, the brass tube was snapped.

I took off the bumpers, rubbed off some rust stains, changed the oil....it is wickedly fast. It's a 402, which is a 396 w/454 head because GM ran out of 396 heads.... I'm going to drop it 3"/5" amongst a mess of other things.

Here are some pics. I gave him $1000, minus $75 for towing...


http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pskfqlqrpj.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3fvzybvw.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psiljflj6l.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psptssu8su.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psek8n6njn.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Congrats ,you stole that truck.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I was thinking of a vanity plate...STOLEN


BUT in AZ the Historic plates are solid copper, and you get 2... one to bolt up and one for shows.....

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psgdnqraxp.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Great score.
You may be interested in this. There is a big block 400. http://ls3registry.macswebs.com/tech/trivia.htm
A 402 is a .030 over bore 396. Nothing to do with the heads. Although yours may have 454 heads.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Time to check the block stamp lol


I'll be right back lmmfao

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I'll be damned, it's an over bored 396

Thanks for the info:)

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I'd give you $1000 PLUS towing LOL! .......Holy crap thats a story! ....

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I guess there are great deals still out there, you got a screaming deal! nice truck!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

just for grins how about a shot of the SPID (inside glovebox door)

First short step I have seen with a bigblock from the factory if it is original

not that I have seen a ton but my first

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Cool truck, and a great price too!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Want to double your money? LOL, what a score.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I had no idea it was there, thanks....more mysteries solved lol

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psetsbbjcu.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Great deal!!!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

1000???? Holy ****!!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Very cool, factory hot rod!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

"Bumper" and LED tail lights...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8jq8sksj.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psnp0yebvb.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pslari3o8v.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psvyccs1b9.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psko2wpr6t.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8nub38hu.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Thats amazing! I have a 1971 GMC Sierra Grande that was originally a 396 truck, unfortunately was taken out and a 1972 Cadillac 472 was stuffed in there! Great truck!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

What a score! I'm in to see what you do with the truck.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Subscribed, great deal on a fantastic truck. Cool story too. Welcome to the forum

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Great buy & a nice find. Good luck with your new found project. Got to love factory big block and turbo 400... let us know if we can help ya.... Casey

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Did you make that bumper? or purchase where?

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

awesome find! gotta love the big block short beds... :metal::metal::metal:

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I made it, really more of a license plat holder lol

It's THIN, just some scrap I had laying around. Kinda matches the rails.
I'll get some thick stuff and make something similar soon.

PS...I'm not a welder, but I can put down a decent bead;)

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Its a clean look, was just curious.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Very cool story and truck. Good to see another :gmc2: getting some love.

:gmc2:

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I dropped a couple trucks before, but not a 67-72.


I did a bunch of measuring today.

The measurements to the tops of each wheel well are 33" if the tires were the same size.
(I didn't figure out if the tops of the wheel wells are a "level" measurement yet, just starting the process)

Now, the tires are 1" shorter in front.

I'm thinking I'll get the drop kit off Summt+drop spindles.
5" drop springs for the rear, and 2" on the front(the spindles are 2.5" drop)

Any minor leveling or rake I need can be adjusted with the wheel/tire setup, it should be minimal.

I'm looking for EVEN, or a VERY slightly higher rear end...




I know many of you have spent the time and money to figure this out already, your experienced comments would be greatly appreciated.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Wheels/tires are the last thing it'll get.

It'll be mini-rubbed, just to the frame...so I can cram 4" wider tires under it.
Until I get it dropped, and see how it sit, choose tire size and all that...I got these to make it look a tiny bit better...


http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pskhdieily.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pskoefcd2x.jpg

...I'm adding up the cost of everything. Realistically, this thing will be completed the way I want it in approximately 1 year. I'm setting my goal for 5/12/2018(birthday)...I always meet my deadlines lol

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

I guess these are hard to find, so I made it look a little nicer. I'll try to work the dents out when I start on the bodywork.

My buddy got one from Classic Industries and was not pleased, paid the $100 shipping to return it.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psaxzucfbj.jpg

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3q3tacr3.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psegyqgsog.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pslvycx2r0.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Found a bumper:)...it'll do for now

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psm6rv0ilo.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5avi28hm.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

A little surgery. Should be all tacked up tomorrow, ready to solid weld...

The rear will be shaved(even with my hand) and welded solid. Smooth except for the GMC cut-out. The rounded rails will be continued all the way around the bed. LED tail lights in the columns on each side...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psb57v1wxz.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1kxrwkms.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psisktv5i4.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Got it all tacked up. I'll finish the welds another day, then bodywork and a coat of white 'til it's time for the real paint job.
After its dropped, I'll make a proper bumper which will cover some of the lower part of the "tailgate"...


http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psf8peep8x.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pswz2nlfzb.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psv8v0svpa.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

It has nothing to do with the heads. A 402 was just a 396 with a .030 overbore. If you bore it another .030 (for a total bore of .060) it becomes a 408, which is what I did to the one in my 1969 Camaro

Chevrolet came out with the 402 in 1970 in light trucks (including El Caminos). They still used the same anemic oval port closed chamber heads that most 396s came with. The only 396s that came with the better heads were the L78 (375HP) and none of the 402s came with those better heads.

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Good enough 'til final bony/paint work, I'll insert the LEDs when I get a minute...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psxkgkuyqx.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psl16d1nhi.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...pswnevfmmk.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Thanks, I was made aware of that earlier in this thread. What my dad taught me was not Gospel lol

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

It happens :lol:

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Likin' it a lot! Great score, diggin' the work so far.

That's the way to recycle newspaper!

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Just grabbing cheap CL parts as I go. Valve covers today from what turned out to be a tweeker living in a pop-up in a storage lot....good times lol

I'm kinda glad my appearance has a calming effect on even the most radical individuals haha...

http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psxqi26qgb.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/...psrwmsuhnv.jpg

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

That was a Summit catalog lmmfao :metal:

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

Finally got the Holley dialed in, it's SO much stronger...was definitely under-carbed.

Now I have to adjust the rockers to get rid of that clatter, this thing doesn't burn a drop of oil.

BB/FTW...


http://youtu.be/IG127rMIIbQ

Re: '72 GMC Shortbed Stepside...last truck
 

So it is...

Lord knows, they send enough of them.

Covers look good, glad she's drinkin' better.