My '71 GMC
 

Hi all, been reading here on the forum since I bought my truck 2 months ago, now I finally got it to my work. It's got a bit of rust on the body, but that will be taken care of after it's road-worthy. I'm currently swapping out the hydrolocked I6 for a 350 out of a '73 Camaro. I pulled the 6banger out today and hopefully will have the new motor in tomorrow. The PO tried to rewire the car himself with a "custom" switch panel, so I'm going to use a fuse block I have laying around out of a Olds Alero (I'm a GM tech so I have lots of random parts laying around :D) and rewire the entire truck. Here are some pics:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0140.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0144.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0145.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0147.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0149.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0150.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2713.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2716.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2710.jpg

Re: My '71 GMC
 

More pictures:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2711.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0168.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/SSPX0171.jpg

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Welcome to the board! Is that really hay sticking out of the glove compartment? A true farm truck.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Doesn't look too bad, I spent alot of time in a 71 GMC in the late 80's. Looks like the late 70's early 80's took a toll on that truck with the sun roof and tear drop hood! Have fun with it!

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Some progress today, got the motor dropped in, just waiting on tomorrow's paycheck to buy some headers and going to the junkyards Saturday to find an alternator and all the pullies/brackets I need. Hopefully in the next week or 2 I will at least be able to fire up the engine. Also I know I should have cleaned up the trans and painted it before I put it in, but I want to make sure it works and the clutch/pressure plate is good first before I spend the time doing so. With access to a lift at work, it's not like it's hard to take it back out and clean it up then :bo2:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2719.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2720.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2721.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2722.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2723.jpg

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Lookin good so far! Don' forget to check the brakes, etc before you drive it. I had a buddy almost go through a parts store but luckily there was a curb there.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

It will get all new brakes, front to back, before I even drive it. There is zero fluid in the entire system cause with no springs in the rear, the bed pinched/broke the brake line on the rear axle. It'll get a new MC, new brake lines all the way down, new front calipers and pads, new cylinders and shoes in the rear. This is definitely a budget build to at least get it on the road, but I know better to spend the little $ I have on the important stuff instead of making the appearance look good first. I may be polishing a turd with a good looking motor at first, but given time and money I hope to bring this to show quality.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Sounds like you have the right idea. Keep up the nice work!

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Looks like he might have had a Pack Rat move into the glove box...:)

LockDoc

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Sure did, it was parked for 8 yrs outside of a 2 stall horse barn.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...0/100_2715.jpg

Re: My '71 GMC
 

That may be the shortest spid I've seen.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Looks good man keep us informed, Loved the sick hood scoop PO had over the six banger:metal:

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Looks like a bunny should live in that glove box. lol. Nice simple truck. Keep'em coming.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Looks like youre making good progress. What distributor are you going to use? If HEI,not moving the engine forward to the V8 position, it is going to be really close to the firewall.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Is it just me or is there something unusuall about the bed?

Re: My '71 GMC
 

I am running an Accel HEI. I just dropped the distributor in and have about 1.5 inch of clearance between the firewall. I got lucky as I had not even considered distributor clearance with keeping the motor back :metal:.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Good, sometimes they won't fit without massaging the fw. At the rate you are going, you should be driving it soon.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

You referring to the rear axle being forward from the drop so the tire doesn't match the opening in the bed?

Re: My '71 GMC
 

The bed isn't bolted on right now so it's not exactly where it should be (waiting on a bed bolt kit) and the rear springs aren't in.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

I`d say it`s coming along.I bet you can`t wait to hear it run.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

It may just be the picture but it looks like the wheel opening is further back than normal.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

That's typical when you do a basic drop because the trailing arms aren't straight. Since he doesn't have the springs in it's basically the same thing. The trailing arms are pulling the rear end forward.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

Looks like somewhere down the line someone cut about 8 inches out of the bed between the wheel wells and tailgate. It looks just like what Kevin did to lowbuck, with out cutting the 12 inches out of the front part of the bed. Maybe it is just the pic playing tricks on me. :lol:

Re: My '71 GMC
 

:lol: yeah it's messin with ya. Look at the very first pic.

Re: My '71 GMC
 

I see it now. I was like, wait that pic looks like a normal bed and then I looked at the last one and it didn't look right. I think I'm tired!! :lol: