1977 GMC Desert Fox build thread

[Navy_chief]

Guys,
I will be showing the progress of the redo on the DF. I have had alot of vehicles in my life started driving at the age of 16 in 1984 currently 42 have owned over 40 cars and trucks here is the list:
Cars owned
1. 1968 VW bug
2. 1970 Roadrunner 383/4 speed
3. 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed
4. 1970 Charger 500 318/904
5. 1977 Mercury cougar 351W/auto
6. 1987 Suzuki samurai
7. 1991 Ford Escort GT
8. 1993 Ford F150 4x4 302/5 speed
9. 1970 Ford F100 302/auto
10. 1968 Dodge D100 (x2) 383/727
11. 1964 Ranchero
12. 1976 El Camino 305/auto
13. 1994 Grand am
14. 1992 Firebird 305/auto
15. 1973 Challenger Ralleye 340/4 speed
16. 1991 Toronado
17. 2001 Mustang Bullitt
18. 2002 Avalanche
19. 2007 HHR
20. 2007 HHR
21. 2000 Honda civic
22. 1979 Trans Am
23. 1971 Trans Am 455/auto Lucerne blue
24. 1971 Trans Am 455/Auto also lucerne blue
25. 1977 Dodge truck 318
26. 1963 Marauder S-55 390/auto
27. 1985 ASC Mercury McLaren
28. 1985 ASC Mercury McLaren
29. 1986 ASC McLaren convert
30. 2005 Kia spectra5
31. 2003 Boss F150 #70
32. 1988 Nissan Desert Runner
33. 1966 P1800 Volvo
34. 1995 Ford contour
35. 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S
36. 2007 Dodge Nitro
37. 1976 Dodge Truck
38. 1971 Dodge Demon
39. 1984 Jeep Scrambler
40. 1978 Jeep Cherokee FS
41. 1977 GMC Desert Fox current project as of June 17, 20

Here is my 2003 Boss F150 and my 1968 Dodge I restored from the ground up back in the mid 90's.




Here is the DF:



Here it is in a brand new country Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eaux5...ature=youtu.be

Removed the plywood piece in the back:




Frame has alot of scale rust thanks to MI salt roads in winter no rot thru tho will be replacing these support brackets soon:



The truck is a very rare prototype with some very rare Hickey enterprise offroad accesories GM archives has no record of this truck which is further supporting the evidence the original owner stated.

The truck was pulled from the assembly line and sent to Cars and Concepts in Clayton,MI to be outfitted for the road test of 2,700 miles in 1977 it is in the four wheeler magazine in July 1977 front cover.

After the test the original owner who worked at the GMC truck line bought it from GM direct so it was never sold thru a dealer hence why there is no paperwork in the archives.

Will post more pics as I progress plan on restoring it but not going the trailer queen route.

[383Chevy]

Awesome i will be watching this and am glad your not going the trailer queen route

[Pop's C-10]

subscribed

[notyo_cheez]

Dig those disco-era decals on the sides. I don't think you'll be able to find reproductions...

Frame kinda looks like mine, maybe not as bad. You're gonna go through WD40 by the case. For MI that's a good find.

[Navy_chief]

Originally Posted by notyo_cheez

Dig those disco-era decals on the sides. I don't think you'll be able to find reproductions...

Frame kinda looks like mine, maybe not as bad. You're gonna go through WD40 by the case. For MI that's a good find.

They are not decals they are actually painted on.

[notyo_cheez]

Sorry my bad.

Are you planning on keeping that look?

[Navy_chief]

Originally Posted by notyo_cheez

Sorry my bad.

Are you planning on keeping that look?

Yes I will be having the stripes repainted on in the correct colors

[firenuttz]

glad to see a build thread chief... subscribed...

[Jonboy]

As crusty as that looks, you might be time and aggrivation ahead by finding another frame, and building it up before you tear into the Fox. A shortbed 4x4 isn't too bad to find around here. I am looking forward to see how it turns out, though.

[383Chevy]

Bumping this to the top

[Navy_chief]

Guys,
still gathering some parts went back with factory exhaust manifolds stock factory carb should have it back from the shop in a week or so and then on to new suspension and body/frame restoration

[Navy_chief]

Updates:

After having the truck with my mechanic buddy for the last month and a half aquiring the stuff to go back to original finally got it back and the teardown begins.







I have no idea what the hell these are they where wired up but just daggling from the frame and rusty ant ideas:




It is going to need some loving but thankfully the frame just has the scale rust a big part will be done away with once the new suspension is installed along with the 8 shocks on the frame.

Looking back I am still torn I think I paid way too much for it I think I should have given the guy about $3,000 instead of the $4,700 but oh well I think it will be worth it in the end.

[Dan1969]

I replied on the other thread you started, here you can see towards the left where those light receptacles go.

[Corts60]

Originally Posted by Navy_chief

Updates:

After having the truck with my mechanic buddy for the last month and a half aquiring the stuff to go back to original finally got it back and the teardown begins.







I have no idea what the hell these are they where wired up but just daggling from the frame and rusty ant ideas:




It is going to need some loving but thankfully the frame just has the scale rust a big part will be done away with once the new suspension is installed along with the 8 shocks on the frame.

Looking back I am still torn I think I paid way too much for it I think I should have given the guy about $3,000 instead of the $4,700 but oh well I think it will be worth it in the end.

Those look like the turn signal buckets for the front. Not sure what they are doing back there.

[luifer76]

nice progress man keep the updates coming....

[80streetcoupe]

Those look to be original wagon wheels from GM but they look to be 10 inches wide. The originals were 8 inches wide. Were they widened???
I remember this truck from the magazine when it was new. If I looked hard enough, I think that I still have that magazine.
Great restoration project, keep up the good work.

[Maxxd07]

Signing up to see this build!

[80streetcoupe]

I looked closer and see that the spare tire rim is the 8 inch wide version, and can see the welds on the rims with the 2 inch extension band to make them 10 inches wide. I have a pr of 5 bolt chevy truck 8 inch rally rims that were widened (to 10 inches) the same way back in the late 80's.

[thirdstreettito]

Love this thing! Are you going to get new decals made or paint the pattern on?

[Navy_chief]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Love this thing! Are you going to get new decals made or paint the pattern on?

Thanks they are painted on no decals yes I will be having the correct paint put back on to keep it original.

[383Chevy]

Anything new with this?

[Navy_chief]

Nothing new as of yet. Got tied up working on my wifes 1971 Half cab 302 bronco. Will probably not get back to my truck until the spring

[DesertFox]

Did you ever find out the paint codes for me? My 78 DF clone is close to going to the body shop

[Navy_chief]

Originally Posted by DesertFox

Did you ever find out the paint codes for me? My 78 DF clone is close to going to the body shop

Sorry for that late reply been working late will try to send you what I have in a day or two.

[Navy_chief]

Originally Posted by DesertFox

Did you ever find out the paint codes for me? My 78 DF clone is close to going to the body shop

This is all I have from the previous owner and his research:
Top Purple stripe is a match for 72-73 British Leyland Black Tulip BL code: BLVC 23 Dupont Laquer: 30015L NON-METALLIC and PPG MAEA 2829 Buckskin

Sorry but I am going to have to research it as well and when I get ready to repaint it will need to match up the paint I have as well.
Good luck
Matt