Kimmy's Jimmy a '79 Sierra 15 build

[Purcell69]

April 2022, after I retired from the PD, I picked up a 1979 GMC Sierra 15 to build for my wife. Her first truck was a 1978 C-10 "Big Ten" package that we sold years ago, (dumb move, but Squarebodies hadn't become a thing yet).

The 350 from her Big Ten had been rebuilt twice, (she used it to tow horse trailers up and down the mountains of Arizona). After we got together, the 350 dropped a valve seat requiring a rebuild for the 3rd time. At that same time, I had a 454 that I was building to put in Ethyl, my 1957 Chevy 3200. I put a cam more appropriate for towing duty, and the 454 went into her Big Ten. This setup served us well for more than 10 years, but the relocation to Oklahoma began taking its toll in the form of rust.

The 350 that came out of the Big Ten ended up getting bored 0.060 over to clean up the damage from the exhaust valve seats. A pair of 487X casting heads were rebuilt and matched to some 9.0 to 1 flattop pistons in the new, larger bores, and the engine ended up in Ethyl until I did the Dodge Ram chassis swap.

I kept that 350 stored the past 10 years, sealed up in a state of preservation, tucked in a dark, dry corner of my carport, waiting to be put back in again.

The GMC came as a non-running, (but allegedly a modified 350), second owner, same family truck. For an Oklahoma truck, it was reasonably clean. While the hood was off when I arrived to look at the truck, I had hoped to be able to get the engine running again. If not, the 350 was waiting for a new home.

After a year of sitting, it was time to see if I could salvage the GMC's 350 or not.

https://youtu.be/EnmqnOT8mS0

https://youtu.be/WpID0yNCb_4

https://youtu.be/K7iViZR7cxY

https://youtu.be/u8WH_NGcmcE

https://youtu.be/Ry0c-djmhwc

-Joe

[Purcell69]

https://youtu.be/gb_bfs7Anc4

https://youtu.be/urUHtEWaryY

https://youtu.be/pxyt3K-s1H4

-Joe

[Purcell69]

The engine going into the GMC is one I built to use in my 1957. It only has 500 miles on it and has been stored for 10 years. I’m getting the dust and grime off it so I can swing it in next week, weather permitting.


The GMC motor was garbage.

-Joe

[Purcell69]

And the next video installment is up on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/bz3K_6oFbwI

-Joe