18th Anniversary

[special-K]

It was Memorial Day weekend when I went and got my '72 GMC K2500. Seems like only yesterday.

At a stop in WVA on the way home with it:




First thing I did was put the wheels and tires on off of the '72 K/20 Cheyenne Super I had that was waiting restoration:



In '04 I picked up the '72 K/20 Highlander I used to have and the Sierra was unchanged

[special-K]

I wanted the 9.75 steel wheels for the Highlander so I swapped the tires over to a set of 8.25 Turbines. Actually, at the time ('07) I was going to sell the GMC and wanted to keep the wheels

[Getter-Done]

Happy Anniversary to your truck.
I really like the back bumper on that Truck.

[yuccales]

Love the look of those turbine wheels. That Sierra is a good looking old work truck!

[kingsolver72]

18 years eh? That’s a pretty good run. I’ve never owned a 67-72 4x4 or 67-72 gmc and you got em both in one truck... pretty cool. Nice truck!

[72 tigger]

Congrats, so what do you plan on giving her in two years for your 20th?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

Happy Anniversary to your truck.
I really like the back bumper on that Truck.

Me too. You never saw those Bartens back east. One thing I liked when I found it was the 'truck' accessories... saddle tank doors, cargo hooks, 5th wheel hitch moint/hoist for platter/trans temp gauge in blank cluster hole.

Originally Posted by yuccales

Love the look of those turbine wheels. That Sierra is a good looking old work truck!

Thanks, although that was not the intended use. I bought it to take the place of the family camper, '71 C/20 Cheyenne Custom Camper w/10' slide in. I planned to mount a 4Wheel pop-up camper w/8' floor so my youngest and I could do remote camping, tote kayaks up top, and haul a cycle (or whatever) trailer. Life got in the way of that. Unfortunately I ended up selling those wheels. I had plans for the set of slots I had. I was in K/20-K2500 heaven back then. Also had a '70 K/20 with turbines, those turbines, aluminum slots, and wide Kelsey Hayes powder coated white.

Originally Posted by kingsolver72

18 years eh? That’s a pretty good run. I’ve never owned a 67-72 4x4 or 67-72 gmc and you got em both in one truck... pretty cool. Nice truck!

This was my first GMC and up to that point (before my internet use) it seems to be the first higher end 4wd. The perfect mate for the '72 K/20 Cheyenne Super Custom Camper I had all the parts to restore. In '04 I got the '72 K/20 Highlander Custom Camper to knock around in and slap the racks on, if need be.

Originally Posted by 72 tigger

Congrats, so what do you plan on giving her in two years for your 20th?

Full frame-off, Cummins/NV4500, saddle tooled leather interior, custom made 16" aluminum slots, Hagan converted am/fm, winch/bumper, headache rack done similar to the ladder racks, and change the oil that's been in it since I bought it

I ran it quite a few years on those turbines, until tires started cracking.

[special-K]

I threw a set of stock 16" rims (235/85s) on and went with those maybe 5 years. The shocks were awful, front springs sagged badly, and I had a set of 9.75 slots with 35/12.50 BFG A/Ts screaming at me to be put on, so I did new 4" springs and put them on.







Here's a little video of the short lived aluminum slots era:

72 K2500 Going To Work - YouTube

[special-K]

Yes, I switched out the blue interior for saddle. It was a sharp combo and how it was built. but plans are to change color once I restore it. The longer story is I really needed a seat for my '71 Wrecker that came with a late-70s seat. I had bought an economy scroll seat cover that LMC offers that was pure crap. So I pulled that seat, dyed it black, and the wrecker got a Cheyenne interior. I took the blue Custom Deluxe seat from the '71 K/10 SWB for the K2500. Then a friend who was redoing a Highlander had a new take off Highlander cover and needed a Custom Deluxe seat, so I put all the saddle interior in that I had gotten for the Cheyenne Super's resto (which was gone by then) and the bench seat from the camper truck (also gone) and that's what's in it now.

And I never mentioned in '04 I had swapped the engine from the Cheyenne Super I had rebuilt in '91 since that was in moth balls. The reason you see leaves piles on the cowl is I had a spark plug that chose to be a permanent fixture in the head, which lead to removal and discovery of coolant leakage by way of a hairline crack. Didn't smoke but did have a sticky valve when started up cold. So the lift went on while it sat waiting for head work.

Just had to run those slots and lift it up. Even got a cheap lift so I wouldn't have to wait. I loved the new version of the truck... for about 500 miles. Then POW!! flap flap flap flap



So on went the 255/85s on 7" Accuride wheels I stole off my '95 K2500 Suburban

[Ol Blue K20]

Happy Anniversary!!!

[Steeveedee]

Happy Anniversary! I've never had a vehicle for that long a time.

[CG]

Good grief, that's amazing. At least in my world. I may end up owning my panel that long but it really doesn't count because its never been on the road.

[too much stuff]

And here I thought you were fairly new to these trucks...….
Always liked those trucks of yours.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Happy Anniversary!!!

Dale, I can hear you singing that now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SnsbIsUTEs

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Happy Anniversary! I've never had a vehicle for that long a time.

I think 18 might be my max. Except my '90 FLST I sought new/still have and '92 K3500 from new-'14. But bikes and new vehicles are another thing. My camper truck I had '88-'04, Cheyenne Super K/20 '90-'07,

Originally Posted by CG

Good grief, that's amazing. At least in my world. I may end up owning my panel that long but it really doesn't count because its never been on the road.

I've had my '67 project since '06 (chassis '06/cab '94), but can't start counting until it actually becomes a truck. Right now it's a rolling '71 chassis with a bare '72 cab... and the rest spread about my buildings.

Originally Posted by too much stuff

And here I thought you were fairly new to these trucks...….
Always liked those trucks of yours.

Actually, this is my son's truck, but it's in my driveway. He turned me onto to these trucks when he bought it. Who'da knew they were right there most all my life and I never knew they were so popular.

It's kinda funny how I've had so many pictures of my trucks since digital cameras, which was pretty much the same time I started going online and found this place. What's funny is I pretty much dropped out of nut & bolt restorations a few years before. Nothing real intentional. I still plan to do some, but I got to where I just like driving/using them with love.


Since NSRA allows up to '72 now, I don't have any old iron these days, And I love the Western Maryland Street Rod Assoc's Labor Day Run, I bopped on up the Cumberland and stayed a couple days. Since my truck doesn't really fit the street rod theme (I just took advantage so I could stay inside), I put it along the loop road in front of the new caretakers quarters that was under construction. Pretty neat that the contractor had left his older white GMC ValueVan onsite. We went together like bread and butter. I actually got such comments. At night I pulled down along the Potomac river and made camp. This is my favorite event of the year. Cool rods, not a show, mostly owner-built rides owned by local (region) mountain folk, activities, cruise the grounds/Cumberland/surrounding area, hang out

[special-K]

That was '16. I got my new wheels and tires in '17 I guess (285/75-16s on 8" Wheel Vintiques 62s) and not much new since, just drive and take care of it. I just did rear axle bearings/brakes. I hope to do new exhaust this summer. Same everything from headers to tailpipe since '04, it's time. As soon as I can I want to get front & rear Tuff Country EZ-lifts. The hood needs to be stripped bare and painted. The paint has decided to start cracking and curling off after all these years. I've said this before, hopefully I'll fix the rockers and one cab corner next winter. Ain't happening during it's driving season, that's for sure

[special-K]

One more set of pictures. Bored yet? Last Spring ('18) I picked up a cap/topper/canopy/camper/shell/thing you put on the bed and you can get underneath it. It's really light and simple for easy on/off. It was cheap and had the mill finish aluminum trim & window frames. The bubble windows are all cloudy and the white scrolling that was on them is faded off. For the clear glass I picked up some tangerine stained glass tint. I laid it on thick. The color is perfect for a woodgrain paint base as well, which is what I'm considering. But the tan is ok for now

[kingsolver72]

Looks sharp! I like the shell.
I’m driving down to Leroy Ks either today or tomorrow to look at an aluminum shell. It’s got red paint, so if I end up buying it I’ll probably scuff the paint a bit. Probably a 65 mile drive one way. I think I’ve got everything dialed in as far as tune up/maintenance goes. Been driving the truck quite a bit this spring. I’d like to drive it out to Colorado this year sometime.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by special-K

One more set if pictures. Bored yet?

Heck no! That truck is screaming "lets go camping".

[special-K]

Originally Posted by kingsolver72

Looks sharp! I like the shell.
I’m driving down to Leroy Ks either today or tomorrow to look at an aluminum shell. It’s got red paint, so if I end up buying it I’ll probably scuff the paint a bit. Probably a 65 mile drive one way. I think I’ve got everything dialed in as far as tune up/maintenance goes. Been driving the truck quite a bit this spring. I’d like to drive it out to Colorado this year sometime.

I'm glad to hear you've been driving it a good bit. You were considering letting it go because you weren't at one point... IIRC. You found the best solution for that... drive it! Would you paint it white? I have an ancient qt of Martin Senour Medium Olive Poly acrylic enamel. Never opened it, still sound like liquid. Want it??

Originally Posted by yuccales

Heck no! That truck is screaming "lets go camping".

I just had to move the camper to get to my axle pile to set off a pair of '70 K/20 rears today, and said to my son I wish we were putting it on for a camping trip. Well overdue, hopefully soon! All I've done is camp at Carlisle swap meets Spring & Fall last year. I may run it to the ATCA national show at Macungie, PA Fathers day weekend... about 3 hrs away. It's really loud in the rain. I think I need to stick some foam up on the ceiling, as much as I hate to.


One thing I hope to do this summer is get some tunes going on in this truck. Never had any. I picked up a pair of '72 scroll door panels a couple years ago for cheap because they had 6 1/2" speakers cut into them. What kind of idiot does that?? Hmmm... cheap sought after door panels because they have speakers mounted. Sounds like a solution to me. Set my good ones aside and enjoy the music. Thank you, you idiot! (I'd never do that ). I dyed them saddle and all I need is the source of sound that fits the dash... which I probably have


One of my favorite local areas to camp is around Harpers Ferry, WVA. only about 45 minutes from home


Then there's the Shenandoah Valley


I worked out of town last summer and took the '72. I used a pop-up camper, though, and did some exploring in the early hours before starting work. I checked out the Swatara Canal, early American canal from Reading, PA to the Sesquehana R, @ Middletown, PA. This was a warehouse along it near the Susquehana

[kingsolver72]

You’ve got a good memory. I was going to sell the truck, I had it over price because I knew I’d regret selling it. Thanks for the offer on the paint but I went and looked at the shell yesterday afternoon and it’s a little too rough for what I want.
Looks like you have some good camping spots up in your neck of the woods. I like your idea of getting around early to explore creation in an old truck before work but, I’d probably not make it to job if I did that. Your rig looks like its ready take you into the wild or get your tool box to the job site. Bet you could get toss a canoe in the back.

[special-K]

Exactly right. That's a kayak rack I use for ladders! That Swatara Creek is a good paddling river. There's a park where it meets the Susquehanna.

I sleep no later than 5, so I head out for coffee and breakfast somewhere interesting and , usually, get back to start about 8 o'clock. On that job in PA the homeowner (fellow member here) was working with me and that was a good starting time for him. I found a huge flea market the one day, but had to head back before it opened.

Found 3-mile Island, too, across the river. A real contrast between that and the countryside



Last 4th of July I had my older son and his gal meet me at The Great Frederick Fair grounds to watch the Barbara Fritchey Classic, the oldest continuously running motorcycle race in America. It's a small purse AMA event. Backed the truck up to the top of the back stretch, chairs in the bed, tarp over the ladders, and grille in front of truck

[special-K]

I have to show more of that

[custom10nut]

Happy Anniversary! On the 16th of May, I celebrated the 27th Anniversary with my truck. My son was 9 weeks old when I brought her home, and grew up in it, so he only knows “the truck”. He spent many hours working in, under, and around it with me, and in those 27 years he is the only other person to drive her.
I just wish I would take the time to take more pictures like you did.
He’s a Tank Mechanic in the Army now and the truck is his when my time is done.
You have a great photo collection full of memories there

[sloGMC]

looks like you installed the cargo hooks, where'd you find 'em?

[special-K]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

Happy Anniversary! On the 16th of May, I celebrated the 27th Anniversary with my truck. My son was 9 weeks old when I brought her home, and grew up in it, so he only knows “the truck”. He spent many hours working in, under, and around it with me, and in those 27 years he is the only other person to drive her.
I just wish I would take the time to take more pictures like you did.
He’s a Tank Mechanic in the Army now and the truck is his when my time is done.
You have a great photo collection full of memories there

That is great to hear! My younger son is the same age. He came home from the hospital in the '90 Blazer we had and I had it right up until he got to driving age. He got to drive it around here on his learners permit, things were such that I needed it sell it to keep afloat. I had always hoped it would become his.

I thank the digital camera for my good photo history... since about '04. Very hit or miss on my vehicles prior to that. Some I have one or two and others none. Some just got caught in the background or one corner shown. Back then I'd have people asking "Why are taking a picture of your truck?", as if the nothin was cameras are for taking pictures of people. It did cost you money and take effort. But I've always been into photography.

Originally Posted by sloGMC

looks like you installed the cargo hooks, where'd you find 'em?

I did install them, but they came with the truck. I found the truck in Hemmings Motor News and they weren't in the pictures. When I got to the truck they were laying in the bed with all the screws still there, like he took them off for pictures. They are accessories from the era and were originally chrome. Some chrome was popped off so I blasted them and hit them with Spray Cast. They have been ground to fit the body contour on the bottom. I love them, although I have never used them.

Aw heck, mo' photo:

On our way to the truck show at Carlisle loaded down


Home's just around the bend. Made lots of friends and had good times to reflect on


Or not!


Talking about old Tonkas in the "Facetruck" thread in General Disco just this morning. Spring Carlisle '10. Letting a few go from my "museum"


This is the coolest picture of it I have