Out of the Ditch = The Rebuild Begins ('72 GMC)

[GASoline71]

Thanks flashed! Really looking forward to that da. But for now... baby steps.

Made some more progress today. I'm working swings so I had some time this morning to mess around. Got the seat out and the steering column out. Also removed the old crappy Kraco stereo that was in there.

I also got under the dash and started yanking a lot of dead headed wires out from who knows how many PO's before me. Anyways... I ended up carefully pulling out the intact wire harness that goes to the dealer installed cruise control from 1972. I still have all the parts from the whole unit. I am not 100% sure it even works. But I have all the parts. I am thinking about getting rid of it as it just takes up more room on the drivers side under the hood. That area is already busy enough with the alternator, power steering pump and power brake booster all located over there. So if there is an interest here I am probably willing to sell the whole get up. Not sure what it's worth but will let any interested if I decide to cut it loose.

Gary

[Hawghauler]

Hey Gasoline,
Glad to see you back. I've been as bad with my truck. I didn't do any of the things I'd intended to do to my truck last summer, and now wish I had. I have piles of new stuff ready to go on her, and just never seem to have the time, or the desire to dig in and get it done.
As for the cruise control, I'd probably hold onto that. It may be something you want to refurbish and re-install later. You don't see that option very often, and down the road you may say to yourself..."why the heck did I get rid of that!" Just box it up and set it aside.
Good luck with your house.

[hamjet]

Yup, it's factory, heres mine. A little different design, but mines a 69..

[cericd]

Originally Posted by hamjet

Yup, it's factory, heres mine. A little different design, but mines a 69..

Hey Joe,
yours is different. Your scroll is squared off and his is rounded. Also, your cloth is a different pattern. What year truck is your pic from?

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by Hawghauler

Hey Gasoline,
Glad to see you back. I've been as bad with my truck. I didn't do any of the things I'd intended to do to my truck last summer, and now wish I had. I have piles of new stuff ready to go on her, and just never seem to have the time, or the desire to dig in and get it done.
As for the cruise control, I'd probably hold onto that. It may be something you want to refurbish and re-install later. You don't see that option very often, and down the road you may say to yourself..."why the heck did I get rid of that!" Just box it up and set it aside.Good luck with your house.

Funny you mention that. My good friend Matt and I were talking about it at work last night. He said the exact same thing but added "Mark my words..." at the beginning.

So I took the harness and threw it in the box in the shed with all the other cruise control parts for a later date. Maybe even on a different truck.

Gary

[GASoline71]

Ripped the floor mat out and found a bit more rust than I wanted to see. But a lot of it is surface rust in the floor boards. Of course the rockers, kick panels and forward floor corners need to be replaced. One of the many PO's put some sort of plastic foamy liner under the original mat that did nothing but hold moisture. It was still damp in spots when I pulled everything up.

Was kind of "theraputic" to get back into this thing and spending a couple hours on the old heap. It's awesome to have the flame roaring again to get this sucker back on the road.

Also a member that is local to me has most if not all of the sheet metal and bumper that I need. I'll be making a road trip soon, to meet him and pick up those parts. Again this board is amazing how it networks us all together! Not sure if he wants to be named as he got a hold of me via PM. If he does, I will give credit where credit is due.

Thanks for all the well wishes and kind thoughts from all of you. I can't even begin to tell you all how much it has helped.

Gary

[GASoline71]

Anybody need a pair of door jamb tins? I'll let them go super cheap!!!

Gary

[54blackhornet]

Gary keep up the great work ! Simon says he will come over and lend a hand "paw" if you need any moral support...

[Steve-W]

Just read through your 'creeping death' and this thread, keep up the good work.
you'll get the truck back in pristine condition! suscribed.

[GASoline71]

Appreciate the nod Steve-W. It truly is a labor of love with these old heaps.

Gary

[GASoline71]

Received an envelope from SMS Auto Fabrics yesterday. I would say the material they have for my bench seat is a dead on match!

Gary

[Gregski]

glad you're finding out a way to buff out that small dent, LOL, JK, you do great work and fast, keep the updates coming we are all pulling for you and that '72

[GASoline71]

Quick update. Been a bit... We just sold our house and bought another one with a few acres. It's been a thrash-fest around here getting ready move. If you ever think you have too many car and truck parts... move across town... then you'll know you do!

Will be back into the rig sometime in late May early June after all this house stuff settles down.

Gary

[hamjet]

Originally Posted by cericd

Hey Joe,
yours is different. Your scroll is squared off and his is rounded. Also, your cloth is a different pattern. What year truck is your pic from?

Wow, didn't check this thread in a while, sorry. This is a 69 custom 10 with black custom cloth seat cover. (630)

[swamp rat]

Thanks for the update!

[GASoline71]

Here we sit at the new place. Slow and steady wins the war... I guess. Poor old truck has been relegated to sitting under a tarp alongside the house until there is room in the garage from all of our junk that is still staged in there after the move.

But... we are getting closer to yarding out the engine and trans, and getting ready to swap to the new frame.

Also... I attached a couple pics of the hood taken from the rear near where it would mate up to the cowl. The drivers side is still in good shape. But the passenger side is the one that is tweaked from the wreck. It's pinched right along the crease line in the hood. You cats think this can be bent back into shape?

Gary

[swamp rat]

Welcome back, did you stay in Whidbey?

[GASoline71]

Yep... we did. Just moved across the island.

Gary

[Joesjunk]

Is the black two tone roof factory on your truck? What does the SPID say your colors are?

[GASoline71]

SPID says stock colors are Medium Green and White. The black top was there when I bought the truck. I do believe that there was a possible dealer option to have the top painted black, but I cannot confirm nor deny if mine was done in 1972.

Gary

[GASoline71]

Made some progress yesterday as my buddy Matt stopped by and we yarded out the 355 and the TH350. Which was one of the biggest obstacle for me to get moving on this. Feels good to get over a big hurdle.

Gary

[DillonGMC]

Subscribed

[cable666guy]

Just read both threads, killer truck ! Hope you're keeping at it !

[GASoline71]

Progress!

Working swing shifts this week so got some stuff done this morning.

Removed the heater box and core, Removed all the front SS brake lines I had installed about 3 years ago. Sucks that the fittings are a tad rusty , but the lines look fantastic. Finally removed the fuel tank as well. Looks like the cab will be moving to the 1969 frame next week!

Gary

[swamp rat]

Nice to see some progress.