Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Here is a pretty nice 1970 GMC Sierra Grande SWB dad and I picked up over the weekend. Some of you may have seen this truck on another post but I thought I'd start a build thread to follow along with the progress.

We are currently in the process of putting this one back together to just be a good solid daily driver. We bought the truck off Craigslist. Picked it up on Saturday and drove it home, 312 miles. It never missed a beat. 350 / 3 OTT, matching numbers.

The rockers have been replaced at one point, I'm thinking maybe mid 80's? It looks like around that same time it had a decent paint job. It is the original color combo but has been re-sprayed. You can see overspray on it in places.

It's one of those you can say 'It's all there' and that's exactly what I wanted. A 99% unmolested truck to start a good dependable weekend driver, 4.5 / 6" drop and some 20's. I might put some Magnaflows on it just for the sound .. but that's about it. Just stock looking engine, no big cam, .. just a good looking driver. Anyway, here are some pictures of it. Check back from time to time,..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

More ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Subscribing to follow this thread.
Should be very cool!

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I'm a big fan of this truck already, I'm in!

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Keith, I talked to Stan today. You were about right on the pricing. I have him on standby with an order to just go ahead with the 5 lug disc / drum conversion with 4.5 / 6" drop. .. should turn out pretty cool.

338's ? Coys? I think I'd like Coys a little better (just lighter gray?) Not sure yet. Nothing against 338's ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

I think the Coys would be better,... due to the choices of different backspacings.
I like the new satin wheels (matte grey, but they look black to me),... that member Raull has on his white stepside.
I think these wheels would look good with a lighter colored spoke, and the satin rim.
I'm not a fan of "black centered" wheels,... because I think the design of the wheel gets lost in the black color.
But these wheels have peaked my interest more than any other new wheel from Coys.
Although,... your truck with all the trim might look better with a polished lip.

Go ahead and buy the satin Coys,... so I can see what they will look like on my red '69. Ha.
Plus Coys has their wheels marked down right now.
http://www.coyswheel.com/coys.html

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Chad - Post the photoshop with the chrome wheels for comparison.

POP

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Chrome Coys C5 .. I think I like the Gray ones better, polished lip (?)

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Wow nice buy Chad, truck looks really nice and solid. I would love to pick something like that up as a Daily. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

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Thanks Keith ! (both of you :lol:)

Was the dash bezel painted gold like the glove box lid at one time? It kinda has a goldish tint to it. Never seen one like that.

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GMC's painted the center of the dash bezel and the glovebox door the interior color.
That would be my reason to switch to a black interior.

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Keith - Would a 295/45/20 work on the back or is 295/40 the max you can stuff under a fleet with a 6" drop?

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Lol wrong Keith answering your question Chad but i'm pretty sure Big Al had 295/45/20 on the Rear of his truck with a 4/6 drop before he switched the rims and bagged it. Check with him.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Subscribed for sure!!

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Ha,... to many Keiths.
I personally, don't like the look of the 295/45.
In my opinion they are too tall,... but they will definitely fit.
I think the 295/40 better matches the profile of the 255/40 up front.
The Toyo Proxes are pretty reasonable on their price also.

Plus,... the taller the tire,... the more you have to lower it.
(unless you're thinking about bagging it).

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

good looking truck cant wait for the progress !

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Lol what is funny is that I don't know any other Keith's besides this forum. But I agree with Keith, I think 295/40/20 looks much better. That's whats on the rear of my truck.
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

wow nice truck man, cant wait to see how it turns out. nice find for sure!!

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What a great looking truck. I'll be along for the ride.
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Dad and I worked on the GMC all day yesterday, just pulling things apart, cleaning and detailing, oil change, plugs, checking belts, etc. It looks like a different engine already. I'll post up some pics asap.

When we bought the truck the lady told us it needed valve cover gaskets. It was a little wet around the bottoms, .. no big deal. Apparently it had been leaking for a while but it wasn't bad.

Dad pulled the valve covers off and noticed the gaskets were just smashed flat like they had kept tightening them down to try to stop the leak. They tightened them so much that it got the rocker arms too close and they touched the sides of the valve covers .. yes, little piholes in the side of the valve cover! That's why it was leaking. there were about 3 tiny holes in it where the rockers had worked through! Never seen that before.

.. Now, I'm in search of some good stock looking valve covers for it. The driver's side is good, the passenger side (with the oil cap) is the one I need.

We also measured and it is the later rear end housing. So, 71-72 5 lug swap will be much easier.

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

going to be watching this one. nice.

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You picked up a really sharp truck to build. Lets see more pics...:)

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I have a set of stock valve covers. Let me know what they are worth to you.

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Two holes, bottom and top straight across? I need the pass side more than anything (with the oil fill cap) but I'd buy the set too just to make sure they were matching.

Are they just stock DZ302 finned aluminum? :lol:

Got a picture? No rush ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

$2,500 .. I feel pretty good about it.


Thanks for all the comments guys (I don't know how to do the multiple quote thing?) Just know I appreciate it. I'm honored to hear it coming from all the beautiful trucks / skilled talent on here.

This is just a driver truck, my 68 will be the shiney one. :D No plans to hack on this one too much. just a good static drop and some wheels and drive it ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Wow $2500 what a steal :metal: subscribed
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I will get pics tonight for you and no they are not the finned aluminum:lol: They were off my 72 350.

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I think Dad may have found one locally but if not, .. I might talk to you about it. I just wouldn't want to pay $30 for shipping. Know what I mean? that might kill it.

thanks man ..

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Totally understand hope your dad finds one. Good luck
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Hey - what's good to polish up the trim down the sides? Not mirror like polish, but just knock off about 20yrs of the oxidation, bird poop, etc. I'm thinking I might cut (2000?)and buff this truck to try to wake it up a little. It looks like single stage on it now, and who cares if I add a little patina .. right? :D

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Chad the 295/45/20 fit in there nut like keith said they are way too tall when I had my black coys those are the tires I had in the rear. I would go with the gray center and the polished lip if it was my truck. Here is a pict of my truck with the 295-45-20


I really like this GMC :metal:

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Dude, I kinda like it like that. What if I ran a 255/45/20 on the front to offset it? (the tire sidewall height) My GMC will be an occasional daily and weekend driver. I'm just not sure I want a 40 on the front for potholes etc. Just thought a 45 might be better for just general rim protection (?)

Was this a 6" drop in this picture?

Justin has 265/50 and 295/45 on his truck and it looks killer to me. (The black Cheyenne with red buckets) Humm ..

thanks for helping me though

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Nice truck looks like a great deal

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In for this one too! Looks like a VERY nice truck for the $$$!

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Here's a restored '70 Chevy with "Gold" Custom Cloth interior.
This is also the same steering wheel,... that we were discussing.
(I think this one has been painted to match)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...item33726385d5

Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Excellent score! I like your plans. Keeping it simple is the way to go.

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Any updates yet?
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

Dad and I have ben working on just detailing it out (driver quality) under the hood. the firewall cleaned up really well and I think it's the original paint. It has a small dime sized spot on the driver's side where it looks like maybe the hood hinge bumped it at one time or something ? but other than that it's really clean. Just painting and cleaning what we can get to without pulling the engine. Someone has put an HEI dist in it at one time and #1 is turned around toward the firewall. :lol: We're going to fix that on Friday.

Question - should I put an aluminum intake on it while I have the dizzy out? or just leave it stock? It has an Edelbrok 1406 (I think?) on it now. It runs really realy well like it is, plenty strong. It has a factory 4bl spread bore intake on it.. so it's not completely stock as it is. Would the aluminum intake add to it or take away from the look? I'm thinking just save my money for something else but it sure is tempting. :D


Keith - I really like the look of that 'Gold' interior. Mine is the vinyl version with the 69/70 scroll pattern but it is that same color. I really like that steering wheel with it too.

I noticed CPP has a big brake kit / 5lug swap I can get for about $1800 (Same as ECE without the big brakes) yout thoughts?

Dad is working on the passenger side valve cover now. cleaning / painting for a replacement where the original one had pin holes in it. Once that's on we can drive it. He's likely going to buy my S10 for his DD so it worked out pretty good for both of us.

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Personally I noticed a nice bump in performance and was very happy in adding an edelbrok manifold to my 72 350. You can always paint it to look more factory. Since its gonna be a daily I would say lose about twenty pounds and put an aluminum manifold on and gain some pep.
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Re: Project Grande Slam: Coley's Hot Rod Shop
 

The door panels in the pictures above are just like mine though. Just much cleaner. Mine are the originals so the bottoms are wrinkling up .. but ?? 43 yrs old usually means a wrinkle or two. I really like the color combo. I wish mine was slick black with the interior looking like that.