1971 real barn find
 

Last month I was finishing up on my 65 suburban ls swap project and my coworker told me about a truck he had that he drove in high school and had been parked since 1990 in his barn. I had to have it. Well I was desperate to make a buck and i turned around a sold it for profit to a friend of mine who already had a 71 lol. So I finished up on the Suburban and then a few days ago he called and asked if I would be upset if he sold it. I told him I wanted it back and my wife overheard the conversation. She surprised me when she said she wanted it, so the suburban got sold and the barn find came back to me. Never should have let it go but ecstatic to have it back. Here she is. All original, numbers matching, great patina, and it runs!

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

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Good deal. Glad your wife wants to drive it too.

I will move to pickups message board.

LockDoc

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Cool and a/c truck to boot. But, what do you mean by numbers matching? Only the frame and vin tag can be numbers matching. Engine on these trucks never were numbers matching.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

:chevy: r built to last

Good deal :metal:

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Nice catch!

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

What more can you ask for!!!!

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Good deal. Sounds like your wife is a keeper, too!

K

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

are those 16" wheels?

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

I’m glad you were able to get it back
And even cooler that your wife wanted it
I think we all get the spirit of your post

People say all the time these trucks were never numbers matching
I don’t know if you have the protecto plate or not
But
There is a number stamped on it
That number is also stamped on the pad, front passenger side
Of the block

If those numbers are the same
It ‘IS’ a numbers matching engine

If you don’t have the protecto plate
You can decode the block stamping
And get a good idea if it is the original engine

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

I'm sure he means the title/registration, SPID, VIN tag, & frame.

LockDoc

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Keith, those are 5 lug. Did they offer 5 lug 16 inchers???

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

December 2021 update, the truck has been running phenomenal! We've taken her to multiple car shows and brought home several awards. My wife is very proud to own it. I traded my 67 K20 with the flatbed for a truck that better matches this one. My new one is another barn find like hers, been sitting since 92. Its a 69 GMC (350/400) with AC and great patina like hers.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

no they are 15s

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

I like your '69 (and her '71). I have a thing for "weathered, once a pride & joy look", surviving from another era look.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Thanks for the compliments everyone. I made a quick video on her yesterday. Here's the link
https://youtu.be/axf1de8hzOE

I started to try and fire it up after the video but found out why it was dumping oil everywhere. The oil filter adapter was cracked.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

that ain't gonna work :lol:

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

16" wheels were a factory option (though NOT listed on the SPID glovebox sheet) for government/mil delivery. My 71 C10 (forest service truck) has factory 16" wheels with dog dish caps and documented on the factory build sheet found under the seat.

Congrats to the OP for acquiring and posting about these barn finds.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

With these trucks the option was the tire size and the wheel was what the tires size called for. Wheels were not an option because they were just wheels back then, what we call steelies today. The only difference was diameter or width. 16" tires were an option for anyone that wanted to order them. These are rallye wheels, which came later, and those were only offered in 15"

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Two cool trucks. Great that you both enjoy having and showing them.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

Wow, been almost 3 years since we pulled "Sassy" out of the barn. That's what the wife named her. Shes taken ownership and we have driven the crap out of the truck. I've done alot of trading vehicles around in search of happiness but ended up getting my very first truck back. Sassy is still doing ok. I just rebuilt the Qudrajet last weekend and realized that the reason I keep plugging filters and ruining this carb is because the fuel tank is RUSTY. So I got a tank from my uncle (he has a 71 Custom Deluxe too) that has never had ethanol fuel in it, so I bought the POR15 tank sealer and the necessary prep stuff. Tomorrow I plan on swapping tanks and starting over with fresh gas.

I'm gonna go ahead and replace the fuel pump too since its leaking and we plan to take it on the 3rd annual Hot Rod Tour of Texas. We are excited, this will be our 3rd tour in the truck. I was a bit worried after last years tour because it was running so bad, but after the tune up and a compression test, I'm no longer worried.
I replaced the radiator some time last summer with an aluminum one, the original one was just so nasty and the truck kept wanting to run a bit warm. That did the trick.

As much as we drive the truck I no longer care so much if its "all original" if the original drivetrain gives up, I think I have the wife convinced to LS swap it.

Enjoy the photo dump.

Re: 1971 real barn find
 

more photo dump since my facebook is private. I do have a Youtube page where you can find updates on the truck and what's happening. I'm still growing the page so go to "videos" and not the "shorts" because I upload a crap-load of shorts to gain subs. ANYWAY, here's more of "Sassy"