Ol' GMC pickup

[hosejockey2002]

Ol\' GMC pickup

In exchange for a few hours of seat time /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I'm acquiring a 1972 GMC pickup. It ran fine when parked (we've all heard that one before). Actually five years ago it developed a fuel line leak and the owner parked it and has not touched it since. (He's one of those master procrastinator types) Anyway he's owned it since new and it's rigged for towing with class 3 hitch, brake controller, 350 4 barrel and TH400 automatic. I would like some opinions from you guys on things I should be concerned with specifically relating to the fact it has not run for years. Obviously the tires are shot but should I be concerned with tranny seals, etc? Your opinions will be highly valued.

 

[Ozarker]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Your biggest potential for problems will be in the fuel system. It sat for 5 years with that old fuel in it and things will be gummed up. You should just bite the bullet and go ahead and replace the fuel pump, rebuild the carburetor, and, at the very least, used compressed air to blow out the fuel line back to the tank. Those models are famous for the fuel line in the tank getting clogged up and starving the engine for fuel.

 

[TimSullivan]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Some areas that you might want to check are the seals in the brake system and the free play of the brake shoes. If has been subjected to moisture there could be a problem.

I would get as much of the old fuel out as possible and try to start it. You may get lucky. I bought a '73 914 about fifteen years ago. It had been parked like your truck. New gas and battery and it filled the fuel line and started. I went and got plates for it and drove it the ten miles home. I did end up rebuilding the calipers and bought a new master cylinder but that was it for a few years. Great car and we still have it.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

I'm not mechanically inclined but a friend who is said that something sitting that long (at least in our climate) stands a chance of having had the oil down in the bottom of the engine so long that the upper internal parts may have experienced oxidation from moisture condensation inside. He suggested opening it up and checking for that rather than turning it over and running the risk of damaging something. It made sense to me, but then I'm the really gullible type on this stuff. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Good luck with it.

 

[scruffy]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Howdy Y'all! Long time no chat.
In Re. the Jimmy, be prepared to replace the coil on it. GM products that have set for X years have a tendancy to loose the coil. Fuel issues? Drain it, new gas, (pour a little through carb to start), and if it starts up, dump a slow stream of auto trans fluid into carb (DON'T KILL IT!!) It will smoke like the dickens, but should clean up deposits, etc fairly well. Make sure that when you fill it, to add some additive to the gas for cleanup of the carb. JMHO

 

[MikePA]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Welcome back, Scruffy! Good to hear from you!!

 

[scruffy]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Hey Mike! Thanks! This time next week, I guess I'll have to change my moniker to scruffyintenn or glowinscruffy or something! Nice to be back. Now if I can get my puter back up and running, and moved to Oak Ridge TN this week, I'll be back in business pestering everyone again!

 

[bgott]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

First I'd check to see if the engine is stuck. If it is you'll need to pull the plugs and squirt a bunch of oil in the cylinders, stick the plugs back in and wait a week or two and then try to break it free.

 

[Richard]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

Welcome to my world!!!

Work in Knoxville, right at Pellissippi/Kingston pike!!


Richard

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Re: Ol\' GMC pickup

The great thing about sixty seven to seventy two chevy-gmc's is they are just about the prettiest pickemups ever made.

They're treasured for their looks besides their brawn which means you don't have to keep one original to keep it valuable.

First thing I'd do is pull that tank out from behind the seat and toss it as far as the local air resources board will allow. The front seat would follow immediately if not sooner.

You can buy a replacement tank from a seventy two suburban or blazer and put the tank out back where it belongs. Or if you're a little creative you can put in a thirty plus gallon from a van. It takes a little surgery and reconstruction but well worth the effort.

The seat from an eighty eight up will bolt right in with the addition of two holes. Be sure and use wide fender washers over the new holes. You'll also find the space behind the seat where the tank was handier than a pocket on pants.

It don't take much to replace the gmc grill with the chevy egg crate one and the good looks factor just went up by ten. They have air bag kits for the chevy trailing arm rear suspension. But of course with the gmc you get the leafs which allow you some trick options all on it's own.

You will find gawd alone knows how many web sites dedicated to just sixty to seven to seventy twos. One of the things I'd invest in is the plastic replacement glove box cause the cardboard ones are always gone by now.

But what you've got is a pick up version of a fifty seven chevy. Some folks are gonna cry for restoration to original but just as many are gonna want it customized or at least upgraded. So there's few things you can really do wrong with it besides abandoning it.

I've had four. And the real fun sometimes is you can do things with the motor legally because of the age of the truck that you can't even dream about on newer ones. I had a seventy two three quarter with a raggedy tricolor combo utility bed and cab. The only thing that gave it away as something beside something else was the rump rump from the exhaust.

I once had two guys from a quicky oil change place come up to the truck at a convenience store and want to see my big block cause they'd seen it lightem up for grins at a light. They had to see it to believe it, small block with attitude. Four miles to a gallon but they were interesting miles as miles go.