Picked up a 1970 GMC C3500 dump truck that needs some TLC

[pclausen]

Ok, I'll clean up and reuse the ram horns. I'll sand blast them and re-spray them. Was the OEM color grey?

Good tip on the pressure plate at throwout bearing. I won't know the condition of what is in the 3500 truck until I pull that engine, but yeah, I don't want to pull it a second time once I'm done, that's for sure!

Yeah Joemd, it would seem like I am in the middle of a GMC truck retirement home! I'm thinking about keeping the '69 and take it all the way down to the frame for a full restore. The frame is in good shape, it is just the sheet metal that is rusted out. It has never been wrecked and the front bumper is absolutely 100% straight. It just has the chrome peeling off in places.

 

[joemd11]

Oh ya, I knew you would end up going for the restoration. Really nice find to compliment the previous really nice find! I can't believe it even has the original hubcaps.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Ok, I'll clean up and reuse the ram horns. I'll sand blast them and re-spray them. Was the OEM color grey?

Good tip on the pressure plate at throwout bearing. I won't know the condition of what is in the 3500 truck until I pull that engine, but yeah, I don't want to pull it a second time once I'm done, that's for sure!

Yeah Joemd, it would seem like I am in the middle of a GMC truck retirement home! I'm thinking about keeping the '69 and take it all the way down to the frame for a full restore. The frame is in good shape, it is just the sheet metal that is rusted out. It has never been wrecked and the front bumper is absolutely 100% straight. It just has the chrome peeling off in places.

high heat cast iron spray paint for the exhaust manifolds most local auto part stores carry it

 

[Grumpy Old Man]

google LMC they carry all the old replacement parts and if you need gaskets for doors/windows etc etc steelerubber.com carries all years and makes for alll cars and trucks

 

[crazyal]

If you restore that pickup you'll want to put that matching numbers motor back in which means you'll be no further along than you were before you bought it. If anything you'll now have an extra project. lol. But it's nice when some of the old iron gets a second chance.

 

[FairfaxStu]

If you restore that pickup you'll want to put that matching numbers motor back in which means you'll be no further along than you were before you bought it. If anything you'll now have an extra project. lol. But it's nice when some of the old iron gets a second chance.

I could not agree more. If you want a true restoration, keep everything the same that you can. However, you could also have some fun by turning it into a street legal drag truck. Here is a heck of a fun power plant, but certainly out of the price range:

SAR-727 ( 1275 HP) 1X4 HEMISPHERICAL HEADED PUMP GAS ENGINE - Sonny's Racing Engines

 

[techwrtr2]

If you restore that pickup you'll want to put that matching numbers motor back in which means you'll be no further along than you were before you bought it. If anything you'll now have an extra project. lol. But it's nice when some of the old iron gets a second chance.

It will be a while before he has the 69 in a position to need the engine if he does it right. Might as well get some use out of it for a while. He can keep his eye open for another good 350... I'm sure he'll stumble across one. Hopefully not buried inside another project vehicle.

 

[pclausen]

Well, my wife is giving me a real hard time about starting yet another project, so I might not do the '69 after all. I finally did get the engine on a stand and pulled the heads and oil pan. It will definitely need a rebuild, but it doesn't appear to have ever been opened up before. A .030 over should do a nice job cleaning up the cylinder walls.

And it is indeed a 4 bolt main. The casting number itself does not guarantee it.

Crank casting number. This is a solid and common large journal 350 crank used from '69 - '85.

As far as the heads, when I compare the cost of having them rebuilt to buying a pair of re manufactured vortec heads, that seems like a much better deal, especially given how much more power they make and burn less fuel. A brand new matching vortec intake is only just over 100 bucks.

From the standpoint of wanting to built a solid low rpm 350 with lots of torque for the dump truck, I think the vortec heads and intake make a lot of sense. Yes, it won't be numbers matching, but I'll save that for down the road where I hope to find a mid-year corvette to restore one day. I really don't need 3 trucks. :laughing: I still hate the thought of getting rid of the 69, but I gotta keep the wife on my good side as much as I can. She is still giving me a hard time about the dump truck, but I actually do use it quite a bit and it will be handy for all kinds of things down the road.

 

[deerefan]

Well, my wife is giving me a real hard time about starting yet another project, so I might not do the '69 after all. I finally did get the engine on a stand and pulled the heads and oil pan. It will definitely need a rebuild, but it doesn't appear to have ever been opened up before. A .030 over should do a nice job cleaning up the cylinder walls.

And it is indeed a 4 bolt main. The casting number itself does not guarantee it.

Crank casting number. This is a solid and common large journal 350 crank used from '69 - '85.

As far as the heads, when I compare the cost of having them rebuilt to buying a pair of re manufactured vortec heads, that seems like a much better deal, especially given how much more power they make and burn less fuel. A brand new matching vortec intake is only just over 100 bucks.

From the standpoint of wanting to built a solid low rpm 350 with lots of torque for the dump truck, I think the vortec heads and intake make a lot of sense. Yes, it won't be numbers matching, but I'll save that for down the road where I hope to find a mid-year corvette to restore one day. I really don't need 3 trucks. :laughing: I still hate the thought of getting rid of the 69, but I gotta keep the wife on my good side as much as I can. She is still giving me a hard time about the dump truck, but I actually do use it quite a bit and it will be handy for all kinds of things down the road.

I know how you can keep both. Get rid of the wife!! Just joking.

 

[deerefan]

Well, my wife is giving me a real hard time about starting yet another project, so I might not do the '69 after all. I finally did get the engine on a stand and pulled the heads and oil pan. It will definitely need a rebuild, but it doesn't appear to have ever been opened up before. A .030 over should do a nice job cleaning up the cylinder walls.

And it is indeed a 4 bolt main. The casting number itself does not guarantee it.

Crank casting number. This is a solid and common large journal 350 crank used from '69 - '85.

As far as the heads, when I compare the cost of having them rebuilt to buying a pair of re manufactured vortec heads, that seems like a much better deal, especially given how much more power they make and burn less fuel. A brand new matching vortec intake is only just over 100 bucks.

From the standpoint of wanting to built a solid low rpm 350 with lots of torque for the dump truck, I think the vortec heads and intake make a lot of sense. Yes, it won't be numbers matching, but I'll save that for down the road where I hope to find a mid-year corvette to restore one day. I really don't need 3 trucks. :laughing: I still hate the thought of getting rid of the 69, but I gotta keep the wife on my good side as much as I can. She is still giving me a hard time about the dump truck, but I actually do use it quite a bit and it will be handy for all kinds of things down the road.

The vortec heads are definitely an improvement, but keep in mind they perform best at higher rpms (3k plus). Try a set of summit iron or dart iron eagle heads. They work better in low rpm/tourqe applications.