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

[tessiers]

I have a 77 ford we run on the farm at least a couple of days a week and daily when haying. Best part of them old trucks is they are cheap to work on. Just did rear brakes, new shoes, E-brake cables and all under $100 for all the parts. Did a new master cylinder a couple of years back, under $50. Can't hardly diagnose a check engine light on my 2006 chevy for $100, never mind fixing anything. I set out to sell it several times but it isn't worth a whole lot and It starts every time I need it.

I guess we are lucky here in Maine, register it farm and you can drive an 80k truck with regular license. Most farms of any size have 20yd dump trucks for hauling silage no CDL required.

 

[pclausen]

She's all back together again. Took it for a ride around the neighborhood. I'll start on the other side tomorrow. It will be much nicer as I can do it in my shop on the lift with the AC running. It has been crazy hot and humid around these parts these past few days.

I had to put the spare from my '02 Silverado dually on as the '70 rim was now leaking around the valve stem. At least GM didn't change their 1 ton wheel offset or bolt pattern between 1970 and 2002!

Picked up a new inner tube, but the tire shop that I could find open today has a policy against anything tube related. I'll take it to my local shop on Tuesday morning.

The fender, bumper and grille did get a little damaged, but overall not too bad.

 

[FairfaxStu]

Peter:

Don't mean to bust your bubble nor insult you, but that is honestly one of the ugliest trucks I have ever seen. That school bus yellow makes me want to puke. I get the fact that with a dump, one only cares about functionality and not looks, but **** dude I do know how you can even go up and down the road driving it.
-Stu

 

[2458n]

Yep, I would have to put on a 69-72 front clip off a Chevy. Nice truck anyways!

 

[ultrarunner]

Always good to hear a success story...

I happen to like your truck!

 

[TomSeller]

Yahoo!!! Kept the old girl out of the scrap yard. Good Job !!

 

[schmism]

they arnt ugly till they look like my old one.

85 chevy C30 bought it for $1500 sold it 3 years later for $1600

 

[FairfaxStu]

I stand corrected. You win the ugliest truck contest hands down. BTW, you got a steal on that thing for $1500.
-Stu

 

[pclausen]

Lol, yeah that truck is even uglier than mine!

I got the upper and lower ball joints done in the driver's side. Turns out I have the dreaded split rims on this '70 truck. Nobody wants to touch them, not even the local service station that normally works on just about anything. I finally talked the owner into dismounting the tires from the old rims. I found some replacement rims from a '97 chevy at the junk yard for $35 a pop. So I dropped them off at the service station, to swap the tires over to the one piece rims and run tubeless.

I pulled off the rears only to find that all but one are split rims too, and one in particular is badly rusted. I wish I had done that before heading to the junk yard being that is it 1 hour away. I also noticed that the replacement rear axle must have been narrower than the original as there are 2" aluminum spacers on both sides.

The rear lug nuts were all very loose, so I'm glad I decided to pull the wheels off. Anyway, I should have this thing back on the road again by the weekend I hope.

 

[wmonroe]

I'm sure it will be nice to have your dump back on the road. Glad to see your taking the time/money to keep the old truck going, I love seeing the older trucks.