Welcome to the channel. We're starting a new project: my 1971 GMC C20. It spent years as a camper truck, with a canopy over the bed. I've owned several 1968–72 Chevys, but this is my first GMC from those years, and I'm excited about it. The main difference from the Chevy is up front, with a GMC-specific grille and four-headlight setup.
Like every 1968–72 C/K, it has the usual rust in the rockers and floor pans, and it's a little beat up. For its age, though, it's in really good condition, and the body is fairly straight.
Where it stands today
- No engine and no transmission
- The interior is mostly stripped
- The rear end is done
- The windshield is in decent shape
Phase 1 is about getting the truck running and driving. To do that, I pulled a set of parts from a 1973 C10 donor truck:
- Engine: a 350
- Transmission: a four-speed manual
- Rear end: from the '73
- Front spindles: the '73 was a five-lug truck and this one is six-lug, so we'll convert it to five-lug
I also have a few parts around the shop that are going on:
- A power brake booster
- An HEI distributor
- Possibly new body mounts. These may wait until Phase 2, when we fix the rust in the cab corners and floor pans.
We'll also clean up the engine bay and paint a few parts along the way.
The engine came over without any accessories, so it will need:
- A new alternator
- A new water pump
- An aluminum radiator (the truck doesn't have one)
I also have a Saginaw four-speed manual. If I can get it working, it might go in instead. Since an LS swap is likely later on, though, I may just leave that for now.
- Seats: the seat has to be replaced. I have a bench seat from the other C10, and I also have a set of bucket seats. Which one goes in will be a surprise.
- Steering wheel: getting an upgrade.
- Gauge cluster: we'll do something with it.
- Radio: the stock radio is in perfect shape and looks great, so it stays. We'll add Bluetooth later.
- Color: the interior is green on white. I'm not a fan of the green, so that will change.
- Mirrors: the big farm-truck mirrors are definitely coming off.
- Rear bumper: the old farm-truck work bumper is also coming off.
- Front bumper: I like the painted front bumper, so we may keep it.
- Marker lights: I have a really cool little mod for the marker lights that I'll show you when we get there.
- Wheels and tires: wheels make or break a truck, so we need something really cool. The five-lug conversion will make finding a good set a lot easier.
- Paint: not for now. The truck looks good for its age, so we're keeping the patina. We may clean it up when we do the bodywork.
Once it's on the road, Phase 2 tackles the rust in the cab corners, rockers and floor pans, along with new body mounts. An LS swap is also likely down the road. Follow the episode guide to see what's coming.
