Okay, so, I’ve been working on this old 1969 GMC pickup truck, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey!
Start of the Project
First off, I had to figure out what I wanted to do with this thing. It was pretty beat up, lots of rust, and the engine was just… well, it wasn’t great. So I thought, why not give it a new heart? I got my hands on a GM crate 350 engine. Yeah, a whole new engine! And let me tell you, getting that engine was a bit of a mission. The original engine was a mess, from the Fremont donor truck, but this new one, this was the beginning of something cool.
- Got the 350 engine
- Checked out the truck’s body – rust everywhere!
- Started planning the engine swap
Getting Down to Business
The first big job was getting that old engine out. Man, it was a pain! Bolts were rusted, things were stuck, but I got it out. Then came the fun part – cleaning up the engine bay and getting it ready for the 350. We also decided to replace the old transmission. It just wouldn’t have been right with the new engine. We went with a 700R4 4-speed automatic transmission. A much smoother ride, you know?
- Pulled out the old engine (what a mess!)
- Cleaned up the engine bay
- Got the 700R4 transmission
Bodywork Nightmares
Now, about that bodywork. It was a rusty mess. I spent days just grinding away rust. Then came the patching. I ordered a bunch of new sheet metal. Had to replace some panels that were just too far gone. Also had to weld in the automatic floor hump, which was a new one for me. But hey, I learned something new! And honestly, seeing those new panels on there, it started to look like a real truck again.
- Grinding rust – so much rust!
- Ordered new sheet metal
- Welded in new panels and the floor hump
Putting It All Together
Finally, it was time to drop in that new 350 engine. It fit like a glove! I hooked up the transmission, got all the wiring done. I will not lie, the wiring was a bit confusing at times. But I got it all sorted, and man, when I turned that key and heard that engine roar… that was a good feeling. A really good feeling.
- Dropped in the 350 engine – perfect fit!
- Connected the 700R4 transmission
- Finished up the wiring
It’s Alive!
So, there you have it. This 1969 GMC pickup truck, it’s back on the road, and it’s running better than ever. It’s been a lot of work, a lot of learning, but it was all worth it. Seeing this old truck come back to life, it’s a pretty awesome feeling. I’m proud of what I have done, you know? It’s not just a truck anymore; it’s a piece of history that I brought back to life, It is my baby now!
- Started the engine – it roared!
- Took it for a test drive – amazing!
- Celebrated a job well done
I will keep posting the progress and share with you guys for sure!
