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Old April 2nd, 2017, 10:53 PM
fritz fritz is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Rockford, mi
Truck: 1960 Custom 4x4
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Default Reclaimed well sorta 1960 GMC

Earlier this year I posted a thread reclaiming my GMC. Well I have found one that I could not pass up. It is not the short bed custom that I once had. However, I believe in some ways this is more uncommon. I purchased in February a 1960 3/4 ton 4X4 custom. It is a 1960 but was originally sold in 1961 and titles as such. The truck was originally a US Forest Service truck, and spent most of its days in Pocatello Idaho pacing through the fire trails in south central Idaho. It was sold at auction in the 80's and passed from Uncle to Nephew then to me through a 3 party in Las Vegas. Roads here in Michigan were pretty well salted down so I really did not do much to it until the last few weeks. I have put about 300 miles on it so far and have to tell you my youngest son and I are having the time of of our life.

The US Government had converted the fuel system to propane some time during its service. The person that I bought it from converted it back to the original Stromberg gasoline carburetor system. I took the valve covers off, the rockers and the interior is perfectly clean...Like new. The truck is in amazing rust free condition. It shifts beautifully, starts up, idles and runs great. Sounds awesome with the dual exhaust that dumps out behind the rear wheels. I have had the Stromberg carburetor rebuilt, turn signals worked on and will be installing a rebuilt manual steering gear later this week. I could not help myself after a good friend I met on the forum sent me photos of an original 1960 seat. WOW!! had to have it in the truck. I tracked down OEM cloth here in Michigan just north of Detroit. The seat was finished and put in last week.The rest of the interior has the original paint on the dash, doors and floor. The silver cardboard covered sun visors are also in tact.
Have had the front hubs locked and used the 4 wheel transfer case in the snow on my property back in February. In 4 low, first gear, it idled through over a foot of snow and easily up a 20% grade.

The original Crystal Green is still on the bed sides as is the original wood in the bed. I can only imagine it with the rest of the original green paint. Such that it is. It is white for now. I did try to color sand with 600 grit one of the rear quarters where there is a crease in the fender and the green is there. I was hoping that I could sand the white off and somehow preserve the green color. But just about the time it started showing up it went to green, balck primer, then bare metal. Does anyone have any Ideas on removing the top coat of paint? It may not even be possible.

I have a list of items that need to be done and gone through as time permits. For now my Son and I are really enjoying it as it is. Enjoy the photos and as I get into it further will seek advise and direction.
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