1965 GMC K4000 & Intro

[JAXSONJONES]

Hello all,
First I’m new here, and I’d like to ask if I can be part of this forum? Because I got a feeling I’m gonna need a lot of help and advice. I was able to acquire the above mentioned truck, am super pumped about fixing it up. I’ve already been on eBay looking for parts, but I’m having a hard time finding parts for the bigger trucks.

Not sure when it’s career as a fire truck ended, but that’s what it spent most of its life doing, I think in a small town Mono City California. Seems it could have been one of the first type 3 fire trucks. It’s in great shape with only around 45K on the odometer, but cable is broken so not sure how much it actually has. Otherwise it’s in fantastic shape for its age, and being in a dry climate all of its life. The biggest crime was when, some years ago, when it needed repainting they used red bed liner of sorts. Any advice on how to get rid of that would be greatly appreciated!

So hopefully I can be part of your group and thanks in advance!

Mike

[Ed Snyder]

Hello all,
First I’m new here, and I’d like to ask if I can be part of this forum? Because I got a feeling I’m gonna need a lot of help and advice. I was able to acquire the above mentioned truck, am super pumped about fixing it up. I’ve already been on eBay looking for parts, but I’m having a hard time finding parts for the bigger trucks.

Not sure when it’s career as a fire truck ended, but that’s what it spent most of its life doing, I think in a small town Mono City California. Seems it could have been one of the first type 3 fire trucks. It’s in great shape with only around 45K on the odometer, but cable is broken so not sure how much it actually has. Otherwise it’s in fantastic shape for its age, and being in a dry climate all of its life. The biggest crime was when, some years ago, when it needed repainting they used red bed liner of sorts. Any advice on how to get rid of that would be greatly appreciated!

So hopefully I can be part of your group and thanks in advance!

Mike

Welcome to the forum, Mike! You've got an awesome truck there! We'll help you as much as we can, given the fact that most of us have the much more common 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks.

If you tell us what parts you're looking for, hopefully someone on the forum will be able to help.

Good luck with your project, and keep the photos coming.

[Funky61]

Welcome to the forum JaxsonJones!

A very Kool Truck you have there and can't wait to see more photos. :coolphotos:
Digging those monster tow hooks in front. :welldone:

:welcome:

[JAXSONJONES]

Welcome to the forum, Mike! You've got an awesome truck there! We'll help you as much as we can, given the fact that most of us have the much more common 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks.

If you tell us what parts you're looking for, hopefully someone on the forum will be able to help.

Good luck with your project, and keep the photos coming.


Thanks Ed,
I understand about the smaller trucks, but a good number of the parts, especially body parts are the same, except the big fenders. If you notice in the photo of the front they committed another crime and cut out the “M” and part of the grill surround to make room for a siren. The grill and the “GMC” are common to all the trucks, but not the bottom surround, it’s much bigger to accommodate for how the cab sits up higher on the frame. So looking for one of those. I’ve found some good “GMC’S” on eBay.
So since getting the bed liner paint job off might get pretty aggressive I’m probable, sadly going to loose my 1965 patina. So probably eventually gonna have to paint it, so thinking of changing to a chrome grill. So looking for a chrome grill and “GMC” letters.
Luckily it’s pretty mechanically sound, runs and drives great, leaks out of everything that holds fluid. I’m thinking to do it right and do the truck justice I’m gonna have to do frame off restoration.
I like pictures too, so I’ll try to oblige.

[JAXSONJONES]

Welcome to the forum JaxsonJones!

A very Kool Truck you have there and can't wait to see more photos. :coolphotos:
Digging those monster tow hooks in front. :welldone:

:welcome:

Thanks Funky,
The whole truck is just brawny! Pic’s coming

[Jim A]

"Runs and drives great..." How cool!

[kknotts]

Welcome to the group! Very nice truck. What are your plans for it? Work, play, show or all of the above? She is lucky to have found a good home.

[BobBray]

Very nice, I wonder if it was a Cal Fire rig.

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Hello all,
First I’m new here, and I’d like to ask if I can be part of this forum? Because I got a feeling I’m gonna need a lot of help and advice. I was able to acquire the above mentioned truck, am super pumped about fixing it up. I’ve already been on eBay looking for parts, but I’m having a hard time finding parts for the bigger trucks.

Not sure when it’s career as a fire truck ended, but that’s what it spent most of its life doing, I think in a small town Mono City California. Seems it could have been one of the first type 3 fire trucks. It’s in great shape with only around 45K on the odometer, but cable is broken so not sure how much it actually has. Otherwise it’s in fantastic shape for its age, and being in a dry climate all of its life. The biggest crime was when, some years ago, when it needed repainting they used red bed liner of sorts. Any advice on how to get rid of that would be greatly appreciated!

So hopefully I can be part of your group and thanks in advance!

Mike

Welcome Mike, that a great looking truck. The fact that it runs after sitting for probably most of its life just goes to show you how awesome these engines were. Try doing that with today's motors and...well, good luck getting it to crank!

For the bedliner, you can try Citristripper (iirc) to get it off. Coincidentally, citristripper was my stage name in college!
:teehee:

[JAXSONJONES]

Welcome to the group! Very nice truck. What are your plans for it? Work, play, show or all of the above? She is lucky to have found a good home.

Thanks, I guess as much as possible. Leaning toward a well thought out flatbed so it can be a hay getter. Also to do it right might be taking the cab off and sandblasting the frame and possibly the cab to get bed liner off. So a nice paint job, then it might find its way into a parade or two on the 4th. Oh and drive the **** out of it!

[JAXSONJONES]

Very nice, I wonder if it was a Cal Fire rig.

It very well could have been originally, and Mono city could have got it from the state.

[JAXSONJONES]

Welcome Mike, that a great looking truck. The fact that it runs after sitting for probably most of its life just goes to show you how awesome these engines were. Try doing that with today's motors and...well, good luck getting it to crank!

For the bedliner, you can try Citristripper (iirc) to get it off. Coincidentally, citristripper was my stage name in college!
:teehee:

LOL,
Thanks Fetch! Indeed it runs great, sits and lopes 500-600 rpm at idle.
I’ll try that stripper, the paint stripper that is!

[JAXSONJONES]

Whoever ordered this truck did a good job. It’s got the bigger engine, the biggest rear axle and the full gauge package. The fire department probably added dual batteries. I think there were two transfer case choices, not sure which It has yet, but it’s big, well everything is pretty big on this thing.

[JerrySC]

That's going to be a sweet looking truck! Hoping you find find every part you :coolphotos:need!

[kknotts]

Perfect plans. We all look forward to helping and sharing your journey!

[JAXSONJONES]

Looking for the "grill surround” for the big trucks, it’s a little bigger than the pickup’s. They cut mine out for the siren. Anyone have an idea where one might be? Or a chrome front bumper, or any parts for the "big trucks"? Thanks Mike

[Funky61]

This is from eBay and no relation.

https://ebay.us/m/Y5oAP4