New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Hi, I've been browsing the site for the last few week and thought I'd introduce myself. I've been staring at the 327 block out of my Chevelle and we decided that we needed a truck to put it in, to keep it lubricated and in good shape :)

I found a '66 short bed fleet side big window GMC in reasonable shape (all of the typical rust holes in the floor, 5 gallons of mud, but otherwise solid). The 351/powerglide will be coming out to get replaced by the 327 V8 with a 700R4 since I couldn't convince my wife to let me use the 4-speed Muncie. I'm hoping to rebuild the factory power steering; power brakes will be replaced with discs up front. All of my money is tied up in my '65 Malibu SS, so we're trying to do this one on the cheap and will probably end up clearing over the rust. All of the mud is making me reconsider where to go.

You can see my Chevelle build at www.hosschevelle.blogspot.com. I'm looking to learn about GMC's because they seem to be a completely different animal. Should be an interesting journey keeping us busy.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

True the GMC's of the pre 70'e era are a different animal but by pulling out the 351E V6 and replacing it with the ubiquitous small block Chevy V8 you're destroying it's uniqueness and basically making a Chevy truck out of it!!!

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Please don't molest that 66 by taking out the rare 351. Let somebody else enjoy it who will actually understand what they have and appreciate its uniqueness. Go buy a Chevy instead.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

I agree, Ed.

Cayoterun

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

So sorry you all feel this way - guess I'll find somewhere else for information. I'm not into factory original. The 351 will be available if you want to buy it! For what we want it's a boat anchor.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

You popped into a 60-66 club Turbo. Then you something like "Everybody knows rap is better than Zeppelin." or "George Washington was a homo". Your taking a piece of history and tearing it up because "it aint what we want".

If it wasnt what you wanted you could have just as easily bought a chevy like they said. GMCs arent just another truck for so many different reasons. They were actually designed differently than a chevy with different benefits. And they were made in smaller numbers than Chevy so there are less of them out there.

Maybe you didnt know that but give it a couple of days and maybe read up on the time and work put into GMCs to make them better. Then if you still dont appreciate the prize you have in that 351 then go ahead and tear it up.

If you do appreciate it then maybe dump the whole truck on Ebay and get one of the thousands of chevys there are out there.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

A few things my husband didn't mention about the '66: it's MY baby and will retain all of it's unique GMC features on the body when it gets restored in a few years. The reason I want the 327 in it is because it's the motor out of my Dad's Chevelle and I used to work on it with him. The 351 does not run and even has some fabric sucked into the carb somehow. I'll sell it to someone who will appreciate it, but I really wanted something to put my Dad's motor in. He's been gone 5 years and this motor is a link directly to him that I cherish. I just want to get the truck back on the street and get that 327 back on the road too at the same time. I'm building a street rod, not a stocker so I think he picked the wrong message board. I don't want a Chevy truck, they are a dime a dozen and I grew up with a '57 GMC that I loved and wish I knew where it was. Don't shoot the messenger--this idea is all mine. I love old trucks and look forward to getting it back on the road again instead of sitting, rusting away in somebody's back yard.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

The truck is your baby and the engine is a piece of YOUR history via your dad. It may not be "GMC history", but I can respect the "family history" aspect of what you wanting to do; even more so if you plan to keep it in the family for generations to come. :goodluck:

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

I totally understand your desire to keep your Dad's 327 running and in another vehicle. I like Chevys too, and used to own '66 and '67 Novas with 327s in them. It's just that although I like Chevy trucks, I like GMCs of the 60s even better because of what I like to call their "over-engineered and under-appreciated" V6 engines. What's unfortunate, probably due to limited finances (like so many of us), is that you can't end up with two vehicles, the GMC with the 351 and a Chevelle (or Camaro or Nova) with your Dad's 327 in it.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

That would really be cool if you could get another chevelle and drop that 327 in it. That 351 will probably run if you just pour a little gas in it and kick it good n hard. They don't die easy.

And you could do the chevelle in the Other Builds forum so we could watch it come to life!
:bananadance:

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Welcome from the Black Hills! It is your truck, and you are free to do with it as you please. I definitely understand your goal and desire to run your Dad's 327! I am working on a GMC that my Mom drove for 30 years and she has been gone 5 years now too. It is kinda cool in my opinion that you want a GMC to carry on your connection with your Dad! I am glad that you are concerned that the 351 goes to someone that has an appreciation for it, and you don't want to scrap it. One truck must lose an engine to help someone else who needs one.

An old friend of mine that I recently re-connected with on Facebook sent me this pic of a '57 GMC for sale up here in South Dakota last Thursday while we were out of town. I just responded to him last night when we got back but he hasn't let me know where he took the pic. I drive a '55---the darn water pump went out today in 95* heat!---LOL, but I got it home before it overheated! Anyway here is a pic of that '57 GMC for sale somewhere up here!

DAC

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Now this would be cool. If there were only unlimited budget and more space in the garage!

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

That looks just like my Dad's down to the color!

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Welcome to the group. Best of luck with your truck regardless of what you decide to do with it. This group is about more that just V6 engines as are the 60-66 GMCs. You may end up needing advice/input with body, rubber, glass, paint, wood, etc. Ask away.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Thank you! I'm sure we'll have questions as we go along.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Turbo,
Hey I have had some of the same problems with my build of a 65 GMC. As far as I'm concerned it's your truck and whatever you like and want to do is great. If there's someone out there who wants a 351 V6 for their truck it's also good for them. So good luck in your build and I'm looking forward to seeing the final product.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Well, actually the group was originally formed for the V6 engines and the trucks they came in.

What many have found over the years is that suggesting pulling the v6 to replace with a chevy engine it that it will meet with a bit of hostility. Mostly because by pulling the GMC V6 out of it and putting a chevy engine in, you have pretty much removed the major reason to have a GMC over a Chevrolet.
The differences between the lines were, at the time, slowly going away (went away in '67).
So when someone says they like the GMC and not Chevrolet, but then take out the GMC portion, it makes people ask why?
Obvious differences between GMC and Chevrolet... Dash, motor, grill, hood turnsignals. The dash being the hardest to change (being welded in).

Some people don't understand it, yes it is your truck but if you really want a GMC, then leave it a GMC and don't make a Chevrolet out of it. That has been the predominant view since this group was founded, and a lot of members feel very strongly that way.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

David, Owning a 68 GMC I would have to say the differences really didn't go away until 1970. 1967-69 the V6 was still available, trucks were still being assembled in Pontiac Michigan, Dana rear axles were still used rather than corporate axles except on 69 1/2 ton trucks. There were differences in suspensions mainly on 4wd models. Power assist steering up to 68 and GMC specific colors like Palomino Tan, Terrace Blue and Ivory lasted till 1968.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Anyway...Welcome to the group.

As many have mentioned, there are a few very unique (hard to find) parts--like the low-production hood itself. So be sure to neutralize the rust or consider a faux rust look to preserve the steel before clear coat.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Thanks. Since my knowledge only extends to '66 on these trucks and there was a major body change in '67 I *assumed* that was when the change took place. I knew the v6 continued on, but felt from the few experiences I have had with the later truck that the rest of the vehicle was the same. But thats what is good about the group, more people with more knowledge.
Should have asked you before I posted. :) since I know you have the later year truck.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

How much do you want for the 351 V6. I'll try to scrape up the cash if you don't want too much for it. Ross

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Ross, if u end up with the big engine, I will take your 305 off your hands.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

I was a member of the Kaiser-Frazer Owner's Club for many years. I owned a Henry J. The older, usually better off Frazer owners would not bother to acknowledge a younger, usually new-to-the-hobby Henry J owner. The Kaiser owners were a little more friendly but the belief was that the Henry J hastened the demise of the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation so there was no love lost for the Henry J or it's present day owners. I just wanted to own a car that was unique and I tried to do all that I could to perpetuate the make and model whenever possible. Sure, I would have preferred to have all of the Henry J owners restore their cars to original factory condition using only NOS parts. But I did not own every Henry J so I had no control over how fellow owners restored or modified their cars. Some of them added AC for comfort, some added bigger engines for more power, some added radials for better handling and traction. I like old cars and trucks and whatever it takes to keep them on the road while remaining safe and reliable is OK with me.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

David, don't worry you're not the only one out there that assumed GMC's built after 66 lost their differences, I've run into this situation with other members over the years. What I would like to add is 1969 started being a transitional year as 1/2 ton GMC trucks came equipped with corporate 12 bolt axles as well as coil spring suspension was offered again, something that GMC discontinued after 1962 because they didn't like the way it functioned and the V6 was dropped in light duty trucks around March 1969. Obvious to see the trend was to produce trucks that were almost completely interchangeable with the other division which eventually lead GMC trucks being assembled together on the same assembly lines as Chevrolet trucks.

Re: New 66 GMC ratrod project
 

Thanks for all the comments - as we dig more into our GMC, we're appreciating more the uniqueness, but everything is in pretty rough shape. We are trying to salvage what we can and preserve it well, right down to not using new tail light lenses because they have a bow tie on the lens. Our body shop has pretty much talked us in to faux patina, so we can preserve rare parts like the hood.

We're starting up a blog to track the progress of the build:
http://1966gmcratrod.blogspot.com