Mini-Meets/Get-Togethers

[GMCDAC]

We are still waiting for pics from last weekend! Foley let me know they got to Huron, SD yesterday.

DAC

[Ed Snyder]

Well, Fetch and DAC -- I'm afraid you'll have to wait until at least next Tuesday for any of my pictures. I was in Wichita for the last week, staying at my folks' house with no internet access. I finally have internet access here tonight at my motel in Limon, CO. Tomorrow night I'll be in Rock Springs, WY, then Battle Mountain, NV, Sunday night. Back home Monday night.

When Dad and I got back to his house after the mini-meet Sunday, he and Mom surprised me by asking me if I wanted to drive his '65 one ton Suburban back home instead of flying. I told them they didn't have to ask me twice!

So I spent the last few days getting the truck roadworthy for the trip home. I changed the oil & filter, checked the trans, Watson box, and rear end, and read through Dad's meticulous maintenance records to see what else it might need. Although he had only driven it about 2500 miles in the last 15 years, there were few miles on the belts, hoses, chassis lube, spark plug wires, wheel bearings grease, etc., etc. I made a Harbor Freight run too, to stock up on tools, just in case. I figured if I had them, I wouldn't need them. But if I didn't have them, I probably would!

The main thing I had to do was buy two new 33x12.50x16.5 tires to replace two really old ones. The other two only have 2500 miles on them. The fact that they're 15 years old makes me a little nervous, but so far so good. At least they've been garaged the whole time, out of the sun and temperature extremes.

With 40 gallon fuel capacity, I've only had to fill up once so far. Got over 12 mpg, which I thought was pretty good for a truck Dad thinks weighs about 7000 pounds. If the 351C continues to run as well as it has so far, I shouldn't have any trouble making it all the way home. I debated whether to do three 600 mile days or four 450 mile days, and decided on the latter so as not to push it too hard. At 60 to 65 mph in 75 mph zones, about 98% of the traffic is passing me. Good thing I'm not in a hurry!

[BarryGMC]

I am looking forward to pics of that rig. Have a safe trip.

[Ed Snyder]

Barry -- the first post on page 5 of this thread, dated May 1st, has one photo of the one ton Suburban. I'll post more when I get back home. I wasn't the only one there at the meet taking photos, though. Since Foley's probably still traveling, he may not have internet access. Dave, Nate, David -- any photos to share?

[BarryGMC]

Cool old rig. I have some 15x10 and 16.5 x9.75 8 lug slot wheels. But I never used them on a 60-66 because tires rub in the back. Safe travels.

[Ed Snyder]

The tires would have rubbed on the rear fender lips on the one ton Suburban if Dad hadn't had Darryl Starbird radius the openings to match the front fender openings. He had ordered it originally with the biggest wheels and tires available fromm the factory, 8.00x17.5. When towing the 24' Avion trailer, however, he experienced many blowouts. So when the 12x16.5 tires became available (about 1969 I think) he got rid of the originals. For some reason, the Avion (Airstream clone) only had a single axle even though it weighed about 5000 pounds. So we had lots of blowouts with those tires too. Don't remember the size, 7.00x15 maybe. So around the same time Dad installed the 12x16.5 tires on the 9.75x16.5 wheels on the truck, he modified the trailer to fit 10x16.5 tires on 8.25x16.5 wheels. That eliminated the blowouts on both truck and trailer.

I had a 1963 GMC Suburban in 1971 that I installed 10x16.5 tires and 8.25x16.5 wheels on. The fronts fit fine, but I had to use a crescent wrench to bend up the inner lips on the rear wheel openings to clear the tires. Next I bought a new half ton 4x4 pickup in 1972 and installed 12x16.5 tires and 9.75x16.5 wheels on it. All four fit with no clearance problems.

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Ed Snyder

When Dad and I got back to his house after the mini-meet Sunday, he and Mom surprised me by asking me if I wanted to drive his '65 one ton Suburban back home instead of flying. I told them they didn't have to ask me twice

That's fantastic Ed! Congrats! That's great you get to keep it in the family. Good luck on getting her home.

Once again, I enjoyed visiting with you and your old man. It was also nice to finally meet Bob, Dave and Nate. Dave did an awesome job on the brats!


Safe travels,

David

[Clarke]

I only took a few photos (with my flip phone), so they're probably not that good compared to what others took.

There was a total of two trucks; my '62 3/4 ton and Ed's old man (Bob) '65 1 ton.

I was impressed with the '65... It sat in a garage for three years with a trickle charger (nine year old battery), fuel had stabilizer in it, and Bob drove it to the get together.

Now Ed is driving it cross-country...

[Clarke]

Foley is also looking for a set of these 12" dia hubcaps... Please let him know if you have any extras or see any on the web for sale.

[GMCDAC]

Originally Posted by Ed Snyder

Barry -- the first post on page 5 of this thread, dated May 1st, has one photo of the one ton Suburban. I'll post more when I get back home. I wasn't the only one there at the meet taking photos, though. Since Foley's probably still traveling, he may not have internet access. Dave, Nate, David -- any photos to share?

Ed, that is an amazing GMC! Your Dad is very lucky to have a family like yours that will take care of this truck. Darryl Starbird----Wow! Owning an old GMC is cool but owning an old FAMILY GMC makes them priceless. I have a GMC my Mom drove for 30 years. Have a great trip!

Originally Posted by Clarke

I only took a few photos (with my flip phone), so they're probably not that good compared to what others took.

There was a total of two trucks; my '62 3/4 ton and Ed's old man (Bob) '65 1 ton.

I was impressed with the '65... It sat in a garage for three years with a trickle charger (nine year old battery), fuel had stabilizer in it, and Bob drove it to the get together.

Your pics look great as well as your truck. Thanks for posting! More pics of your '62 would be cool!

Foley and I just had a mini-meet here in Rapid City, SD! Their trip is going well and he told me about how much he enjoyed the Wichita meet and his tractor meet. We swapped stories for a couple of hours! He's a great guy and I'm thankful for the chance to meet him!

Here's a couple of pics from an hour or so ago.

DAC