74 Chevy 4x4 - Need free information :-)

[Kimber45]

Ok guys, I'm supposed to be picking this up about 1pm today. I trust the guy that owns it, it's a 2 family truck from west Tn its entire life. Sat in a barn for many, many yrs and came back out several yrs ago to have the 350 pulled, built and cam'd to a 292 (about 10,000 miles on build) and its been used for a weekend boat puller and intermittently driven to work to prevent sitting up too much.. I'll be driving it about 70 miles one way so, what would you guys check that I may be forgetting before I strike out on this journey
Oh, it's also a factory 4-speed granny low setup too

 

[rem270]

Im no mechanic so cant really tell you what to check besides the basic stuff im sure you know! But thats a sweet truck!

 

[Kimber45]

Oh, and I'll be looking for a factory grille if you know where I can score one
The speedo doesn't work either so I'm thinking the speedo drive gear setup comes off the transfer case on these, best I remeber so I'll be looking for a gear, reducers, cable possibly there too.

 

[Kimber45]

Im no mechanic so cant really tell you what to check besides the basic stuff im sure you know! But thats a sweet truck!

Thanks.. My first long term job was at a chevy dealer at 18 yrs old.. Started out washing cars, became red room Mgr (fancy name for the feller who buffed the cars etc) then moved into parts and ended up managing there in my early 20's.. Love my chevy's! Always wanted a Stepside 4x4 but all the ones I've seen the last 15 yrs were rough or too stinkin expensive

 

[leader]

Great find brother!!!!

 

[Hangnail]

I'm soooo jealous!!I had a black 1978 just like it back in the early/mid 80's. Had the original grill too, so it makes me smile you're going that route. Never was a Billit fan. That's a sweet truck.

About the only thing I'd do is pull over after driving five to ten miles and feel the hubs to make sure they aren't hot. I'd also drain the transfer case and differentials when I got a chance, just to be sure. Congrats on the purchase!

 

[paincave_2000]

This place will have any and everything you should need for it.
http://www.lmctruck.com/

 

[Kimber45]

Great find brother!!!!

Thanks! I see this becoming a project
It has a heavy duty Texas drop bumper on it... It's got to go.. I'll be putting a chrome factory wrap around on the back, will have to add a frame hitch then too.. Those wheels are most likely going back to chevy rally silver, I love the old silver rally's n trim rings myself..old redneck country boy coming out I reckon.. Dash has a few cracks, moulded cover is pretty reasonable.. Door panels are good but will have to dye/paint them...and on and on and on

Jacob is already saying, but Dad, if you do all that we'll never get it in a mudhole

 

[Hawk]

MPG - I would guess 14. Ten gallons minimum per day. $$$$

But just think how cool it would be.

 

[Kimber45]

I'm soooo jealous!!I had a black 1978 just like it back in the early/mid 80's. Had the original grill too, so it makes me smile you're going that route. Never was a Billit fan. That's a sweet truck.

About the only thing I'd do is pull over after driving five to ten miles and feel the hubs to make sure they aren't hot. I'd also drain the transfer case and differentials when I got a chance, just to be sure. Congrats on the purchase!

Good idea on the hub check! I'll be replacing all the fluids this week if the weather permits. Gotta find out if they've rod'd the radiator out or replaced it too. Really looking forward to this project as I always wanted one of these trucks in a 4x4.

 

[Kimber45]

This place will have any and everything you should need for it.
http://www.lmctruck.com/

That site is awesome !! They have some drawings I needed to see right off the bat! Thanks!

 

[Kimber45]

MPG - I would guess 14. Ten gallons minimum per day. $$$$

But just think how cool it would be.

Good thing is, I live 5 miles from work

 

[timberjack86]

I am a ford man but thats a sweet truck right there!!

 

[fourwheeler431]

Great find! I have always loved that body style. I would definitely get all of the fluids changed before I started driving it to long,that was a good reminder on checking the hubs I had forgotten about that.

 

[dh1984]

Ok guys, I'm supposed to be picking this up about 1pm today. I trust the guy that owns it, it's a 2 family truck from west Tn its entire life. Sat in a barn for many, many yrs and came back out several yrs ago to have the 350 pulled, built and cam'd to a 292 (about 10,000 miles on build) and its been used for a weekend boat puller and intermittently driven to work to prevent sitting up too much.. I'll be driving it about 70 miles one way so, what would you guys check that I may be forgetting before I strike out on this journey
Oh, it's also a factory 4-speed granny low setup too

what i would check is the Trans grease so you know it isn't low or you will replacing a trans. and then check the engine to make sure the oil don't look burnt. Then check the coolant level power steering and all the other things you would check. and then take it on a test drive and if it sounds really good then i would buy it.

 

[mike243]

Find out if it is a limited slip or posi rearend before filling back up.vin # will give all the details of the running gears.ck online for the info

 

[vanleerbuckbuster]

i've got a 79 stepside 4x4. been my daily driver for 3yrs. tough trucks for sure

 

[fredfred]

When you say it was built and cammed to a 292 did you mean it's got a 292 adv. duration cam in it?

 

[Kimber45]

When you say it was built and cammed to a 292 did you mean it's got a 292 adv. duration cam in it?

Yep

 

[Kimber45]

Well, I left it behind

Cancer was a little worse than anticipated, frame had been cut and pieced together (however it tracked very well), the entire drivetrain needed pulling out and all new gaskets n seals.....which wouldn't have bothered me had the truck not had a lot of rust in it he just had not noticed, tires dry rotted and had slow leaks too. Dang thing drove good, shifted good, plenty of power $2500 is the bottom.. 2G was my # with all the work needed and he was bottomed out at 25..