Overview
I’ve been a busy guy lately and haven’t got around to starting this thread. This is my sons truck that he has been on the back burner while I “finished” my build. Had a lot of ups and downs in life lately, and many things have got in the way, but now it’s time to start kickin names and taking.....
yeah you get the point.
So here is the overall plan.
76 GMC 4x4 was a pile, but had a good chassis.
81 GMC is 2wd but the cab is good. I have one small spot to fix on the driver side floor, but other that that it’s pretty clean.
Also picked up an 80 something C10 parts truck with good sheet metal to scavenge needed body panels.
Taking the three and making one awesome 81 on 37s with a 350, TH400, a 205, and tons. So this is where we are with it as of now.
Here is the tear down of the 76.
This is where the crappy bodywork starts to show. When you push in the clutch the front corner of the cab would lift up.
Passenger side floor probably wouldn’t hold any weight. Really rotten... paint was holding it in place. Lol
Can corners were replaced at one point.
Cab off...
Time to tear it down to the bare frame!
Greasy.
I bet there was a little vibration.
Starting the cleanup!
Compared to the body the frame was in awesome shape. Wiring looks great as well!
Bed sides off. Picking through three full boxes to find the best bedsides.
All naked and cleaned up! Ready to pull the motor, trans, and t-case!
Motor came out really easy because the motor mounts weren’t bolted to the motor.
I was surprised to find a fairly fresh rebuild despite the fact that it leaked horribly bad. Too much blue and orange silicone slathered all over.
And BOOM! 4 bolt main!
Vince and his girlfriend scraping grease to prep for paint!
Cleaned up and taped off, ready for paint.
Painted and shorties!
That’s where we are now. Might make it back out there in a bit to clean up my mess and maybe get a couple more things done.

So here is the overall plan.
76 GMC 4x4 was a pile, but had a good chassis.
81 GMC is 2wd but the cab is good. I have one small spot to fix on the driver side floor, but other that that it’s pretty clean.
Also picked up an 80 something C10 parts truck with good sheet metal to scavenge needed body panels.
Taking the three and making one awesome 81 on 37s with a 350, TH400, a 205, and tons. So this is where we are with it as of now.
Here is the tear down of the 76.
This is where the crappy bodywork starts to show. When you push in the clutch the front corner of the cab would lift up.
Passenger side floor probably wouldn’t hold any weight. Really rotten... paint was holding it in place. Lol
Can corners were replaced at one point.
Cab off...
Time to tear it down to the bare frame!
Greasy.
I bet there was a little vibration.
Starting the cleanup!
Compared to the body the frame was in awesome shape. Wiring looks great as well!
Bed sides off. Picking through three full boxes to find the best bedsides.
All naked and cleaned up! Ready to pull the motor, trans, and t-case!
Motor came out really easy because the motor mounts weren’t bolted to the motor.
I was surprised to find a fairly fresh rebuild despite the fact that it leaked horribly bad. Too much blue and orange silicone slathered all over.
And BOOM! 4 bolt main!
Vince and his girlfriend scraping grease to prep for paint!
Cleaned up and taped off, ready for paint.
Painted and shorties!
That’s where we are now. Might make it back out there in a bit to clean up my mess and maybe get a couple more things done.
Specs
- Year
- 1981
- Make
- GMC
- Model
- C20 C25? Whatever...
- Engine
- 350
- Transmission
- TH400
- Transfer Case
- NP205
- Steering
- Crossover
- Suspension
- 6” sagged to 4?
- Axles
- 60/14BFF
- Wheels
- 17” Ultra
- Tires
- 37” Ironman all country MT
- Paint
- Raptorliner