76 GMC Jimmy Project, Fix/Questions

[i_am_a_cc]

Hi CK5, my first thread. I wanted to introduce my truck to you guys and i am new to cars so i know ill be asking questions, so i figured id get an early start. Pics will be coming very soon. I bought the truck a few weeks ago for 1500. The engine is blown but the guy i bought it from gave me a freshly rebuilt 327 included in the deal. Today i got the old engine pulled and washed it off

 

[i_am_a_cc]

I am trying to post pictures, i looked at the faq and it says there is a "manage attachments" button under the message box, i am not seeing it. Am i allowed to post pictures yet or do i need to register?

 

[Fordum]

Takes a certain number of posts.

You should be close with 7

 

[i_am_a_cc]

Here we go! ill do another round of pics tomorrow. I'm wiped out.

 

[Fordum]

Looks pretty good. But be warned, when you see that many mods on a truck, its usually going to be either fairly nice, or a huge pain.

It all depends on how well they were done.

There is so much aftermarket junk out there, and even the good stuff is bad if installed wrong.

There is a reason PO (Previous Owner) is almost a curse word around here........

But, if the base is sound, all can be fixed.

Just don't struggle too long if they did a lot of custom wiring. If its all screwed up, its best to just either rewire from scratch, or buy a kit that takes it back to factory.

Then you start rewiring it the way you want it......

 

[i_am_a_cc]

Yeah, i have already seen a lot of things the PO has done that i am very unhappy with. But i knew what i was getting myself into with a truck that cheap. He didnt have the right tool or something, so he cut the accelarator cable so i need a new one of those right off the bat.

 

[i_am_a_cc]

So along with putting a new engine in my truck, what else would you guys recomend doing? (mechanically) i want to do all new tubes and hoses, probably new belts, a new transmission seal, the PO did the front U joint but not the rear U joint so ill end up doing that.

 

[i_am_a_cc]

More pics

 

[Fordum]

Oh yeah, that one is going to be fun......

As I have said before, Brakes and Steering. Once it steers and stops, I'll worry about looks and power.
Don't neglect other stuff just for those, but don't consider driving it until those are handled.

Consider carefully your main use of it. Strictly offroad in bad places, means different priorities than a daily driver.
Look at some of the builds around here. Off road, a body is not strictly necessary....

The main thing is to balance cost against trouble and time.
Odds are the brake lines are rusty. You could buy a good flaring tool, and lots of tubing and replumb the whole truck your self.

But the companies that sell complete tubing sets with all the fittings and bends already done that fit perfectly are a much better way to go.
Plus you can get the tubes in stock plated steel, or stainless.

U-joints, things like that, should be a do it yourself item if you are able. Not only is that cheaper, but you keep up with what is going on under your truck better that way.

Usually the order is: Safety, Power, Looks.

But, if the engine falls out when you put it in due to the frame rust, then that might be a slightly higher priority.........

Also, I would not tend to put much stock in the quality of the "rebuilt" engine you got with the truck, unless you know the people who rebuilt it......

Also, being I am a Ford guy, I don't know for sure. Pretty much everybody here will, but will a 327 fit where your old one was?

What did it have originally?

I know in Fords, different engine families have to have adapters or transmission mods to interchange

 

[80' 427]

For the most part a 327 will fall in with the exception of the fact that early heads don't have accessory bolt holes to hold the brackets so you may be swapping heads. Otherwise the short block is the same.

 

[Fordum]

For the most part a 327 will fall in with the exception of the fact that early heads don't have accessory bolt holes to hold the brackets so you may be swapping heads. Otherwise the short block is the same.

Asked and answered in 4 minutes.

That is what I like about this place........

 

[80' 427]

saying "327" doesn't mean anything more than "350". There was great ones and meh ones. who knows what is in that one. I would be scared that someone that thinks a drag race engine needs to live in a truck built it and it has stupid high compression and a huge cam.

 

[i_am_a_cc]

Yeah, i plan on doing as much as possible on my own, with the help of my father in law. I wouldnt have taken the engine if i didnt have full faith in the guy who rebuilt it, my father in law. He was going to use it in one of his cars but ended up giving it to me instead.
The mounts on the 327 were set up for a 76 half ton truck so i am to beilieve it SHOULD fit. That doesnt mean everything wont go wrong though. As far as the 327, all i was told was it was taken out of an early 70's truck. Thank you for your advice with the brakes though, next chance i get, ill check that out.

 

[i_am_a_cc]

Went out and bought some header paint and a new locking gas cap.

 

[herkdriver007]

Looks like a fun project!

Did you have to tow it far? Looks like it was loaded rear first on the trailer, how'd it pull?

 

[K5dreamer]

Welcome to the mad house... i mean... forum

regardless of your intended use of the truck, the first step is to make it safe to drive (as has already been stated). check the brakes, steering, suspension, and such. If it was a runner/driver you should have already had a mechanics buyer's inspection, but if you haven't because its not running, Id take it to a stealership, and ask them to put together a list of "necessary" repairs. It can be the best $100-200 you'll spend on it. Just pay the diagnostic fee, take it home, with a to do list from the mechanic. Then prioritize from there.

Once its running, and safe, decide where you wanna go with it. daily driver, show truck, mall crawler, off roader, king of the hammers competitor, theres plenty of guys here with the know how, and sarcasm to help you out, while maybe giving you a hard time at the same time. No worries its usually all in fun.

Once you have a direction you're heading in with it, then more specific questions will pop up. Congrats on the new rig

 

[i_am_a_cc]

I actually didnt tow it, my father in law did. it was only about twenty miles. Pretty much all freeway. He said it wasnt too tough to get it up on the trailer. Yeah im not 100 percent on what i wanna do yet, im worried on it running and driving well. I tested the brakes a little bit because we had to push it into the driveway, they work but not nearly as well as id want them to. Once i get the new engine in the truck it should run and ill take it to a mechanic and have them check it out. I have an older brother and work in a kitchen so im totally used to harassment.