Purchased out of New Jersey, my truck required almost every body panel to be replaced from the cab to the bed and fenders as part of the restoration.

The hood was saved along with the part of the tailgate as they are very hard to come by. This was the first year for the GMC exclusive 305 cubic inch Big Block V6 and you couldn't get it in a Chivy!

Yes you read that right, it is a V6 stump pulling monster! 

Below is the 1963 GMC 1500 parts truck as it sat in California before being trailered it to Las Vegas. After stripping the cab and most of the front clip, the cab is ready to be lifted off for the restoration.

Next the parts truck is down to the frame and the cab is loaded in a trailer behind my 1965 Buick Special Wagon and headed to the shop.

Finally all the pieces are in the shop. The first picture is the truck being restored, the cab from the '63 parts truck, the end of the line for the original bed and cab, and last we're stripped down to the frame and motor ready for media blasting.

Now we're on the road back to a really nice truck. Below the cab has been media blasted; the motor & frame stripped, painted & mated again; the cab being set on the frame to align for restored frame mounts and fitting alternator and A/C brackets.

The finished product complete with R134 air conditioning under dash old school style! Notice the clean A/C hose routing & simple engine bay. Don't forget the high dollar Pep Boys armrest/center console with cup holders. I've got to have some amenities for road trips!

Click here to go to a slide show of the complete restoration

Click here to join me as I drive my "new" truck home from Neptune, NJ to Las Vegas, NV

Click here to view my Web Site (www.gmcguy.com) featuring more slide shows of individual elements of the restoration

Advance the slide shows one frame at a time to read the narration and enjoy the ride with me!

See my other rides.....

1968 Buick Skylark "GSX 455" Custom

1965 Buick Sportwagon