New Member/1973 GMC Dooley oddity

[73FrankenTruck]

Hi all, great forum here. I've been lurking for a while.

Earlier this year my recently departed father-in-law left me his last project, of which he had many, a 1973 GMC pickup. He traded his racing buddy for it. His buddy was the original owner, and it was his daily driver from 1973 to 2000. In 2000, it became a race car hauler.

It began it's life as a 3/4 ton, but was converted, sorta, to a 1-ton dually with the use of a parts truck, scavenged parts, and an RV. Sometimes this makes parts matching a chore. The dual rear is from a fleet factory flatbed, so the tires only protrude from the bed about 2+ inches on each side. The original owner "filleted" some step side fenders and booger-welded them on the side of the bed (wheelwells were cut open to allow more clearance). Not my favorite look, but it definitely makes people look twice. The bed was tubbed to fit the new dual rear. I actually spoke to the owner, who was shocked to learn the truck was now in WA state (from CA). Great guy, and he was happy another family man was driving it and using it with his kids. He explained that he "took some spring" out of the rear, and put in airbags (which are still there).

This thing rides like a tank, but drives like a dream. I recently replaced the carb with a Edelbrock 600cfm jobber, of which a definite power decrease is noticed, but the driveability and gas mileage has me smiling. It's a great runner. Runs smooth, starts on the first key bump, and doesn't stumble any more. The original owner told me how they rebuilt the motor and trans, and then it sat for quite a while. I pulled the valve covers and it looked new. The entire underside of the headers and exhaust pipe had rotted from sitting.  I replaced the carb, headers, exhaust system, brake lines, front tires, belts, coolant hoses, steering pump, rusty heater core, and some power steering hoses. I still have some work to do to make it a full-on daily driver again (heater ducting is not hooked up right, the guages are janky as all get out, some questionable wiring, and the driver window wont stay seated to save my life), but it's still fun to fart around in.

I'm trying to figure out how to post pics, so I'll post some when I figure it out. Thanks for reading.

-C

[73FrankenTruck]

When it first got home:

[73FrankenTruck]

Cracked it open:

[1967KaiserM715]

I kind of like the bed, would be sweet looking with some super wide single rear tires

[LTZ C20]

I kind of like the bed, would be sweet looking with some super wide single rear tires

I agree with this kinda. It's a different look but it's like a stream line dually look. I think with a little modification it could probably look really good. Large single rear wheels would also be cool.

Also, welcome from central California.

[Irish_Alley]

welcome from maryland. nice set up, but if i can remember right bud wheels on a srw axle the rear tires will stick out past the fenders about 4". what rear axle is that?

[FlatBlack77]

welcome man!

its a pretty neat looking project. i like to see different things that are out of the ordinary like this

[zieg85]

Welcome from NW Indiana

[Tazman]

Welcome from Az.

[Jason S]

Welcome from Kansas. 

[73FrankenTruck]

but if i can remember right bud wheels on a srw axle the rear tires will stick out past the fenders about 4". what rear axle is that?

I wish I had the knowledge to I.D. stuff like that, but I do not, ha. The orig owner told me it was from a '74 Factory Flat Bed. My father-in-law had once told me the orig owner told him it came out of a motorhome. I'm not sure how to tell. It looked to be in good shape, the diff oil looked good/at proper level, and it does great 4-tire burnouts, so that's where my initial research ended.

[Irish_Alley]

http://billavista.com/tech/Articles/14-Bolt_Bible/index.html

14-Bolt Type*      Width WMS-WMS         Tube OD / Thickness        Applications                   Hubs*   Shafts*
SRW                              67.5"                       3-3/8" / 0.5"        Single rear wheel trucks   Type A   Type 1
DRW                               72"                          3.5" / 0.5"             Dual rear wheel trucks           Type B   Type 2
C&C                               63.5"                          3.5" / 0.5"        Cab and chassis trucks   Type B   Type 1
Van                                  70"                                ??                G30 and G35 vans           Type A   Type 3


WMS = wheel mounting surface