Thread: '79 GMC Sierra Grande - Codename: Change

Alright long story short one of my coworkers buys old Chevys to fix/salvage/drive, and I ended up wanting a '79 GMC Sierra Grande. Original 1 owner title with only 4 miles on it which was ****ing sweet. Here is all the photos of which, and the flatbed in the background is on it now.










I literally took ownership of it for one hour. Went on a test run ~ 2 miles because the transmission was shot, and just confirming. Parked it at home under my lean to, and went back to bring my buddy home and looked at parts. 20 minutes later get a phone call from the wife saying the truck is on fire. Hauled ass... tranny dropped the GP a few times... and luckily my neighbor is the fire chief. He went outside and smelt it, and he already had his workers on the way. The truck cab is pretty well gone, engine is questionable... valve covers got a little discolored and carb is trashed. The dash and everything is trashed along with windshield. Here are the night time photots, and ill upload more tomorrow. She is getting rebuilt with an '86 Sierra cab, and possibly the 350 or a 454 in that '86.

























03/25/14






























New update:





















Bottom end had carbon chunks, but a she is a virgin! Original '79 block with ~65k on the clock. You can even still see the factory crosshatching. Valve covers and air cleaner cover are going to be orange.





Current state is ready to pull the '86 cab (brown and tan turd) off the frame and move it over. Waiting on the trans to be overhauled. Pretty well the full engine is ready to go minus front accessories and carb. Running a Voodoo 60102 cam, 4160 Holley, and 8120 Weiand intake.

Jesus

Best $800 dollar investment in less than an hour.

sweet

No bueno on fire. What caught you think?

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We honestly don't know but we are leaning towards electrical. There was definitely a hot point in the front dash, but it also seems to be hotter around the A/C box. It seems to be multiple hot points, but not for sure which. It was weird because I drove it before, my buddy drove it before, it was just kinda spontaneous.

Damn

Hey at least its not a melted pile of metal

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True, but a little more work than I wanted to put in here for now.

Updated for more carnage.

Sucks a bunch

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wow that blows. good thing it takes nothing to get the cab off, or the front clip. and the wire harness is easy too.

i used to drive a 77 GMC camper special back in HS. that dash pic takes me back. and the two tone. mine was like bronze and tan.

only my dodge truck has caught fire on me. lucky i was driving it at the time.

Updated.

Had a 75 C20 ... well it was badged and titled C20. If you bought anything but a C30 part, you'd be going back to the parts store. I did a cab swap with 3 other guys and a gutted cab. Not so bad..but you want to have eaten your wheaties that day.