Newbie, intro and question
 

Hi everyone,

My name is Ryan, live in easy bay CA, and I am looking for a special project truck...

1966 GMC, fleetside, automatic, 351E

My Grandfather bought one from a retired Navy officer in '72. He then passed it to my Dad, and my Dad passed it to me when I was 18. I was the idiot kid who thought, "man this thing is ugly! Yellow/white and old and slow"

So I offed it :(

Fast forward to being an actual adult, and boy do I miss that truck, and because I am looking for a project, I am hoping to find that one to work on and restore both for myself and in memory of my Grandfather who passed away last year.

Thanks for reading my story, and if you have any leads on one, or ideas where one can look, I would appreciate it.

Thank you much!

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

Welcome to the forum, Ryan! Thanks for sharing your story about your Grandfather's truck. You've got a good goal there, to find another one like it. It could take you quite a while to find one, but don't give up. They are out there.

I found one just like what you're looking for several years ago just down the road about 3 miles from me. I bought it and did a restoration on it. Clyde in South Carolina (also a forum member) owns it now. You can see a little picture of it and my '62 Suburban in my avatar.

The best advice I can give you is to keep checking online sites like eBay and searchtempest.com. You'll find one sooner or later.

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

Hey Ed, thank you!

eBay for vehicles, man that has always worried me ha. I have seen a few but the thought of buying blind I guess freaked me out a bit. Something people do though eh?

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

Ryan I have bought several trucks off Ebay and have formed the opinion that if you stick to buying un-restored trucks it seems you really can't go wrong because it is what it is and you can always ask for more pictures etc so less likely you will be surprised by something not shown vs buying the nicer fixed up ones which are usually in the hands of the shysters who fixed them up just nice enough to sell. Craigslist is best over Ebay in my opinion - that is where I have found most of mine lately. Just bought a 1 owner 1959 Chevy short fleetside from San Diego CA for 2500 bucks off Craigslist ad, so un-believeable deals can be found there. I will watch for the 66 you want - I have been watching for a 66 short bed w/ factory auto and 351 for myself, so I may dig up what you need because I have seen them before....

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

CA is a great place to look for them and since you live there its even better. Look at local wrecking yards and keep and eye on craigslist.

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

Don't be afraid of eBay or any other online site (there are lots of them), Ryan. I've bought trucks (and cars) from long distance sight unseen before too. Maybe I've been lucky, but I haven't been burned yet, although one car was rustier than I expected. During negotiations, you can usually get a feel for how honest a seller is. Lots of close-up photos certainly help too.

To find something as rare as what you're looking for, there's a good chance you'll find one a long way away from you. So be prepared to spend money to fly there and drive it home or pay $500 to $1200 or so to have it shipped, depending on distance.

Patience is the key. I searched for about 10 years for a good 4x4 Suburban before I found mine in the Phoenix area in 1997. I flew there and drove it home. That was in the days before the internet made it much easier to find what you're looking for, so your search shouldn't take as long.

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

Is what I am looking for that rare? Had no idea...why is that, because of the 351E engine?

If so, would it be another option to find one in the 305 engine, and then look for a 351 block to overhaul and install separately?

Re: Newbie, intro and question
 

What's rare is the combination of 1966, 351, and automatic. The more of those 3 things you're willing to give up, the greater your chances of finding a truck sooner. If you find one with a 305, you can always upgrade to a 351, 379, or 401 later. If you find one with a manual transmission and want to switch to an automatic, you'll need to find the V6-specific adapter which is not easy to find either (although I do have one I'd part with).