Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Restoring an old GMC

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Mobile home mov

11-12-2006 11:32:03




Report to Moderator

Ive got a 79 GMC Astro tractor/truck Ive been wanting to put back into service. Its an old mobile home toter, cab over,,single axle, short wheel base, has all the tool boxes, tire racks, dont have an electric hitch, but thats not too hard to convert over,,, Has 525,400 miles on it, has had an inframe rebuild, but has about 1200 miles on the rebuild then the former owners decided that that truck had too much money in it, and sold it to me bout 7 years ago. I got it for a song,, $2000 and I drove it home,, Has a 290 cummins, 10 speed eaton fuller, with a 2 speed rear axle,,, locking differential, which if any of you drivers ever ran mobile home totors,,, thats some real good features to have,, for those times of dragging a 16X80 off the road onto a new lot, and its a little loose or muddy,,,, Ive been running houses for about 10 years now,,, Ive worked for companies with the company trucks, always had to put up with a mouthy dispatcher,, or git up n go as soon as I got home from texas or something like that,,, not that the money wasnt bad,, it was worse actually,,,, HAHAHAHA!!! but then hear how much the truck actually made for me to drive the load,, got me thinking,,, Shoot, if I already owned the truck, but just needed restored,, (thats usually the down fall of owner operator is having to pay for the truck, as we try to make a living,,,, The payments when we sit still,, add up,,, stress,,, well you guys know bout that dont ya?? Anyways,, this ol GMC, ran great, didnt burn oil, power steering leaked a little, but thats nothing,,, drove straight, had air ride on the cab, rear axle is air ride, not leaf spring,,, its been sitting for about 2 years now,,, still runs,, batteries are low, and got some new ones coming,, Im really considering dumping about 12,000$$ in the old totor to fix everythng mechanicly, (and its just alot of little stuff, nothing major) and If I had enough left over,, redo the entire interior, shoot, all it is is vynil wrapped cardboard for interior panels,, Am I pipe dreaming on thinking I can make a living by fixin up the old truck?

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
JimJoanie

11-12-2006 19:38:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
Wish you had posted a picture, drove a set up like that back in the early 80's while in college pulling a horse trailer over most of the Eastern US. 79 GMS Astro with Cummins and the split 10 speed like yours, and single axle with a sleeper. The original engine was blown earlier and replace with one out of a logging truck in GA. The set up would get up and go. Used to race the flat beds and empty tankers at night. Ah to be young and stupid again.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mobile home mover

11-13-2006 13:53:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to JimJoanie, 11-12-2006 19:38:15  
Id bet this one would be a triple digit truck wound out, Ive had it up to bout 96, had lots to go, always ran excellent!! Yeah, Ive got pictures....



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

11-12-2006 19:27:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
Well let me tell you from some one that took and old truck and made a liveing. If you watch your $$ and fix it right you should be able to come out ahead. I took a 1963 Diamond-T 990 road tractor made the fame 2 foot longer and set a dump bed on it and made a liveing with it till the engine blew one sleeve. Then my doctor found out what I was doing and he retired me. I still would love to get the truck back up and running but I don't have the $$ to do so and haven't been able to find the parts either. I say go for it. By the way in 3 years D.O.T stopped me only once

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Mobile home mover

11-13-2006 14:05:03




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to old, 11-12-2006 19:27:49  
I used to drive it for a while, I used it to pull a gooseneck trailer with a couple of tractors on it. Pulled a few houses with it, ran great, shifted even better, and the only rust is on the tool boxes that was installed. Just surface rust,,, Im not afraid of running into a DOT,, Ive always did a professional job out on the road keeping things in good shape. The truck is in great shape mechanicly, and yep, clutch and tranny has been done too,,, I like the idea of running an older truck, but restored right,,, Im not afraid of a truck that I know,,,,, If I was to drag it out of a junkyard and fix it, well,,,,, thats different. Frame is not rusty, no leaks on the engine/tranny,,, its mostly needing rewired,,, cab interior is a little rough, but its cardboard wrapped in vynil to redo the panels. Ill put ya on a picture in a day or so.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
R. Goodwin

11-12-2006 19:02:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
Now that all the other guys have you discouraged, I am gonna say that I support your idea. I have a 77' 9000 Ford that I completely redone almost 10 years ago. Put a big cam 350 cummins in along with a 10 speed roadranger and spicer 3 speed auxillary trans. Also replaced all air lines, rewired the truck and put on lots of other new parts. I am sure I spent more than most people would think is worth, but I have always had a dependable truck and I don't have all the computers and electronic headaches you find on newer trucks. As far as DOT messing with you for an older truck, I live in Texas also and you should know, the DOT will mess with you here no matter how old or new your truck is. I have never regreted fixing up an old truck. As far as getting a job with an older truck, I don't know. I am self employed and use mine to move my own equipment.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
620

11-12-2006 18:44:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
just to let you know as a truck that old going up the road sticks out like a swore thumb.Who is the dot going to pull over a new truck or a old one . I think you could be asking for trouble .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Tom in Central Pa

11-12-2006 15:24:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
Check with your broker, or the company you intend to pull for. Some companies have "years-old limits" on what they hire. They don"t want old, unreliable equipment breakdowns delaying their deliveries. No sense in spending time/money on something that you can"t use.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
135 Fan

11-12-2006 12:15:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Restoring an old GMC in reply to Mobile home mover, 11-12-2006 11:32:03  
Your truck is almost 30 years old. Has the tranny or rear end ever been done. Any time you want to refurbish something it always costs a lot more than you figured. You wouldn't want to spend $12,000 on it and then have something go wrong with another major component. Astro weren't all that common. Getting parts could be hard. It might be a good idea to really evaluate if it's worth fixing up. You don't see a lot of older trucks on the road. Not for everyday work trucks anyway. Just my thoughts. Dave

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy