We went to Mecum Dallas looking for a classic Jeep J10 and came home with something completely different: a 1976 GMC Sierra Classic 15 Stepside.
That is what happens when you spend time walking around an auction. You start out focused on one truck, then another catches your eye. With its green-and-white paint, square-body styling, and stepside bed, this GMC felt like a great fit for MakerBuildIt—and a project with plenty of possibilities.
A classic truck we can work on
The truck is not perfect, and that was part of the appeal. We wanted something we could repair a little at a time and use for interesting maker projects. This GMC gives us plenty to do.
I like its original character: the green paint, white roof, old-school interior, and stepside bed. The plan is to keep that personality while sorting out the things that need attention.
From Dallas to New York—with an unexpected problem
After the auction, we had the truck shipped from Dallas to New York. When it arrived, I was excited to get it off the trailer and start driving it. Then we ran into a problem: it would start, but sometimes stalled when I let off the gas.
Because this is an older carbureted truck, my first thought was the carburetor. Did it need cleaning? Was something clogged? Would it need a rebuild?
Before going down that road, I checked something much simpler: the fuel.
The gauge said full. The tank was empty.
Despite the fuel gauge reading full, the tank was empty. The truck had arrived running on fumes, leaving a misleading gauge reading on the list of things to sort out.
We added ethanol-free gasoline, and the GMC started, idled, and ran well, as shown in the video. In this case, adding fuel resolved the immediate running problem; I did not need to rebuild or replace the carburetor to get it going.
The important part of this first fix was finding the empty tank. Ethanol-free fuel does not repair a faulty carburetor, and a stalling engine can have other causes. This truck simply needed gas before we could make any further judgments about how it ran.
Keeping the character while fixing the problems
Now that we know it runs, the next step is cleaning it up and checking it over. We are starting with the basics, picking up replacement parts and getting things working the way they should.
We are not planning a frame-off restoration. Instead, we will tackle repairs and improvements as we go. With an old truck, even a simple job can turn into a more interesting project, so there should be plenty to share along the way.
In true MakerBuildIt style, future projects will bring in 3D printing, electronics, and fabrication. Those are plans for the build ahead; this first video is about meeting the truck and getting it running after delivery.
Getting ready for inspection
Before enjoying the truck on the road, we also plan to prepare it for its New York safety inspection. In the video, I mention checking items such as the turn signals, brakes, and seat belts as part of going through the truck.
Getting the engine to idle was an encouraging first step. There is still work ahead to check the rest of the vehicle and address what needs fixing.
Watch the GMC project introduction
We set out looking for a Jeep and ended up with a GMC full of project potential. What should we tackle first—and do you think we made the right choice?
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