Snapon truck

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I bought a used Snapon truck for my renovation/construction business. Unfortunately the decals will have to come off. And it's on a GMC/chev frame/running gear. But it should hold pretty much all my tools. It has undercabinet lighting on every level and 6 skylights. I won't have to squint to find my tools...

The trip home was slow. Wagging the dog as soon as we hit 65 km/h.

It fired right up [sounds good!] with a good battery and it goes into gear and drives forward and reverse. It's on propane. It needs at least 2 tires and a bearing in the lower steering column. I'll take a close look tonight and see what else it needs.

 

[Doofy]

Very Impressive! Great score.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Digit Usage VIN Decoded
1 Mfgr T GMC
2 Chassis P Forward Control
3 Engine M V8 350-4v (5.7L) 165hp LT9
4 Series 3 1 ton
5 Body Z Unknown!
6 Year A 1980
7 Plant A Detroit MI
8-13 Sequential Serial # 503334 503334

The front suspension is a SLA, the same as a 1980 parts motorhome chassis I own. Unfortunately the tires on the motorhome are 16.5", not 16". Brakes and balljoints should be the same. I be checking that out over the next few days.

 

[Curious Hound]

Congratulations! That should be a great work truck.

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[adsm08]

So it didn't come with the tools?

 

[Ozwynn]

So it didn't come with the tools?

My dad left me $50,000 worth of snapon tools and boxes when he died. I still need to go to Michigan to get them

 

[adsm08]

My dad left me $50,000 worth of snapon tools and boxes when he died. I still need to go to Michigan to get them

I should be so lucky.

I fully expect to be left about 4-6 cars totalling about $10K in value, or $100K in parts I need to buy/work I need to do, and the responsibility to deal with the disposition of their (currently) $300K property, that will be nearly unsellable due to drainage issues.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

So far I've found 2 sockets...and not snapon.

 

[adsm08]

So far I've found 2 sockets...and not snapon.

Sounds like a rip-off to me. You literally bought the whole truck and he couldn't even throw in some good sockets.

 

[Jim Oaks]

The trip home was slow. Wagging the dog as soon as we hit 65 km/h.

That's a whole lot of weight on the end of your trailer. I had that happen to me once, but I was able to move the vehicle closer to the front of the trailer, and it went away. It can be a scary feeling.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

So far I've bought $40 of Swaglok SS fittings for the auxiliary propane heater in the back of the truck as well as $47 for a new regulator for the same. I have a bunch of salvaged 3/8" SS tube. The cost for new copper or new rubber line would be about the same.
I also bought 2 new to me tires [$80 for the pair] and mounted them. No balance as yet. I put the almost brand new tires from my f250 onto the front, didn't swap rims. This puts the tires out about 4 inches more than they should be but nothing hits.
The front end looks tight except for passenger side wheel bearing is loose.
Today I'm going to swap out the steering column and it should be good enough for the road.

 

[Curious Hound]

Sounds like you got a good truck. $40 doesn't get you very much Swagelock. I'm almost envious of your heated, self-propelled Snap-On toolbox.

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[alwaysFlOoReD]

Well, I got the loose wheel bearing fixed. Tackled the steering column...that was fun...the 1980 motorhome frame that I thought was going to be great for parts has been a bust. Everything I've looked at is slightly different. The dash gauges are different, the column was different the tires are 16.5" and not 16"....
I took the column and made it fit. It was a matter of making a bracket to hold the column and "fixing" the transmission shifter gizmo. I now have a taller column which actually suits me better, AND I have tilt and cruise [when I swap the rest of the cruise controls over].
I've been trying to figure out why the gas gauge wasn't working. I started a different thread for that and got some help. Nothing seemed to be working....then I realized that none of the gauges were working and went to the fuse block....50 cent 5 amp fuse.....kicking myself is soooo much fun....

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I took it out for the first time today. Drove about a 50 mile round trip. Filled up with propane, the gauge is working fine. There is a noticeable lack of power once I hit 80 kph/50mph. I also hear what I think is light tapping sounds similar to a lifter, but it's not there at lower speeds or idle. I think I'm running lean at cruise speeds. I can't find the marks for timing the engine, I suspect that there is supposed to be a sawtooth bracket mounted to the front of the engine but nothing . I will check the other engine I have tomorrow.
There is lots of rattles and squeaks but nothing too concerning as yet.
All in all I'm happy.

 

[Curious Hound]

So, may I ask? How much did you pay for the ultimate self-propelled, heated Snap-on Toolbox?