Hello everyone,

I hope I'm in the right spot, but I couldn't find any decent sites on GMC Sprints.

I have a lead on a 1976 GMC SPRINT, 305, V8, auto, PS, PB, with a recent tune up. The owner wanted to do a complete restoration, but decided he wouldn't have time to do it, so he's selling it at a very good price.

I haven't looked at it yet, but I am wondering what I should be looking for to avoid any serious problems. I was told it has a few rust holes in the floorboards and a bit of rust around the rear wheel wells. The paint is supposed to be original.

Any help would be appreciated. I can take photos of the car when I look at it and post them here to get any opinions.

Mike

Pics will definitely "help"...but as a rule...the less rust the better! ESPECIALLY in the floorboards. That's generally a sign of a lotta unseen problems. :(

Pics will definitely "help"...but as a rule...the less rust the better! ESPECIALLY in the floorboards. That's generally a sign of a lotta unseen problems. :(

What unseen problems might those be? And how hard are they to fix?

I'm going to look at the car early next week and I'll take my digital camera with me. Hopefully I'll be able to get underneath and take a few shots. What other areas should I photograph besides the obvious (interior, engine compartment, bed, wheel wells)?

I want to be able to drive the car as I fix it up and eventually put in a new engine, probably a 350, and a manual transmission.

Thanks,

Mike Z

Welcome to the site Mike, and I agree with Alchemist. But as long as it runs well and shifts out good, you should be able to fix almost any problem with the body while you drive it, barring any REAL BAD FRAME problems.
The floorboards tend to rust mostly behind the seat from what I've seen. So if you can pull the carpet, that would tell the story. Floorpans can be bought and replaced, with a little time and money.

How good of a deal is it? Post some pics when you can, and good luck!

Lee "Caveman49"

...so he's selling it at a very good price...I was told it has a few rust holes in the floorboards and a bit of rust around the rear wheel wells...
[fade:6e6b8df478] RUST? Oh Noooooo [/fade:6e6b8df478] 8O

A few rust holes here, a few rust holes there and before you know it, it's a bucket of rust. I don't know about BC, but it wouldn't pass a state safety inspection here with holes in the floorpan.

If the floor has holes I'll bet the frame looks like swiss cheese. Look for holes in the rear frame rails from the bumper to over the rear axle. Check all of the body mounts you can get to. If the floor at the body mount is rusted through you're looking at a lot of work to do.

I'd say walk away from it and keep on looking. My $.02

Thanks Lee. The price of the car is excellent and the owner is open to negotiation so I might be able to get it for a song :-D

Thanks for the info Ernie. If I was still living out east I wouldn't even bother going to look at the car due to the amount of salt used on the roads. In BC road salt is not an issue and cars don't rust out like they do back east.

I'll photograph as much as I can of the problem areas you both mentioned and I'll post them here to get your opinions before I make a decision.

Mike

First off...... Welcome to NECOA / ECC Mike.

The 4th generation Elkys (Sprints too, although they are actually the second generation of GMC Sprints.) are good trucks. The frame is still pretty solid and the ride is very good, overall in the 4th generation Elkys.

I'd look at Rust issues. The more salt that is used on the roads the bigger problem you could encounter. If its only some rust then you should be able to fix that pretty easy all Elkys rust behind the seats as a general rule. The only rust I'd be truly concerned about would be if the frame was rusted badly. Or one of the major braces is rusted in two, something like that. Rust is a factor with any older vehicle, no more no less with the El Camino.

I hope that its just what you want and fixable. I love my 76. Good luck!

Welcome aboard, Mike. Rust is a cars worst enemy.