1970 GMC 2500 Custom: Retirement Plan

Retirement, for some people, means daily brunch at the country club, getting the Cadillac washed once a week, and spending wintertime in Florida. This isn’t David Teeple’s style, however. Teeple, a retired Lockheed Martin quality engineer, is often found behind the wheel of his ’70 GMC 2500 Custom, exploring trails that would stop a normal fullsize truck dead in its tracks.

His GMC is a textbook example of how to build a fullsize truck for the trail without scrambling the retirement nest egg. He estimates the GMCs value at only $20,000, but the truck is fitted with proven, common parts that have a reputation for longevity. “I performed some work, but most modifications were performed by Curtis Lee and Kevin Bryant. Curtis and Kevin have turned this truck into a very capable rock crawler for my retirement pleasure,” Teeple says.

How capable is the truck? “We have wheeled The Rubicon, Fordyce Creek Trail, and now The Hammers at Johnson Valley. This rig has handled all obstacles on all trails without winching. Most recently she managed Chocolate Thunder and Sledge Hammer. Yes! This beast made it up Chocolate Thunder easily,” Teeple triumphantly notes.

Under the factory hood and surrounded by the custom cage is a 383ci Chevy small-block engine. Teeple estimates it produces 400 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The ’plant features KB forged pistons, Procomp 64cc aluminum heads, a Competition Cams camshaft and valves, Isky valve- springs, RPS roller rockers, an Edelbrock Performer Air-Gap intake manifold, Doug Thorley headers, and a Howell 670cfm TBI system. Amperage is produced by a 140-amp Summit Racing alternator and a underhood-mounted Optima RedTop battery along with a bed-mounted Optima BlueTop auxiliary battery. The engine is cooled by the GMC’s stock radiator fitted with a pair of Summit Racing 12-inch electric fans. Behind the engine is an NV4500 five-speed manual transmission.
Under the factory hood and surrounded by the custom cage is a 383ci Chevy small-block engi
A large custom skidplate made from 1/4-inch steel protects the Advance Adapters Atlas 4.3:1 two-speed transfer case as well as the engine oil pan and transmission. The front of the skidplate is notched to allow the front driveshaft ample room to travel without contact when the front suspension is at full droop. Here you can also see one of two Harbor Freight-sourced rock lights that reside under the truck.
A large custom skidplate made from 1/4-inch steel protects the Advance Adapters Atlas 4.3:
One of the most obvious mods to the outside of the GMC is the protective tubing that travels around the bottom of the bodywork. The sheetmetal on the fenders and bedsides was trimmed to provide better ground clearance as well as room for the 38.5-inch-diameter Super Swamper TSL SX tires to travel unobstructed. Tubing was then fashioned to conform to the body and it was welded to the trucks original frame to protect the sheetmetal. This tubing was also tied into the custom front and rear bumpers, which are part of a full cage that travels the length of the vehicle. All of the aforementioned tubework was made from either 1.5- or 2-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall material with the exception of the rocker protection, which uses 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing. Other exterior mods include a Warn 9.5ti winch, 15x10 steel wheels with Ruffstuff Specialties beadlock rings, and custom half-doors made from 2-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall tubing and 0.0625-inch-thick sheetmetal. The low-buck rattle-can paint
One of the most obvious mods to the outside of the GMC is the protective tubing that trave

The Dana 60 front axle has been beefed with Reid Racing knuckles, a Detroit Locker, Ruffstuff Specialties diff cover, 4.56 gears, and Warn Premium lockout hubs. The inner axles are stock, but the outers are West Coast Differentials-sourced 35-spline units. A Travelmaster driveshaft spins the internals and the ’shaft is fitted with 1410 U-joints. The front suspension is a simple and reliable leaf-spring setup consisting of 52-inch GM 1/2-ton pickup-application springs, 14-inch-travel Bilstein 5150 piggyback-reservoir shocks, and custom fixed polyurethane bumpstops. Chains keep the front suspension from overextending and there are 6-inch Ruffstuff Specialties-sourced spring shackles. The 38s are aimed by a custom crossover steering system that includes a complete PSC hydraulic-assist setup and a 1.5-inch-diameter, 0.125-inch-wall tie rod and drag link with spherical rod ends.
The Dana 60 front axle has been beefed with Reid Racing knuckles, a Detroit Locker, Ruffst
The rear suspension has been reworked to improve articulation. A pair of 63-inch GM 1/2-ton-application leaf springs was moved inboard approximately 4 inches and a pair of 8-inch-travel Bilstein 5150 piggyback-reservoir shocks is mounted in an “A” configuration between the springs. Ruffstuff Specialties 6-inch spring shackles were added and a pair of custom traction bars help to keep the rearend planted. The traction bars are made from 2-inch-diameter, 0.250-inch-wall DOM tubing with Ruffstuff Specialties spherical rod ends. The axle is a beefy GM 14-bolt that has disc brakes (affixed with Ruffstuff Specialties brackets), 4.56 gears, welded spiders, a Ruffstuff Specialties diff cover, and Ruffstuff Specialties pinion guard. Feeding the axle is a Hust Brothers driveshaft with 1410 U-joints.
The rear suspension has been reworked to improve articulation. A pair of 63-inch GM 1/2-to
Every inch of the bed was put to good use. The custom-built front and side storage compartments are made from sheetmetal and have diamond plate covers. They hold camping equipment, tools, fluids, and spare parts. Mounted on the front compartment is a Hi-Lift Jack and next to the compartment is an auxiliary Optima BlueTop battery in a Ruffstuff Specialties Optima Single Battery Box. Mounted between the tubbed wheelwells are two 20-gallon Summit Racing fuel cells and Teeple can select which one to draw from via a cab-operated Pollak fuel selector valve. On the tail-end of the bed is an easy-to-access spare wheel and tire.
Every inch of the bed was put to good use. The custom-built front and side storage compart

Teeple scoffs at the idea of carpet in his rig, and that pretty much sets the tone for the interior, which is designed to be simple, functional, and comfortable. The tub is lined with Herculiner; there’s a Grant steering wheel; MasterCraft Safety Rubicon seats; G-Force Racing Gear four-point harnesses; Sony head unit; and a center console snagged from a Chevy Blazer. Teeple monitors engine vitals via six VDO gauges and they’re set in a custom Lexan panel.

Teeple scoffs at the idea of carpet in his rig, and that pretty much sets the tone for the

The Details
General
Owner/Hometown: David Teeple/Wheatland, California
Vehicle/Model: 1970 GMC pickup
Estimated value: $20,000

Engine
Type: GM 383ci V-8
Aspiration: Howell TBI, Edelbrock intake, Thorley headers
Output, hp/torque (estimated): 400/420

Drivetrain
Transmission: NV4500
Transfer case: Advance Adapters Atlas 4.3:1

Suspension
Front: 52-in GM ½-ton leaf springs, Bilstein 5150 piggyback-reservoir 14-in-travel shocks
Rear: 63-in GM ½-ton leaf springs, Bilstein 5150 piggyback-reservoir 8-in-travel shocks, traction bars

Axles/Differentials
Front: Dana 60, Reid knuckles, Ruffstuff diff cover, PSC hydraulic-assist steering/Detroit Locker
Rear: 14-bolt, disc brakes with Ruffstuff disc brake brackets, Ruffstuff diff cover/welded spiders
Ring and pinion: 4.56:1

Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 15x10 Rock Crawler w/Ruffstuff beadlock rings
Tires: 38.5x14.5-15 Interco Super Swamper TSL SX fw