Many car guys believe a 1969 GMC Sierra SS is a general description for a luxury and/or a muscled- out version of the pickup.
We at MyStarCollectorCar believe Pierre Poirier’s ’69 Sierra SS truck is both because he reinvented his pickup with some major upgrades.
Jim Sutherland
The Sierra’s original engine was replaced by a 350 Ram Jet crate engine that offers a big boost in performance via its modern port fuel injection and forced air intake to maximize air flow for better combustion. The net result is an engine that runs on pump gas but delivers more horsepower numbers than cubic inch numbers, along with about 400 ft lbs of torque.
Another upside to the crate engine is its retro look that disguises the small block’s modern engineering, a feature not lost on Pierre when he made the decision to use a 350 Ram Jet in his GMC project.
Pierre coupled the new engine to a GM 4L60-E automatic transmission because it provided an efficient way to handle the 350 Ram Jet’s boosted performance. He also used headers to make his crate engine breathe easier under load.
Pierre mentioned he bought a new house with a gas stove that included stainless steel panels for buyers who chose to use it to surround the stove in the kitchen area. However, Pierre went in a different direction and re-purposed the stainless steel for his engine compartment for a decorative piece on his radiator mount, as well as hiding the plumbing on the engine’s intake manifold.
He also bought two 1938 Chevy aftermarket headlight housings to hide his air conditioning system’s entry into the truck’s firewall on the passenger side, as well as his windshield washer unit on the driver’s side. Pierre wanted a clean look under the hood and chose a creative way to achieve that goal.
The ’69 GMC Sierra required a major restoration, including new sides for the box, but Pierre used the truck’s original box sides for a custom console inside the truck’s cab. He also replaced the GMC’s cab by using the cab from a ¾ ton donor pickup and now his truck has clearance lights, a feature not found on 1969 GMC ½ ton pickups that year.
Pierre also paid attention to the truck’s handling and braking when he added a rack-and-pinion steering system, along with a beefy disc brake system on the truck.
He also upgraded the creature comforts in his GMC when Pierre added power steering, power windows, power brakes, power door locks, cruise control, and even air ride to make every trip very enjoyable for the pickup’s occupants. Even the seats were donated by a 1990 Honda Prelude and provide a big improvement over the original truck seat.
The net result is a vintage pickup truck that “rides like a car and handles like a car”, in Pierre’s opinion.
No small wonder because Pierre is a talented custom builder who has a long career in the field. He noted “you have to be creative in this field”, a massive understatement when it comes to his own 1969 GMC Sierra SS.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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