Projects 1954 GMC Series 1

Think I just searched GMC 248 bearings.

 

Sadly this will be the end of the project in my hands. Had a good talk with the old man and we both agreed neither one of us currently have a major project in us. I have already redouped some of my money selling the T5 and the old rear end to help a buddies 56 panel along he's got a built 302 he paid a small fortune to have built by an outfit in Portland Oregon. Nicson Headers are up for grabs as well as the Clifford 6=8 intake and the brand new Holley 390 CFM 4bbl carb. Anything off the 2 motors are available as well. As I figure anyone buying the rolling stock will want a V8. Let me know if you guys want anything and I'll be reasonable with HAMB members on price plus shipping. I've got so many parts just ask.

We have decided to go back to what we do best in our small shop and do one last Motorcycle Build together. This time my choice, and one he perked up on as well because it's been in the back of his mind.

Got a line on a old Rebuilt Harley Shovel/Evo hybrid motor and looking at Pagho frames and going to build a retro chopper with a few modern twists. But still the old 16" front tire and I can use this fairly new Bias Ply tire for the rear. Nothing crazy like a Capt America bike but similar. Will have electric start and a kicker for looks. As I've got an effed up hip and the old mans missing part of his foot so exclusively kicking for both of us is out. But I'll get a build thread on it going when we start.

So spread the word I do have a Washington title on the truck. And boxes and boxes of misc parts and tons of extra crap.

 

We used to do bikes here but no more. Ryan had started the Jockey Journal for bikes but sold it 15 or so years ago

 

Old man and I have built 10-15 bikes mostly restos of old BMW boxers, and a few crazy builds on sportsters on top of growing up building street rods. Going from a 25x40 shop to a 15x20 we had to shrink things a bit. We finished up a 1987 BMW R100GS last winter full resto on a 23k original miles local bike. Called the "Bumblebee" fairly well desired bike but a small niche market. It's still up for sale for $13k. Get the truck and the bike sold and we can really go hog wild on a crazy chopper. Or something. My health and energy is falling and old man is recovering from a quad bypass so nothing will happen this winter anyway. Just not going to do anything till the truck at least is gone.

 

Well you've come at it from every angle, you gave it a shot just not the right project at the right time. I may have one more Jimmy six in me, certainly have a bunch of parts. Good luck to you on finding home for your parts. Someone will grab the truck I get offers on mine on a regular basis.

 

I’m not running out of GMC’s……I’m running out of time.

 

I can see the tunnel at the end of the light!

 

Don't worry Six Ball it's just some kid on his cell phone. Lol

Already getting a few inboxes for motor parts and hop up stuff. May be spending my 5 day weekend packing parts.


On a flip side

The old Gentleman I was hurrying to build his 36 Ford Ford 3 window, passed this weekend. RIP Wes Miller. A long time and true gear head. Sorry we didn't get your car done in time. . He's had the car since the 1960s, gone thru many changes, but seeing a 389 Pontiac in a Ford and not a SBC with Dual Quads was a welcome change of pace. We will finish it, For you.

Total old-school build. No heater, no radio, nothing fancy other than the Dak Dig analog gauges. Black with black steel wheels, pie crust cheater slicks and poverty hubcaps.

 

That is sad. Sounds like a cool guy with a cool car.

 

Thank you @ROADSTER1927 for picking up the hop up parts. Will get them off shortly.

 

Dang, but understandable.
Sometimes you can fish, sometimes you have to cut bait.
Hope all goes well with you and your pops.

 

It’s been a tough decision. But just had to realize between where I have to work on it and my and my old mans current ailments it’s time to pass it along. Someone with more time any money than i do. I’ll stick to building cars with other peoples money.

 

Well the truck itself might be saved but going in a bizzare left turn. Sill a six cylinder. But I have an almost hard time saying what it is. It's from a well known overseas car company. And it's a relatively well know motor in a different click. I'll get $*it I'm sure and I'll have to say it qualifies as Hokey. But I can get thr motor, harness and transmission for some trading (wire his 33 Roadster he's building (labor trade)).

I'm afraid to even say it in fear of the circumstances. Lol

But stay tuned I guess. Lol

 

Well my bizzare left turn was a bust but found a local guy with a 53 GMC he did a V8 swap. Using a Dorman Reman drivers manifold and spacing the steering box out a bit he got a SBC in the stock frame dead center. So exploring that now.

 

Please provide details of the swap when you get them. I’m getting ready to swap my 1950 Chevy 3100.

 

Said it will just barely clear the stick steering but his engine is dead center and not offset. Said you could shim out the steering box a bit as well. But he’s done a few using using this manifold. Wasn’t after a hot rod motor anyway. So back to trying to find a 327.

 

Tri5 front dump works great. Just sent a pair to @scoop for a similar project

 

I am now wondering if there is a difference in the bigger trucks like the 1.5 and 2 tonners. On the 52 GMc 2 ton I helped swap to a SBC we couldn’t get the 265 front dumps to clear even shifting the motor over. Plus it was a High Po 350/ 350 HP so it really needed headers. So offset the motor notch the frame and used Hooker Block Huggers. Thankfully it had the carrier bearing and I was able to make the driveline straight because the pinion was way offset to the passenger side as well.

looking a just a runner probably a 327 no high performance as I really don’t want to box the frame and do what it would need for a hot rod V8. So the cast manifolds will work.

 

It's a fuckin truck. No need to box anything and hundreds or V8s have been swapped in over the last 70 years. One of the most infamouse, Bruce Geislers blown AD GMC

 

That will help the bill. Guess it’s time to source a block or order a crate from S&J. Thinking since the old mans first build had a 327 in it. Why not a 327 in the gmc. But surprisingly anyone know where one could find of SBC valve covers with the GMC logo??

 

Make em

 

And it worked perfect! Thanks Tman!

 

Thanks guys. As much as I didn’t want to go the V8 route my mind has retooled to a new look going forward. Probably a good thing as as much as I wanted to keep it a manual with my health issues an auto os more doable plus I’ve got a Gennie sitting on the shelf I’ve wanted to use and I’ve got a B&M Ratchet shifter I’ve had squirreled away ages. Plus with the 9” I’m set in the rear. Just need to find a way to widen the front a hair or get some meats on the back to make up the different track widths the 9” being 2” wider. lol. Not going hot rod or custom. Just gonna try keeping it look like a 50s truck. But making provisions to be able to use it for ham radio. Bigger alternator, and a custom console. Most likely doing vintage air now as well. All barring I win my case and get my supplemental income back anyway. Still might get the lower front axle and have it stretched a bit as well. Too many ideas coming in now.

still got both 270/248 parting out let me know I will ship. And Roadster 1927 knows I can pack. Lol. Been trying to reach out to Old Car Parts in Portland but either they are not interested or just too busy to return call and emails.

those wondering the crazy idea was a 2JZ Toyota motor non turbo. Front sump and a tall deck and probably have my HAMB status immediately revoked. Lol!!

we also did explore the S10 route again and even found a donor for $100 but all the modifications just took too much work to not just deal with what I have. And finding a place to put a second frame and strip the donor.

So I’ve got an inquiry into S&J for a 327 / 250HP motor long block. One bump on the lumpy stick and a 700R4 to go behind it.

 

Sorry for the absence, sadly. The truck is pretty much hung back together. Went thru all the boxes kept anything o could turn a profit on at the swap meet in May, or I had another of to go with the truck. Boxes all piled back into the bed. And truck has been posted in a few places to get it to a new home. Being sold with or without the motors.

Sad end to a dream. I just simply cannot afford to build the truck. The more we look at it the worse things get. So it’s time to send it along to the next person with a dream and more time on their hands.

I’ve got extremely busy at the shop. The 36 I was working on is now covered up and probably being shoved in storage. The Widow doesn’t want to drop any more money into it and she refuses to pay the $xx,000 outstanding labor and materials bill so that’s done.

been working on a 69 C10 doing all the wiring. 630cu in 980hp big block. Should wrap that up soon.

other than that it’s the end of projects for me for now. Maybe I’ll build up my Evo Road King in tribute to another lost local legend. That passed suddenly a week ago. Hes said I need to toss a Cam in it and some better exhaust. Sell the truck and put some money into my baby.

one day of my health holds out maybe I can find a more complete running and driving project. Had a guy offer to trade me a 66 Bonneville 2 Dr Hardtop but he wanted 9k and the truck. Nope hard pass.


oh well. I’ll still be around lurking. But for the most part this is the end of this thread. Thanks to everyone and their support. Take care. And 73

-Dan. Aka LDC.

 

Sad, You gave it a shot. Things don't always go our way. I should probably get rid of most of my projects but can't find them in the piles of junk. Good luck to you!

 

Well I'm back. After a fairly rough winter of medical expenses that would of paid enough to build a very sweet truck, with it behind me the ideas are flowing again.


And with a bit of new found energy I have my hands on a 327 I'll be doing some internals to, roller cam and intake. Maybe even an EFI kit. But thanks to some good friends for giving me the motor and a TH350. I won't use the dirty word what the front will be getting. But it's the profound consensus of everyone so I can get power steering. Local business chucked in a Genie Shifter and will help with building the driveline. Now I have to rethink my brakes and go with a different master cylinder I believe or use a residual valve. Maybe even do power brakes since I'll have disks up front. Another shop is chipping in a full set of Stewart Warner gauges, and an Ididit knock off tilt column.

I guess helping others out like I have has its benefits, and I owe a few people a ton of thanks for putting the word out I was planning on abandoning my project due to expenses.

Ditching my original idea of a Saturday night farmers special and just focusing on making it run and drive, not gonna be a slammed slick Martin Bros Special maybe one day I'll have it that nice. I just want something I can drive yet take on a section at a time and enjoy it.

The biggest hurdle will be fixing the floors properly and doing something with the firewall. But now have a shear and a break at my disposal. And my implant rep has cleared me for occasional welding so that hurdle is opened.

Even keeping the 6 lug wheels. Just having wider barrels put on and change the offesets around a bit so I can keep the stock GMC Poverty caps.

So stay tuned.

 

Something amoung these lines. Nothing flashy. Just a driver.

 

Sounds like it going in a whole new direction. Glad you've found a way that works for you.

 

Maybe the hot rod gods were what prevented it from selling. And wanted me to build it.
Still a ton of planning to do.