Hello everyone, long time reader and first time poster .hopefully I’m in the right area for this ? I have a 1955 gmc truck that one trying to get back on the road . My goal is to make it more usable 1 ton ish truck . It has the original 248 engine that I got running . The rear axle is the factory 2 speed and looking at swapping for a more modern dual for a better gear ratio . Doing this will require better brakes, also would be helpful if it was the same lug pattern as the rear . Option 1 convert to 4wd , Not ideal Option 2 try and find another beam style axle that has disc on it or at least can be upgraded easier than the gmc axle Option 3 try and find knuckles that share the same king pin size and swap them . Looking to see if someone has been here and done one of these or something different that makes more sense . Open to other options. The picture is about a year old from when I brought it home .
I'd just find a later model ch***is and swap the body over, better deal in the long run and a lot more enjoyable/useful...
Damn that is a LOT OF TRUCK.... . I like the idea of an entire ch***is swap, you get good creature-comfort options once you find the right donor. What are the plans for a bed? I'd be thinking dualie style with the big fenders since this thing is m***ive.
Keep in mind, the same years of 1-tons, still had the same front fenders and openings (of my memory is correct) but putting it on a 1-ton ch***is and tires/wheels, will leave a big gap around the front tires with your current fenders. (Can’t get the @ thing to work with I Wanna flattie )has built some large trucks and done some nice mods to make them look cool and keep the character of them. Edit: @iwanaflattie Pretty sure of the member.
I have gone back and forth with doing a ch***is swap . My plan is to put a flat bed on it . I found an option of using a c60 . It has a flat bed that could be modified. 366 big block , 2 speed rear diff and Dayton wheels
Do yourself a BIG favor.....go find somebody who still uses a C-60 of that era and drive it !! Do you really want that setup with engine.....trans.....springs.....wheels...etc. I have owned, used and worked on them. Have fun
If you are serious about a ch***is swap, do yourself a HUGE favor and find a Chevy or GMC Medium Duty that is new enough to have 4 wheel disc brakes. Don’t listen to those who tell you drum brakes are good enough. In this case (actually all cases), the drum brakes used on medium duty trucks of this era are beyond abysmal. Even when correctly adjusted and maintained, they have a hard time stopping an empty truck, much less loaded. Remember, back then, drum brakes of this size used two wheel cylinders per wheel, a small master cylinder on the firewall and a hydro-vac unit on the frame. Get a donor with 4 wheel disc brakes if going hydraulic or better yet, find a donor with air brakes.
One of the more readily available frame to swap to is a F350. I picked up a 2006 F350 4x4 frame that would probably fit perfectly under that truck. With dual rears and 4WD you could build it anyway you wanted. A lot of the traditional trucks had aftermarket 4WD conversion options. And they could still be period correct as the parts didn't change that much or that often in the 4 wheel applications.
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