Projects 54 GMC 1/2 ton *low budget welfare build*

Okay, so this is gonna be my "build" thread for my first pickup project. I'm new to the board, but have been lurking around for awhile and been a member over on the JJ for a couple years now. Built my first chopper last year, and now I'm obsessed with getting my A.D. pickup roadworthy.

I've been searching around for a good solid, inexpensive project truck - as complete as possible for about a year. A random conversation with an old guy at a local car show led me to exactly what I was looking for, and turns out, this thing was hiding about 4 miles from where my parents live. The truck was hidden behind the owners house, which has been up for sale. The owner moved up north and needed to get rid the pickup, as well as a parts chassis and cab. Got them both for a song...I was out of work for awhile last year due to getting laid off and had exhausted all my savings so I had to prioritize if I wanted this truck bad enough. Ended up selling a few motorcycle parts, my surfboard and bicycle. Cash in hand, I got the truck and had the title in a matter of days.

Here's how I found it.










Also got this parts truck as well. Cab is in pretty rough shape, frame has some rust, but this was supposedly purchased for the axles and has new wheel bearings, etc. Can't confirm that yet, since I haven't torn into it yet.





Loaded up on the trailer and took the parts truck to my dad's for storage and brought the 54 home.



At this point, I've got a grand total of $800 in this truck. And it's got a clean title. Figured I'm in very good shape considering the shit I've been finding for sale on Craigslist and the prices people have been asking. This is a pretty complete truck, no engine and tranny, but all the body panels are there, interior pretty much intact.

My ultimate plan was to subframe it and drop a small block in it, rewire it, lowering blocks in the back, get the surface rust off and run it like that for awhile and just take my time and slowly restore it. I don't want a pretty or show truck. Just something reliable with a good stance that is still able to be used as a "truck."

Now, I've built a motorcycle from the frame up and knew what I wanted and how to accomplish it, but to be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed with trying to start this truck. So many options, yet so few options, because I'm doing this a little at a time on a very low budget. Here's where I need some advice.

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The scenario:
I picked up a subframe from a 78-ish Camaro for $100. Between my buddies and I, we have the ability to install this with no problem. I've researched the pros and cons, etc. Original plan was to go with a dropped axle from Sid's but I really want IFS and disc brakes up front.

Option 1 The mill: I've got a line on a Chevy 350 with I believe a 350 transmission I can get for $500. From the same guy I bought the subframe from.

Option 2: I have a lead from another guy locally (friend of my cousin's) with a 54 Chevy pickup. He's doing a swap of his entire drivetrain. His 54 is a daily driver.

I enquired as to how much he'd let his motor and tranny go for. He's willing to give it to me if I can find him a 6 speed camaro manual tranny (T56 - I believe) for his build. (Not buy it and trade, just locate it for him.)

So, assuming I can get this entire drivetrain for a finders fee, or even a few hundred bucks, should I go that route, or shell out the money for the small block?

If anybody has any advice, I'd like to hear it.
First thread I've started hear and already running off at the mouth.

 

My opinion, if your buddys 54 has an old or interesting engine in it, thats the way to go. Nothing wrong with a 350, just not very interesting. Of course, I'm just a newbie here myself...

Sounds like a great deal on the truck, good find!

 

You're obviously on a super tight budget, so I would try to get the stock drivetrain from the one guy to swap into your truck. Then I'd sell the subframe and sell everything you can off of the parts truck. Save what you need, scrap the aluminum wheels and the rotten frame/cab, you probably have $200 worth of metal there.

If you do the subframe and the 350, you'll probably want a different radiator, you'll need to have a driveshaft cut, and you'll want to swap out the stock rearend. You'll also have to modify your steering column and a host of other bullshit.

Swapping the stock stuff back in will be a bolt-in procedure, and should cost very little. If you can sell your scrap and your front clip, and get the stock stuff for free, you should be able to make the truck a driver without investing any more money. That's how I'd try to do it.

 

Thanks. I can see pros and cons of going in either direction.

I forgot to mention that the other thing holding me back is that I'm currently without a garage so I'm doing this in my backyard - which I know it totally possible, but just makes it that much more frustrating.

Here's a couple pics of it so far, getting it cleaned up a bit. I've taken my angle grinder with some sanding discs on it and started knocking the surface rust off and just spray bombing it with some rust preventative Rustoleum to keep it from deteriorating any more.

 

Thanks man. That makes a lot of sense. Another question I had that I haven't seemed to find in my search is whether or not the 250 motor can mount up to that 78 Camaro subframe or not. Ideally it would be great to go ahead and install that and then drop this 250 into it. But if it will require relocating the motor mounts on the sub frame, then I may not want to do it. I paid so little for the subframe, I'd just assume keep it around until the day comes that I do decide on running the small block.

 

oldgmctrucks.com Lots of help here if you want to go stock. A few have them have gone x country with their trucks. I am a daily driver only vehicle the last 13 years, '49 Chevy w/ '56 235, fentons, etc.

 

The 250 is supposed to bolt in where a sbc goes. Also the camaro clip is a little wide for these trucks. Look up AD truckers in the social groups, there are a ton of great guys to help.

 

Yes the clip is a bit wide, if your going to drop it very low, you could narrow the subframe or get an s10 they seem to be narrower, there's a guy on here that makes a crossmember that uses s10 parts that is pretty inexpensive- I think he is in the southeast area.I would have gone that way if I had not bought my preasent setup.

 

Good luck on your build. Now get yourself over to the AD Truckers group and don't hesitate to ask for help.

 

A 250 can be bolted into a Camaro subframe, I had a '76 Camaro that came from the factory stock with a 250 and 3 on the floor.

However, a 250 is not the stock engine from the '54 Chevy truck that your friend has. He most likely has a 235, which is a "stovebolt" series engine and shares virtually nothing with the 250, which came later. A 235 will not bolt up, you'd have to build all custom mounts and stuff for it. Plus, then you still have to swap out the trans, driveshaft, rear end, and steering column, since a 250 won't bolt to a stock '54 trans.

Bolting in stock stuff could be a weekend project and cost you $0, where the subframe deal is going to be a huge, involved project, and as others have mentioned, they don't fit very well, it'll limit your wheel choice.

Personally, I think you'd be nuts to go that way, but it's your project.

 

sell the othe r cab as a rat rod on craiglist you cab possible get around $300 or $400 just for it instead of crushing it.thanks

 

Nice title....

 

great start

 

Your GMC has a way cool dash and instrument panel in it. Everyone has the Chevrolet style. We are doing a 54 GMC in our shop now. Go to carzwy.com and there are some pictures of it posted.

 

stovebolt.com is also a great resource and they have a very active forum. mostly purist but a few hot rodders. good luck with your truck!!

 

I actually like those alloy wheels on the parts truck...I think they're Appliance Wire Mags, which are pretty rare today. They'd look good on a 1970s themed car.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279782 (scroll down a ways to see the original Appliance magazine ad.)

 

Hey guys, thanks for all the feedback so far. I feel like I'm getting some good advice.

Trucked Up: Done! I found the AD Truckers group and joined as soon as I got on this site. Good stuff in there.

I have heard that the Camaro subframe is a bit wide. Before I picked it up, I went and checked out a guy's 52 Chevy 1/2 ton that had one installed. Had it on the lift so I was able to really get a good look at it. Seemed to fit okay, but I can see how it will ultimately limit what wheels you're able to run. I thought it would be fine, because the plan is to run the original wheels. But yeah, I'm starting to think my best bet is to not run the Camaro sub...

I should have a little more info on the stock mill out of the 54 Chevy today, I hope.

 

Yeah, I've got it on Craigslist now. It's got some decent rot but I think it could definitely be salvaged for a rat rod...Bad as it is, I HATE to see anything with that much history crushed. Figured if I cant sell the cab, I'll pull it off and build a treehouse out of it for my nieces and nephews.

 

there are lots of low/no buck mods posted here on the HAMB. spendlots of time searching and exploring options before cutting stuff up. Two examples:

cut the rear spring hangers for the front springs off the parts truck. Install as the front spring hanger on the rear springs of the driver to lower ~ 1-1/2"

remove the front springs, disassemble, remove two short leaves, reverse the spring eyes (search the HAMB) grease and reassemble/install.

If you really want to try the subframe, cut up the frame of the donor, and save the original

and hopefully you snagged that '57 hood. its worth some bucks just by itself.

 

The 350 route is the easy and cheap way to go no doubt. You might think about that six banger. They can be made to look and run good. A automatic can be bolted up with a adapter plate from Langdons stovebolt engine co. or a modern t5 will bolt to the stock bell housing. Check out Paticks, Egge, Speedway Motors, and Stovebolt engine co. all have web pages and parts for these motors. Mel

 

Be aware that a 235 Chevy does not just bolt into a GMC frame. The front crossmember is different and some modifications will be required. If the parts truck is a Chevy compare the front crossmember and you'll see what I mean.

Also if you clip the parts truck frame you'll find that a '54 bed will not fit the earlier frame.

 

looks about the same condition as my 54 GMC that I had to pay $340 for with a good running 331 cad with tri-power. I wish I could make more deals like that. love the 54 GMC dash with a factory tach. plus all the chrome up front
I don't reccomend building it like mine but my build is under shop truck build at www.oldcarglassguy.com

 

maybe this is a good lowbudget soluition!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317178

 

Haven't posted up here in awhile because I haven't really done too much on the truck, but I'm finally about to start making some progress.

Found a mill finally. Decided against the Camaro subframe so I posted it for sale on Craigslist locally. After a few weeks I got a call from a guy that lives about 20 mins away who was interested in it for his 57 Task Force pickup. We got to talking and he had a good 235 and tranny that he was pulling from that truck and he had no use for it. I went and looked at it and it seemed to have good compression and not a single leak that I could tell. No idea how long it's been sitting up - at least 3 years he says - but I'm going to fill it with fresh oil, pull the plugs and fill em with some Mystery oil or something and let it sit a little bit while I start cleaning it up. Carb is there too which freed up with a little work.

I don't know if I said what I paid for that camaro clip earlier, but I got it for $100. So I figured as long as this motor wasn't locked up, it's a killer deal. I plan on messing with the motor this weekend so I'll take some pics and continue to post my progress.

 

great move on checking the compression because that will tell you what you need to make decision to install engine before rebuilding it.

 

Gotta love the jimmies...

Check my build out, pretty low budget also...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297685

Rich

 

I haven't posted any progress in forever. I'm in VA and we've had the nastiest winter I can remember. Add the fact that I don't have a garage to pull the truck into, so I haven't done as much as I would've like to by now. I have started making some progress though.

Pulled the gas tank and seat out and started getting the cab cleaned up. Typical rat's nest under the tank and other nasty crap. I have a few spots in the floor that need to be patched and welded, but overall the floor is strong and in decent shape. Gas tank wasn't too bad, had a ton of varnish built up in it. Poured a couple gallons of acetone in there and agitated it for hours and it cleaned up pretty good. Gave it a couple fresh coats of gloss black rustoleum and did a few pinstripes on it to class it up. I've messed around with striping for a couple years, never seriously, so the tank was really practice since it's been a long time. You won't see it anyway.

I decided that I'm going with a rattle can version of what I think was the original paint scheme - brown and white. Top of the cab as well as interior will be white. Doing brown seat cover, door panels, and headliner.

 

Brought home the 10 bolt rear end out of my parts truck and got that put into place. Got started on the suspension. 3" lowering blocks in the rear, plus I removed 3 leaf springs - hopefully it won't be too much. Installed new spring shackles since the old ones were in bad shape. Need to make some lower shock mounts and figure out what I'm going to do with the front suspension. I'd like to do the dropped axle but I don't think I'm going to have the money right now.

Wondering if it's possible to remove a couple springs from the front and flip them underneath the front axle? My buddy did it on his 64 F-100 and says it should work in my case, but need to look into it further. Front end will come down a lot once the motor's in, and I kind of like the look of the ass end lower anyway, so I might keep it like that for awhile until I can get the money to lower the front properly.

 

Ordered all the gaskets and crap I'll need for this motor. It had no visible leaks, felt like good compression and I was hoping everything would look pretty good inside.



Decided while I had it out, I'd go ahead and pull the head off and check the cylinders and make sure everything was good. Luckily, it was. Pulled it off last night, cylinder walls are slick as a dick. Some build up of course on top of the pistons, but overall it's pretty clean. Gonna soak all the parts, clean the crap out of everything and button it back up this weekend. New head gasket, etc.

 

nothing compares to the feel of the stock straight axle, i would not change out mine for nothing!