When we moved last year it put my roadster project on hold while we settled in to the new place. Not one to be without an active project I decided to fulfill a long time dream of getting a classic pickup truck built. Years ago I had this '53 Chevy while going to school and then sold it which I have regretted it ever since. I had been keeping my eye out for a good candidate when a '51 GMC 1/2 ton long bed came up for sale for the right price. It looks rough but it is a very solid truck from the mid west Not having the room or time to do it myself I decided to get @thunderbirdesq to build it. The plan is to build a daily driver truck that can still haul a light load or tow my roadster when needed. Thanks, --louis
I had a local artist draw this up for inspiration and plan to go for a late '50s, early '60s vibe with a Tiki motif. Since this was drawn we have decided to do some light dechroming for a more mild custom feel and to go with a '51 Chevy Truck Burgundy color which should look sweet.
Andy has been working on the truck in between other projects so he is just really getting started. What is really cool is his teenage daughter is helping out with the truck to help learn the biz. We are trying to keep costs down on this one so Andy found a low mileage "283" cough350cough that had been rebuilt. When he pulled the heads for inspection he found you can still see the crosshatch pattern on the cylinders. The only problem was that the oil pickup had fallen out and there was some slight discoloration on crank journals from low oil pressure. Probably why the engine was pulled and sold. He put in all new bearings and had the crank journal repolished. To this we add a CompCams 260H cam, Edelbrock Performer intake and a Holley 600 carb to perk up the otherwise stock engine. Then for dress up I had a set of early CalCustom finned valve covers repolished and added some repo 2.5 ram horns and a Caddy air cleaner. Should make a great daily driver engine. This will be getting backed up by a modern Hydromatic with overdrive.
We sourced all the suspension parts from Nostalgia Sid's including a 3" dropped custom axle and the Posies 3" lowering springs. This should get her sitting with the lip of the fender sitting right at the top of the white wall on the 16" wide whites. That's all for now. I will post more pics when Andy has time to get them to me. Thanks, --louis
Quick update. Andy posted a few of these in his thread. Late model Hydromatic cleaned up, new seals and repainted. Ready to drop in and hit the interstate for some long distance cruising. SBC all cleaned up and assembled. Can anyone spot the problem though? Andy already has a fix and we should be ready for install. Wheels are painted with the best Rustoleum gloss black money can buy. I did decide to pop for a set of Coker radial wide whites. I bought caps and rings but I also have been thinking about getting some full caps. A few inspiration pics. Hopefully Andy will be able to get the suspension under the truck in the next month or so. Then we can see where she will sit. Thanks, --louis
Yeah, no oil or PCV/breather. Andy has a fix in mind that should keep from cluttering up the engine. Once he has it done I will post some pics.
Yeah I think it looks pretty good as a long bed. Plus we are trying to keep the costs down. Thanks, --louis
Solution for the oil and PCV valve issue. Should be out of view behind the air cleaner. The Caddy air cleaner has been repainted black and will be heading to Jen Thomas (@hotrodjen on instygram) for some of her amazing pin striping. Here is a piece of her work she did for me recently. Excited to see what she is going to do with the air cleaner. I hope to have the whole truck striped by here once it is painted. Thanks, --louis
I like these type of projects, building something that you can use. But, sand, grind, or blast the rust and prime to start off with. Is that alum or steel diamond plate in the bed? I did that once with steel diamond plate and lost 2 MPG, but it sure did hold up.
I am not sure to be honest. I had the truck shipped directly to Andy's shop from the guy I bought it from and have not seen it in person. The diamond plate is practical but I do like the looks of a wood bed. I will make a call when she gets torn down and we can see the underside of the bed. Thanks, --louis
Cool. I have a 49 on hold. Well stammered 20 years ago. The original plan was a M2 and the normal mods. Now I plan on a dropped axle and keep the 6. Mine is also a long bed in great shape. Then I picked up a swb chassis with a good bed. Decisions Decisions Keep us posted. Very interested in the suspension mods.
I plan on using mine as a truck is intended. Mine has a piece of 14 gauge in the floor. I don’t want nice wood, stainless strip stuff. May reuse the flat steel. I thought about having some 14 gauge bent into a channel with like a 3/4-1 inch flange. Bolt them together in the flange to resemble the wood look. That was just a thought.
Just now found this thread and will be following along from now on. I love that your plans involve making it a daily! That is what these old vehicles are meant for and they are plenty capable of doing that. We are doing the same with a similar, although not near as complete, pickup for one of my son's. Well...at least we have messed with it a little although focusing on my older son's 63 C10 first since he is 6 months older.
Andy has been super busy so progress has been slow on the truck. But he sent me these pics yesterday. He tells me the truck looks solid other than a few holes in the floors. Not enough to warrant replacing the whole pan. Plan is to get her stripped down, clean and paint the chassis and then start on the suspension. Thanks, --louis
Engine is out. The original green is sort of growing on me but it may just end up in primer for now. Depends on the finances. The current goal is to have it driving for TROG so I can fly up and attend the show. It really doesn’t give us much time. —louis
Is your truck a GMC with a Chevy in it, or a Chevy with a GMC grille? Too bad old iron like this can’t talk. I like to look at my old stuff and think back to when it was brand new, the new owner probably washed and waxed it once a week! Then to think about all the people who had it thru the years, how many different people used it, depended on it, abused it, or just ignored it...
It is a GMC in which someone has put a 235 Chevy motor. Yeah I always wonder about the history of my cars as well. Sometimes I also wonder what a future owner will do with it after I own it. Thanks, --louis
That’s cool it’s a GMC cuz back then they were not just a Chevy with different emblems, they really were a better built truck. A friend is building a 1955 GMC NAPCO and he likes to show me all the differences between his and a Chevy.
A factory GMC NAPCO? That has to be pretty rare. Share some pics if you have them. Yeah I have always liked the GMCs better. Mine is a little different too since it is a long bed 1/2 ton and not a 3/4 ton so the frame is different. Unfortunately, while you can find all kinds of parts for a Chevy AD not to many people are repoping the GMC specific stuff. Had that problem trying to find a set of front parking lights and ended up using some from a Cadillac that are close but not the same. And finding a really nice horn button has been impossible. --louis
Andy has the truck torn down to the chassis. Looks like the cab needs new floors but is otherwise solid. Going to finish stripping the chassis, clean it, paint it chassis black and then start assembly. Thanks, --louis
Chassis has been cleaned and painted. Since I want to be able to use the truck as a truck Andy put in a mild C notch to give a little extra room in the rear. He said one of the front shock towers needed some work and then it would be time to bolt on the suspension. Maybe have a roller next week. Thanks, --louis
The Jalopy Journal
