Me & Gramps' '51 GMC 5 Window Project

Dammit, I have never seen those firehawk indy 500's before and now I see them all over the damn place.

Anyway, looking good. When you get a second shoot me a pic of the bottom spring mount, the thing the u-bolts go through so I can see if we are using the same one. I still dont think my shocks are going to work in the stock location...

 

So Cool!! Thinking I'd like to adopt "Grandpa" if I lived next door that is!

 

Im subscribed . I looked at this OK farm truck last night. After texts from pecker heads chop, and a few others I'm looking at them. have a 92tbi, 700r that needs a home. My boys call them mater trucks because the grille smiles at you

 

Great thread. My Gramps has helped me a ton on my truck too. Keep up the good work!

 

Shadams- I was needing some wheels and rubber to get this thing rolling and found those wheels and tires on Craigslist. I've got $100 in them and those tires are pretty much brand new. I'm gonna be running smoothies and wide whites when it's all said and done. This is the only picture I've got handy of the u-bolt plates. It's not great but it will give you an idea and I can get you a better picture next time I'm near it.



They're the stock plates off the 3rd gen rear end I'm using. We have the shock mount to the inside. Plan is to fab some mounts on the inside of the frame for the shocks to go to.

 

Thanks Harry! He's great! I'd adopt him if he wasn't already mine!

David- That's not a bad looking truck from the pictures! I'm not huge on the chop, but pecker head did a nice job. Looks like you need to start on your own "mater truck!"

Green monster- Thanks man, we'd be lost without our grandpas! It's dads and grandpas who pass this hobby and passion down, and I'm thankful for that!

 

is your M2 front end power or not? I like the idea of getting that green one repainting inside leave outside alone, even sport that farm tag for a bit and have it sitting similar to this one

 

Yeah, the MII is power and has the drop spindles. I'm gonna be sitting much lower than stock, but probably not quite as low as that picture. It's kinda hard to tell until you get it all put together and all the weight back on it.

 

Cubby,

Great project! I'm looking forward to seeing your truck come together. Enjoy building the GMC with your granps. I built my 64 with my dad and grandfather. I enjoyed the build almost as much as I have the truck over the last 20 years.

 

Great project you've got going. I built my av8 with my grandpa back in 1959 using the 1947 flathead out of the his retired 1947 Ford school bus. This was the same bus I rode to school on my first day of school in 1950. As my father was away flying for the Air Force I was my grandfathers shadow during my early years and I learned my mechanical skills from him. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him.

Frank

 

Looking Good!

 

Ahh, I assumed you were using posies hardware. Thanks. Anyway, I also will run WWW's in the end, but you know how it goes, baby steps...

 

Gotcha...nope just the springs and saddles are posies. I hear ya on the baby steps! Especially with the WWW and how steep they are!

 

Thanks man! How'd you guys like the cruise?

 

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing yours too! I know what you mean, the truck at the end is the bonus!

That's awesome Frank! The flathead still running?

 

what steering column are you going to use? since I plan on having 2 boys in there a lot I want to go column shift?
You think serpentine belt setup from a tbi will fit?

 

I thought it was sweet ready to do it again!

 

I'm using a mid 70's GM Van column. Column shift, tilt, indicator on top, key in dash. Measures in right around 32" and should really work out well. I'm sure you can fit the serp setup in, might have to tunnel back a bit into the firewall. Not really positive. We are keeping the stock setup with the fan and we have radiator, distributor, and transmission clearance without tunneling. I'm sure someone over in the AD Truckers group is running tbi and could give you a for sure answer.

 

You and me both brother!

 

great I pulled one from a 78 or so camper with no key lock. may know where another is. hmmm/B]

 

Well, a little update for this week. Yesterday was one of those days where it feels like you're just doing the same thing over and over. We did manage to get the cab blasted, and there's gonna be a good amount of time needed to get it all squared away.




The cab top, cowl area, and back are all very solid. The typical corner rust is present, and we will be replacing those soon. The floor under the seat is shot, as well as some areas where the floor meet the kick panel. Gonna start off with the corners and then start getting the floor all patched up.

 

Got the motor mounts and transmission crossmember all welded in and then put the motor and trans back in. Got the new power steering hose kit and pressure reducing kit (GM pump to MII rack) in this week so that's all hooked up and ready to go. There sure isn't a lot of room for those hoses.


We also made a little bracket and frame mounted it for our shift "lever" to go into.

 

You're lucky to have a gearhead grandpa to show you the way.

Don't forget to thank him a few times.

 

I am very lucky and very thankful!

 

Another week gone by with a bit more progress. We got the new cab corners in, as well as a new piece of sheet metal in the floor.



Got a filler piece tacked in the original shift linkage dash location. Also had some holes on the bottom front that some idiot drilled into the dash. They overlap some of the stock "grooves" in the dash, so we might just have to fill them all in.



Started filling in the 3000 holes in the firewall...I can't imagine how all those were needed! Got a lot more to do, but eventually the firewall will be nice and cleaned up.




Also got all the brake lines ran and hooked into the MC.




Overall, not a very exciting update and a pretty crappy job getting pictures of everything, but it is what it is!

 

Looking good so far .... go man go!










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Nice job and a fun project.. The best times I have working on cars is when my sons helping.

Looking forward to seeing your pictures of the steering u joints and shaft.
When I built my 52 I put the column in the stock location on the firewall and had to run the shaft over to a support bearing on the frame to clear the header. If it had been over just 3/4 of an inch it would have been a straight shot. I've seen other builds that moved the column over but it just bugs me if the steering wheel is canted.

 

Yeah, the steering always seems to be an issue with the bigger engine in these trucks. I've already got the support bearing and will be using it. I don't want the canted wheel either. Thanks for the kind words.

 

Got the rest of the holes filled in the firewall.



I didn't get a picture, but the firewall is all mudded also. Really trying to get everything done on this cab so we can get it in paint before it gets too cold here. We also got everything sand blasted and ready for body work.

Got the doors and vent windows tore down. The rubber in the vent windows proved to be VERY stubborn.

 

Ran the driver's side e-brake cable, but we're gonna have to find a shorter cable for the passenger side. On the driver's side cable we fastened it to the frame, then drilled a hole through the rear running board support and used the existing "clip" on the cable to hold it in place. We then used a clevis to fasten it to the factory connection point.