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My 1955 GMC project

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 55Hydramatic, May 20, 2011.

  1. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Here is my latest project, a 1955 GMC that I got for free and am now restoring it so that I can drive it! It was fun getting this truck because the lady that gave it to me let me go through the old garage thats behind it and take whatever I wanted. The garage had a bunch of cool stuff in it like some model A fenders, hood, wheels, piano from 1915, and a bunch of old unopened oil cans. I had a trailer full of stuff! Anyways here are some pics of my truck!
     

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    Last edited: May 24, 2012
  2. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Some more pics of where its at now :D
     
  3. schwerko
    Joined: Jun 18, 2010
    Posts: 150

    schwerko
    Member
    from bristol ct

    Nice start! Solid.
     
  4. losthubcap
    Joined: Jul 23, 2010
    Posts: 188

    losthubcap
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Free ? I must be living in the wrong place. We can't even get rusted out junk in NY for free. Nice project !
     

  5. c-10 simplex
    Joined: Aug 24, 2009
    Posts: 1,371

    c-10 simplex
    Member

    So, is the body, with the exception of the grill of course, the exact same as chevy?


    For that matter, is the chassis/suspension the same as chevy? i know the engines weren't.
     
  6. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,893

    Mart
    Member

    If the 55 is like my 58, the GMC sales blurb states that some components such as crossmembers and the rear axle are beefed up oner the Chevy. Body panels, I believe, will interchange.
     
  7. Razorshotrods
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 346

    Razorshotrods
    Member
    from Phoenix

    I like it, lucky &@(!) for free!!!!!, ill give you 200 for it.....lolol
     
  8. KidAgain
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 91

    KidAgain
    Member

    And a big window at that!!

    For looks I would dump the spare tire fender.

    Put a grannry tranny in it and use it like man!!
     
  9. MEDDLER1
    Joined: Jun 1, 2006
    Posts: 1,590

    MEDDLER1
    Member

    Nice score! Looks like your off to a good start!
     
  10. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Love these trucks, congrats on savin this dandy. Will be watchin your progress. ~sololobo~
     
  11. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Thanks guys! Yea the only thing that is really different is the dash. Everything else is pretty much the same.
     
  12. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    That is a very interesting truck in your avatar schwerko! What was that like a 1 ton and you put a stepside bed on it? Looks cool!
     
  13. Good luck, stick with it , i bailed on mine and have regrets. it was rust free from the west and decided to let it go . Intentions were to mount it on a 4x4 chassis that had 44's. The chassis was done and was immaculate. I thought the GMC knarly-ness would lend to a big truck. sold everything off for profits and new ventures, have some cool pics as reminders. Good luck with yours, those trucks are different and you either like em or hate em, they will grow on you though!:cool::)
     
  14. The parts that are different are the engine, grille, dash, rear diff, and front crossmember. At least that's how it is on my '58.
     
  15. The Shocker
    Joined: Dec 30, 2004
    Posts: 3,538

    The Shocker
    Member

    Man ,what a nice truck to start with.Shortbed,big window cab ,FREE ,what a deal .Cant wait to see progress on it :)...
     
  16. 1959apache
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,635

    1959apache
    Member

    nice looking truck
     
  17. Two things that hard to comprehend, FREE, and how could something be sunk in the ground that bad have no rot ! Those two things do NOT exist here, nice looking truck by the way.
     
  18. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member


    It does have a little rot on the cabcorners, bottom of doors and the kick panels on the cab but thats pretty much it! I was suprised when I pulled it out because the cab was full of mice and pine needles and the floor is almost perfect.
     
  19. captainjunk#2
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,420

    captainjunk#2
    Member

    what a cool score all that a piano to , i never get anything cool like that
     
  20. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    somebody's been under the hood prior to your acquisition. sbc with a four barrel - not original I don't think.
     
  21. If it was a V-8 truck the GMC's used a Pontiac V-8 in those years but everyone probably already knew that one:rolleyes::)
     
  22. 55chieftain
    Joined: May 29, 2007
    Posts: 2,188

    55chieftain
    Member

    Nice start, looks like I need to be looking out west for a nicer 55 body for mine...
     
  23. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Yea its a later 283 with a TH400 and someone made some awsome motor mounts for it. They had a chain going from the motor to the frame to keep it from twisting the mounts and the trans wasn't even bolted down in the back so it was pretty crooked in there. I was VERY suprised when I took the pan off the motor though. It was very clean inside and it looks to have been rebuilt recently and not been driven very much prior to sitting. Given that there was mice in the intake (bunch of peanut shells in there) the motor fired right up after 30 yrs of sitting and ran great! Although the trans cooler lines were cracked and fluid was being slung all over the place from the fan.
     
  24. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Some pics of the awsome motor mounts! See how straight the trans was!
     

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  25. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Here's a update!

    Got the frame blasted and painted and rolling again! Now I need to put my brakes back together than drop the motor and trans back in.
     

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  26. heatmiser
    Joined: May 6, 2009
    Posts: 253

    heatmiser
    Member
    from mia

    nice score!!! if you're at all considering it, NOW is the time to lower that sucker...
     
  27. Westco48
    Joined: Oct 21, 2010
    Posts: 197

    Westco48
    Member

    Man what a find...my first truck was a 55 GMC longbed that I converted to shortbed...I pulled the ol Jimmy 6 ( i was a teen and didn't know any better ) and in went a AMC 401/727 out of a 70' Police Interceptor/Matador...Please keep us updated and thanks for posting pics of that unforgettable grille.
     
  28. 55Hydramatic
    Joined: Apr 24, 2011
    Posts: 459

    55Hydramatic
    Member

    Motor is in! Now I need to finish up the brakes, blast and paint some more little parts and do the exhaust.
     

    Attached Files:

  29. Gonna be a nice ride when you're done. Always preferred GMCs over Chevs even today.
     

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