Projects Everybody needs a shop truck, let's build a 49 GMC

I bought an abandoned restoration project almost twenty years ago, a longbed 49 GMC that had been completely disassembled and sandblasted. That's as far as they got.

I bought if for $400, and that included all kinds of new restoration parts.

I jumped in, installed a MII crossmember, starting patching rust, and then changed jobs, moved, had kids, etc.... so it sat in a barn for the next 20 years.

Flash forward to today, time to get the old girl back on the road.

 

The objectives....

1. Clean, reliable, driver...

2. Economical (shooting for 20 +MPG)

3. 6 - 8K budget

4. One year build time

To meet the budget, I needed a donor car. A friend's mother had a 91 cadillac with 50K original miles that she hadn't driven in five years, 305TBI, 700R4, perfect width 10bolt rear...

A 91 is a good year to part out, the low rider guys like to update their older caddies with the euro grill, headlights, tail lights, etc.

I bought the car for $1000, sold $1000 worth of parts from it on Ebay, kept the engine, tranny, rear, brakes, gas tank, steering wheel, etc.

Then hauled it to the scrapyard and got an additional $200.




Lots of vintage steel getting chopped up....

 

Is that last pic photoshopped? Either or, it makes me want to cry. I bet that will be a killer truck when you're done. Is it getting the same paint treatment as your other toys?

 

No photoshop, there was a steady stream of junkers coming into the yard.

I haven't decided about paint yet, we'll see.

Rich

 

I built a quick/cheap dolly to put the cab on while I worked on the rust issues.



It works great.

The cab had the usual amount of rust, so it would get new floors, lower toeboards, inner and outer cowl patches, and one cab corner.

Before....



After....

 

It's about damn time you got started on that truck.

JH

 

Now that the cab is solid, time for a light sandblasting and some epoxy primer...





Meanwhile, back to the frame.

Did I mention that I hate long bed pickups?



There is exactly 9 1/4" difference between long/short trucks. The frame is "A" shaped except for one section where the rails are parallel to each other, you guessed it exactly 9 1/4 inches.

 

Measure, measure, measure......

Weld.



For added peace of mind, I welded in a section of 3/16 plate to the inside of the frame rail.

 

Are you driving that 32 yet????????

 

cool build lets see more as it comes together

 

Kiss my ass.



JH

 

The frame was shortened, blasted, and painted.

Once the cab was primed, time to put the two back together.

 

Looking good >>>>.

 

looking good.

 

Sweet build nice pics...

 

Very NICE! what a great looking cab. How high is the ride height going to be?

 

Looks great. What are you doing for rear suspension ?. I'm getting ready to get started on my '50 Chevy PU so you are giving me some great ideas.

Ed

 

As low as possible, and be practical.

Stock leaves, a few removed, two inch blocks.

At least that's the plan.

 

I have most of the front suspension installed.

 

The caddy motor was gunna need a lot of elbow grease to be made presentable....

 

First, I starting stripping the motor down...

 

For the rattle can rebuild...

 

The old mill doesn't look half bad now...

 

Meanwhile, I spent some time mounting the steering column, brake pedal, gas pedal, etc...

 

A buddy donated the rear axle, 71 Nova, should be perfect width. I spent an hour or so removing the old spring clamps.

 

I asked everybody that I knew to find the wheels. A pair of 15X7 and a pair of 15X6. I'm having a hard time deciding what size tires to run, so, if you have any suggestions, feel free....

 

looking good,more pics?

 

Cool build, everybody needs a shop truck.

 

That's gonna look good in that truck. Good work.

 

I threw some paint on the rear end, and temporarily mounted it.