57 GMC, frame swap, 4wd, 454 big block, 4 speed

[Old57]

I've been reading the forum for quite a while, and decided I should make a build thread for my truck. I got it from a farmer in Missouri about 1 1/2 years ago. I've been working on it since I brought it home, so I'll post pics and info in order to catch up the thread, then keep it up to date as time and money allows. These pics are when I picked it up. It was all original with the Pontiac 347, except it had utility sides on the bed, and a Dana 44 front axle, but wasnt converted to 4wd yet.

[Old57]

Tore down the truck right away. Sold the Pontiac 347 to my friend, sold the transmission to another friend, sold the stock frame and axles on Craigslist. Sold the utility sides to a welder for a trailer he was building for a portable work rig. I picked up a decent pair of stock fenders. The bed was rusty, so I sold it to a guy building a rat rod.

[Old57]

I picked up a really nice late 60s bed and sold the nice fenders and steps, so I can use my 55-59 fenders and steps. The truck was the medium long bed, but the new bed is the long long bed. I want the long bed to use it like a truck when I'm done.
Next, I bought a 73 K20 long bed, 454, SM465 transmission, 14 bolt rear, for the donor truck. Its exactly what I was looking for. It was rusty in the body, but I drove it home before tearing it apart. I sold some of the parts that I could, and scrapped the rest that I wasn't using.

[Old57]

Now I'm down to the chassis and drive train that I'm using. I took everything apart and got the frame ready to power wash. The engine was pretty clean inside from running on propane.

[Old57]

Next was to shorten the frame to the 124" wheelbase, then get it sandblasted. After it came back, I put epoxy primer on it.

[Old57]

I also had the axles blasted so I could go through them with new seals and bearings, etc, and get them primed and painted. I painted the frame in satin black tractor enamel. I replaced the rear spring hangers with new ones from LMC because the old ones were rusty. I also got the body mounts from EZ Chassis Swaps.

[joedoh]

welcome from another doodahian! that bed looks familiar, did you get that from a 93 year old guy named wayne?

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

welcome from another doodahian! that bed looks familiar, did you get that from a 93 year old guy named wayne?

HI! I got the bed from a young guy down south of Wellington.

[joedoh]

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

Wow, thats cool... small world. Was that you that I got it from?

[joedoh]

nope, you got it from wayne, at least that is waynes stash. he might have had another guy sell it for him though, he is 93 after all. I have bought a couple tons of stuff from wayne

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

nope, you got it from wayne, at least that is waynes stash. he might have had another guy sell it for him though, he is 93 after all. I have bought a couple tons of stuff from wayne

Ok, it was a younger guy that I got it from. He may have bought the truck from Wayne and sold the bed because he was changing it to a short bed. He said it was sitting on an AD truck. I wanted the long bed for how I plan to use the truck, so I was glad to get it. It's in nice shape.

[Old57]

I had a few hours to spare this afternoon, so I started on the dreaded rust repairs.

[joedoh]

rust repair is my least favorite thing in the world, good luck!

[Old57]

I got some more work done this weekend. Now the driver side of the cab is rust free except for a small patch in the toe board. I also filled in the gas filler hole. After I patch the toe board, I'll sand/blend all the weld seams, then I can move to the passenger side. It feels good to be making progress, and getting rid of the rust.

[Nut Case]

57 GMC

Your build looks fun, doing interesting stuff. I'll be following along.
You mentioned that you are looking to sell a 57 GMC front fender, which one? And the cost your looking to get?


Thanks

Nut Case

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

57 GMC

Your build looks fun, doing interesting stuff. I'll be following along.
You mentioned that you are looking to sell a 57 GMC front fender, which one? And the cost your looking to get?


Thanks

Nut Case

Thanks, hopefully one of these years I'll be able to drive it! The fender is spoken for now. What I have left to get rid of is the GMC gauge panel, and the complete 57 GMC grill/trim/core support/ bumper/ emblems

[AmateurStyle]

hey Old57

awesome progress so far

[docrock]

Great build!! Subscribed

[Purcell69]

Looking very nice!

-Joe

[Gumbi]

Old57

Great looking build so far! Do you still happen to have some of the 57 GMC grill/trim/pieces available? I'd be interested in a few things if you did. Specifically the front splash apron, bumper bullets, moustache trim and the two radiator support rods.

[Old57]

Thanks guys. No, I sold all of the GMC front end parts a couple weeks ago.

[Old57]

Its been a while since I've had any time to get work done on my own stuff, but I finally got a few things done. I ordered a 32 gallon suburban gas tank and sending unit to mount at the rear of the frame, got a Summit Racing 750 carburetor, and some Hedman big block headers. Also, I finally made some progress on my cab. I welded in all the holes in the firewall that won't be used, sanded and blended all the welded seams in the firewall and on all of the new replaced steps, cab corners, and hinge pockets, rebuilt the door hinges, and fit the doors. Now the cab goes to a friend's house for some traded out work to make the door gaps nice, and patch the lower driver door, and get truck bed liner sprayed under the cab, on the firewall, and in the interior floor and firewall. The cab can go on the frame after that.

[Old57]

Pics of the cab with the work mentioned above

[LCA1971]

Looking great. You're going to have a bulletproof drivetrain for sure!