1954 gmc new build

[jordabennett]

mahalo guys, looks like i finally picked up another project! after i got in a really bad car accident not to long ago icbc payed out the old daily driver and gave me the opportunity to buy myself a new vehicle.... or project!

when i went to the the states to check it out! couldn't believe the condition this thing was in it was amazing, zero rust.. zip..nada.. doodle!






Made a nice space in the shop for it..


Drove down yesterday with the trailer. lucked out and it didn't rain much
loaded her up and started the trek back in canadia!



Home sweet home!!


More info and details tonight. can't waste any more time gotta go work on this thing!!!!!

[Chevette]

Looks like a good truck. Are you staying with the six? Nice lookin' shop too. It ought to a fun project. Good luck with your build.

[jordabennett]

Going to be starting the cab today, paint/interior ****. Deciding on either a camaro clip that i already have or a c10 bolt in clip. i want this thing canned on the ground, I'm getting my buddies 350/400 out of his model a and pulling the straight 6.
another shot

paint ideas are coming from this truck "flat nasty" spent about an hour drooling over this in abby a while back and can't seem to get the colour combs out of my head!
I'm hoping to be able to get this in a spray can we shall see!
Pulled the clip out yesterday and started to pressure wash it this morning realizing all i was doing was making it wet. so decided to whip down and sandblast it for $40 got some paint on the bottom and ran out... tomorrow remove motor and cut frame

[jordabennett]

Well got some good progress today. Removed the motor and tranny
and managed to grind the rivets off the punch them out to get the front axle out! then for the scary part.. cutting into that gorgeous frame, (made me a bit queasy) had to trim the passenger front body mount and notch the front running board mounts. i removed them to make a good clean cut and re fab them in. It must have big block coils in because its cranked high and stiff as all hell! ill remove those tomorrow after i get everything measured 50 times and tach welded once!

last video of the old heart! sounds like a straight 6!








well today i pulled the rotors and callipers off. pulled the coils out. and took about 4''.. maybe more out of them (air bags going in soon) put it together rolled it under the frame dropped it down to a taster of what it will look like. with weight on it the running boards sit about 3.5'' off the ground!



Doing a little experimenting with paint and i think I'm going with stain gold for the motor or burn copper highlights look closely and you can see the copper
the lighting makes it look a little different.

Busy weekend so until sunday, this is how she sits


i need an idea for a good set of steelies for the front, with zero offset. any ideas?
Didn't have much time to work on it this weekend but managed to get the frame exactly where i wanted it moved about 3/8 of an inch forward to fit the wheel wells better and measured about 100 times this way and that way under and over inside and out before i laid a weld. cleaned it up nice add some material where to was needed still have to finish the back horns of the camaro clip- blend them into the frame and modify the front running board brackets the fit around the clip
trimmed the bottom of them frame flush with the clip and get a nice weld along the bottom.
added the rest of the frame in, and kicked it out the follow the frame a little better.





quickly checked out the 350 I'm getting of my good buddy who swap it out and put in a 427!


being built heavily on almost no savings, from the car accident i was in so bartering and trades is how this beast is getting built.
today i finished off welding the frame, made a new gusset for the passenger side body mount. notched the front running board brackets to clear the clip made some simple end for the clip the blend better into the frame. rolled it out shot a coat of paint down and then loaded the cab back on and in place.











dash idea.

put some panels roughly on to see what it looked like. with the motor in it will drop at least another 2-3''


before i welded in the clip i moved it 3/8 of an inch forward and centre the wheel in the wheel well and I'm happy with the final look..... now for the tire and rims that clear!!!

possible idea for pipes. looks pretty cool.



more tomorrow!!!

[jordabennett]

lack of funds made a slow day, still lots i can do and managed and drop a mock up 350/400 into it today. seems to fit great and no cutting on the floor is needed! have to decide i a set of headers and ideas for exhaust. also pulled the bed off and planning on c notching the frame and adding blocks in the rear (for now until i have enough to link it)





mocked up a 57 p/u seat as well. i took off the sliders on the floor and the seat just fit right and sat right down and the original skeleton. yes I'm alittle crammed sitting but i always will be being 6'6 but its a great fit!!






I'm going with the free beer keg i got as a fuel tank, get some fittings welded on and a filler and going with a sight line for a fuel gauge too. sorta like this but maybe on the front

Originally Posted by caveman

great looking project.

well got a little bit more work done today, i got some u bolts made up that were 4'' longer than stock for the 4 block. annnnd still didn't lower it as much as i wanted... so i made a template up for the c notches and got to work!! got both welded in place and ready to but the frame out.. then 4 link and bag time. [36]













well i had about a billion and one things to do today but manned to get some done. Went to a buddies and pulled out an master/booster and pedal assembly out of his 80s ford. yes its ugly but for free I'm happy i may look ugly of the firewall but its fits great inside as well as my budget!
also finished up the notches today and will clean up the 8.8 i have and roll that under for some measurements and start the four linky. hoping to get the bags tomorrow.





Was very busy this weekend and unfortunately it wasn't on my truck, but got a few things done. removed, wire wheeled and painted rotors, installed new bearings and seals, and out on the new callipers and pads. got that master/booster cleaned up and painted and waiting until the motor is in to find a new spot for it. got some free wheels today to and i think the backspacing is just right and will hopefully sit nice in the wheel well. also grabbed that free 8.8 i got stripped all the ugly of it and will clean it up and paint it tomorrow.







pulled some hours in the shop and got lots done so far, removed the old rear end, leafs and shackle setups. after removing multiple [!]rivets
gutted the 8.8 and wire wheeled the whole thing, also cut the top two piece off and shaved one side of the webbing.
measured 1322030239 times and tacked it in and began to build my how made 4 link which I'm really hoping it works[t]
sold the motor today so bags and 350 are coming!




sitting height.

[jordabennett]

i built up the lowers this morning and just seeing where a good position is for them, and then ran out of welding gas.......[b]








any input on location or what not would be great!
well finished off the lowers today tacked in a few gussets but still have lots more to add. i cycled it a bunch of times and seems to work great with no binds and weird bends. the lowers are a little close together but thats as wide as i could get them. ill run the bags and shocks out wide and it doesnt have to much lean to it.









well got everything boxed in and welded, sure was a long day of welding!
but seems to work great with no binds or anything, also picked up the new motor for it. from a good buddy of mine who recently pulled it from his model a and replaced with a 427 bb chevy!
mild build
4 bolt main
30 over
new pistons
rv cam
194 heads
air gap intake
carter 650
deep sump oil pan
nice and healthy
around 375hp maybe a bit more!

paint and clean up should make it look real nice!






Got a little done today, pulled the body and welded up the front bottom link mounts. then connected a tranny and popped then motor in to see what it looked like, raised it up a little and made some mounts heavy duty ones, don't want the motor going anywhere. then cut up the old e brake bar, solid 1 1/2 bar, going to leave the other cross member in.. one because its not harming anything and second i can't get it out.. [15] just going to tach everything and drop the body back on to see how it clears, also scored and got some badass fender well headers. ill probably run them below the frame above the running boards. ill explain later. ill have to notch the other k member as well for drive shaft










trying to get this

finished up the tranny mount and tacked the engine mounts in, also got the air bag kit today, but I'm going to have to change out the fronts and get some with a smaller diameter the 7'' di. won't fit in the lower control arm at all. came with all these fancy valves and manifolds but i dunno i need that? fews shots... going back to work on it now.

[68GMCburban]

Nice!

[dubie]

I always love a well picture documented build and that's exactly what this was. I'm impressed with the amount of work you did on this truck to get it just how you wanted it. It turned out PERFECT!!!
One question for you. I have the same electric fan to wire up on my 56, how did you wire this one?

[jordabennett]

Originally Posted by dubie

I always love a well picture documented build and that's exactly what this was. I'm impressed with the amount of work you did on this truck to get it just how you wanted it. It turned out PERFECT!!!
One question for you. I have the same electric fan to wire up on my 56, how did you wire this one?

thanks man, means alot! just wired to a switch and fuse. wired as a puller and had to flip the fan

[Rude Dude]

Outstanding work, your truck rocks now added to one of my favorite builds on this site !!

[Rude Dude]

I think you need some of these

http://hubcapmike.com/50-merc-moon-center-cap.html

[Bubba54]

Truck looks great, love the flat color.

[jordabennett]

Originally Posted by Rude Dude

I think you need some of these

http://hubcapmike.com/50-merc-moon-center-cap.html

yeah thats what im looking for just a smaller one, and will probably take off the white walls.