New to the world of old trucks ???

[webugly59]

Well hello to all here. I am kinda new to old trucks period. About 6 momths ago my wife took me out to look at an old 59 GMC short bed. After trying to drive this "beheamoth", (as my wife first called her,) the owner drove her for me, and I fell in love. My wife, then on the way home asked me what I thought. I told my wife that I really liked the truck but she would take some time.

Well my wonderful wife said "she's your's then, and bought her for me. My old girl aquired the mane "Joyce" and I drove her home the next week. Joyce is an old fleet truck with absoultly no options, not even an oil filter. I love both of these old girls, however Joyce Has never forgot my wife calling her a "behemouth" and does not run very well at all, whenever my wife first gets in. PERSONALITY, Joyce has it.

Later Jim

[Blue Beard]

Welcome to the board from SW Washington State.........

Sounds like both the truck and the wife are keepers....

Get a chance post some pics of her here...

[Stingray42]

sounds like quite the truck!
Pics required! lol we all like pics on here.
No oil filter? hows that work?

[DennyB]

Welcome to the board!

[webugly59]

Stingray
The old fleet trucks shared many components with the chevy trucks of the era. Like the original chevy 235 6 cyl, and the v type betzel around the gauge cluster. as soon as I cet my camera figured out for small pics to post they will arive here.

Aws for the "no oil filter, option only" not available on fleet trucks. The filter canister bolted to the intake manifold and had a return tube that went back to just above the oil pan. I forgot where the pressure line picked up at, but the sales people of the era's comments were "Change oil as ofter as possible."
PICS SOON GUYS
Jim

[webugly59]

Ok guys
Here she is in all her glory. Just imagine dark purple pearl with black accents and maybe some gold pin striping. As for the rear window vinyl, my wife says it's gotta go. Whadda ya think? Most others like it, my wife frowns when other women mention it with a smile on there face. What in the world are they thinking? Most of the 4x4 owners generaly pull up olong side at a light

and my doors off, OH how I love it! No sense of humor in those guys. The tool box in the bed is from my 84 s-15 and I paid $50 for it at a yard sale. I just could not think of a better truck to put it in. Hope ya like her, Joyce does have that strange sex appeal. Know what I mean.

Later Jim

[john j]

I don't know. You may want to make sure what you got. If the GMC is like the Chevy, it should have quad head lights. Not sure though. johnj

[webugly59]

John
This is a fleet truck and they used a lot of chevy parts. Mine has a 235 chevy 6cyl (stock), she has a chevy style "v betzel" dash board instead of the split circluar gauges (again stock). The correct engine would have been a 270 gmc (pontiac with slightly different valve covers. And look at the headlight pods, single instead of dual, (stock again). Fleet trucks were the bottom of the line. Mine has no interior light, radio, standard heater, and no oil filter. This is what the big companies bought when they wanted, say 20 or more trucks, and wanted them cheap. I saw another one that had a chromed "curved" grill that looked kinda cool. I was thinking of BRUSHED ALUMINUM.
later Jim

[ShamrockCustoms]

"Joyce Has never forgot my wife calling her a "behemouth" and does not run very well at all, whenever my wife first gets in. PERSONALITY, Joyce has it."

ROFLMAO...



Have you deciphered the VIN on the truck?. Sounds like maybe you got a 55-57 with the 58-9 front sheetmetal. And the headlight thing is throwing me off, because it should have the quad setup as john j mentioned. more pictures!!

[webugly59]

Ill get a pic of the vin for you guys and a close up of the headlight pods as well. And yes I have checked the vin as well as the GMC guru at a gmc olny site. That is how I found out about all the fleet truck stuff, including chevy's. Chevys used GMC motors and gmc used chevy motors. Later with those pics.
Jim

[webugly59]

Shamrock
The #s did not show up on the pic but they areas follows 101 p s13885a. Heres what I was told, 101 =100 series(1/2 ton), 1= shortbed,
p=pontiac Mich, s= 6 cylinder ( no s indicates v8), and the13885 indicate late 58 or early 59 manufacture. Nobody can tell me what the "a" indicates. When I questioned Rob (I think the name is), he stated single head lights in a dual pod, chevy motor (that head casting # dates to 1955), lack of any options,(no oil filter, no radio, no cigar lighter no interior light, and a chevy "v" betzle type dash ((gmc's were split at the steering wheel colum with round gauges)), mine has the all in one chevy type with GMC at the bottom), all of the filler plates are this stuff is supposed to be. Indicates FLEET TRUCK. Not much has ever been written about these trucks, but they are becoming real rare, I just wish that mine had the fender mounted (easier to get to and off) spare option, SUPER RARE.
Well, now it's your turn to check this out. I hope you have as much fun as I did doing this about 4 months ago. I do not mean to sound nasty, I know the way I worded this does bound pricky but it was not ment to be. I did do my homework though.
Vin plate give " certified gross horsepower" as "130", and "certified net horsepower" as "121". GVR is 5000 lbs. And it is a GMC plate.
Have a great pre moms day
Jim

[john j]

Jim i went over to www.americanclassic.com and punched in the code numbers. They come back as a 61 chevy pickup. By the pictures we all can see it's not that. If the motor is still in it check those numbers. If the motor is stock. Numbers should be on the drivers side. Also after all this time it is hard to read them. They should be on the frame rails on the drivers side front by the steering box. Maybe hard to see. Hope this helps you. johnj

[nitor]

Welcome to the board from Ohio Jim. It sounds like there is some confusion as to exactly what you have. Hope you get it straightened out.

[ShamrockCustoms]

Very intriguing! Will do some homework on this.....got me curious!


PS Also, when you say "fleet" truck, do you mean fleetside or commercial fleet????

[webugly59]

Originally Posted by ShamrockCustoms

Very intriguing! Will do some homework on this.....got me curious!


PS Also, when you say "fleet" truck, do you mean fleetside or commercial fleet????

I found this truck as intriguing also and that led to an exhaustinting web (as well as car shows and the like)search. I then was able to find a site that led to one of the most informed men on GMC's i've ever encountered. His name is "Rob English" and hopefuly this link to his site will work.

http://www.oldgmctrucks.com

I sent him my vin # 101 s p13885a and he then responded with all that I have already posted.
The term "fleet truck" is a (light duty in my case) commercial truck. And Joyce is a short bed stepside. I do wish that it did have the "fender mounted spare" though, A rare and sought after piece.

These fleet trucks (like mine) are the trucks that companies bought to use as light duty service vehicles, when they purchased, say, 10 or more, and wanted them cheap!
Jim

[webugly59]

Originally Posted by nitor

Welcome to the board from Ohio Jim. It sounds like there is some confusion as to exactly what you have. Hope you get it straightened out.

Well nitor
I am happy with the decoding that I have. I know that Mr. English could not have steered me wrong. The only thin that screws everyone up is this "fleet truck" option. Different, but that is what I love about this thing that we call an infatuation, "CLASSICS". That is why I want to build my truck as an "odd ball". Still want to go wiyh a 4.3 v6, and this "confusion" makes me want to do it this way even more.
Later
59 Jim

[webugly59]

Originally Posted by john j

Jim i went over to www.americanclassic.com and punched in the code numbers. They come back as a 61 chevy pickup. By the pictures we all can see it's not that. If the motor is still in it check those numbers. If the motor is stock. Numbers should be on the drivers side. Also after all this time it is hard to read them. They should be on the frame rails on the drivers side front by the steering box. Maybe hard to see. johnj

John I went to that site and entered my vin and you are right, comes back to a 61 chevy, unknown body type, unknown assembly plant, unknown ECT.. So I sent them an email asking them why there is an error? I explained the decoding that I have. Perhaps because these "commercial" vehicles are not a popular choice. As soon as I get a reply I will post it.
I had NC DOT liscense department do a search on that vin and it comes back to my 59 GMC. Chevy's vin of that era started as "3101, 1/2 ton shortbed, 3201, 3/4 ton shortbed", I can't say for the 61 chevy's though.
Later
Jim

[webugly59]

Originally Posted by john j

Jim i went over to www.americanclassic.com and punched in the code numbers. They come back as a 61 chevy pickup. By the pictures we all can see it's not that. If the motor is still in it check those numbers. If the motor is stock. Numbers should be on the drivers side. Also after all this time it is hard to read them. They should be on the frame rails on the drivers side front by the steering box. Maybe hard to see. Hope this helps you. johnj

John
Here is the reply I got from american classics
" You mean the decoder that states ???

VIN: (Chevrolet Pickups only)

Please don't criticize our FREE Chevy information.

Visit our Web Site at www.AmericanClassic.com
We have the best On-line Catalog and ordering system.
Over seven thousand parts photos. Or call us 1-940-365-9786"

I coyied and pasted so you don't think that I created my own reply
jim

[webugly59]

Hey people
Should I change my id to CONFUSED GMC
Jim

[webugly59]

Hey gang look at what I found about my "fleet truck".
http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0380.html
She is a verry rare piece.
Jim

[john j]

Jim i am glad the confussion is cleared up. When you posted the 11th post it reads 101ps13885a should of been 101SP13885a as in #15. A little turned around. Still sounds like you got a keeper. Are you going to restore of rod it? johnj

[webugly59]

Well John
I am going to do a little modifying. Running gear mostly, I want to use a 4.3 v6 and a 5 speed (for road speed and economy). Other that the instation of an under bed tank (don't like sitin on explosive stuff), seat belts, and a slightly modified (mounts) roof mounted sterio. I plan to keep her as stock apearing as I can, ugly front and all. That is why i chose the id "we b ugly59".
I kid oround with other people about buyin a truck uglier than me , so I can look good. LOL. But did you check out the link I posted? Alot of info that I didn't know.
Later Jim

[webugly59]

The 11th post is correct, my bad

Jim

[Budweis]

Boo! window vinyl has to go or us 4x4 guys gonna be running your truck over.

[webugly59]

Hey Bud
How can you say BOO? Just look at the quality of that truck amongest the words. You see what I mean "No sense of humor", I use to own a 78 GMC 4x4. So I know the feelin. I also remember all the extra work. 4x4's do have their place in society. But I do have 1 question to ask, Did you buy the 4x4 because of lack of axcitement? LOL
Jim