Project Curly - 1953 GMC Panel Truck

[panelrodder81]

Ok so I have had this truck since the summer of '99 when I was still in high school. Been working on it since... even though these pics don't show a whole lot, quite a bit has been done. The truck started out as a "Mr. Potato Head" project... meaning he came home as a body, chassis and 'a bucket of parts'. I have a bunch of pics from over the years but these are the most current and only ones I have on hand. I'm going the sealed primer route on this truck, no comments on this please as I'm aware of the pros and cons. This incarnation will be running my 350 HO Deluxe crate motor with 1997 5.7 Serpentine pulley setup and turning a 700r4 which connects to a '75 Nova 3.73 ration rear end. I have an Ididit column hooked to a MII front end w power rack. Seats are courtesy of a 2000 PT Cruiser that donated its front buckets and rear bench and floor mount. Budgets are still tight on this just like when I originally started the truck so the carpet is equestrian trailer tack room carpet, for now, with some juke insulation. Shifter was a Lokar when I had the Th350 but is now a B&M Mega Shifter. I like the Lokar better but the tranny swap forced a new shifter and this is what I could afford! The body of the truck is mostly stock. I love the lines of the truck so I'm keeping it mostly the way it was intended... just lower! I am shaving most of the emblems, keeping the GMC above the grill, and I'd like to shave the handles but we'll see. I am converting to bear claw latches though. I've also shave the original filler neck and switched to a flush mount motorcycle gas filler cap in the body. My To Do list is lengthy but I hope to be on the road in the next few weeks and to a specific show on September 11th in Brigham City, Utah. I will only make the show if it can drive there by its self so I have some good work to get done!

Oh, and it is actually quite low but right now its on big jack stands for the trans swap!


More pics to come!