62 Canadian GMC build

[CanadianGMC]

Hi everyone,

I've been on the website for a while, but haven't actually been here in ages. Years ago(~10), I had intended to restore my great-uncle's 62 GMC and do a few things with it. Being a bit more naive back then, I dismantled the truck to only have life catch up with me. This caused me to have it sit for years up until now. It is currently sitting apart with the cab and front end sitting inside my uncle's barn while the frame has been sitting outside with the box sides sitting on top of it.

I am getting close to 30 and looking to relocate from Canada to New Zealand in the next few years. I am unsure if this will be permanent but am going with the intentions that it will be. With that being said, I would like to get this project under way. At the time of moving(2022), I would like to have my truck atleast driveable.

A bit about the truck. From what I know my great uncle bought it new and it's been in the family since. The truck is a 62 GMC 910 with a long fleetside box and big back window. It had a 292(or maybe 235?)ci Inline 6 and standard trans. The engine wasn't seized when taken out 10 years ago, but it's been sitting in the barn half on it's side ever since. I also decided back then that I would swap out the torsion bar front end with a coil spring suspension. The front suspension and rear end came from a 1/2 ton 74 or 76 GM truck.

Currently I have a 2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD with a 6.0 and 4L80e(shot) and 4x4. I have an extra 4L80e that has 195km on it I am thinking of parting it out as I would like to keep the 6.0. I would do a rebuild on it as a head gasket is done and it could use a refreshing(279km/174mi). I am torn between selling this one whole or just parting it out.. I could put the old inline 6 back in for more originality to the truck but I am more interested in having a newer set up that I can make somewhat more reliable and efficient. I am also on the fence about just putting the 4x4 set up into the 62 as I like having 4x4 and I would intend to use this truck as a driver. How would I go about doing this? Would an 07 set up fit on a 62 non 4x4 frame? I'd have to shorten the drive shaft for sure and the truck would end up with an 8 bolt pattern but I'd have a 3/4 ton suspension and would be able to haul quite a bit when needed.

I'll include a few photos from back when I started taking it apart. I will also attach a picture of my 07 GMC that I intend to donate to this project.

Any help and suggestions on where to begin and how to keep this semi reasonably budgeted would be greatly appreciated!