1950 GMC on s10 named Hook

[Rusti]

Hello everyone

This is the construction report for a 1950 GMC pick-up on a 1987 Chevrolet s10 chassis powered by a 4.3L Astro Van drive train. Since it is very difficult here in Germany to get the individual components I have to take everything I get and can not be picky. I have to work with the parts I get and that is why this project will be put together from parts from many different cars and trucks. I started collecting about a year ago. Finally when found the cabin in August and got it for a good price, the project could be started. The idea behind is to build a daily driver with the grate shape from 1950. Due to the strong rust patina I decided to call this project "Hook".
Much of this project may be quite simple and a little bit hillbilly like, but the motto is to use only as many new parts as necessary and keeping the budget as small as possible. So please excuse if some part of the work and problems will be solved quite special.

Here are some pictures of how he looked in the beginning.



And after removing a whole bucket of earth and nuts

The cabin and the front were removed


New chassis and new cab holders





And the first test how it fits together


It looks a bit squashed on the short chassis but with the bed on I hope it should be ok again, we'll see.

New steering column, pedals and brake booster







New frame for the S10 bench


And the drive train
With a lot of problems and some modifications, oil pan of a 4x4 blazer (still waiting for a new oil pump and screen from the USA), exhaust system, shift linkage and many many more




So long
Arnd

[joedoh]

love it!

[paintman]

is that a short bed s10 or are my eyes tricking me?

[8man]

Welcome to the fun. Good start.

[mongocanfly]

Welcome.....

[Nut Case]

Strong work.....

Keep on keepin on!

Nutz

[Rusti]

Hallo
@paintman yes you are right this is a shot bed frame. The long bed trucks are very rare here in Germany and if there is one for sale it is very expensive.
And another special thing about this build is the engine which is in the original position and not moved back like most of you do this.

Not a big progress but it goes forward
Plumping the fuel pump and filter assembly using the original fuel tank in behinde the bench



Battery holder and radiator first try



So long
Arnd

[Jesse Z]

Cool work. It's fun to see international builds!

[GerhardH]

Originally Posted by Rusti

Hallo
@paintman yes you are right this is a shot bed frame. The long bed trucks are very rare here in Germany and if there is one for sale it is very expensive.
And another special thing about this build is the engine which is in the original position and not moved back like most of you do this.

Not a big progress but it goes forward
Plumping the fuel pump and filter assembly using the original fuel tank in behinde the bench



Battery holder and radiator first try



So long
Arnd

Wow cool work, hope to see you sometime in Bavaria

[Rusti]

Hello all

Slow progress on my build in the moment. A lot of work to do with the garden and around the house with winter coming.
I used the original front mounts for the fenders and the front part. I build some brackets and bolted them to the old radiator frame. With the front bolted to the cab and using the s10 rubber mounts I welded the s10 holder to the frame and everything is quiet strong.



The next step was the radiator. I build a frame that is bolted on the bottom to the s10 frame and on the top to the to original GMC radiator frame. I am not perfectly happy with it but for the first try it is ok. I hope the radiator is not too small for the engine. I am using an extra transmission oil cooler which is bolted in front of the water radiator.




The one is the parking brake. I am using the original pedal on the left side of the cab. It is the same assembly like the one from the s10 but I had one problem. The cable on the right side hits the exhaust pipe and the driveshaft. I am running the cable above them. For this I cut out the holder from the frame and replaced on top of the frame rail. Works.


I take some time and did some wiring work. Tried to take out the one which are not used like ABS and all these things. As far as I want to have possibility to take off the front clip with out a lot of work I decided to use some connectors on the left and right side where the fenders hit the firewall. A lot of work. The original hole in the firewall for the heating regulator is perfect for the wires which run from the engine to the ECU.



So long Arnd

[Rusti]

By the way. Is there One of you from Boise Idaho or from around that place? I am asking because I have friend who has some guys on that place who are parting out cars and truck and make the ready for shipping to Germany for him. I still need a bed and the rear fenders. I am looking thought craigslist all the time but nothing. So I thing it would be easier to find something when knowing someone who has more to do with trucks of that type.
So long Arnd

[Rusti]

Hello all

Last week my ordered parts arrived. Thanks a lot to Prins Truck Shop from Netherland. The parts are really with high quality and a fair price nearly equal to the one in US.


Looks nice with new mirrors.

That is the new upholstery. Looks grate.

The front lights were changed to same European style low/high beam and parking light with an “E” mark (that is important for the technical inspection and the registration. Lights need this mark to use them in Germany). The parking lights will be moved to the main lights. They have to be white and because the turning lights have to be yellow I have to separate them. Turning lights on the bottom parking lights on the top together with the high and low beam.



I wanted to keep the wiring with an original look so I decided to take off the plastic wrap and then redo it with fabric adhesive tape.


So long
Arnd

[GerhardH]

Hi Rusti looks great.
I use first flame retardent wire insulation, but as top layer I would be interested on the fabric tape which you used.
Could you provide the order number?

[joedoh]

love it! I used to run E code lights on my old BMWs, they are so much better beam pattern and cutoff.

[Rusti]

Hallo all
Just a small progress in the last month with Hook. It is quite could here in Germany in the moment and with my garage being not isolated and heated with a small electrical heater it is not fun working on the truck. So it is time for same indoor, incab work. I decided to use the gauges from the Asto with the gauge frame from the GMC. I cut out each gauge trimmed it until it fit into the frame. The just glue everything together. With some plastic sheet I fabricate some covering for the illumination bulbs. Then I made the electrical connections and everything was ready. For the control lights like mil, park brake light, I used some colored bulbs which I placed in the middle of the fuel and oil pressure gauges.



Front and back


And the first test



And with the lights on

All the happened with 3 days of work until everything fits the way I wanted to bee, but it looks grate.
So long
Arnd

[oldman3]

Very nice job, looks great...Jim

[joedoh]

well that just looks outstanding! very nice work!

[Tempest67]

very nice work , thanks for posting

[OutlawDrifter]

Great work on the gauges, looks fantastic!

[olcarguy]

Great job. Love the gauges

[slammed57]

nice job on the gauges

[Brads49]

Very cool!!! Great use of resources

[twinshadows]

That is very smart & very good looking for those gauges ,
I like them . . . . jim

[Rusti]

Hello all
Thanks a lot for your posts and comments.
Slow progress on my build in the moment. But I took the time and worked for several weekends on the truck. Closed all (I supposed I did it but then find some more) the holes in the firewall I do not need. Welded in the new cab corners front and back. Reworked the rear window frame and reworked the rotten part. Closed all the holes in the interior and on the front ventilation. Reworked the front window frame and made it ready for the new windows.
Reworked the inner panel in the foot area on the left side and had to weld in a new one on the right side. It was a lot of metalwork to do but its done and looks ok.










The next step was to do the windows. New gaskets all over and new glass for the front. It was a lot of work and quite tricky doing it alone but it worked better that I supposed.





The next challenge was the fuel gauge. First I tried the original 6 volt sender unit with the “new” astro van gauge, no way. To change the hole sending unit using a asto van or s10 one is impossible because of the small hole in the original fuel tank. I disassembled the original sending unit and one from a mid 90es s10 and the resistance units are nearly identically built. I just changed them reassembled the sending unit with some new made gaskets and it works.






While I was working on some holes on the right back pillar this metal part fall down from behind the wall. Is it a part of the truck on something else? Sorry for the bad pictures.


So back to work. The next big thing will be the bed and rear fenders. I hope to get some in the next weeks. I am trying this since December now but no luck.

So long
Arnd

[straight6chevyguy]

Wow! looking very good!