Francis the Tow Pig - 1949 GMC 250 Dually

[joedoh]

man, shes a beaut!

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks joedoh!

Made some decent progress last night. Spent a couple of hours in the shop working on the GMC.

I was able to get the grill and in the inner/outer front fenders off. All of the bolts came out fairly easy. When I disassemble a project like this, I use labeled sandwich bags to put my bolts in, then they all get tossed in a box for reassembly time. I'm hoping to have the cab off this weekend, and get the frame out of the shop. Then get the S10 frame in and start the tear down process on it.

Also threw in a picture of another project I brought home. It's a Massey Ferguson 8 riding mower. Has been in my family since new also. I'm going to fix it up for my wife to tow her little garden trailer.

[lower50's]

Nice truck!!! Great family history in your truck. Even with the S-10 chassis if you box it and reinforce you could still tow a bit. I used a ECSB s-10 on mine gives you a nice big flat section to position everything. Are you still considering the dually or a wide tire?

[mongocanfly]

Man that's a nice truck..gonna be good project...like the massey also

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice truck!!! Great family history in your truck. Even with the S-10 chassis if you box it and reinforce you could still tow a bit. I used a ECSB s-10 on mine gives you a nice big flat section to position everything. Are you still considering the dually or a wide tire?

lower50's, thanks for the kind words. With the 2500HD all towing needs will be handled for now. When I get my shop fully going, I'll build an old COE with a 6BT/Detroit/Whatever, and do my baby Roadranger. I was trying to figure out a way to dual up a regular axle without too much trouble....just doesn't seem to be in the cards without a lot of hassle. So my plan is to run a 29/15.00-15 or a 31/16.50-15 on a 12" wide wheel out back...just want the deep look and some extra tire.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Man that's a nice truck..gonna be good project...like the massey also

Thanks! The MF 8 will be a fun project, I can't even imagine how many hours I have spent on that thing as a kid mowing. I'm not sure why it was parked, but they are pretty simple to work on, and there are still a lot of parts available.

[mongocanfly]

Here's a set of those rickas you were referring to..they proud of em..dad had a set on his old international when i was a kid..they long gone now...http://www.emption.com/compare/12314...pter-sets.html

[OutlawDrifter]

I hate to admit it, but I would totally pay that for a new set, just to get the "look". Right now I'm leaning towards a Corvette Rally wheel (w/highway patrol centers) or smoothie wheel of some sort. D-Window Daytona's actually have about the same window cutout shape as the original dually wheels...but I don'l like the limitations in center caps.

This is something I need to get figured out, I intend to set the body and sheet metal on the final rolling stock. When the frame is done, I need to have them ordered or be in the process.

[RDrancher]

Very cool truck and I'm in to see how it goes.

As far as the Daytona center caps, they have the same center bore as the Delux 69's I'm running. There are a few options from Gorilla (I'm running spinners) and Cragar has bullet centers for that size bore as well.

Edit: My bad, looks like there are quite a few center bore sizes depending on the wheel size.

[OutlawDrifter]

Well not much has happened ON the GMC. I've been trying to get some more work done on the shop to make it function better. Needed to get some shelving built, and finish wiring. Well...I got about half the 110v outlets wired and I did get some shelving built. Getting closer, still need to finish the wiring and do one more "clean out" from the construction/building process.

I did go over to my FIL's and check out the Explorer rear end. According to the door it is a code D4, so that makes it a 3.73 geared tracloc unit. Not ideal for my tire sizes I'm considering, but the price is right, and I can put in 3.08 or 3.27 gears on the cheap.

[OutlawDrifter]

Had a chance to get some more progress done last night.

Built the cab lift for my engine hoist and managed to get the core support, bumper and filler/splash pan off the front. Spent some more time hitting some soon to be used bolts with PB Blaster. All this after I put a new radiator in my '98 Z71. I'm planning to head to KC on Saturday to see some of the Pour Tour, but my goal is to have the cab removed and the old frame out of the shop this weekend.

[OutlawDrifter]

Started working Sunday with no direction and a loose goal set for myself. I felt pretty accomplished as made the trek across the driveway to the house.

I was able to get everything else i needed off of the frame. Moved the old frame "out to pasture" and pulled the new S10 frame in.

Today was parts ordering day, basically everything but the steering gear, springs, and brake lines have been ordered for the front end. I'm going to try the Speedway Motors tubular upper A-arms. 2" drop spindles also ordered to give the front end a little attitude. Hopefully I'll have some time to start stripping it down and get some areas wire brushed and ready for paint.

Need to get over to my FIL's and get the Explorer rear end pulled and have the gears changed out in it.

[Nut Case]

Outlaw Drifter

Strong work, going to follow along. Garage looks great, what is the foot print and wall height on the new "shed"


Keep on keepin on

NC

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks Nut Case, the building is 36x40 with a 14' ceiling. The overhead door is 20' wide and 12' high, you can pull a JD 4430 into the building with room to spare. Some day I intend to put a mezzanine up for an office area and more parts storage. A 4 post lift and some sort of HVAC is in the works also.

[lower50's]

Sounds like a sweet shed Give it a month and you won't find that frame again.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Sounds like a sweet shed Give it a month and you won't find that frame again.

Hopefully I'll have a home for it soon! We've kicked around the idea of making a T-Bucket with the 228ci.

Parts for the S10 frame have started to roll in. Can't wait to start working on it this weekend!

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Thanks Nut Case, the building is 36x40 with a 14' ceiling. The overhead door is 20' wide and 12' high, you can pull a JD 4430 into the building with room to spare. Some day I intend to put a mezzanine up for an office area and more parts storage. A 4 post lift and some sort of HVAC is in the works also.

wow, sounds outstanding! I am building a 40x32 later this year but our neighborhood has a 16' height restriction on out buildings so I think a 10' ceiling will be the best I can manage.

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by joedoh

wow, sounds outstanding! I am building a 40x32 later this year but our neighborhood has a 16' height restriction on out buildings so I think a 10' ceiling will be the best I can manage.

Might look into a scissor truss if you need more ceiling height. I tried to future proof mine as much as I could. Wish I would have put in some water and septic...oh well.

[OutlawDrifter]

Made some great progress yesterday. When my wife asked me what I wanted for Father's Day, I asked for an entire day in the shop, uninterrupted, and that's what I got!

I was able to strip the front steering and suspension off of the S10 frame, removed the body mounts I don't plan on using, pulled the old crusty brake and fuel lines, and cut the front frame horns off. Did a little cleaning and some prepping for the rear leaf/axle removal. At the end of the day I spent a little time putting my new metal cutting band saw together so it's ready.

All in all, a pretty good day. First Father's Day without my dad, sure did miss chatting with him! Added some pictures of him as a young man, he taught me my love of cars.










Circa 1967. Standing in front of his 1948 English Ford Anglia drag car. 406 BBF, T-10, 12" of driveshaft, and a 9" Ford rear with 4.11 gears. Ran 10's and would wheel stand through 2 gears.




I'm guessing 1968-69 time frame. 1968 Nickey Corvette, 3-deuce 427 with the Nickey heads and cam. This is when he went out to help build the runway for the new at the time Boeing 747 in Everett, WA. Dad's comment when he first saw it roll out of the hanger(while sitting on a Cat D8), "How are they going to get that humongous thing in the air!?"

[lower50's]

Glad you had a good fathers day doing what you wanted.

[joedoh]

man thats a great set of memories of your dad, thanks for sharing!

I see that 3rd gen hiding against the wall, I would like to have one of those too!

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Glad you had a good fathers day doing what you wanted.

Thanks lower50's, hope yours was good also!

Originally Posted by joedoh

man thats a great set of memories of your dad, thanks for sharing!

I see that 3rd gen hiding against the wall, I would like to have one of those too!

He was a great man, father, grandfather, and friend, I miss him dearly!

I've had the 3rd gen since right before my Junior year of high school. Good lord, I've owned it for almost 20 years! It was an L98/700R4 G92 dual cat car from the factory. I pulled the drive train and started over in 2011. It now sports a "warmed over" 6.0l LQ9 based engine, T56 trans, and a hybrid 8.8/10 bolt rear end. I got a little crazy and lost sight of my original plan. It's not fun to drive in stop and go traffic and doesn't like to putt around. But when you wood the pedal, you better hang on and hope you can stab the clutch and catch the next gear before it bounces off the rev limiter


In other news, I ordered the wheels for Francis yesterday. Wheel Vintiques 12 Smoothies in 15x7 4" backspace and 15x10 4.5" backspace. Still trying to decide between baby moons and the highway patrol caps, so I ordered both. Also picked up Belltech 3" drop leafs, Nitro 2 drop shocks, new rubber body mounts, Rust Bullet paint, and Metal Blast cleaner. Put in an order at our local machine shop for some 4" 11ga and 2x1 11ga tubing.

At this point I'm going to run a 295/50R15 on the back, trying to decide between a 215/70R15 and 235/60R15 for the front.

[HUSSEY]

Cool truck. I noticed the 72 Nebraska tag on the front, hope you kept that, maybe keep it on the front?

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by HUSSEY

Cool truck. I noticed the 72 Nebraska tag on the front, hope you kept that, maybe keep it on the front?

Thanks, I've read through your build thread many times, inspiration and knowledge! Seems we've got "sister" trucks. I did keep both the front and rear tags off of it. Not sure if I will run one or not. I'm a hoarder on stuff like that, I have the plates off of my Camaro from high school, if you look on the wall of the shop, you can see some of them above the desk.

[OutlawDrifter]

Didn't get as much done as I had planned. Had some family in town, and on top of that, O'Reilly's doesn't stock the spring compressor I wanted to use...so, I guess I'll add another tool to the box.

I was able to get the front half of the frame wire wheeled and treated with Metal Blast. I'm not really impressed with the product, but it was worth the $25 gamble. Assembled some of the front steering and put the upper and lower a-arms in place. Finally yesterday I spent some time getting the new band saw dialed in and cut the four 4" square tube chunks for the cab mounts.

I have decided to scrap the idea on the the Explorer rear end. I want a drop in solution for absolute worst case scenarios, so I will be doing a 4x4 Blazer/Bravada axle instead. I intend to drive this truck, everywhere! I have an 8.5" unit located for a decent price, but it's a 6 hour drive one way to pick it up. So I may just run a 7.5" in the meantime.

Added a picture of the decreasing parts pile. I'll be taking the wheels in today to get painted.

[lower50's]

I'm liking the deep dish rear. What did you not like about the metal blast?