61 GMC - Fresh from the fields of Texas!

[farmfieldfinds]

Found this 61 GMC long bed sitting in literally a goat pasture. Fortunately the goats were well fed!!!! My goal with this truck was to get the truck running and driving, fix the floors (no Fred Flintstone driving), and replace the wood bed.

[farmfieldfinds]

I date coded the intake manifold and apparently this is a 283 out of a 58/59 Chevy. The transmission is the granny 4 speed so I'm guessing a top speed of maybe 55.
I flushed the fuel system, replaced the rubber components and fuel pump, installed a new fuel filter, and replaced the top seal of the carb. Drained the coolant, replaced the rubber lines, and filled the system with water (temporarily).

After finally figuring out the correct oil filter, I changed the oil and filter. Pro Tip - Just Google the ID number on the existing filter (yeah, that would have saved me an hour!)

The spark plugs looked good so I put in a new battery and hit the key.....truck fired right up!!!! I let the truck idle for about 10 minutes and then spent the next hour filling/draining the radiator to get all of the old gunk out, making sure the truck was at proper operating temperature and there weren't any leaks before filling the radiator with coolant.

[DPowers]

Congrats.

[farmfieldfinds]

Turns out a Yukon has plenty of power for towing a truck through 100 miles of Texas Hill Country!!!!

[farmfieldfinds]

Ready to start on the bed. Ordered the pine bedwood kit from Brothers Trucks. Stained the wood with just a light tint and then used a Thompson's sealant for both water and UV protection.

[markeb01]

Very nice!!

[farmfieldfinds]

I pulled all of the drums off to check the brakes and found a bad seal on the rear axle. I followed this series which made things very easy to do!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivbBW_HRzIQ&t=127s

Trying to put in the bed bolts by myself is a pain! I have to put something heavy on the bolt head so the bolts don't pop up when I'm trying to tighten the nut from below. Plus I have crawled out from below this thing probably 50 times!

[farmfieldfinds]

Bed turned out awesome but the bed looks a little too shiny for a truck with such great patina.

[forestb]

Originally Posted by farmfieldfinds

I pulled all of the drums off to check the brakes and found a bad seal on the rear axle. I followed this series which made things very easy to do!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivbBW_HRzIQ&t=127s

Trying to put in the bed bolts by myself is a pain! I have to put something heavy on the bolt head so the bolts don't pop up when I'm trying to tighten the nut from below. Plus I have crawled out from below this thing probably 50 times!

Just do one plank at a time starting at the edges. That way you can just reach underneath except for the last 2 boards. Also I used tape to hold them in place just enough to get the bolt on the firs thread. Then you can just pull down on the nut while you turn it by hand until snug. Than you can use a wrench. On some of them I was able to hold the bolt in place with one finger from the side.

[MrK5]

Originally Posted by farmfieldfinds

I date coded the intake manifold and apparently this is a 283 out of a 58/59 Chevy. The transmission is the granny 4 speed so I'm guessing a top speed of maybe 55.

Depends on your rear axle gearing. I have the same trans with 4.59 gears and 55mph is right around 3000RPM. 60 is about as fast as I'll push it.

[farmfieldfinds]

Originally Posted by forestb

Just do one plank at a time starting at the edges. That way you can just reach underneath except for the last 2 boards. Also I used tape to hold them in place just enough to get the bolt on the firs thread. Then you can just pull down on the nut while you turn it by hand until snug. Than you can use a wrench. On some of them I was able to hold the bolt in place with one finger from the side.

Thanks for the tip! I'm doing the bed on a 68 next week so I'll definitely try that!!!

[farmfieldfinds]

I guess I can advertise the truck as having buckets seats...right?!?!?!?!

[WorkinLonghorn]

Originally Posted by MrK5

Depends on your rear axle gearing. I have the same trans with 4.59 gears and 55mph is right around 3000RPM. 60 is about as fast as I'll push it.

You'd be "Going like sixty!".

[farmfieldfinds]

My wife found these instructions on Pinterest on how to antique wood so she followed the steps and aged the bedwood so the wood better matches the patina of the truck. I think it turned out pretty good.

[farmfieldfinds]

In the pictures above, you can see the rims are a bit aged and pitted. I took a grinder and sander to clean the wheels up. Then I painted them with self etching primer and top coated with the Rustoleum metallic finish dark charcoal paint. I have to say that the wheels turned out great!

Now that the truck is running and driving...time to finish the floors!!!!

[farmfieldfinds]

I had a "fun" time doing the floor patches. For some reason the truck was missing the front part of the transmission tunnel. I couldn't find that part online so I ended up fabricating a couple pieces and welding them in. Since these floors aren't structural, I spot weld the panels in a bunch of places and then use seam sealer to keep out the water. Underneath, I coat everything with under body coating.

[farmfieldfinds]

Finished the last few things on the engine. Amazing what a difference painting the air cleaner does for the engine compartment.

[farmfieldfinds]

Here is a video of the final product! https://youtu.be/KsdtTRqOYMY

[farmfieldfinds]

Here is the link to the ebay auction. The truck sold for $3950 to Classic Cars of Sarasota in Florida.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291970215486...5486&viewitem=

[farmfieldfinds]

Here is a picture of the truck on the start of the journey from Austin to Florida! Was a fun project but needed the room for my 68 C10.

[farmfieldfinds]

My next project is here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=732700

[farmfieldfinds]

Looks like Classic Cars of Sarasota in Florida did a few upgrades and thought they would double their money! Unfortunately I don't think that plan worked out for them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-GMC-C-K...p2047675.l2557