My 1950 5-window Restoration Build

[Root2812]

Sounds good. I'll see if you still have this stuff when I get back. I'll drive the truck over to get its own parts.

[99 to Life]

I'm diggin the patina and the 5 window cab. I think you got a really nice basis for a build. You could just do some easy mods such as disc brakes, a different rear end, a t-5 tranny swap (would need an adapter plate and relocate trans cross member) but basically you could run that engine clean it up and have a nice setup behind it that is a bit more updated. With these it is always nice to just tear them all down and work in sections and strip the frame and start with a good foundation, takes a little longer but it is far more organized and easier to fab some stuff.

I'd leave the patina,convert to five bolt rims on her with some whitewalls and go. Maybe drop it with blocks in the rear and drop axle or put a front clip on it, but that gets pretty involved money, time and resources wise with a front clip.

Options are endless, the only way to really know which is best is to dig in for yourself and keep asking questions on here. It is a great resource to ask and see what other have done and to keep in touch with these old gems.

best of luck.

[Root2812]

Thanks for the comments. I read your thread earlier today and you also have a nice project. You have some really good advice but I'm going in a different direction. Most of these advanced design trucks on the road are modified in some way and many are hot rods. I want to be different an be the one guy at the car show that has an original. Then I can park next to all the others and be the one everyone points to and says "those used to look like that". The biggest mod I plan to do on the slug is to regear the torque tube so that I can do more than 50mph and drive it to the shows, I gotta stay with the original tranny and torque tube. Everything else will be either an original option or atleast period specific. Excluding radial tires that look like bias ply, a retro sound radio, and eventhough I'm using the factory 1950 red instead of green I am going to paint the interior red too rather than the champaigne color. I'm painting it myself and it will be my first whole vehicle to paint so I'll do just the one color and add the champagne later if I want to. So yeah, original other than removable options.

My next build will be a hot rod but this one is a time capsule.

[99 to Life]

root, ok I get where you are at. When I started I said I want to do an all original some day. In fact, I never liked stock ride height too much on these, but I am really saying to myself I want one that is stock height. I just see all different kinds that I like. I think going the more OG route is great. For so many reasons. One there needs to be originals so people can see where the mods originated off of. A time capsule indeed.

I went s-10 frame lowered, sbc and 5 speed in my first build and I want to do an almost complete 180 and do a lowered OG frame and engine because I want a different approach.

I think you got a piece to work with. Good luck

[plummen]

Nice project,my first car was a 1950 chevy 3/4t pickup,still have the key on mykey chain 30 plus years later!

[RCbowtie69]

Nice truck,it's looks like you have something to work with,hope to see more pictures of your build.Keep on Truckin'

[Root2812]

There has been a little progress but not a whole lot. Since I could only bring a few parts with me I'm working with what I've got. I only brought some dash parts down with me. As you all saw before I started with this.


I'm going for this


Yes thats the LMC cover from a long while back. I am just going with the red interior to match the exterior I'm going with. Not quite stock but I like it. So I started with the speaker cover/ashtray and glovebox door. To replace them would have been about $200 for the set so I fixed them up. The glovebox door was the painted type but was stainless underneith so I stripped it and polished it. I also painted the back side a nice fresh black. The speaker cover was very rusted but only surface rust. You can see that in the before picture. I sand blasted it and polished the stainless top and bottom parts. I then primed, sanded, and painted the grill part and ashtry (inside and out). When I put it back together I reused the ashtray knob. The knob isn't perfect but its good enough. All it needs now is the "Chevrolet" stickers. I'll order those when I have enough to order and get free shipping.

Now I have this

Almost like the magazine cover. The best part is I have about $15-20 in materials with stuff left over to do other parts. That doesn't include the stainless polishing stuff but I'll be useing that to save money on trim all over this truck.

I decided to tackle the gauges next. I need to order the gauge reface kit, new bezels, and new gaskets. The disassemply of the guages went good and I repainted the brown parts and sanded the faces down. I ordered new transfers so the words "gasoline", "Battery", ect... will all look new and not yellowed and cracked. I won't put those on until I get the gauge faces in. I did paint the 4 small needles white and they look good. That work in progress came to a hault for now until I order parts.

The speedo was a different story. My needle was brittle and sagged so it needed replaced. As you may know the pin tends to break when you try and remove it. Mine did. I took a good look and the needle was rusted to the pin and wouldn't come off. Then it broke. With nothing to lose now I grabbed the needle with a pair of plyers and the pin with another and pulled with everyting I had. It wouldn't budge. There was no way to get that old needle off. Oh well I guess, these things happen. Classic parts sells all the guts of the speedo for only $109 so I'm going to get that and keep on going. I thought about getting another used one but I'd run into the same problem so new will be just fine. Buying the guts and using my old housing saves about $200 over buying a whole new speedo assembly.

Thanks for following my progress guys. I am hoping that I can get back to my truck soon.

[plummen]

[Intimidator]

Love the dash parts man! GREAT Job! Keep it up....

Do I recall that you were in St Paul MN, but gone fore a while...??

feel free to hit me up when you get back, I might have a lot of parts you could use

[99 to Life]

yeah looking great. I absolutely love these interiors. What are you using to polish that stainless? I think it looks great. Gauges are fun too. I have a gauge fetish for sure. I got four sets to restore and more on the way. I love when people keep the OG gauges. I can't stand those aftermarket ones that cost and arm and leg and totally take the beauty and originality out of the dash.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

What are you using to polish that stainless?

You can buy the polishing compound and buffing wheels at sears, harbor freight, ect... I wanted alot of different sized buffing wheels so I ordered this kit..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/120694897172

[foyth]

Originally Posted by tttuba

I have a 47 gmc 5 window that is pretty much original but there will be some minor mods. I got it with disc brakes up front, Power brakes and partially converted to 12 volt. Mine was redone about 10 years ago and is in fantastic shape. no rot. So I too hate to cut up such an original....but that said I am still considering some mechanical changes to make it more drivable. Not exactly sure what way I am going yet. I want to work with the original intent of the truck but update some of the things such as electronic ignition instead of points. Done that part already.

Cool, I have a 1950 GMC 3100 Truck with 56 Chevy six engine, power brakes, 4 speed on floor and body about the same. I paid $800 for mine. Someone had butchered up the gauge cluster so I took them all out and replace two 5" gauges with full size tach and speedo and small gauges mount across dash on extra glove box door. I will attach pic once I figured out how to get url for pics

[foyth]

[IMG]C:\Users\Owner\Pictures\Old Car PICS\'50 GMC after 1st Drive 202.jpg[/IMG]

1950 GMC Truck with 56 Chevy six and 4 on floor

[mike49]

Nice truck, I have a 49 that I just started restoring and will be watching your progress on here.

[coralhead]

Now I have this

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I put some stainless mesh behind my speaker grill to give it a bit of shine behind it.

[Root2812]

Its nice to see the old thread get a breath of life. I started this thread when I planned on doing an original restoration. After a year or so of no progress and reading this forum plans changed so I started a new thread with a different approach.