1962 Grumman Olson Project

[UPNADM]

Greetings All,

I am a member who has been posting under the 73-87 builds. I built a 1981 C50 Pickup conversion. This is the build thread and I posted a before and after shot...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=503247

It is mostly complete with the exception of the interior.

With all that in mind, I was planning on putting that off until the spring.

In the meantime, I was doing a little classified searching when I found my new winter project, a 1962 Grumman Olson.

I finally got it home this weekend, and really got my first day at it. Here are some pictures as well.

My plan is to get the body stripped of paint both inside and out, remove the cottage windows and home made ladder & rails, re-power it with a small block (it currently has no motor or trans, but has been converted for an GM 8) and mate it to a turbo 350.

I have a few ideas for this rig, but time to start with the small stuff first.

[UPNADM]

More photos...

Got started on the stripping today!

[UPNADM]

Some more stripped...

[NEWFISHER]

I'm in. Just went through your truck build and this one should be a good time!

[TJ's Chevy]

Sweet! Look forward to watchin the progress!

[Ta2Don]

I'm in...

[bj383ss]

That 81' you built is one of the coolest trucks ever! I'm subscribed.

Bret

[LT1 Burb]

I love that square side, cool truck.

[rusty76]

I in as well. That thing have snow tires all the way around. Kinda like it.....

[UPNADM]

First off thanks for the following and kind words...

Another day of sanding and prepping this van.

Thankfully there is not much paint removal on this project. Any more than there is and I think I would drag it out to the back of my property and forget about it.

After doing my yellow truck I said I would not do anymore large projects... I guess I was just fooling myself. I enjoy it I guess.

So here are some photos.

[UPNADM]

Later on this evening, I got tired of looking at someones "bad dream" "camper" interior project.

I spared you all with the before shots of the interior, but here a couple after the kife was removed.

[rusty76]

Lot of stuff in there.

[UPNADM]

I have a couple of questions regarding the driveline on this rig and I hope someone can give me some advice...

My wheels are two piece nightmare's with an 8 bolt pattern. Is this interchangeable to a newer style wheel?

Second, the van has drum brakes up front on a straight axle front end with king pins. Is there anyway I could swap the drums for a disc set up using the same axle but adding a set of spindles?

And finally I think I would like to add a newer 3/4 or 1 ton rear axle, would this be hard swap aka, are the widths of the diff's the same from '62 to something newer?

I appreciate any insight, this is my first older than 73 - 87 truck I have ever worked on. This will be a learning experience.

Thanks in advance...

[markeb01]

Looks like an interesting and ambitious project. Looking forward to the progress updates.

[LT1 Burb]

I think you should turn it into a motorhome with a duramax allison conversion.

[UPNADM]

It would make a interesting motorhome but I don't think I could convince my wife to downsize.

[flashed]

Im in for this one too.

[LT1 Burb]

Originally Posted by UPNADM

It would make a interesting motorhome but I don't think I could convince my wife to downsize.

HAHA , NICE. There was an old greyhound conversion for sale here with the step up roof and it was decent, woulda been awesum.

[UPNADM]

Another day of stripping, I have most of the outside done now.

I still need to tackle the roof... I am not looking forward to that.

I got the old rear bumper off and thinking a roll pan will be a better look.

Also got the rear doors open. If these doors could only talk... They would likely say, why would anyone cut them in half???? Not my style... ha.

Here are a few pics...

[bj383ss]

I just spent the last 2 days reading through your 81' build. That truck is so bada$$. Can't wait to see what you do with this one. If you do the roll on paint that is going to be a lot of sanding on this baby.

I have a soft spot for those trucks my grandpa bought a used Ryder truck to move us from Amarillo to Austin. It needed some bodywork on the front fender. He fixed and then painted the box white. It was a damn good looking truck. It had a 366 bbc and a 5 speed. That's how I learned to drive a stick. Would love to get one and do what you did with it.

Bret

[Mater/10]

Im In! Awesome Project! i saw one of these the other day at a salvage yard an my mother wanted to buy the hell outta it haha.

[Captainfab]

This looks like an interesting project.

I have not had any personal experience with the early step vans of this sixe, just the smaller ones, so I'm just making a guess here. I don't know just what the width is on those front and rear axles, but I would imaging they would be close to a C30 truck of the same '60-'66 vintage. With that said, I would recommend changing the differential for a '73+ 10.5" 14 bolt or a Dana 60/70. As for the front, I'm thinking it might be easier to find a disc brake straight axle from a newer truck. I don't know about your area, but here it is quite easy to find old Motorhomes that no longer usable and can be had for cheap. I have an advantage in that I have a neighbor that makes a living in scraping out old Motorhomes and travel trailers, among other things. The majority of the '70's Motorhomes are built on a Dodge chassis, but they have straight axles up front with disc brakes and Dana 70 or 80 differentials. IMO something like that would make for a cheap and easy upgrade for your project.

Originally Posted by UPNADM

I have a couple of questions regarding the driveline on this rig and I hope someone can give me some advice...

My wheels are two piece nightmare's with an 8 bolt pattern. Is this interchangeable to a newer style wheel?

Second, the van has drum brakes up front on a straight axle front end with king pins. Is there anyway I could swap the drums for a disc set up using the same axle but adding a set of spindles?

And finally I think I would like to add a newer 3/4 or 1 ton rear axle, would this be hard swap aka, are the widths of the diff's the same from '62 to something newer?

I appreciate any insight, this is my first older than 73 - 87 truck I have ever worked on. This will be a learning experience.

Thanks in advance...

[UPNADM]

Originally Posted by bj383ss

I just spent the last 2 days reading through your 81' build. That truck is so bada$$. Can't wait to see what you do with this one. If you do the roll on paint that is going to be a lot of sanding on this baby.

I have a soft spot for those trucks my grandpa bought a used Ryder truck to move us from Amarillo to Austin. It needed some bodywork on the front fender. He fixed and then painted the box white. It was a damn good looking truck. It had a 366 bbc and a 5 speed. That's how I learned to drive a stick. Would love to get one and do what you did with it.

Bret

Thanks for the compliment on my yellow truck. It is an awesome truck to drive. It catches attention.

As for the sanding, I hear you on that. Next time I think I am going to to do a VW Beetle. Ha.

[UPNADM]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

This looks like an interesting project.

I have not had any personal experience with the early step vans of this sixe, just the smaller ones, so I'm just making a guess here. I don't know just what the width is on those front and rear axles, but I would imaging they would be close to a C30 truck of the same '60-'66 vintage. With that said, I would recommend changing the differential for a '73+ 10.5" 14 bolt or a Dana 60/70. As for the front, I'm thinking it might be easier to find a disc brake straight axle from a newer truck. I don't know about your area, but here it is quite easy to find old Motorhomes that no longer usable and can be had for cheap. I have an advantage in that I have a neighbor that makes a living in scraping out old Motorhomes and travel trailers, among other things. The majority of the '70's Motorhomes are built on a Dodge chassis, but they have straight axles up front with disc brakes and Dana 70 or 80 differentials. IMO something like that would make for a cheap and easy upgrade for your project.

Thanks for your input, you have given me some ideas to look into.

[UPNADM]

The roof of the van looked like it had a run in with a tree in the past. There was a severe wow in the back left hand corner. I saw this when I bought it, and crossed my fingers that I could pull it out.

It worked out pretty good. I think I smooth it out some more.