My new Beater 1959 GMC

[6DoF]

so much win on the patina!

have you tried scortchbright and CLR yet? have you seen the patina sauce top coat?

[dsraven]

if you like that look you could scuff and clear coat it. not my look, personally, but that could work for you if you like that look, as long as there are no structural parts that need to be welded in.

[hardwaa]

More scrubbing.
Also picked up some scrap metal. Fenders are rusty where they attach to the running boards but…the price was right!!
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[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by hardwaa

More scrubbing.
Also picked up some scrap metal. Fenders are rusty where they attach to the running boards but…the price was right!!
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Nice! I'v been looking for rusty chrome steps for a little while and have so far been unsuccessful.

[hardwaa]

Score this today.
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[hardwaa]

Originally Posted by hardwaa

Score this today.
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[hardwaa]

Progress shot.
So far I plan on keeping the 1ton frame. Plan is to use square body leafs and brackets and a S-10 rear axle. I can slide bed towards cab then install rear axle in the appropriate location.
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[hardwaa]

Score!! GMC hood badge. Before and after pics.
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[hardwaa]

Streamlining. No more “Farm” lights and front plate bracket. Way better looking!
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[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by hardwaa

Bought this Friday night. 1959 GMC 3/4 ton.

nice solid truck! sun baked paint, but very little rust that i'm seeing
welcome to the sexy 4 eyed task force trucks

now i'll show my ignorance of gmc trucks...
the frame is straight over the rear axle, if that was a chevy the flat frame would indicate a 1 ton truck. on chevy the 3200 1/2T lwb frame and the 3400 3/4T lwb are the same frame in the FAM (factory assembly manual) and have a hump over the rear axle. the 3800 frame is flat over the axle.

[dsraven]

a 3/4 ton lwb Canadian GMC that I had did have the hump over the rear axle as well.

[hardwaa]

Time for some engine attention.
Dirty.
Removed some “extras” from under the hood.
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[hardwaa]

Way better!!
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[hardwaa]

Story goes this was a rebuilt engine that was put in truck in early 90’s. Trucks brakes quit working in late 90’s. After that truck was used like a tractor. Would shut truck off and let clutch out to stop truck while it was being used like a tractor.
So last Tuesday evening I cleaned up under hood and was able to get valve terrain “pickled”. I am a believer in oiling up these old motors befor you cranks them. Lubricant is key to life!
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[hardwaa]

Pulled the spark plugs yesterday to lubricate cylinders. Cranked it for 3 second cycles. I got oil pressure at the end of the first cycle. After a couple more cycles I went for a 10 count cycle.
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[hardwaa]

Cleaned off the spark plugs and installed them. Poured some gas down the carb bowl vent and a little down the carb throat. Soo Happy!
https://youtube.com/shorts/JbjMr2qJc2M?feature=share
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[hardwaa]

https://youtube.com/shorts/JbjMr2qJc2M?feature=share
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[dsraven]

nice, seems to run pretty good. I would suggest to replace the rubber stuff, like fuel line, before running too much. there is another length of rubber fuel hose under the floor usually, connected to the fuell tank. inside the valve cover looks pretty clean so I would suspect the rebuilt engine is actually rebuilt.
I think the rad was moved forward, judging by the spacers. they used to have a metal fan shroud that looked like a piece of culvert if memory serves right. seems to work though. will you upgrade to an alternator when you do some wiring tidy -up? they charge right away instead of having to rev the engine up. pretty common upgrade. another upgrade to consider is a dual circuit master cylinder, since it sounds like you gotta do brakes anyway.

[dsraven]

does the engine have the old cannister type oil filter? I remember changing oil on those. I usually got oil all over the place. haha.

[hardwaa]

Steering wheel swap.
I really like the earlier 54-56 chevy truck steering wheels. Still need to trim GMC horn button.
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[dsraven]

some trucks had a shoreter column to accomodate the deeper dish wheel, I think. don't quote me. I had 2 trucks in the shop at the same time, one of each, and it didn't cross my mind to check. duh.

[hardwaa]

Update from last Sunday!! I dove the truck out of my side yard!! No brakes still but this is a big help!! I hate pushing big heavy trucks. Atleast k is I can start it up and move it out front and turn it around if I need too.
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[hardwaa]

Did a quick buff on a small area.
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[G&R's57GMC]

So flat steering wheel on a 57-9 , what is the clearance between the dash and wheel ?

[_Ogre]

interesting radiator mount.



55-57 moved the radiator back for v8 with sheet metal and had a shorter fan shroud
58-59 had the radiator bolted to the core support and had a long fan shroud
here is the v8 fan shroud in my 59 panel, it's the only v8 shroud i've seen
the shroud looks like half of a steel oil barrel