54 gmc... Newb Project

[Oldchevypickup]

Originally Posted by Bone$

Got my fenders back from being blasted.. I have some super thin spots I need to address . I was thinking of coating the inside with POR15 ?

I recommend using a spray on bed liner material on the insides of the fenders. Works great, protects metal from gravel etc.

[99 to Life]

Sorry if I missed your goals here, if you have thin metal are you replacing it? Or you just running some patina and these little thing areas aren't a big deal?
If you don't cut and weld in new metal, I'd coat the bottom with epoxy, POR or chassis saver, something to lock the metal from rusting. Then depending on your situation, you could put duraglass on the thin areas to give it support. sand it down, then do as Oldchev recommended and coat with some bed liner.

I personally am gonna try out Herculiner, my friend has used raptor liner and it seems good. That way you two good coats over that metal. If painting the truck, I'd patch the thin areas, skim duraglass over welds, epoxy, prime, paint. underneath I'd go with the above mentioned.

[Bone$]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

Sorry if I missed your goals here, if you have thin metal are you replacing it? Or you just running some patina and these little thing areas aren't a big deal?
If you don't cut and weld in new metal, I'd coat the bottom with epoxy, POR or chassis saver, something to lock the metal from rusting. Then depending on your situation, you could put duraglass on the thin areas to give it support. sand it down, then do as Oldchev recommended and coat with some bed liner.

I personally am gonna try out Herculiner, my friend has used raptor liner and it seems good. That way you two good coats over that metal. If painting the truck, I'd patch the thin areas, skim duraglass over welds, epoxy, prime, paint. underneath I'd go with the above mentioned.

I think i might rock patina for a while and work on my interior first. I may clean up some of the rust and thought about POR just to stop the bleeding . As for the rear fenders i think i will end up buying a fresh set, the guy who had it before cut some nasty holes in them for lights im guessing.

[lower50's]

Sweet build!!!!! What time frame to have it driving? I've had my 52 for 8 years now, but got a lot done in the past year hope to drive it in just under 2 years.
I also have a 1967 Jeep cj5 its a franken jeep 4.3L motor, ford T18 trans and case, scout axles etc... Keep up the great work you don't see many GMC's.

[Truckbizz]

Looking good Bones! Its gonna be a nice build when your done.

[Bone$]

Hey guys thanks for the compliments . Ive been out for a while a ton of Work and family stuff going on .

I got a few more pics and making good progress now.

It is finally in the shop and started cleaning up the frame and prepping for Bags. We got the pockets cut out up front and cleaned up. 2" lowering spindles on. all new bearings rotors ect up front.
Dirty Dingo Motor mounts for the LS1 and Cab mouting soon.

If you noticed we cut off the rear end and will it will be all new tube frame with 3 link and bags.

The newest purchase was a 8.8 Explorer axle w/disc for the rear end.


More to come

[Bone$]

A short vid i put together . ..http://youtu.be/WPGE9-h-uHo?list=UUp...xWq-BZYKQgZOWA

[iowaboynca]

Cool Vid! let's see more!

[Neils1958]

Originally Posted by PushnFords

My '54 GMC 100 is the same way. I'd just assumed the glass was broken.

I have had my '54 GMC since 1964, no glass, not a sticker. The GMC is painted on the metal.

I have my original gauges in a plastic container in the garage, not in the truck. I replaced all the gauges with Speedhut electronic, Revolution line. GPS for speed sending, and alarm lights for high and low.

[WorkinWrenchs]

Great build I am headed in the same direction as you with my 53 GMC. How much did you have to cut out to fit the, what i am assuming, 2600lb bags up front?

[chincha805]

nice, truck, glad you got it registered.when i bought my 49 it had a title non op'd but the problem is the vin# on the title is the original engine number, i can take it off non op once its road ready, but if i sell it the vin number wont jive, the major problem i have is doing a vin /engine verification, but dont have the engine to verify.

[Bone$]

So its been forever since my last post. My friend that had my truck at his shop started 2 businesses and my truck got pushed back. Well Last Week i got it home. Here are some pics...

All custom on the suspension , all parts were made by my friend and me.

[Bone$]

So now that its home i will now work on the following.

*Finish wiring ...
*Brake Booster and pedals " Please recommend what one you would go with"
*Steering column " also what one would you guys put in ?"
*Clean up inside and bedline,dynomat,carpet


Feels so good to have it in my garage and now i can get work on it on my own time..

[lv2tri2]

The 54 GMC is unique in a lot of ways. Watching the progress.

[99 to Life]

curious to how that will ride with the bag setup. As for steering, I'm a fan of using stock column, cut down. You'll need to source the bearings for the column, most likely some splined shaft, square D shaft and ujoints.

brakes, I'm a fan of aftermarket, firewall mounted boosters and MC's. You can get them cheap on ebay. or go with wildwood. S10 brake pedal works pretty ok, or wildwood has affordable pedal assemblies. all depends on your budget.

congrats on getting it back and putting in some work.

[Bone$]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

curious to how that will ride with the bag setup. As for steering, I'm a fan of using stock column, cut down. You'll need to source the bearings for the column, most likely some splined shaft, square D shaft and ujoints.

brakes, I'm a fan of aftermarket, firewall mounted boosters and MC's. You can get them cheap on ebay. or go with wildwood. S10 brake pedal works pretty ok, or wildwood has affordable pedal assemblies. all depends on your budget.

congrats on getting it back and putting in some work.

Thanks bro..

On the bag set up i had a lifted truck that had triple bags and ladder bars that my buddy built similar set up as this and it was smooth. You get a ton of lift with that placement but must have shocks or its bouncy . I wont know till i drive it but my friend has bagged over 200 trucks and all 1 off builds so i trust him .

[reaper71]

Pretty cool build...following

Mark...

[Bone$]

Originally Posted by chincha805

nice, truck, glad you got it registered.when i bought my 49 it had a title non op'd but the problem is the vin# on the title is the original engine number, i can take it off non op once its road ready, but if i sell it the vin number wont jive, the major problem i have is doing a vin /engine verification, but dont have the engine to verify.

I would talk to a CHP and tell him whats going on see if you can get somebody to offer help or give you ideas to get it done. I was lucky and had a friend take care of mine but in talking with him he said that just because they are Law Enforcement doesn't mean they hate classic cars or trucks. He said most of the guys he works with are cool and like helping people get there projects on the road as long as they are legit people and will build it right and safe.

Good luck and put your salesman hat on .

[lower50's]

Nice Job Bone$, the stance looks great.
I used a stock '80's GM full size van steering column. It worked out really well. My post #31, 36

[Neils1958]

For a steering column, I used one from a late '80's Olds. That way I got tilt. If I had it to do over, I would go with an aftermarket. BTW, There is a guy in Southern California that can take your original steering wheel and cut it down to a smaller diameter. It is NOT cheap, but then what is on one of the these trucks. The wheel is basically brand new when he gets done, and looks fantastic. dennis@qualityrestorations.com http://qualityrestorations.com/
I didn't have my original wheel, and it would not fit on my column, so it was going to be a HUGE $$$ to change to make it fit. I almost did it anyway.
I like what you are doing with your truck.

[69CST-V]

Just found your build... Nice work can't wait to see it come together.

[IWanna49]

Ditto. Sub'd!!

[74project]

Love it... white and rust looks amazing. .. but I must say the red white and blue colors are hung wrong in your garage. ...
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/more/displayonly.htm

[Chance48]

Nice build, I gotta admit...the gmc grill in this era is by far my favorite. Keep it up.

[ptc]

Looking really good;

For brakes I have some nice Wilwood parts Im trying to move out-

see them here:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/5379054196.html

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/5399349968.html

Make ya a package deal if they're what you need.