57 GMC, frame swap, 4wd, 454 big block, 4 speed

[Old57]

Thanks guys

So I decided on the color for the interior... it's a cream/almond color, but called antique white. I have most of my wiring ran in the cab, and have all of the new switches, etc. to install in the dash. After I get the lower front fenders fit to the cab and doors, I'll pull off the doors and hinges, then prep and mask everything to paint the interior. I sprayed the glove box door and the heater control cover to see how it would look. I like it, and it looks better out in the sun. The lights in the shop don't show the color as good.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Old57

Thanks guys

I had a little bit of time this evening, so I set in the 88-98 Chevy truck bench seat and marked for the mounting holes. It fits in great, and I'll get it recovered sometime. I think I might shorten the bottom mounting brackets 1 1/2" or 2". Its much more room and comfortable than the stock bench, but I'm 6'-4", so I sit up pretty close to the roof now. I also mounted the wiring panel on the inner firewall.

Don't GMC trucks have a brace between the firewall and the column drop like a Chevrolet does? I'm still trying to learn the minor differences between the 2 makes.

Great color for the dash, especially with a black interior...

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

Don't GMC trucks have a brace between the firewall and the column drop like a Chevrolet does? I'm still trying to learn the minor differences between the 2 makes.

Great color for the dash, especially with a black interior...

Yes, it had a brace between the dash and firewall. I drilled out the spot welds and removed it, because I'm using the hanging pedals and brace from the 73 donor truck.

[Old57]

I went through all of my parts to better organize stuff for the future progress. I didn't realize that I had so much stuff that I'm not going to be using. Starting to get a pile of it together... not looking forward to dealing with the "Craigslist Hagglers" haha

[joedoh]

wow I really like that color for the dash, I did my 49 entire interior (seat, carpet) in that color and it was IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean. needed floor mats for the floor mats.

craigslist sure has the scourge sometimes. a guy was texting me on the 41, he had a mid 50s ford as a partial trade, and its just my opinion but I think those might be the ugliest ford trucks made, but he was looking to get top trade dollar for it (with a bad motor, primer etc) and told ME that without even seeing mine he expected there to be some wiggle room on the cash difference he would pay. :/ I told him I couldnt go any further, I didnt really want his truck to begin with and the fact his price was non negotiable but mine was negotiable told me everything I needed to know. reminded me of the guy from MO on the 65, his one note trumpet was "I KNOW WHAT THESE TRUCKS ARE WORTH!". I sold it for almost 4k more than his best offer, and sold the wheels separately for another 4k.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

wow I really like that color for the dash, I did my 49 entire interior (seat, carpet) in that color and it was IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean. needed floor mats for the floor mats.

craigslist sure has the scourge sometimes. a guy was texting me on the 41, he had a mid 50s ford as a partial trade, and its just my opinion but I think those might be the ugliest ford trucks made, but he was looking to get top trade dollar for it (with a bad motor, primer etc) and told ME that without even seeing mine he expected there to be some wiggle room on the cash difference he would pay. :/ I told him I couldnt go any further, I didnt really want his truck to begin with and the fact his price was non negotiable but mine was negotiable told me everything I needed to know. reminded me of the guy from MO on the 65, his one note trumpet was "I KNOW WHAT THESE TRUCKS ARE WORTH!". I sold it for almost 4k more than his best offer, and sold the wheels separately for another 4k.

I'm planning to do the dash, inner roof and around the rear window in this cream color. The seat will be black pleated vinyl, and the black lined floor with rubber mats.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean... Craigslist people just make it where it's not worth it to mess with sometimes. There's actually times that I'll scrap or throw parts away just because I don't want to deal with the Craigslist people.

[Old57]

Not a lot of progress to report, but another step forward. I cut out the passenger front fender bottom, which someone had lap-welded on. I also cut out and replaced the hacked up lower section of the brace with a new one. I was able to fix and fit the section of the fender that I cut out, and reinstall it back like it should be with butt-welds. I'm close to the point of removing the front clip and doors, finish welding everything on the fenders, and getting it all media blasted and sprayed in primer now. I have the wiring all routed in the cab and ready to connect to switches, etc. and ran out the firewall heading to the directions where it will go. After I pull the doors and front clip for blasting, I'll prep, mask and paint the interior.

[Old57]

Not sure why the last picture posted upside down, but you can still see whats happening.

[joedoh]

exciting!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work! Yeah, it is getting harder to sell stuff on cl. Fyi, social media sale sites are just as bad. Probably worse. Lol

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Nice work! Yeah, it is getting harder to sell stuff on cl. Fyi, social media sale sites are just as bad. Probably worse. Lol

You're right on that... Its usually not worth the time and hassle to deal with it.

[Old57]

Not much of an update... been busy with Thanksgiving and work, but I did pick up a set of wheels that I'm going to use for the truck. A set of stock 16" steel wheels. I'll have them blasted and primed, and paint them the interior color, along with the grill and headlight bezels. I'll be using these wheels with a set of late 60's/early 70's Chevy 3/4 ton dog dish caps.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice!

[OutlawDrifter]

As I've aged I no longer care much for aftermarket wheels. Some have their place, Keystone Mags, Torque Thrusts, Slot Mags, Cragars, etc. Nothing looks better on a clean ride than a set of painted steel wheels with a good center cap!

[Old57]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

As I've aged I no longer care much for aftermarket wheels. Some have their place, Keystone Mags, Torque Thrusts, Slot Mags, Cragars, etc. Nothing looks better on a clean ride than a set of painted steel wheels with a good center cap!

I completely agree! I was just thinking the other day how I must be an old man now, because I don't care for most custom wheels, I like bench seats, and I like the trucks sitting up stock height or higher, haha! It took me a while to find a good set of hubcaps and these stock wheels. I want the tall and skinny tire look. I'm tempted to even go with the replica tires that are bias ply, like a Super Lug 9.00-16, but I'll probably go with a radial tire. I'm not sure if I can fit a 35"-36" tire like the 9.00-16 and clear the fenders yet, so I've been looking at 255/85-16, which would be a 33" tire.

[Old57]

Something like this tire maybe...

https://simpletire.com/cooper-lt255-85r16-73440-tires

[Dieselwrencher]

Here's a link I saved if you ever need to find a tire size you want to fit on something. I like those 255/85R16s. I've put them on the back of some tall duallys before. They will look nice on your truck.

https://tiresize.com/tiresizes/

[Old57]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Here's a link I saved if you ever need to find a tire size you want to fit on something. I like those 255/85R16s. I've put them on the back of some tall duallys before. They will look nice on your truck.

https://tiresize.com/tiresizes/

Thanks! Saved that link!

[capnduane]

Just found your build thread today, you are doing a beautiful job! I like the old school look also. (love the frontend of a '55) I did my interior in Antique white and black, and like it a lot. The colors are very close to stock. The inside of my glove box door is original paint and the Antique white is real close. I have '67 Chevelle buckets in my truck, They are very comfortable and fit me OK, I'm 6'2" and 230lbs.

[joedoh]

capnduane that interior is gorgeous, it was hard to imagine/envision what a black/antique white interior would look like.

Originally Posted by Old57

Something like this tire maybe...

https://simpletire.com/cooper-lt255-85r16-73440-tires

I think we would get on like kin, I like the tires, not obnoxiously wide. I would love to have an old 60-66 4x4 on pizza cutters for the 6 days a decade the roads are impassible here.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by capnduane

Just found your build thread today, you are doing a beautiful job! I like the old school look also. (love the frontend of a '55) I did my interior in Antique white and black, and like it a lot. The colors are very close to stock. The inside of my glove box door is original paint and the Antique white is real close. I have '67 Chevelle buckets in my truck, They are very comfortable and fit me OK, I'm 6'2" and 230lbs.

Thanks! And your truck looks great... I really like that interior.

[Old57]

Originally Posted by joedoh

capnduane that interior is gorgeous, it was hard to imagine/envision what a black/antique white interior would look like.





I think we would get on like kin, I like the tires, not obnoxiously wide. I would love to have an old 60-66 4x4 on pizza cutters for the 6 days a decade the roads are impassible here.

Yep! I love the tall and skinny look, like what was on the old Napcos. These trucks just have that "look" to me... but the last one of the GMC is a little too wide on the tires, but not bad.

[Old57]

A couple more. I saved a few pics like these for inspiration.

[CUCV2]

Maybe I missed it but do you have any shots of the "marriage" to the K20 frame. I'd like to see how you did it.

[Desert_Eagle02]

Awesome build thread. Will be following. I would love to build one in the future.