My 52 GMC Build

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Cool!!
You're a celebrity now
Congratz!!

Many more to come for your truck!

Thanks Kees I like how yours turned out too.

Originally Posted by joedoh

woooooot way to go idaho, nothing better than printed memories

Thanks joe I never expected them to print it.

[99 to Life]

very cool, congrats. much deserved. funny I know the feeling of that first mag (though not for trucks) My first every skating photo came out in jan 06' two page spread, it was years of hard work paying off. years later and countless major publications, I could prolly say I'd still get excited to have a publication of my new passion (trucks). but man oh man all the media, industry hype etc with the skate industry, has taught me alot. You're are great candidate for the publication, you didn't build this to grace mag pages, you're humble and appreciative and the world needs more builders like you!.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

very cool, congrats. much deserved. funny I know the feeling of that first mag (though not for trucks) My first every skating photo came out in jan 06' two page spread, it was years of hard work paying off. years later and countless major publications, I could prolly say I'd still get excited to have a publication of my new passion (trucks). but man oh man all the media, industry hype etc with the skate industry, has taught me alot. You're are great candidate for the publication, you didn't build this to grace mag pages, you're humble and appreciative and the world needs more builders like you!.

Wow Henry I'm at a loss for words Thank you.

[lower50's]

Well I finally am getting to build my new welding cart. It will hold my mig and gas also get my tig off the floor and gas for it.
Got the steel cut 1.5" 3/16" angle.
Also found a pic from our NC trip at 5820ft.

[rusty76]

I really enjoy seeing pics of your truck traveling.

[jkeating1]

Hey 50's--I've been looking for a discussion of the differences in the front sheetmetal on the 1 ton-and-down versus the 1.5 ton-and-up. Have you run across a thread that gets into it?

I know the fenders and hood are different, but in what ways? Other questions I have, if you or anyone else wants to weigh in, are:

I know the grille bars are spaced wider up-and-down, but is the grille width the same?

It appears the fenders drop lower below the cowl, but is that and the size of the wheel opening the only difference? Are the inner fenders longer?

Is the "web" of frame itself taller--from top to bottom of the frame rail? I mean, are normal aftermarket front IFS crossmembers out of the question for 6400 front rails?

When you use the big-truck front sheetmetal, and space the rear axle to center the fenders of a 3100 bed (with a back-half, or complete frame swap) does the wheelbase still end up 116-117"?

I like what you've done with your truck! I have a decent 2-ton available and am thinking seriously about jumping in.

John

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by rusty76

I really enjoy seeing pics of your truck traveling.

Thanks rusty

Originally Posted by jkeating1

Hey 50's--I've been looking for a discussion of the differences in the front sheetmetal on the 1 ton-and-down versus the 1.5 ton-and-up. Have you run across a thread that gets into it?

I know the fenders and hood are different, but in what ways? Other questions I have, if you or anyone else wants to weigh in, are:

I know the grille bars are spaced wider up-and-down, but is the grille width the same?

It appears the fenders drop lower below the cowl, but is that and the size of the wheel opening the only difference? Are the inner fenders longer?

Is the "web" of frame itself taller--from top to bottom of the frame rail? I mean, are normal aftermarket front IFS crossmembers out of the question for 6400 front rails?

When you use the big-truck front sheetmetal, and space the rear axle to center the fenders of a 3100 bed (with a back-half, or complete frame swap) does the wheelbase still end up 116-117"?

I like what you've done with your truck! I have a decent 2-ton available and am thinking seriously about jumping in.

John

No I have not found a discussion about this I would like to know the details too.
Here is what I have found out. When I was at 99's place he brought out a normal chev fender. They where very close to same length, mine was about 2" wider from cab forward. Also my fenders are taller even tho I cut mine down by 3" also the wheel opening is for a 20" truck wheel.
As for wheel base mine is 120" with a 80" long box the s-10 rear suspension would have worked. The frame web was about 10" and about 1/4" thick steel. I will start a thread on this I have been wondering this as well.
I would build it, if I were you.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post7780963

[jkeating1]

So it could handle about 4" more track width, I guess? That opens up more frame options.

[kehstr]

cool truck subscribed to keep watching!!

[47 Fasttoys]

Hey Lower, thanks for posting the details of your trip, looks like a good time. As it turns out you where in my neck of the woods, I'm in the NE part of SC. Charlotte: 3 hours, done the tail a few times, all good stuff. What would be cool is if we put together a big AD get together next year at some major park. I hope to have my camper done by April so that would be cool. Congrats on the magazine, that's a big deal!
Rob

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by jkeating1

So it could handle about 4" more track width, I guess? That opens up more frame options.

Yes maybe more full size front suspension.

Originally Posted by kehstr

cool truck subscribed to keep watching!!

Thanks

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

Hey Lower, thanks for posting the details of your trip, looks like a good time. As it turns out you where in my neck of the woods, I'm in the NE part of SC. Charlotte: 3 hours, done the tail a few times, all good stuff. What would be cool is if we put together a big AD get together next year at some major park. I hope to have my camper done by April so that would be cool. Congrats on the magazine, that's a big deal!
Rob

NP Rob. We are planning on going back to the Good guys show next year maybe we could get a bunch of us to all meet up that weekend somewhere? Or roll into the show together. Thanks the mag was just over the top!!

[lower50's]

Well I got my new welding cart made and my tig welder is finally off the floor after 2 years. The foot print of the new cart is the same as my old one that only held my mig and one tank. I moved the main wheels forward to get better maneuverability in my small shop. The mig is hard wired into the plug that the tig gets plugged into, then I have a 25' cord that I plug in.

[Nut Case]

Lowered

Great tk, great magazine score!

Your welding cart is cool, just one questions do you use the same shielding gas for tig and mig?Two tanks?

Keep on keepin on

NC

[99 to Life]

looks great, I know that feeling. life and truck keeps you so busy the easiest things get pushed back. I went all these years without a bench grinder. Finally bought 3 of them, hooked one up and still don't have it mounted, so it moves all around!!!!! ahhhh the dumb lazy things I do vs all the hard labor and time crunching things I do. nice ground clamp too!!!

[Advanced Design]

Nice welding cart! Sometimes it takes time to get to all those other projects. I could use some minions around here myself.

[lower50's]

Originally Posted by Nut Case

Lowered

Great tk, great magazine score!

Your welding cart is cool, just one questions do you use the same shielding gas for tig and mig?Two tanks?

Keep on keepin on

NC

Thanks the magazine is killer. No I use a CO2/Argon mix for mig much less spatter than straight CO2 and strait Argon for tig, also my mig is pressure regulated and tig is flow controlled.

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

looks great, I know that feeling. life and truck keeps you so busy the easiest things get pushed back. I went all these years without a bench grinder. Finally bought 3 of them, hooked one up and still don't have it mounted, so it moves all around!!!!! ahhhh the dumb lazy things I do vs all the hard labor and time crunching things I do. nice ground clamp too!!!

Thanks Henry but come on a few wood screws into a wood bench will hold the grinder for now lol. Ya that ground clamp is an upgrade for my mig, the old one didn't like 175A

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Nice welding cart! Sometimes it takes time to get to all those other projects. I could use some minions around here myself.

Thanks Doug Ya a whole bunch of minions.

[lower50's]

Ok so my plywood bed was always temporary. Now I am trying to figure out what will go with the truck. I crudely used paint and made some options. What do you guys think?
1 would be same aluminum as running boards with black steel strips. I kind of like #5
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

[strider621]

Hey Bob...
I really like #5..... Something about that wood grain and color that blends well with your truck.

[Advanced Design]

I vote number five, yet less shiny...like your truck.

[CHIZZLER]

Looking good. #5

[joedoh]

if I had to pick it would be #4, it doesnt look like a bowling lane or "newtique" furniture like the others. keep in mind the shinier it is the harder it will be to take care of, even polyurethane has a hard time taking 12 hours of hot sun and weather changes and torrential rain. but dont listen to me, get what you like!

I saw a bed floor made from aluminum bleachers once, THAT would be perfectly in line with your truck, in my dim opinion.




I have made new bed floors for two trucks and stained them pretty, one cedar tint and one redwood tint, and neither of those got the attention and compliments that my reclaimed flatbed weathered cedar on the 49 gets. people love it! the crustiness, the silvering, the rusty strips. Maybe it just fits the look better.

[kehstr]

To me number 3 compliments the truck the best

[nail pounder]

I like the knotty #5, but I've seen one (maybe 60-66 forum) that they burned the wood with a torch and then cleared it. It looked sweet. Might be a good rustic look in your truck.

[99 to Life]

I like #3 with a tad darker tint. I like that bleacher bed idea, I think it would really only work with certain color trucks and def more 60-66 trucks rather than and AD.

[RockinKees]

I would go with number 5, only a bit more grey-ish so that it looks older.
Suits the truck better when it has an older look to it.

I think......