My Pro Street '56 GMC Pick'em Up

[BC Toy chest]

Not done yet, still have more to do. Before I paint it . Will post some BEFORE & AFTER pics in the future. The pictures are not in order but you can get an idea of what I have done. When I take it apart to paint it I will be doing some updates to the engine more modifications to body and suspension. But the body mods most people will not notice. For example the smooth steps and rounded bed rails and seat belt buckles for the tail gate latch. With the exception of the Mustang II suspenion I do everything myself. I will also be lowering the truck some more, it's not low enough yet, but no air bags. LOL, God help me I still keep hope alive, (I HOPE) one day it will look as nice as all these other Tri five Chevy /GMC I see in shows and on the net. Especially here on "1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board" these projects are awesome. To be honest with you I kind of felt my truck wasn't up to the same level as the other trucks on here. Any way I don't have deep pockets $$$, but I do the best I can. You folks on here are a real inspiration and it challenges me to strive to go a little further to do a good job. I drove the truck for a long time without paint coz I didn't have the money plus I wanted to enjoy my truck. But now I paint and I will be doing it myself.

[Scottshotrods]

Lets see some pictures
justin
www.scottshotrods.com

[BC Toy chest]

This is what the truck look like when I first bought it from some hippies back in '79. I didn't want a GMC at first coz I thought the front end was so ugly but even back then '55 and '56 Chevy Big window trucks were being snacthed up fast and going for more then I could afford. I am glad I settled for the '56 GMC coz you just don't see as many as you do the Chevy and I love all that chrome, . I'll post more pictures later. The pictures aren't in order but will post some before and after shots.

[1LOW4X4]

sub'd

[BC Toy chest]

I'll post more pictures later. The pictures aren't in order but will post some before and after shots.

[Jacfourteen]

Very cool! I like the louvered gate, definitely old school. rear bumper and tails are cool too.

[Kim57]

Looks like a nice project.
Kim

[BC Toy chest]

Thanks Jacfourteen and Kim57. I'm on here almost everyday now. There are so many kool trucks on here I'm addicted to this site , Here are some pics of the '56s 355 going together with the usual stuff 4 bolt main high lift cam, forged pistons, lots of head work, 10.75 :1 comp. going to Holley carb the Carter AFB isn't enough I found the Holley 830 is much more responsive. I'm building a bigger motor 496 BB Chevy but for a car I don't have yet, it will be blown. My friend are laughing at me coz I have a engine and a trans but nothing to put it in yet. I feel when you got the motor and trans more then half the battle is won

[BC Toy chest]

Mustang II ISF install and the motor going in.

[BC Toy chest]

I can not go any further without showing pictures of the truck that inspired be to build my truck the way I did. I saw this BAD-ASS, AWESOME,WICKED, MEAN, OFF THE CHAIN '57 Pro Street Chevy truck at the Santa Cruz Beach Street Revival cruise and car show back in '89 up in Nothern Calif. If anybody knows the owner of this truck and if it is still around please let me know and or pass the info to him. The owner is seen leaning up against his truck. I'm Going to get some 2" drop spindles and using a rear leaf flip kit out back to bring my truck down, and c-notch my frame and still use my NoLimit traction bars I should get the same stance as his. I'm almost there. Later I will post a picture of a friends '55 CHEVY Belair that is so low it looks like it's on bags but it aint and the car rides fine and handles well.

Here's that '55 Chevy Belair I was talking about that sits at ride height and you think it's bagged.

[BC Toy chest]

cruz nite at Ricky and Ronnies, which is no more (Torrance, CA)

[BC Toy chest]

Smooth step

[BC Toy chest]

Smooth step

[Kabwe]

BC I'm glad you finally made it over here, after I've been telling you about this forum for far too long.lol

[Wheelie]

Sweet truck! I hope to get my truck there someday. What width rear end are you using and wheel and tire dimensions? Any pics of the rear with the bed off?

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by Wheelie

Sweet truck! I hope to get my truck there someday. What width rear end are you using and wheel and tire dimensions? Any pics of the rear with the bed off?

Wheelie I kick myself all the time because when I first started working on the truck I did not take enough pictures. I really regret that I did not take the pictures when the bed was all apart. I have a few but not very good rear end shots. The bed will be off again in the near future and I wil post those. I don't have time now going out of town, but Lord willing when I get back I will give you my deminsions of the rear end and how short the differential housing is and tire wideth and stuff. Thank you for the compliment.
ohh by the way Kabwe is a friend of mine we live near each other and he has a lot of helpful pictures on his page check them out http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/member.php?u=15127

[OKGMC4]

I've seen your truck before on the web. I found it several times googling "56 gmc" to find pics. Lots of really good work here, and glad to see another GMC. Welcome!

[BC Toy chest]

OKGMC4 said, "glad to see another GMC" .......SAME here, thanks for the compliment. By the way I love that grill treatment to the GMC scoope hole in the hood that is really kool.

[Tri5Nerd]

Welcome!
I need to stay away from this forum due to everytime I read the posts here I see some mod (yes you have one) that I want to incorporate in my build, thus making it impossible to finish.

Tri5

[Kabwe]

Oh don't let him fool you tri5nerd, he takes mods from me all the time and then tell me I don't have a copy right on them.lol So he is not allowed in my garage anymore. No the truth is BC is the one that takes all the nice pics I have the crappy ones are mine. He is a really good photographer. If you look at his flickr page you will see what I'm talking about. I have never in my life met someone as car crazy as him.lol I sent my cousin a link to his flick page and he told me he almost lost his job looking at all the pics.lol

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by Wheelie

What width rear end are you using and wheel and tire dimensions?

Wheelie Here you go. The only thing I can not remember is the exact amount that was cut off of each axle tube. It was over 5" cut off each tube but under 6" It's a '71 Chrysler Imperial 8 3/4 rear end. Total width from axle flange to axle flange after rear end was shortened is 47 9/16". The housing without the axles installed was 57 3/4" before anything was cut off.
My tires are M/T 31'' x 18.5'' - 15" actual size is:Tire Overall Diameter: 31.0''
Tire Tread Width: 14.3'' , Tire Section Width: 17.4'' I boxed my frame and moved my leaf springs inboard and cut a wheel well opening in the bed sides. I will post more current photos much later as I am taking the bed back off so you can see whats there and what I am going to improve on. Here re some photos from a long time ago. Like I said I regret I did not take more detailed pictures when I first started the project.

[BC Toy chest]

Before and after photos of interior. The old steering column replaced with one from a '77 Chevy 1/2 ton van. Currently prepping the metal for paint and going to smooth the dash and remove some knobs weld in holes going to weld in new cab corners.

[BC Toy chest]

I would like to roll around with just a roll paninstead of a back bumper. But after getting rear ended I decided to stay with the bumper. My truck was ok except for a broken tail light lens. The car that hit my bumper got torn up. So I try to take a ugly bumper and make it a little less ugly . After the bumper, whack-off the end of the bed corners and round them and make minor mods to the bed where the tail gate shuts.

[BC Toy chest]

Feels like the truck will never get done. Even the minor work and mods turn out to be more involved then I thought.

[entourageguy]

Nice truck. I don't think they are ever done.
There is always something in your mind you would like to do.