My 52 GMC Build

[lower50's]

I have always wanted a early 50's GMC P/U and 8 years ago I found it, A 1952 GMC 9700 that used to be a fire truck in great shape. Just cab forward no motor or trans, but all I wanted was the body to make a hot rod.

[lower50's]

Took the 52 cab off the frame. Bought a 1989 s-10 extended cab P/U for the frame only stripped it apart sandblasted frame and primed. Then mounted cab to S-10 frame, there it sat in my garage for 6.5 years. In that time I was planning what I wanted to do.

[lower50's]

Spring of 2013 I was ready to start on my 52. The truck had been built in my head for some time now, even drove it in my dreams a few times. As some of you can relate i'm sure. I wanted to make it different in most ways but wanted it to look like a 52 GMC P/U

[Highsider]

I can't wait for the next chapter!

Love having the photos.

[lower50's]

My neighbor gave me the a motor, trans and axle from a 1994 e350 cube van. I wanted to put a diesel motor in, so this was perfect. 7.3L IDI International diesel. So first step clean up motor and build it to take what I wanted to do to it, then mount it in the frame.

[lower50's]

I wanted air bags on all corners to get running boards on the ground. D.O.M. tubular A arms should take the weight of the 1000 lb motor .

[lower50's]

I boxed in the frame and added a cross member just behind the cab. I built the transmission with some upgrades and shift kit so it can take the extra hp and tq .

[lower50's]

Then I rerouted the exhaust to add a turbo to my N/A motor the plan is inter-cooled 15-20 psi should give me 300 HP and 500 LB/tq

[lower50's]

Cab mounted on frame with trans. hole cut. Then I got the cab sand blasted and primed

[lower50's]

Then the plan for the rear end is to run the dually from the cube van with car tire. But I still want to keep the P/U look so it is out right now to get shortened 21". I am going to build the back half of the frame, also triangulated 4 link with air bags.

[Daze57]

wow !

[lower50's]

That's all I have now till the axle comes back. I'm doing most of the work myself, with a bit of help now and then from friends. It's also all seat of your pants engineering.

[shopteacher]

NICE< Real NICE !!!

[Dieselwrencher]

Great project, and cool build. I can tell you from expreience, don't give that 7.3 more than 14psi of boost or you will get good at swapping engines. You need to install bigger wrist pins to go above 14psi of boost. They're great engines besides that little deal.

[lv2tri2]

What a cool project, I will watch this to the finish if you keep the pics coming.

[lower50's]

Thanks Dieselwrencher good to know!! I put ARP head studs and good feelpro head gaskets in to hold the heads on. I was planning to run 15psi on the street, then 20psi on the dyno and once and a while on drag strip.

[lower50's]

How can I post a video?

[Dieselwrencher]

Post it to youtube than copy and paste the link in your message.

I put 30psi to a 6.9 at 4200rpm pulling for a summer. I couldn't blow it up. The next owner though, got it accomplished. Haha

[lower50's]

That 6.9L must have pulled hard

[lower50's]

Friday I got the axle housing back. Then put it all together and lined it up.
It looks sweet being so short!! Its a Dana 70HD

By Saturday night I had figured out how I was going to be able to build the back frame, so it would work with the suspension and axle. Got the steel cut and tacked then ran out of welding gas

Sunday got the frame welded up. Then put truck at ride height about 5". The brackets for the axle in the 4 link kit where for a 3" tube mine is 3.5" so a bit of grinding opened it up. Ready for Monday

Monday got 4 link figured out and welded all but top frame brackets, thats tomorrow. Then air bags

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work, it's really coming together.

[lower50's]

Thanks. Ya so happy!!
So today I got upper front brackets on and made and mounted lower air bag plate.

[shopteacher]

I'm Liking where this build is going ! Keep up the good work !

[alaska gasser]

Not throwing any rocks, but I'm wondering if that 4 link is going to work properly and safely with the upper bars at that angle instead of straight above the bottom ones?

[lower50's]

No worries. Its a double triangulated 4 link, its used to keep the axle centered in the frame more. 4X4's use it in extreme. I had to use it due to my limited space and not enough angle left and right. Didn't want a pan hard bar. I talked to the shop that shortened my axle. The only down fall is it increases the height of my roll center. The truck will lean in the corner more but i figured with a 1000 lb motor up front I don' think the back will do much.