58 GMC big back glass, automatic...

[68GMCburban]

My grandpa owns a salvage yard the he shut down over 20 years ago. He lost over 1,000 cars to a fire about 16 years ago. There are a few hundred left, including a 1958 factory GMC, big back glass, automatic. It's complete, motor, tranny, steering column etc. Now it has been sitting for 30 or 40 years, and I was curious what all options came on these? And where the best place to find parts is? I'm thinking about getting it out and trying to do someething with it. Any info would be great. Thanks.

[68GMCburban]

It looks rough, luckily the only thing we found missing is the seat and steering wheel. The door and front clip are in the bed. How rare are these options?

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[OrrieG]

The rigs in your signature seem to show that you know a little bit about old stuff. You can get the stuff you need to restore these from a bunch of on-line stores. GMC specific is a little harder to find. Can't tell from the photo but it looks like it has been sitting on the ground. Screwdriver will tell how bad the rust is, a quick look at some of the TF build threads will show you where they rust up. In my opinion its the old story, lots of work with little chance of financial return. Stock trucks cost as much as resto-mod or rodded trucks to build but do not bring as good of dollars. In the later class, you can still buy good finished trucks for less than the cost of the parts that are in them. Parting it out might be the best option unless it turns out it is very rust free.

[Kim57]

OrrieG summed it up pretty well. They are a labor of love not financial gain.
KIm

[68GMCburban]

I guess I worded that badly. I'm not looking for financial gain. This would be something I kept. I was just curious about how hard these options are to find. I've never owned a truck this body style so I don't know much about them.
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[thump16]

nice find. parts are readily available. I had to convert mine to a big back window. I am so jealous of you guys out west. I would take that truck as is with all smiles with the same enthusiasm if i had recieved a new car. post more pics please.

[dubie]

a GMC big back window is a very attractive start, that's for sure. The GMC's are higher optioned trucks with better trim packages. You can get parts from a number of sources like GMC Pauls, LMC, CPP,Brothers, Tuckers, POL Grumpy's and the list goes on and on

[sqrlnts]

Use AdHuntr to find the small stuff you are willing to buy sight unseen and can ship. IMHO its the small GMC chrome pieces that will be expensive to replace.

[meter swinger]

If its free to you its at least worth the hassle of dragging it home. Then again this type of thinking has gotten me into trouble more than once.
If nothing else its a good parts truck, if you are wanting to do a 55-59.
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[_Ogre]

usually gmc trucks have a nicer trim package or they were fleet truck with a basic trim
yours appears to have the deluxe trim package as it has the ss trim around the windows and doors
what condition is the trim on the back of the cab, bumpers, bumper bullets and the grill in?
deluxe heater? what bed? usually more chrome on gmc
the motor is probably toast and was either a gmc 6 or pontiac v8
restoring rust is harder and more costly than restorodding
restorodding would be my choice, drop in a smc, upgrade brakes and suspension
nice truck, i've always been a 4 eye freak
check out my build to see how they look fixed up

[68GMCburban]

I'll go snap some more pictures later. It's actually a step side, which surprised me. It has the straight 6 that I imagine is done for. I'll also check on the trim and things later too.
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[thump16]

when are you bringing it home?

[Daze57]

i think it would make a great project ------ get that real steel on da road !!!!!!

[68GMCburban]

Originally Posted by thump16

when are you bringing it home?

Unfortunately it probably won't be until the end of this year. He's very strange about getting rid of things, so I need to finish the suburban I got from him before I try getting something else. He's very attached to all of them.
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[dubie]

ah, one of THOSE guys hahahah good luck with it bud, it looks like a very worthy pick up project.

[Daze57]

tell em its stayin in da family and ya just want to make him proud

[GMtrucknut!!]

Unfortunately it probably won't be until the end of this year. He's very strange about getting rid of things, so I need to finish the suburban I got from him before I try getting something else. He's very attached to all of them.

I have never met the man but I gotta like him !!!

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Daze57

tell em its stayin in da family and ya just want to make him proud

very good daze

[68GMCburban]

Originally Posted by Daze57

tell em its stayin in da family and ya just want to make him proud

Yeah, that was the deal on me getting the suburban too. He'll probably tell me to wait until I'm farther along with it. I'm going to go ahead and get it out of the trees and off the ground, along with a few others.
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[68GMCburban]

The uploader will only let me upload one at a time. But I went and got it out this morning. It's still over at his place, but it isn't sitting down in the trees anymore on the ground.

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[68GMCburban]

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[AZ59apacheguy]

Man that's gotta be hard knowing that it's there, and for the most part yours, but you gotta wait untill you get the other ones done

[68GMCburban]

Originally Posted by AZ59apacheguy

Man that's gotta be hard knowing that it's there, and for the most part yours, but you gotta wait untill you get the other ones done

It is, but it motivates me even more to finish the other one. I know it isn't going anywhere; he never gets rid of anything. So that doesn't make me feel as bad about it sitting there.
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[dubie]

PFFFFT that's a cream puff!!! it's totally worthy of a resto. Big back window GMC with all the trim?? hells yeah!! Nice to see some shots of it dragged out

[68GMCburban]

Does anybody know what all options were available on these trucks? As far as I can tell it has all of them, or nearly all.
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