New 1955 2nd design owner

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello all,
I am a noobie to this era for trucks, but I got a '55 GMC 2nd design yesterday and now I will need advice from you experts here. I will just start out with pics. 4 speed, long box, pretty rust free. No model number bar that is supposed to be in the center of the grille.
#1
Serial # tag. The truck has a later 250 Chevy in it now but it would be cool to know more about the data on that tag.
#2
Right side
#3
Left side
#4
The hood trim is in this old toolbox.
#5
Here is the engine bay as it looks now.

Thanks for any info in advance! Later---DAC

[hotrodrookie]

welcome to the club! what are your plans for it?

[JML55]

Welcome, cool project you have there.

[Kim57]

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by hotrodrookie

welcome to the club! what are your plans for it?

Thanks for the welcome folks! I will celebrate my 500th post with you all here!

It's hard to make a long term plan this quick as I wasn't looking for one of these. I have always wanted a GMC that was from about the time I was born and this just kinda fell into my lap.

Short term plans are to get it running, so I can get it in and out of the shop whenever I want and just try to not let it deteriorate any further while I get my current project back on the road.

My style is to keep them close to original but the wallet dictates everything of course. It will be much cheaper to work with this 250 rather than find a 248 for now.

Later---DAC

[ChuckDriver]

Nice looking GMC!!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Welcome!

[Atomsplitter]

If you have a '55 Second Series you'll want to look at this site:

http://www.1955gmc.com/1955-59gmcguide.html

It has a VIN decoder for that specific year!

Enjoy!

[70gmcjimmy]

Yes, atomsplitter, that is what I was looking for. Thanks alot!

Later---DAC

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Congrats and welcome to the club...

[70gmcjimmy]

Hey all, thanks again for the welcome.

Thought I should give y'all an update and I made time to size a few more pics.
The garbage is cleaned out now but I forgot to take the camera.

There is some damage from the last time it was probably driven as seen in pic #1. The header pipe is ripped loose and the exhaust manifold is broken. Other damage is the bottom tank of the radiator and bottom of the radiator carriage are torn up badly. The panel between the bumper bullets behind the bumper is smashed. It appears that it got drug off of some sort of large object like a rock or a stump, getting this damage in the process. Oil pan and front axle are ok but the right front wheel may have a bit more positive camber than it should.

I did get the engine running for a minute and it sounded good for probably not being fired since 1997, the last time it had license plates.

The other pics are self explanetory. It is looking like that this truck will probably be better suited for a little updating rather than a stock restoration, and that's all right with me too!

Later---DAC

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello all,
I got to drive the '55 around the plant for about an hour tonite! It took me that long to figure out how I was going to get it stopped since I got it moving!--LOL I was able to pump up a small amount of braking but it was a little stressful at times. It also has a throttle linkage bind that made it interesting when it would "pop" past the bind! Anyway I was very impressed on how easy it steered and shifted also how well it rode for not being started and driven since 1997.

Maybe I may finally get it on the hoist at work and assess the chassis and drive train and bleed the brakes.

Later---DAC

[70gmcjimmy]

The brake bleeding went real well tonite even doing it alone. The brake pedal is set up that I could pump up the pedal from the underside, stick a block between the pedal and the floorboard then walk to which ever brake and bleed. It's got a real firm pedal now and no sound of grinding metal. There is very little left or right pull under braking.

Throttle linkage repair tomorrow night!

Later---DAC

[steve53]

awesome truck, lots of potential!

was it pretty loud driving it around with that open manifold?

[bensimmons_05]

Welcome, and COOL PROJECT. You certainly found the right way to start posting (With pictures) so I'm a fan already. Can't wait to see more!!

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by steve53

awesome truck, lots of potential!

was it pretty loud driving it around with that open manifold?

It really didn't seem that loud, Steve. I'm half deaf from too many years in the pits at the dirt track anyway. Seriously, it is pretty amazing how much quieter an open I-6 is compared to an open V-8. My son has an '83 Chev c-10 with a 250 and it has no muffler, just the catalytic converter. He's been driving the darn thing that way for 3 years and has been pulled over for other things but never for excessive noise. Thanks for the reply!

Originally Posted by bensimmons_05

Welcome, and COOL PROJECT. You certainly found the right way to start posting (With pictures) so I'm a fan already. Can't wait to see more!!

Thank you Ben! Yeah I got trained when I joined here that pics are mandatory. Just never had a truck from this era to be able to say anything in this section. As soon as something looks different or I discover something that may be of interest, I will take more but for now nothing new in the pic department.

I worked on it again tonight for a couple of hours and discovered that as cobbled as the throttle linkage looks it was the accelerator pump that was binding, not the linkage. After a cleanup it works smoothly. Even though I keep checking for rust particles in the gas and see none, there isn't enough fuel yet, it runs best with the choke partly pulled. Can't find a vacuum leak. Will try to troubleshoot that over the weekend.

The windshield appeared to have that fogging between the layers of glass that can happen but I had to try something to clean it up. Windex, Zep foam glass cleaner, and even ajax couldn't do anything to help. I saw a bottle of Maguires #85 paint polish on the workbench and I figured why not. It worked real well. I didn't even have to follow it up with glass cleaner again.

Later---DAC

[70gmcjimmy]

Another qiuck update. I put a clear fuel filter on it today and have determined that the fuel pump is weak. When I first start the truck, the filter will fill right up to at least half full then it dwindles to a little trickle. No restrictions in the fuel line to the pump. I pull the hose off and it flows real well from the tank.
I guess it's time to determine exactly what this engine is so I can get a fuel pump. All I am able to determine is that it has a point distributor,(pre '74ish?), pcv valve system and a PH13 Fram spin on oil filter. Don't know where to find the number to de-code yet.

I did a cobble weld on the broken exhaust manifold flange, it won't last long but maybe long enough 'till I find a replacement.

Should be able to drive it home later this week!

[dan42]

Fun project, glad to see you're making progress, especially before it gets cold there.

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by dan42

Fun project, glad to see you're making progress, especially before it gets cold there.

Thanks, Dan42, and yes I'm afraid its going to get cold soon as we had an unusually cool summer. No days above 100* which is not normal.
The old workhorse is close to driving home for this grueling 1.7 mile ride. I may have to take the long way home. I hope nobody notices the 1997 plates!

Later---DAC

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello folks, I finally have time to give an update. I drove it home Sunday (20th) and was extremely impressed with how it drove. It did not wander or shake, steering has a tight feel, and the brakes worked great for what they are! I got it up to 45 mph according to the GMC speedometer, and my wife was following me and said it was about right with her van.
It still has a sputter that comes and goes, but I did not replace the points, plugs, cap and wires yet. I just cleaned the points with a point file (thin contacts) scraped the corrosion off of the cap contacts on the inside, set the dwell and timing and away we went. Still no debris in the clear fuel filter.
The headlights work and the charging system keeps up when they are turned on. I do believe the amp meter is working fine along with the oil pressure gauge, and an aftermarket gas gauge. Temp gauge is not hooked to the sending unit and I haven't found a wire for it yet. The wiring in general looks pretty scary, no taillights, brakelights and the blinker switch feels broken. The right binker indicator on the dash flashed on a couple of times on the way home.

Here are some pics at home. Check out the "ratrod" inner and outer door latches and the old school racing seat belts that were installed at one time. I don't know who owned it in '97 when it was last driven, and it has been thru a couple of owners since then that never got to do anything to it. Evidence does show that this truck may have been owned by a woman the last time it was licensed as there was several business cards with a ladies name on them, quite a few baby/toddler toys and even a container of dried up baby wipes found under the seat! No, no used diapers fortunately.

It sure was a fun drive bringing it home and look foreward to driving it more

Later---DAC

[purplehavoc]

Nice set of wheels you have to start with.
Gotta love the ol GMC's.
The door lock system is awsome.

[70gmcjimmy]

Originally Posted by purplehavoc

Nice set of wheels you have to start with.
Gotta love the ol GMC's.
The door lock system is awsome.

Thanks Purplehavoc! Those chrome steelies are in pretty good shape, not much surface rust considering how dirty they were. I still need to polish them up a little.

I got the stock door latches to work, but the drivers side wont do the second "click". The claw apparatus is broken pretty bad. The right door latch seems ok but the lower hinge is sloppy past any adjustment for the door to close tight. Those door hasp latches actually do pull the doors in far enough that there was no rattle at all!

Later---DAC

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello all!
I took a few more pics and have a few questions. I got the front seat out tonight and the floorboards look pretty good.

Pic#1 Here is the floorboard and belts.

Pic#2 The date on the belts- probably old military belts rather than racing belts.

Pic#3 This must be the stock color. Can anybody Identify it? It's growing on me to paint it that color again sometime.

Pic#4 Dash center. Does any one know of a pic of a stock '55 2nd GMC dash? Do the heater controls go in the rectangular hole above the butchered radio hole? The heater still works great but only has one speed and temp setting-full blast! Is the hole to the right center an ashtray location? That toggle switch under that hole runs the heater.

Pic#5 I found this piece of rebar under the seat that looks like it was sharpened up to serve as a weapon if needed.

[Tomb23]

Heater

[70gmcjimmy]

Thanks for the info, Tomb23!

Later---DAC