'56 GMC LCF Cummins Diesel

[blackdiesel]

Yeah so it is actually considered an "F-series" truck instead of a Low Cab Forward (due to being a GMC) but it is obviously more commonly known as a LCF.

I've had my eye on this jewel for going on three years now. Came across it on an old back road while test driving a repair on a truck I had made. Stopped and talked to the owner and he said he just sold it to some dude in Australia.

I drove by it several times in the past couple of years, and it never left. Fast forward to the first week in December 2012. I recognized a car that he had on craigslist and called the number. He said the Australian never came through with the cash so i made him an offer and he took it.

I hooked up the trailer and had it home within a couple of hours:


It set in the shop for three weeks until I could get a handle on a frame. I always wanted a diesel hot rod (i'm kind of a cummins nut) so i finally laid my hands on a 02 dodge dually quadcab longbed 2wd frame. I threw in a 12 valve p-pumped cummins i had laying in my shop in it with a 47rh trans.

Started stripping the sheet metal off of the front of the truck so i could get the cab off:


Kind of skipping a few steps here, didn't take the time to take a whole lot of pics:





The majority of the engine is actually in the cab. 1 & 2 cylinders are under the hood and the other four are actually through the floor board.

I got all the sheet metal hung yesterday and worked on the steering column today. I'll try to take some more pics of the sheet metal mounts and steering linkage sometime. Up next is mounting the brake booster/master cylinder and building a new dog house.

[cAlvis165]

I'm subscribing for this! Looks great so far.

[shadow1967]

Nice project! Can't wait to see it.

[blackdiesel]

This truck not only is a big back glass cab, it also has the custom stainless, factory gmc radio and factory gmc deluxe heater controls. I've seen pics of a few 5 window task force gmc big trucks (which i'd really like to have!!!) But havent seen many straight big back F series trucks and none with the deluxe heater and factory radio.

[mr48chev]

That looks like it is going together great and add me to the subscribed list.

Boy Howdy would I love to have that shop right now.

[blackdiesel]

Thanks guys! I do love my shop, I'm very fortunate to be in a position to be able to have my name on the title.


Anyways the plan for the back half is a dump bed. I have the setup to run a pto off of a dodge automatic (dodge 23 spline np205 t-case with pto access due to the fact the 47rh has no pto plate) I have the transfer case and I have the pto pump for the 205, along with the bed and sissor lift.

I may just run it as a flat bed for now, with all i'll have to do later is slide in the hoist due to time constrant.

I want to keep it as ratty looking as possible but I'm not sold on the white looking paint. The interior is a two tone green, so would like to tie that into a patina look on the exterior. Any suggestions??

[buggy5872]

Good to see another LCF saved.....looks like you are well on your way to a great truck.

[Maxxd07]

I am liking this one, on board for more sweetness!

[_Ogre]

nice find, nice save

[blackdiesel]

I'll get around to posting cab and grill support mounts one of these days, but for now i'll try to keep up with my daily progress

Yesterday and today I have messed around with the steering. I like the old school look, and despite my better judgement i'm going to stick with a non-tilt column. Besides that the stock steering wheel and hydromatic trans shifter adds to the look. Due to the severe steering shaft and u-joint angles I cut the stock shaft off flush with where it came through the floor. Then I cut off the end of a dodge column I had laying around and made it fit like this:



I drilled a 1/4" hole throught it to accomidate a steel roll pin. Today i picked up a bearing that would center the steering rod inside the column tube. Local bearing shop didn't have one that would fit as luck would have it so i got the closest they had and made it fit:


I beat the 1/4" roll pin in it, then a 3/16" in that and finally a 1/16" pin each inside of the other. I welded both ends of the hole then drilled a countersink hole 90* to that and burned it in hot.

I'm quite relieved that this will allow me to use the stock dodge steering shaft. I was dreading buying Borgeson double u-joints @ $150 apiece!!! It is at quite an angle, which I will take a pic of after I mount the cab for the last time. (still needs to come off for finish welding of cab mounts and I am going to build the trans)

[blackdiesel]

mounted my brake booster tonight, in the process I also got the brake pedal piviot and fuel pedal mounted. Two for the price of one! ha. Brake pedal needs a little more travel so I will cut it and bend it up. The accelerator pedal is in the way of the steering column but that will be easily fixed.

[sqrlnts]

I am so jealous of your great find! I am hopping on this rig build thread cause you got TONS of room. Plus a Cummins :-)
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Posted via Mobile Device

[blackdiesel]

it looks much more apparent in a picture vs in person that if i do go with the regular pickup fender that it needs to be scooted back. However there is a meathod to my madness, the farther i scoot the fender back the more difficult the front of the fender is going to be to graft into one another.

Anyways what do yall think? new fender or oem?

[cAlvis165]

I like the pickup fender. Do you know what size tires you are going to run on the finished project? That would help determine the "look."

Bigger tires look good with a stock fender

[blackdiesel]

your looking at them. 3rd gen dodge dually wheels with tires came in at $400 dollars. Couldnt justify $900 dollar adapters, $600 dollar steel wheels, $2100 dollars in tires for 22.5's. Plus the weight of one big wheel/tire is more than a set of duals that i am running now. I hate additional un-sprung weight.

I'm putting my savings towards trans parts and seat upholestry

[cAlvis165]

If you run the smaller (smaller than Big Bertha anyway) tires, you end up with a more "hot rod" look, which I like. In that case, I like the fender mods you're working on.

[Chevette]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

it looks much more apparent in a picture vs in person that if i do go with the regular pickup fender that it needs to be scooted back. However there is a meathod to my madness, the farther i scoot the fender back the more difficult the front of the fender is going to be to graft into one another.

Anyways what do yall think? new fender or oem?

Your truck is looking good. I really like what you're doing with the front fenders. Great idea!

[Dieselwrencher]

Awesome project! The cab fit on that dodge chassis really nice! I think your truck would look cool painted and then sanded and flat cleared for your patina look. Keep up the great work!

[Coach529]

Awesome build......subscribed!!

[Fleet '66]

Subscribed. I want to see how this one turns out! Looks like you have a plan. These older LCF and COE trucks are so cool. Good Luck on the transformation.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Another big Cummins fan subscribed.
(I've got two Dodge Cummins)

[_Ogre]

nice work on the fender. is that just a truck fender cut in?

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by blackdiesel

I threw in a 12 valve p-pumped cummins i had laying in my shop

i think your shop has a little more ''stuff'' laying around than mine

[blackdiesel]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

nice work on the fender. is that just a truck fender cut in?

You got it!
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[blackdiesel]

Much better i think!! still lack quite a bit of fine tuning in the front and especially by the step. Need to get these dialed in so I can pull the front sheet metal off so I can exchange the exhaust manifold with an industrial 5.9 manifold i robbed from a school bus. This will locate the turbo much closer to the block and underneith the 5th and 6th cylinders; allowing me to weld back in much of the passenger side floor board.