62' GMC 3/4 ton project

[RKS0069]

Hi
I'm new around here and am finding this is a great forum with a ton of knowledge.

Thought I'd share the plans I have for my truck. I have a 1962 GMC 3/4 ton long bed two wheel drive 4 on the floor . Truck is all original except the 305 v6 has been replaced by a 350 v8 and the front end and brakes have been rebuild. I plan to build this truck into a reliable everyday work truck for me to run a small electrical contractors shop. I have the front end,hydra boost, pump and gear box from an 81' Chevy c30 dually and will retain the factory Dana 60 and fresh drums out back. The cab bed and fenders will come off and rust will be repaired but I'm not building a show truck so minimal time will be spent making things straight. All the rubber will be replaced. I want to cover every inch of this truck in POR-15 just to see how it works, Truck will be two tone, gloss black on flat black. Cab floor will have a bed lining, wood bed will be replaced with 3/4 inch marine grade plywood then bed lining as well. I've owned this truck for ten years now and I am happy to finally have the means to build her as I see in my dreams.


Edit, So a few things have changed, I'm not going to paint it black anymore, I now want to save as much original paint as possible and match the patina as best I can in the areas that get major repair so the rockers and the roof. I'm also not replacing the bed with plywood or bed liner, I have new pine bed boards and non polished stainless strips from Mar-K as well as some of their bed sheet metal. I'm also biting the bullet and going out with the sm420 and in with a new overdrive transmission.

[TJ's Chevy]

Welcome aboard! Too bad the 305 v6 is gone. You would have liked that. They were a beast! Have one in my 64 GMC and I slapped a 4 barrel on it...now I can't shift fast enough. haha Sounds like some good plans and WE NEED PICTURES.

[Mathew21]

Welcome, We love pictures.

[RKS0069]

Okay I think I figured out how to post pictures.

[RKS0069]

Just a few more because I like pictures too.

[Grizz1963]

Welcome.

I see loads of detail in the photos that I "approve" of.

Motorbikes, trees, an African Grey, and the colour of the truck, yup, I like the colour.

Glad you are headed for a good build.

You should ask the moderators to move it into the Builds and Projects section.

[TJ's Chevy]

Looks good! Lotta parts handy as well.

[RKS0069]

Okay I'm back! I've actually made progress over the last month or so and I'm on track to keep powering away at getting her finished. We are moving to Portland and I'm stuck here until This truck is road worth. I hope to be more regular about updating progress on this build. I'll start by attempting to upload a few pictures.

[RKS0069]

A couple more and one of the main reason I've taken a break from the truck. Her name is Hot Rod and she's a miniture English Bull terrier.

[RKS0069]

So many pictures!

[RKS0069]

So this is current. getting the duel tanks wedged in place. Tanks are from LMC.

[Captainfab]

Good lookin pup

I previously missed the fact that this truck originally came with a Dana 60. That's cool. What gears does it have?

I wouldn't have thought two of those fuel tanks would have fit like that. Good thinking out of the box.

[RKS0069]

Thanks Captian! She's turning into a great dog. Gears are 410's, I originally thought I would only get to have the one tank but on my initial mock up I noticed There was a ton of room and after taking many measurement decided to take the chance and ordered a second tank.

On a different note, I installed your steering box adapter on the x-member frame using the DOM tubing through the frame. After getting the box actually mounted I realized that If i just made the DOM longer before welding it into the frame I wouldn't need the adapter. I'm not that great at making my welds look pretty yet but I don't see any better way to learn than just diving in.

[Captainfab]

Yes I see what you did. That works fine for those that have welding capabilities, but not all do. With the original plate assembly the top tube could be welded after the truck is driveable again. Not that there is anything wrong with what you did.

[RKS0069]

Yes, I agree. When I originally Installed the adapter and back plate it worked fine without any welding.

[RKS0069]

About 90% finished with the sand blastin!!

[Tgubser]

I'm in I too like the looks of the dual fuel tanks! Keep it up!

[franken]

A 62 foot GMC? Got any pics?

[Zane M]

Looking good. Looking forward to future progress.

[RKS0069]

Originally Posted by franken

A 62 foot GMC? Got any pics?

Ha! I just noticed that. Now I'll need to figure out how to edit it. That would be one hell of a stretch.

[RKS0069]

Finally had a chance to get some work done on my truck after moving my family to Oregon. My truck and myself are still in California and now my wife and Daughter are in Happy Valley Oregon. I'm stuck in California to take care of a few obligations and to get my truck together enough to drive it north. In the weeks before packing them up I was able to finish the swaybar mock up and sandblasting the frame. My wife also talked me into upgrading the transmission so we ordered a new adaptor bell housing and a brand new (rebuilt) NV4500 from Advanced Adaptors. The new bell housing moves the clutch fork to the drivers side and I will need to fabricate a new transmission mount as well I was worried the factory manual transmission mount would interfere withe the new bell housing. Today I mocked up the bell housings a took some measurements, I do believe it will NOT interfere. Now I can move on to blasting the front end components and finally paining them and the frame.

[TJ's Chevy]

Hey you'll have to pass through Grants Pass I think on your way up to Happy Valley, I am 36 miles east of there. haha To bad Happy Valley is 4 hours from my place. Maybe one of these days when you get the ol truck together we can meet halfway. haha

[RKS0069]

Making slow but steady progress.

[RKS0069]

Well I'm in Oregon for a couple weeks. Moved my wife and daughter to OR in October but I've been in California trying to get my truck and some other jobs done. making good progress but can't wait to get back and build the rolling chassis.

I'm almost finished up with the passenger side sheet metal repair. It did not have much rust but some ass "me" crashed a trailer into the truck a few years ago and bent things up fairy bad. I'm just happy I was able to make the door fit okay. I have minimal welding experience and this is my first time with sheet metal, hopefully the other side comes out nicer.

I was toying with building a frame rotisserie for a long time now and finally just did it. I wish I would have done it from day one! It would have made sandblasting a hell of a lot easier. I was able to get POR15 and a top coat on the frame (sorry no picture of the black yet)on the 18th before flying to Portland on the 19th. The paint will be fully cured and I can start building the chassis as soon as I get back on the 3rd. Also I'm really looking forward to getting my brand new NV4500 to fit.Fingers crossed!!!

So I know its the wrong years but I found this old picture of my other truck from when I was 17 and it was still in one piece. We brought the '72 (most of it so far) to Oregon and plan to finish building it there. Going to finish building the '62 in California and then use it to drag a bunch of tools and truck parts 700 miles north to my new house in Clackamas.

[RKS0069]

Just a few more then I'll stop bugging everyone.