63 panel shop truck

[mcnally351]

So I just picked up this gmc panel. My father and I have a roofing company and have been looking for a panel for a while. We found this not to far from our shop. It’s a driver and we plan to letter the side panels to advertise our company. I own a couple of squarebodies but I have a few questions and how these trucks came stock. This truck is great because I can drive it while I work on it but there are a lot of details I need to address from the po. Anyway here are some pictures
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[cwcarpenter98]

Looks like a good project! Just from first glances, it looks like you have a 60-61 GMC hood, a 61 Chevy grille with the Chevrolet center replaced with the GMC grille letters

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Looks like a good project! Just from first glances, it looks like you have a 60-61 GMC hood, a 61 Chevy grille with the Chevrolet center replaced with the GMC grille letters

Thanks! Yes so that is one of my questions. The hood is fiberglass and I read they were 60-61. So is the gmc grill different from the Chevy in that era? 62 had the big bezel with the single head light right? Does 63 have different grills/headlights ?

[cwcarpenter98]

If that's a fiberglass hood, they did a great job recreating the original metal hood. The parking light lenses have been changed on the hood. The 60-61 GMC hoods had clear lenses. Here's a picture of a GMC hood I sold a couple weeks ago.

Also, here is a great thread that shows the grille and hood differences. The GMC and Chevy grilles were different.

[Captainfab]

1963 is a one year only grill. If the hood is fiberglass it is not original it is aftermarket. does the panel have the X-member frame with torsion bars on the front or does it have the ladder style frame with coil springs up front? I see only one hump on the dash so that panel is a GMC.

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

If that's a fiberglass hood, they did a great job recreating the original metal hood. The parking light lenses have been changed on the hood. The 60-61 GMC hoods had clear lenses. Here's a picture of a GMC hood I sold a couple weeks ago.

Also, here is a great thread that shows the grille and hood differences. The GMC and Chevy grilles were different.

Thanks for the link! I will look at that

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by mcnally351

Thanks for the link! I will look at that

Sure thing! It's one of my favorite threads

[mcnally351]

[QUOTE=Captainfab;8742206]1963 is a one year only grill. If the hood is fiberglass it is not original it is aftermarket. does the panel have the X-member frame with torsion bars on the front or does it have the ladder style frame with coil springs up front? I see only one hump on the dash so that panel is a GMC.[

/So it has front coils and rear leafs. It’s is five lug and I’m guessing the po swapped out the rear end and it looks like a square body front suspension. I thought I read somewhere that the gmc had rear leaf and the Chevy had trailing arms with coils out back. Is that correct? Also all this era was six lug except for the one ton?

The dash has one hump but the po has a home maid wood face panel holding cheap vdo gauges. I would love to find a picture of a stock gmc dash and try to correct this and add some auto meter gauges.

[mcnally351]

Here is a picture of the dash

[Captainfab]

Ok, so it sounds like you have the original '63 GMC frame. Yes leaf springs were standard on GMC's '63 and up, along with a Dana 44 differential. All 1/2 ton trucks 1970 and earlier were 6 lug. Here is a recent thread about a '63 GMC gauge panel.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=804330

There might be others found in the '60-'66 FAQ section

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Ok, so it sounds like you have the original '63 GMC frame. Yes leaf springs were standard on GMC's '63 and up, along with a Dana 44 differential. All 1/2 ton trucks 1970 and earlier were 6 lug. Here is a recent thread about a '63 GMC gauge panel.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=804330

There might be others found in the '60-'66 FAQ section

Cool so I’m guessing this was originally a torsion bar front suspension, then converted to coils. Looks like a 12 bolt in the rear. I need to get it in the air. Thanks for the info and the link! Big help. Also I was wrong about the hood it is steel. It was so light with the hinges it felt like fiber glass

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by mcnally351

It was so light with the hinges it felt like fiber glass

Just wait until you get to take the hood off They are pretty heavy. I had to have another person help me whenever I moved that hood around.

From the front bumper bolt spacing, it looks like you have the 63 frame which would have been coil springs up front. Still just as easy to swap over to squarebody stuff. These trucks were all 6 lug drum brakes for the half tons

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Just wait until you get to take the hood off They are pretty heavy. I had to have another person help me whenever I moved that hood around.

From the front bumper bolt spacing, it looks like you have the 63 frame which would have been coil springs up front. Still just as easy to swap over to squarebody stuff. These trucks were all 6 lug drum brakes for the half tons

Yeah I bet! It’s a big hood. The front is power disk and power steering. I would like to convert the rear to disc at some point. Right now I will take care of cleaning up the engine bay and maybe a new radio. The truck has a th350 that shifts fine but I do have a 700r4 I might swap in for overdrive

[cwcarpenter98]

I'm a big fan of having overdrive. If you've got the opportunity to do it, do it. Keep us updated with progress pics!

[Captainfab]

1963 was the first year for the coil spring front suspension and first hear for rear leaf springs on the 1/2 ton 2wd GMC's. I do make 3 different 5 lug rear disc conversion brackets for the truck 12 bolts.

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

I'm a big fan of having overdrive. If you've got the opportunity to do it, do it. Keep us updated with progress pics!

I agree. I have a square body with a 5.3 700r4 and it’s not a bad trans. I will definitely update as I go. Thanks!

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

1963 was the first year for the coil spring front suspension and first hear for rear leaf springs on the 1/2 ton 2wd GMC's. I do make 3 different 5 lug rear disc conversion brackets for the truck 12 bolts.

Cool! I just noticed your links. I’ll check them out. Any threads on the install?

[Captainfab]

Sorry I do not have any installation threads. No time for that with working 80hrs/7 days a week.

Originally Posted by mcnally351

Cool! I just noticed your links. I’ll check them out. Any threads on the install?

[mcnally351]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Sorry I do not have any installation threads. No time for that with working 80hrs/7 days a week.

Damn you work a lot. I looked your link looks simple enough. I’ll order a kit when it’s time for rear brakes!