After 15 years, it's MINE!!! My 1949 GMC

[cleanshaven84]

Hello everyone, just thought I would post my lastest project, my 1949 GMC pickup. I've actually known about this truck for nearly 15 years and have wanted it ever since. My friends dad bought it about 35 years ago and only drove it for a month before he sold it to my friends grandpa. He then drove it to where it sat for the next 35 years in the woods behind his house. When he parked it there wasn't a thing wrong with it except the fact the previous owner couldn't find the title. And now, fast forward to the present and this is what you have. I finally talked my friend into selling it to me for $300! This truck is 99% complete including a complete and original inline 6 and transmission. This thing is a beauty. Plan is to fix all the cancer spots,do a S10 chassis swap and replace the inline 6 with a 4.3L from a '90 Astro van if I can talk my friends grandpa into selling it to me. It'll be slow going getting started but I will keep ya'll updated as I start to tear it apart. Now on to the pics and there is a few of them. Enjoy.

Sitting in the woods ready to be restored.




On the trailer ready for it's new home




Original Inline 6


Even still had oil in the engine. Only a quart low, lol.


Interior after I cleaned out all the leaves and dirt


And this is why the interior is so rusted, self made sunroof. This was a rare option back in the day.

[dmack91]

Nice score

[Barney Rubble]

love stories like this, will follow this build.

[Johnny49]

Wow, I didn't know the '49 GMC came with a sunroof!

Love the pics! Congrats on finally getting the truck and best of luck with it!

[OrrieG]

Nice find. Looks like bubba needed some tin to patch the barn roof or was really tall and wore big hats.

[Root2812]

This story sounds similar to mine so I can understand the excitement. I just bought my 1950 Chevy after wanting it for 12 years. It also is original and has been sitting untouched for decades. Good luck buddy and have fun with the project.

Oh and even with that hole in the roof your floor is more solid than mine is after 61 Minnesota winters.
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[handyhands]

I was going to pick up a 51 chevy Weds. but the trailer has a flat. It is a complete truck, but I don't think the motor is the original. Also a s10 swap. Been working on the chassis, sanding, painting, taking front suspension to be blasted.

[Daze57]

great story good luck on your project !

[cleanshaven84]

Thanks for the positive comments. Really looking forward to getting started on it. I'll be picking up a s10 Thursday after work. It's a 93 with a 4.3 that I plan to use in the '49. I'll get it stripped down to where I can part it out so I can have the cash to start patching up the cab.
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[53GMC]

love this build...going to be watching your progress!

[cleanshaven84]

Picked up a '93 S10 tonight. Had to jump it off but fired up and drove pretty good. Needs a tune up but shouldn't be a problem getting it to work with the '49. Here's a some pics on the way back home.



Not bad for $350.

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[dukcaln]

awsome what are you plans for it

[cleanshaven84]

Hopefully before too long I can start on the S10 chassis getting it ready for the '49 body. Then I'll start on repairing all the cancer and get some bodywork done to it. Was thinking of doing a bag setup but I think I will just leave it with a low stance rolling on some old school steelies and hubcaps with some white walls. Interior will be as stock as I can get it with some slight updated touches.
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[Root2812]

It might just be me or the angle but is that a short bed s10? If so the wheel base will be too short unless you plan on shortening the 49's bed.

[cleanshaven84]

Originally Posted by Root2812

It might just be me or the angle but is that a short bed s10? If so the wheel base will be too short unless you plan on shortening the 49's bed.

It is a short bed. The plan is to lengthen the s10 chassis to the correct wheelbase.
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[john_p]

congrats on the rusted gold, you are down grading a great motor, but it is going to be a great love story..

[cleanshaven84]

Got a little work done to the S10 today. When I bought the truck, I bought it knowing that it had a miss to it. The guy had put new plugs and wires on it but it didn't fix the problem. He told me that a mechinic had said that the rotor or distributor cap might be bad. I figured at worst it has a burnt valve. I went to the auto store and bought the cap and rotor. After charging up the battery and putting in some fresh gas, I was ready to get it lined out. After about an hour of tinkering with it, nothing seemed to work. I was about the replace the cap and rotor when I figured I'd check out the plugs and wires just in case he might had messed up putting them on. I got to the number three cylinder and saw that the number 5 wire was hooked to it. Hmmmmm. I switched the 3rd and 5th wire, turn the key and it fired right up with out a hitch! Man the luck. I let it sit there for an hour and it never overheated and there wasn't a drop under the truck. I got a steal on this truck at $350. Anyways, still plan to do a little tune up on it but for now it's being pushed back so I can replace a cab corner on my boss' truck. Hopefully in a few week I can start the tear down. Ands sorry for the long story, just excited that it ended up being a simple fix. Had to share my good luck with you guys, lol.

Thought I'd add one more pic. One day they shall be ONE! lol

[cleanshaven84]

Oh, and I've been meaning to ask, does anyone know much about these horns? I am wanting to test it to see if it works. I konw these old trucks weren't setup on the 12v system. It only has two contacts so I'm assuming it's a positive and a negative. I didn't want to just hook it up since I don't know much about it. The last thing I want to do is fry this thing. If it does work I'd like to use it when I put the truck togther. Thanks.

[coralhead]

If your battery charger has a 6v-12v setting you can use the charger to ty it out.

[cleanshaven84]

Is there a way to convert it to 12v? Or is there a certain way you could hook it up to work off a 12v system since I am wanting to use it down the road?
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[coralhead]

Originally Posted by cleanshaven84

Is there a way to convert it to 12v? Or is there a certain way you could hook it up to work off a 12v system since I am wanting to use it down the road?
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You can probably get a voltage reducer. They make them for 6v radios and heater blower.

[cleanshaven84]

Ah, that makes since. Didn't know they made such a thing. Thanks coral.

[Layedoutsonoma91]

I hit mine with 12v it didn't do much just kinda clunked. haha

[cleanshaven84]

Had to do some cleaning in the shop today. Thought I'd tinker a little with the '49. The tailgate on it is beyond repair so I decided to hang it in the shop. It's just one of those things that you can't let go to scrap.


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[yunkyarddog]

please document your every progress as i will be doing exactly wut you about to do.............