FINALLY! Pics of the new truck, '63 GMC.

[Imperial Kustom]

I wrote in a while back giving the story on this truck, and since I STILL don't know how to put pictures onto a computer from my camera, I stole some from my buddy. I got this as a finder's fee when I located it, and a '61 Chev short fleetside in a guys backyard for 100 bucks. He had the trucks for about a week, and got them from the original owner in Twin Falls Idaho. This truck was sitting (I think indoors) since 1978 with a locked up 305 V6. Everything works (including the E-brake after air ride!), and only the taillight wires were tapped into for camper lighting. All other wiring is perfect, as is the glass. There is not a spot of rust in this truck except some bubbles in the front fenders, and all of the paint is original. I even retained the farmer bumper on the rear.

After picking the truck up, I towed it to my shop, on a strap, and got immediately to work, I slept only 17 hours in 15 days to build this truck. The crossmember is the same as my '62 Chevy. It has had the spring pockets removed and new ends were fabbed up for airbags. It sports stock spindles on tubular A-arms and a 3 inch Z in the frame. A small dimple in the firewall for the no. 8 header tube, a 1 inch rise in the hump to clear the truck 4 speed tranny, and some tunneling to clear the [hydraulic] clutch fork were all that was needed for cab modifications. The E-brake crossmember was raised 1 1/2 inches and a new carrier bearing crossmember was made. After making a complete backhalf from 2"X3" tubing with a 10 inch kick, the frame was boxed from there to the front. I then fabbed a simple two link with the bar length at 32 1/2 inches ( I think) from center of the front bushings, to center of the axle tube, the same as center to center of the U-joints. This keeps the pinion angle perfect throughout travel. It is also running a telescoping wishbone, again, the same as in my Chevy. This truck will lay on massive 32" tires!!!

The mill is nothing special. Just a .030 over 350 with flat top pistons, very mild cam, 441 heads, iron quadra-jet intake, Edelbrock 600 CFM carb, MSD HEI, and 1 5/8" headers. She runs great though and is knocking on the door of 20 MPG!!!! I also have a 5-speed to go in soon too...

So without any further ado....