Anyone have a Canadian 55-6-7 GMC? Hood latch question

[bobinbc]

I was looking at my 56 GMC 9300 hood latch and was wondering if something is missing. My chevy had a panel that closes off the area between the top of the rad support and the hood latch area. Can anyone help with this? Does this look right?

[G&R's57GMC]

The Chevy Latch, and hood striker is deferent then the GMC.

The GMC mount a bit forward of the Chevy. The GMC hood striker has to clear the higher Rad
and the position of the grill support .

The hole in the front of the GMC hood flows air to the rad also , so no block off like the Chevy.

[bobinbc]

Hi Glen I think you are referring to a USA-built GMC they are different from the Chevys of course. The Canadian-built GMC's are a bit different again, they use a Chevy rad support but a GMC grill. Here's pic of the American GMC and you can see how it's different from mine above...

[dsraven]

I have a 57 Canadian GMC and I am sure there is a panel covering the hood latch area on mine. it is all apart right now but I think I have a pic of that on a thumb drive. I will check and get back to you. pretty sure it tied the grille into the panel over the latch.
yup, the rad support is for sure a chevy item on mine but the panel below the grille, the one that ties the lower area of the front fenders together, is a one off and not like a chevy panel. maybe to clear those big chrome lumps on the front bumper, I dunno. not available aftermarket anyway. mine is toast and was "worked on" by the farmer who owned it and is also rusted pretty badly. I am guessing at the measurements and what it looks like as I fab a new one, when time permits, haha.

[dsraven]

sorry Bob, I was busy in the shop working on a mustang today and never had time before work to look at that panel. here is a question for you though. do you have any pics of the lower section of the grill area, actually below the grille area, from your truck? I need to fab a panel that connects the two fenders at their lower section and the old panel is pretty badly rusted and has been jury rigged by the previous owner. the issue I have is that the old panel seems to be too wide for the area. I kinda like to know if it is supposed to overhang the front edge of the fender or what it should look like out there. if you have a pic it would be muchly appreciated.
thanks,

[dsraven]

I bolted the old one in place, lining up the old bolt holes and this is what I have. if anybody has any idea what it should look like that would be awesome if a pic could be sent along for the ride.
1957 Canadian GMC, maybe the same as 55.2-57?

[dsraven]

Bob, I am pretty sure that upper panel bolts to the rad support and goes forward, bolting to the holes in the top grille piece. I will look tomorrow since I am at work now.

[dsraven]

here are a couple more pics.
sorry to hijack the thread. shoulda started a new one I guess.

[dsraven]

if memory serves me well, that latch comes up through a hole in the panel that covers the area and the brace is not there, the latch bolts to the underside of the panel maybe? gotta check. letcha know.

[dsraven]

I think my hood latch cover panel looks like this.
ebay pic

[bobinbc]

I was thinking maybe it should have a panel like that. Having a tough time finding a pic of a Canadian GMC.

For your lower panel, I'll try to look under mine tomorrow, little under the weather right now.

[dsraven]

well, hopefully you fell better in the morning. it seems to be going around. that time of year maybe.
on the panel, I was just wondering what it is supposed to look like and if sticking out past the fenders is normal. if you can check that would be great , but get feeling better first.
thanks

[bobinbc]

OK dsraven I sucked it up and laid on my cement floor to take some pics for you lol

The panel you have is the right one. Mine is the same, you can see where it sticks out. This is the driver's side. Also it isn't completely flat, it has a bend on each side just inside the frame just like yours.

[dsraven]

thanks bob, really appreciate it.
still at work (14 hr night shifts) but will drag that latch cover out and snap some pics for you this morning.

[dsraven]

ok, I was wrong on this one. I had a 58 chevy that I dismantled for the frame and stuff. apparently I have kept the sheet metal piece thinking it was from the 57. obviously not gonna fit there because the 58-59 have narrower fender to fender dimensions at the front due to fatter fenders for the 4 headlights. oh well, hope the pics help.
you feeling any better today?
I mocked up my grille with some magnets to see how it all fits. that part I am sweating over isn't even seen when the bumper goes on. duh, fill the gap and carry on, haha.
thanks for the pics, got me fired up again,now the mustang is on the back burner till next week. hey, it's the weekend. the shop is closed for business except my own.

[dsraven]

prolly wouldn't be that tough to fab up a panel for that area if you are concerned about air flow for the rad or just easthetics. you could even make it simple by doing it in 2 parts that overlap in the middle and bolt/screw together at the seam.

[dsraven]

I kinda assume those bumps are for clearance on the rad support brackets. I won't have thjose brackets so maybe won't have the bumps either.

[dsraven]

on second thoughts, you may need the area clear for air flow through the hood hole. like G&R says.

[bobinbc]

Yep it's impossible to see that lower pan when the bumper is on.

Thanks for the pics, nice to know I have the right piece. Is that Trailblazer running gear? Really like your custom cab, do you have a build thread somewhere?

[dsraven]

no build thread sorry.i did try once but then I couldn't find it again. gave up.

yes, that is a gmc envoy awd under there. 4.2l auto awd. I have smaller tires on it than stock, for fender clearance, so it should be peppy enough for me and still not be turning too fast at 120 kph, plus I kinda like the idea of keeping a straight 6 under the hood. not out to smoke the tires off. it will be my daily driver when done.
thanks again for the pics, that helped a bunch, sorry you had to lay on the concrete when you're not feeling all that great. I appreciate it though.
got my inner fenders cut to fit around the envoy suspension and the front clip bolted together. front bumper mocked up on jack stands. gotta get the juices flowing and get fired up on it. I wanna drive it next summer. been too long already.
it must be nice to have your's all done and driving around.

[G&R's57GMC]

On the GMC there are 3 pieces one on each the attach to the fender at the lower grill opening. They extend to just under the bumper bullet.

The 3rd piece fills in from behind the bumper bullets and form the lower panel of the grill area to the bumper.

[dsraven]

I think the Canadian models must be different because they use a 1 piece panel that bolts the lower sections of the fenders together and then that panel bolts to the fender extensions on both sides.