1950 gmc build

[1950 GMC]

Intro to my Build:

I just picked up a 1950 GMC in a trade and I’m going to take the leap of faith and try to restore it. I have very little mechanical skill and knowledge so I’m going to do a lot of studying and on the job training. I have been around race cars all my life but I’m use to driving/wrecking them or in my younger days scraping mud not working on them. The good thing is I have a lot of family and friends that are a lot smarter than me and willing to help. So with that said I’m going to go back to my military days and name this build “OPERATION NO EXPEIRENCE REQUIRED.”

Like I said earlier I just acquired a 1950 GMC truck which I believe is a 3100 in a trade. The previous owner put on a 70’s camera front clip and installed the running gear from the same car. I believe the rear end is a 10 bolt. The engine is currently not running and from what they told me it was out of there old race car and should run just fine. So I’m hopefully optimistic that the motor is in decent shape. I won’t know until I get it to my engine builder to see if it needs to be freshened up or a complete rebuild. Overall the cab seems to be in good shape just two cancer spots that I can tell which should be easy fixes. I will probably replace the entire bed it is bent in the rear and in the front and sits awkward on the frame now. So depending on how good of a body guy I become will determine if I tackle the bed or not.

After getting home and really looking at the frame I have decided that I’m going to do a S10 frame swap. The more I look at the frame the more I see things that need to be done. The bed doesnt sit on the frame square, and to me the rear end looks to be to the left, plus after looking at the weld job for the rear leafs there’s no way I’m going to let my daughter ride in this truck in its current configuration. Sorry for the long intro to my build I just wanted everyone to know what I’m working with. Please feel free to give me your opinion. Wish me luck

[1950 GMC]

My first question is:

I’m going to purchase a 1983 S-15 reg cab long bed from a wrecking yard this week. The truck is missing the steering column and the driver’s door so besides that it is complete. I’m planning on purchasing the body mount kit from ad-engineering.com. I will be implanting a 350 engine, unsure of the tranny as of right now, and implanting a 10 bolt rear end if it will fit, or going with a 4X4 rear end from an S-10 or S-15. I will also be installing a fuel cell from speedwaymotors.com


So my question is what do I need to keep from the S-15 besides the frame and suspension components? I do plan rebuilding/replacing all of the suspension components with belltech aftermarket products. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sgtusmc]

Welcome to the board. I'm happy to see another GMC get another shot at life. I did the s10 swap for my 53 GMC. There's a lot of info here on s10 swaps. Do a search and you will find some really good stuff. Just my 2 cents, I'd switch the s10 frame mounts, or build some use'n the plans here on the board. You could check out my build here or stop by someday and see it in person (I'm in Bakersfield). Military is always welcome at my house.

[1950 GMC]

A few pics of the truck.

[54 jimmy]

if you want an easier kit with everything to do the body sway and motor swap go with the ez chassis swap kit it has everything but it is a little more money but well worth it.

[1950 GMC]

I got my 1983 S-15 reg cab long bed on Thursday. Pretty happy with it not a bad find for $200 bucks. Progress already starting... I have all the front body parts off, and ready to pull the body mounts off the cab and bed tomorrow. Good start for only being able to work on it when my daughters taking her nap.

[1950 GMC]

We have lift off...

[1950 GMC]

Well its been about a month since my last post, so I thought it is time I gave a little update. Nothing major has happened this month just making steady progress. I have my wood cart made, and about an hour left of work on finishing up my lift beam. I will make sure I add pictures when I'm using it. It is not my design as I copied it off of someone elses thread. I have learned so much from reading this message board. I have also decided to make my own cab mounts and not purchase a kit. I would of never had the guts or know how if it wasnt for all your help. So thanks for the great ideas and technical (SP) support.

[1950 GMC]

Yeah I'm using a wooden beam with an engine lift. Do you still want pics? Part of it is sitting a top of my wooden cart in the pic above.

[pgf545]

I don't know how I missed your first posts but welcome to the board. These guys are great. I started out just like you and now I am a little further along...ok quite a bit. I asked lot of stupid questions and got really great answers. The best part of this board is there are all types of trucks...all the way from show trucks to the daily drivers. The one I am building will hopefully end up somewhere in between. We want a nice driver so some thing are not show quality but I know that and we are going to drive the heck out of it. Let me know if you need anything cause I have done lots of stuff that you may be heading towards.I posted some pictures and I have more here if you need anything you don't see. Good luck and have fun.

Bernie

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Welcome to the board and keep us posted on the progress...

[1950 GMC]

Time for a monthly update again. Well I'm about 95% done with tear down before I can start to do mock up. I still need to cut the old body mount brackets off on the S-15 chassis. After that I think I will be ready to start mock up. Progress is really going to go slow for a while as I'm saving for a welder and torch. I'm hoping to have them by the end of the year. Hopefully I can find a steal on craigslist or eBay. I added some pics of me using my engine hoist to lift the cab off the frame. I did this 100% by myself in flip flops, so it was really easy. I recomend this for anyone who has to lift a cab off the frame by there selves really easy and wont even brake a sweat. Thanks for reading.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Nice project.
Subscribed.

[nickp51chevy]

Originally Posted by 63 & 64 Bowties

Nice project.
Subscribed.

I agree, I wanna watch also.

[Kid]

nice to see another GMC build, they seem to be getting more attention lately. Have fun with your build. This site has a wealth of info. & if you don't find an answer, just ask.

[1950 GMC]

Well I’m happy to announce that work started again on the truck around a month ago. I finally finished up my to do list around the house! I also scored a Snap-On wire feed welder in a trade for my R/C stuff.

This month I removed all the original body mounts from the S-15 chassis and wired wheeled the frame from the front A-arms back. I can’t believe the frame almost looks like chrome when wire wheeled. I think it looks great. I also removed the rear end so it is ready for mock up with the 10 bolt rear end.

I do have a few questions for you guys though. What parts should I replace/upgrade on my rear end? I’m going to put Speedway Motors bolt on disc brakes on it, install a locker, & replace the back plate with a chrome one. My other question is should I use flat or gloss black on the frame? Thanks for looking and the help.

[nickp51chevy]

Lookin' good. I would say since not many people are going to see your frame use flat paint, but either way flat or glossy it's up to you.

[1950 GMC]

Has anyone installed a 10 or 12 Bolt rear end or even a 9" rear end in a S-10? If so do you mind sharing any lessons you learned along the way? I have ordered new leaf spring pads from speedwaymotors.com since the original pads are way to wide. On a side note I pretty much destroyed my 1st rear end by trying to take out a damn broken bolt. The good news is I learned something along the way and found another 10 bolt from a racing contact of mine to bad its from a coil over car! Oh well I will make it work thinking of swaping out the center gears with the 1st rear end if they will fit. Learning as I go you know!

[bjcaldwe]

Keep up the progress.

BTW is that a losi or ae truck in the background of the first pic?

[1950 GMC]

AE truck ran Losi for years though. I prefer Losi that's just me though. I traded it for a Snap-On wire feed welder. R/C way to expensive these days.

[bjcaldwe]

I ran losi cars for about 10 years or so, but run a HB 4wd and Kyosho 2wd's. At least now with lipo and brushless the maintenance is a lot less, and power is easy to find.

[bjcaldwe]

Double post

[bjcaldwe]

Same, my gmc has an s10 clip, and appear to have a crossmember put in for the coresupport, just curious how it goes together since my truck was not complete.

[1950 GMC]

Slowlearn, if you want more information on the S-10 swap you need to check out jeffs51chevy build thread. This guy knows his stuff and to be honest I’m pretty much copying him for the most part. Here is his link http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=294539. I can get you the measurements you want I just need to know exactly what you want. For example outside tire to outside tire, rotor to rotor, etc… As for spacers I’m not 100% sure yet according to AD Engineering they say so, so that is what I’m planning for.
Bjcaldwe, I sure wish I could help you I’m in the same boat as you are. The entire front end was torn apart when I got my truck. Shoot I don’t even know what parts I’m missing yet. I do know I need a GMC radiator support so if anyone knows where I can get one please pass that information along. Everyone in the catalogs say for Chevy only.
I hope that helped guys if not sorry.

[bjcaldwe]

No problem. On mine, they clipped it, and the cab is still on the frame. It is down at my folks about an hour away. I was down visiting and crawled under it for a look and noticed they had moved the cab forward about an inch. Now I forget which thread I read it in, but someone mentioned interference between the radiator and the steering box on s-10 conversion. So maybe that is why the cab is moved. I plan to put it back in the stock location and mock up the front end and then see where we are at.

If you post up what front end parts you have I am sure we can figure out if you are missing anything. I have the coresupport, the top of it, the latch assembly the main grill shell, and have picked up the grill bars, and inner fenders. I think I am only missing a few pieces, but are not required struturally.

Below is a pic of the crossmember I mentioned earlier.