1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

http://iphoto/Users/CathysMacBook/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2002/Jan 2, 2002/P1010099_4.JPG
I acquired this truck in 1979. It had fresh paint on it, rubber back carpet glued to the floor, ceiling, floors and doors. It also had a Texas inspection sticker on the windshield from 1972. Ran OK, but, had a burnt out clutch. I replaced the clutch and it drove perty nice. I drove it from time to time in nice weather.
It sat for some years in my brothers barn and a couple of years outside.
I built a nice pole barn about 8 years ago and decided to build the 51 into a street rod type truck. I've been working on it for about 2 years.
I've been visiting this site for quite awhile and gained a lot of knowledge from you guys, Thanks. It took me a long time to figure out how to add pictures, I hope it works.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

The pictures didn't work. I'm trying to pull them from iphoto. I'll have to ask my grandkids how to do this. I'll have to get back to ya. Jeff

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Here's some photos, I hope.

Yippee, it worked.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Nice old truck. What are your plans for it?

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Gotta love those GMCs!

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

My plans for the 51 GMC are:

1. Use original frame.

2. Install IFS system with P/S.

3. I've built a 1978 SBC 350 I saved from an old truck I had. It's been bored
.60 over. I totally rebuilt it adding new aluminum heads, full roller rockers, edelbrock performer intake, 1406 carb, and finned tall valve covers. I ran it on the engine stand, runs nice.

4. I picked up a 1995 S10 4X4 pickup with a 4.3 liter v6. It has a nice serpentine belt accessory drive system with p/s pump, a/c pump, and alternator. Looks like it will bolt right on my SBC.

5. The rear end will be a S10 10 bolt with 342 ratio or 372 ratio. I have both.

6. The steering column from s10 may be used.

7. Fuel tank/cell will be mounted under the bed. I don't want it in the cab.

8. I'm hoping to get the body straight enough to put a nice paint job on it.

Here's some more photos.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I like it!

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Please keep updating with pics. I'm doing a '51 Chevy also on a Sonoma 4x4 chassis. Had to lengthen it 9". I like the fully boxed frame and adjustable torsion bars for the front. Gonna use a Vortec SBC with factory front serpentine as well.

I got a lot of good info on 4x4 swaps here from looking at msaintg's build. Check it out if you haven't seen it.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I started this project about 2 years ago. Here's some more pictures of what I found under the rubber back carpet that was glued in everywhere.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Here's some photos of cab mounted on rotisserie. I framed up the door openings to try maintain measurements. I also made up a beam to bolt the front cab mounts to.I also added a brace in front of the fire wall to hold things in place. I did one side at a time. I cut out the right rear cab corners, running board, floor, inner and outer cowls.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

This is getting serious now...great looking cab support / rotisserie. Tagging along.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I have rotisserie envy issues! Looks like a lot of progress though.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Looks like s great start with good plans.
Jeff

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Thanks for the nice comments. Here's some more photos. The first one is of my heating system for my shop. I live near Lake Michigan and the winter winds really cold and dump a lot of snow. The next photos are of the bottom of the A pillar. The patch piece didn't come with the hinge receiver so I had to reuse it.
The bottom of it was rusted off. I reconstructed that piece and welded it in.
Getting this lower A pillar welded on in the exact location was challenging.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I have a little progress to report.

I rebuilt all the door hinges. There was a nice "how to" on the Stovebolt site.

I hung the pass door to get my gaps I doubled up paint sticks to get the gap.

Then I tacked in the bottum of the A pillar

Next I installed the kick panel. This panel did not fit very well near the floor.
Lots of hammering and bending.

Next I installed the cowl panel (temporary].

I lucked out, the door gaps look perty nice.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Looks like a good project, with a plan and progress.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Nice work, that came out well.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

That is good luck on the door gaps. I usually struggle with them for a long time with trial and error. Of my hinges only one needed rebuild but I spent probably two hours on it. They are too expensive to replace with new ones, plus I've read about lots of fitment issues with the repros.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

ugh rust repair! I am only buying california cabs from now on

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Thanks for the comments guys.

I mentioned earlier I started this project about 2 years. Last year I got side tracked. I went to a farm auction because they had a lot of guns for sale. The guns went way too high, but, they had a tractor project that seemed like a good deal. I bought a 1948 John Deere Model M.

The man that was restoring it had rebuilt the engine, trans, and replaced all seals.

It also came with new front and rear tires, and a new radiator. All the sheet metal was in a pile. The man who was restoring it passed away.

The auctioneer said "all you have to do is put it together". Hardly, a lot of missing stuff. It looked like some one walked on the hood and it was flattened out. I searched the tractor yards on different sites for sheet metal and straightened it as best as possible.

I figured I could get up to speed with my paint & body skills on this tractor.
I didn't take any before pictures, but, here are some pictures of the finished job.

It's not very fast, but it will pull a descent wheelie.

Thanks for looking, Jeff

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Good looking little M!

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Nice project....Good to see another AD from MI.
I agree about the need of a good heat source in MI. I added one to my garage 2 yrs ago.

Nice progress

Marc

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

Hey guys, a little more progress.

I was having trouble getting the right kick panel to fit to the new rocker panel, tow board, and a pillar. I finally cut about 3" off the the kick panel. I was then
able to bend and pound it into shape to fit. Then welded it in. It's not perty, but I feel this is an important area for structural integrity. My welds are piling up too high and causing me to spend too much time with a grinder. I'll turn the heat up and see if I can flatten it out, without burning thru. My welder is a Millermatic 250 and I'm using .035 wire. Maybe someone else is using this welder and has it dialed in. I'd appreciate some info for optimum adjustment.
Here's a few more pic's.

Thanks, Jeff

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I fabricated a rotisserie to work on my '54 and couldn't believe how far I missed the center of gravity. I needed a hoist to turn it over. Wasn't a big problem since I fabricated it in the first place, I just cut it apart and made a new guess at the CG. Sure is handy to be able to rotate the cab. At 90 degrees I can stand up straight and work areas that were overhead.

Re: 1951 GMC 3 window half ton
 

I preferred using .023 wire when I weld sheet metal. I usually run the speed slower than other people I have worked with as well.