55 gmc longbed stepside project

[Kim57]

That looks a lot cleaner than the first time you had it in.
Kim

[G&R's57GMC]

Looking Good !

GMC v. Chevy Dash. Did you know that GMC used the Chevy dash on the work truck version of the P.U.

On the mounting of the Mustang tank you should add a strip of metal to the underside of the flange area to spread the load of the mounting bolts. After all the tank will weigh over 170# when full of sloshing fuel.

This is my current project starting with this '57 GMC Napco 4x4. I'm changing it to 2wd air suspended, 5.3L, auto trans, stock look + 1959 mods. Ironically I bought it in your area a few years ago.

Now some eye candy.

[OrrieG]

is that an original color?
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[G&R's57GMC]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

is that an original color?
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It could be. I thought I saw it on a color chart.

The original color is still on the firewall.

Ironically my '56 Chevy is close to the same color also.

[OrrieG]

Thanks, I am warming up to maybe going with a green rather than blue, seems to be a lot of blue trucks getting finished up. The napco looks like it has just a little more bluish tone to it, might be the lighting.

[spousta]

Can't run safety strap would look to tacky and if I were rear ended I want my tank to fall for safety. I'm not worried about the weight it is more than secured I stood on it today and I'm 6'5" weighing 300 pounds. Also, its a stainless tank, much stronger and when it hangs under the frame it looks classy. I like the napco but napco trucks are not GMC. There napco. GMC heavy line was known as blue chip, and all GMC trucks are blue chip. napcos are cool but again are Chevy based trucks, believe cause they were cheaper to buy.

[G&R's57GMC]

spousta,
The strapping I refer to is to act like a washer on the flange not go under the tank.

About NAPCO, they were around in time for W.W.I and supplied 4 by kits to the military, Railroads, construction companies dealers and manufactures to be installed. '57 was the first year GM installed them at the factory as an option otherwise they were installed at the dealer or shop of your choice.

On my truck the only thing Chevy in the drive train is the rear axle. The reason is Pontiac didn't have 3.90 gears and the NAPCO kit was set up for the more popular Chevy.

The chassis I'm using for my conversion is a Chevy. When I get it all plumbed and the drive train installed it will just be a mater of moving the body to it from the GMC chassis and connecting the dots. The pictures above are how they are now. Heres a pic of my dash.

[spousta]

that makes more since, ill look into doing that with the fuel tank

[spousta]

put some wheels on just to take a look at stance and had to cut and move my rear crossmember up. then put the truck bed somewhat on to see what i was working with.







waiting for fuel and brake likes to come in so i can start plumbing the chassis. i also need to find wheels with good offset that acutually fit in the rear fender.

[ChuckDriver]

Wow! Awesome build, can't beleive I missed it!

[spousta]

I need help figuring out shocks cause there is so much movement in rear suspension for correct ride height. not much room for anything so I might have to do a formula ford horizontal layout. Any suggestions/pics would be helpful.

[spousta]

i purchased another 55 chevy cab and cut it up to use for mocking the motor and everything up. heres some older pictures of the rolling frame before i put the rear subframe up higher in the frame, and the second set show how low it will sit with 0 air pressure in bags. the truck should ride 4-6 inches higher than the stance it has now.









i need to tub the rear bed which i was trying to avoid and i again i need a smaller wheel in the back with a better offset but heres some better pics of the ride





so now i can throw a motor in and create a transmission brace. also while i have everything there i can go ahead and start doing my stainless brake lines. and run everything i need. i think its a good dropped height.

[Kim57]

Looks good. it might ride kinda rough with those shocks though.
Kim

[stepside83]

nice build cant wait to see more of it

[spousta]

bought some 73-87 inner fender tubs for my truck. but boy are they wide.



well some triming is in order then





much better!



time for another one.



well there cut but now i need to bolt them in somehow, time for welding.





clean them up now.





there like brand new now.





so your wondering why i went witht he 73-87 tubs. they are a litte taller then the 67-72 tubs and they are almost half the cost. so if your going to mod one to be thinner mine as well go cheep. i have to order the bed side strip and make it go around the tub to clean up the look but that will be easy. the 67-72 has one prefabed in but to be honest it looks cheezy, and definatly not show truck worth in my opinion.

[Kabwe]

looking good, looking really good.

[Kim57]

Nice looking inner tubs.
Kim

[1959 Apache 3600]

Great job on the tubs. Thanks for posting the progress pictures of your process.

[spousta]

Yeah only problem is my truck is still to low for the tubs, ill post some pics tommorow bout issues

[spousta]

sorry i have not been doing my write ups. i just finished the suspension, so all you get is pictures, cause ive been lazy





front setup, i bought some stainless arms.



and front motor mounts on my 454 poly block

[Kim57]

Looks like you're making good progress.
Kim

[spousta]

Had to lower upper a arm mount lower for correct ackerman angle and bag height, also i got ancy and shipped frame to powder coat a little earlier than i should, but ill make sure i get plenty of picks when it gets back
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[spousta]

just picked up frame, was a little dissapointed that they didnt clean up the welding splatter, but for the price i paid for the prep and powdercoating (500 out the door). but they did a good just putting the powder down and im overall happy, they said thy would fix it for free but, i think it will be ok.

[spousta]

Well after sitting down and thinking bout it, I'm going to send frame back to the powdercoaters, I feel bad for making them redo it but the did offer and I think it's best if I take them up on it.
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[Kim57]

Looks good in the pics but it's hard to see the fine details.
If they said they'd fix it I would let them.
Kim