**Caution** GMC content inside!

[**grumpy**]

Just messing!
Most of ya know me from the 60-66 section but I've had my share of AD trucks, most notably the Baresteel 53 Suburban I built in 2007.

Anyway, I've been looking for another AD truck to build a beater / shoptruck / cruiser.
So I find this 55 1st series GMC listed.

It was to have a camaro clip
Disc brake rearend out of 89 iroc
350/350 out of same camaro..?

So I ask a bunch of questions. Young fella didn't seem to know much. He bought it done.
I questioned why a TH350 if supposed to be a 89 iroc drivetrain.
He didn't know but said trans was bad anyway.
And truck hadn't been started in 18mos

He sent me about 20 pics.
So we came to a price I felt was ok, considering I expect to rebuild/replace motor/trans.
And being a 55 and a 5-window. Alittle different than all the chevys you see most often.

So I drive the 220 miles, get there and heart sank....
Its a longbed...Doh
I just didn't see it in the pics. Every pic was a angle or partial body shot and I just missed it...damn.

Then I quickly realize it has drum front brakes...
So I'm guessing front clip is 68-69? Camaro..Nova?
What subframe would have drum brakes?

That and having a disc brake rear made me scratch my head.

So seeing my obvious displeasure, he quickly offered to drop price more.
So I said fk it and bought it.

So now have to:
Figure out what clip is under it
See if motor will run..then check tranny
Search my soul and decide if I can live with a longbed or start surgery

Only 5 months til its gotta be ready to drive!

WooHoo!...lol
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[**grumpy**]

Pics help huh....lol
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[Chevette]

Drop it down low at all four corners, put disc brakes on the front and have fun driving it. I think it's a great looking truck. I wouldn't even shorten it. Oh ya, throw a tranny in it (that's to say put a new or rebuilt transmission between the motor and the drive shaft. You never know these days). I think if you get it down low, the long bed thing will go away. Any way you build it, have fun and good luck.

[wood1]

I agree with Chevette. And theres nothing wrong with the long beds, they're bad ass when they're lowered!! Pictures look pretty good and the GMC guys would love this truck. '54-'55.1 GMC I'd say is a pretty good find being a 1 1/2 year body style just like the Chevy.
One thing I don't understand(or never read) is why GMC made a long bed 1/2 ton and Chevrolet didn't(to my knowledge)??
I like it anyway.. Have fun

[OrrieG]

Keep it long, drop it low.
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[7T2]

I like it long. If you REALLY want a project that would be unique, I'd leave the bed alone and shorten the nose about a foot and a half, cabover style. I have no idea what it would take to do that, but it'd be badass when it was done.

[7T2]

Only took a couple minutes in Photochop...how hard could it be in real life?

[Daze57]

either way it looks good

[63 & 64 Bowties]

No offense to the longbed guys, but I'm not crazy about them either. Each to his own.
But, I do like them if they're low.
There's another thread in this section that I stole these pics from.

[_Ogre]

long, short, step or fleetside; i like them all
dare to be different, keep it long and low
i'm really liking those 54-55 grills

[YahamaR1]

I have a Shortbed, but I really like the longbeds, you don't see them very much..
Really nice model.....
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[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by wood1

I agree with Chevette. And theres nothing wrong with the long beds, they're bad ass when they're lowered!! Pictures look pretty good and the GMC guys would love this truck. '54-'55.1 GMC I'd say is a pretty good find being a 1 1/2 year body style just like the Chevy.
One thing I don't understand(or never read) is why GMC made a long bed 1/2 ton and Chevrolet didn't(to my knowledge)??
I like it anyway.. Have fun

I believe you are correct on that one. My longbed 1/2 ton frame is a GMC frame that looks just like a Chev swb frame with a bit of extra length added in the middle.

Grumpy the front end is probably 67/69 Camaro or it could be 64 to 72 Chevelle or similar body style. In the early 70's you could get those cars with disk or drum.

If the steering box is behind the crossmember the front end is first generation Camaro or Firebird. If it's in front it would be the Chevelle type.

You should be able to use a 72 Chevelle/Monte Carlo disk brake setup with your spindles by unbolting the backing plates and bolting the 72 Calipers on.
I did that on the Camaro stub I put under my 48 and then did it again on the Nova stub I put under my 51 Merc. It's all unbolt and bolt back up with no modifications.

[booger1949]

long an low far sure, r even the stub nose is hot, either way u do it have fun

[**grumpy**]

I got it off trailer today, took trailer back to my buddy and then had errands to run with wifey-poo...
So didnt get to spend much time on it today.
Pulled radiator, electric fan and tranny cooler out so I could rotate motor with socket.
It turned easy. I rotated it around 3 complete times by hand. Going to throw a battery and fresh gas in tomorrow and see if it'll fire.

Gotta take ignition out first because kid didnt leave key in it and I didnt realize it.

I found a set of nice patina'd swb running boards and aprons local, so I may grab them, just in case I decide to shorten it.
Need to find bedsides.

And if I go to hassle of shortening, I may scrap out that disc rearend and leaf springs and go trailing arm.
I wish I would have done trailing arms under the 53 baresteel burb I built.
And after seeing what Leevon did, I'm leaning that way.

[72Mountaineer]

Check Craiglist for Pittsburgh, recently there has been an ad on there for longbed runningboards. Do a search!

[focusedontheprize]

It is something different, but I think it is cool as hell. Something different. Steelies with whitewalls stuffed in the wheel wells is a great look.

Postpone the surgery. Keep it long.

What motor/trans you want to go with?

[**grumpy**]

Originally Posted by 72Mountaineer

Check Craiglist for Pittsburgh, recently there has been an ad on there for longbed runningboards. Do a search!

Why would I want longbed running boards when I already have them?
I've searched within 100 miles of me.


The truck has a 89 iroc 350 converted to 4bbl and HEI already, and what I've verified to be a 700R4
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[98layinframe]

Wow.. nice find! I'd of loved to of found it, since I assume we surf the same Craigslist. Haha
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[**grumpy**]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Wow.. nice find! I'd of loved to of found it, since I assume we surf the same Craigslist. Haha
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Haha, maybe. I go looking within 5hr drive of my house.
That gets me all of OH, most of indiana, part of KY, half+ of PA, to north of Detroit.


I finally looked today, and it has a rear steer clip, making it a early camaro or Nova. And I found a new pr of 2" drop spindles on Cl for that clip, so I can move forward on doing discs up front.
Had to steal alt off motor for my kids 88 C1500, but plan to change ignition switch motor and try to fire motor.
It rained and was crappy cold today so that was enough...

[CHIZZLER]

look forward to watching this build.your burban is still one of my favorite builds ever.

[**grumpy**]

Originally Posted by CHIZZLER

look forward to watching this build.your burban is still one of my favorite builds ever.

Thanks man. It was fun. One of the few I wish I still had.
But thats when I had a great job, a good garage with all needed tools, welder etc...
Plant closing changes everything...
Gotta do all my stuff now in a small 20x19 garage with barely enough electric service to run lights and a grinder...

Twice as long and three times as hard....lol

[CHIZZLER]

i do understand.thats great you are still doing what you love to do no matter what.

[Trekster]

I like it. You don't see too many 1/2 ton long beds.

Not trying to be an ass, but I didn't think GMC made a 55 1st series? Am I wrong?

[**grumpy**]

Originally Posted by Trekster

I like it. You don't see too many 1/2 ton long beds.

Not trying to be an ass, but I didn't think GMC made a 55 1st series? Am I wrong?

Im no expert either, but it says 55 on title, and vin matches title.
I assume GMC made 1st n 2nd series trucks in 55, just as chevy did.
Only from what I gather, GMC had 1/2t lwb, where as chevy on did as 3/4t