Daniel Ruppelt 's 1936 GMC T-14 1/2-Ton

01 May 2006
# 1509

From Daniel:

       I drug this old truck out of a gully in Pierre, South Dakota about 15 years ago. The sheet metal was in the box and in tough shape. No engine or transmission but solid enough. I gave the old farmer $300 for it and took it home.

       I bolted the body together to see what it was going to look like and a customer of mine offered $1000 for just the way it sat. So I sold it ... and regretted it quite a bit for about 12 years. Then ... an ad in the paper -- "1936 Chevy truck for sale." Guess what? Same truck!

       Nobody touched it in the 12 years it was gone! They sold the seven original rims I had with it but other than that it was all there. (Ok, I gave $1500 to get it back.) I brought it home and thought it was meant to be so I started working on it and it is at this point two years later.

       A friend of mine had a 292 6 cylinder overhauled setting around so I bought it from him with a 4 speed transmission and used them. Reinvented a driveshaft. Didn't like only going 45 so I put in a modern rear end from a Datsun pickup (same 6 lug bolt pattern for the rims), and really reinvented the driveshaft! I am using the original brake and clutch assembly and am keeping the outside appearance original as possible.

       Notice the 40's add on front blinkers. I made the rear blinkers fit in the box sides on top so they don't show.

       The 1936 T-14 was the first year GMC made a 1/2-ton and only 11,241 were made. In 1937 they changed the body style making the '36 a rather rare find today. Parts were / are interesting to find to say the least.

       I have a lot of work to do yet but it is fun to tinker with for now. Not a show truck, but great fun to drive around and it sure gets a lot of attention. It is in the primer for now until I get some body work done. Someday it will be painted like it deserves.

       Thanks for taking the time to look at my toy.

Daniel Ruppelt
"rgs1"
Bolter # 7414
Springfield, South Dakota