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Over 6,000 pictures This one is on AD Chevy trucks (1947-1955). Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment for you. |
05 July 2013
# 3021
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| Owned by Bart Tilton "Bart" Bolter # 4290 La Junta, Colorado |
1954 GMC 3/4-Ton
"Gert"
Bart's Blogspot (with more pictures) on his Orphan Trucks
MORE pictures on Bart's Flickr account
Join the discussion about this truck
From Bart :
Over several years, my daughter Jessi and I gave a lot of TLC to our old trucks, a 1947 3/4-ton Chevy and 1930 Chevy truck.
When Jessi married, we gave her 1947 Chevy as a wedding gift. (She now has two kids! I guess working on trucks will have to wait a while. Some of you may remember Jessi from our old photo contest ... we sure do! ~ Editor)
I commute 35 minutes to and from work every day through the Colorado countryside. About three years ago, on my way to work, I noticed this old GMC truck in a pasture. Next my next trip in, I left early and stopped to get a better look.
The truck was a 1954 GMC. It was missing the front clip, running boards, rear fenders, gauges, switches and much more. The owner wasn't home, so I left a note letting him know I was interested in his truck.
Two weeks later, I got a call and I learned a little about the truck. It had been donated to the Swink High School shop class. The Shop Teacher said at first, the truck was used to teach his students beginning mechanics. Later, they used it as a donor vehicle. (Swink School built a 1954 GMC and auctioned it off as a fund raiser.)
The teacher told me that a couple of students had rebuilt the motor as their senior project, and he had watched over each step, because they were earning a grade on it. The two boys got an "A" ... understandably as the work they did on the engine was "superb."
I asked him how much he wanted for it. He told me that he thought maybe $900 would be a good price. He said the rear end wasn't original. He thought that maybe it came out of a 1950's car. Then he said that if I could come up with $800, I could have it.
He took me on a tour of the high school shop. He told me about the projects his students were working on. He pointed out photos of the pickup he had auctioned as a fundraiser. He told me that he had to go to a meeting, but if I brought $700 in the morning, I could have the truck.
When I got home, I told my wife about the pickup. She and I drove out and looked over the truck. I explained to her that I had a front clip that could fit right on it. It wasn't a 1954 NOR a GMC. It was from a 1950 Chevy.
After she and I looked it over, she agreed that it would be a nice project. On the way home I stopped by the bank and took out the cash I would need to as a payment.
The next morning on my way to work, I stopped by the school. I told the shop teacher that I had his payment. He asked me if I had a trailer to haul the truck home. I told him that I was going to make arrangements with a friend. He pointed to the school's car trailer and said I could use it. I thanked him and handed him the payment. He counted the money, then handed me back $100 dollars, and said, "I thought we agreed on $600.
Since I've had the pickup home, my Son and I put the body together. I had my son help me knock dents out of fenders and other body parts. We replaced the entire wire harness. We built an exhaust system. We replaced the rear end with a six lug 1972 Chevy rear end.
There were pin holes in the gas tank so I repaired them. The master cylinder and brake lines had water in them so I completely went thru them.
We replaced the gauges.
I named the old truck “Gert” in honor of a fellow soldier I had served with.
We now have a complete truck. A little 1954, 1950 ... GMC and Chevy.
Bart
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