Hello everybody. I am brand new on here. Here is my dilemma that I would like some advice on. I am not a mechanic and the person helping me is being kind of vague.
I bought a 1950 GMC 150 (1/2 ton long bed) that with awesomely patinaed black paint and a very solid body and frame. No motor/transmission to it. I bought it as a donor for a much rougher 52 GMC 3600 that I plan doing a LSx restomod to. But, I am falling in love with the look of the 150 and am thinking of doing just the bare bones basic stuff to it to use it as a mostly local driver. So, it needs an engine/drivetrain, electrical, and brakes at least.
The 3600 has whatever size of straight 6 in it (red painted cover if that helps) that was rebuilt in the 80s but it was given up as a father/son project and it was never fully reconnected in the truck. It was stored in a barn until the father passed on which is how I acquired it. It turns freely but I am guessing that it should be gone through one more time with the gaskets getting replaced due to sitting for 30+ years. The truck also came with a spare GMC 6 cyl motor from the same era that has a blue cover. That engine looks rough, but complete, and it still turns by hand.
So my dilemma. . .
I wish to put a straight 6 back into the 1950 GMC. I am wondering if I should put the engine from the 1952 into the 1950. Or, is there a better straight 6 to use that will be easier to rebuild or find parts for in the future. What do you 'experts' of this era recommend?
I am also wondering about what newer auto/manual transmissions may best compliment the AD engine (or whatever better straight-6 is recommended). Or, should this be asked on the drivetrain part of this forum once I make a decision? I read an article in Classic Trucks magazine about sticking a T5 or TH350 on a 216/235 to make it more modern road worthy but they did not mention anything about needing to use adapter plates or whatever to make it work. Or, if rear gearing (or the whole rear end) should be changed with such modification.
Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks.
