I'm going to start working on a '52 GMC that has been sitting 10+ years. I know I'm going to have a lot of rabbits to chase, but #1 is the problem that helped lead to its long nap.
When it was driven until warm, and then parked, it would be hard to restart. My dad was told it had to do with the crankshaft being scored and / or bad bearings. At that time he was told the crank probably needed to be reground and the bearings replaced.
I'm not a professional mechanic but I'm pretty handy and have done the majority of the work on my vehicles over the years. I've done brakes, rebuilt master cylinders and carburetors, changed timing belts, replaced motor mounts etc on a variety of older Toyotas (1969 Landcruiser, 1989 Tercel, 1996 Tacoma) and a Volvo (1985 240).
I guess to start off I'm wondering how involved this job will be to under take. I'm thinking the crankshaft itself will probably have to be taken to a machine shop or replaced. I understand the GMC 228 has real bearings, not the poured in babbit type used on the Chevrolets.
Is this a realistic job to do in a driveway, or should I be thinking about paying a shop to do it?
Anything else I should be thinking about doing down there when I have it apart?
