I have a 1951 GMC 1-ton flat bed that I am working on. I bought the truck about 6 years ago and my original plan was to build it back like it was when new. Since then I found that this is a very difficult process which requires a lot of research and the parts are hard to find. The biggest reason I decided against a restoration was the fact that this truck will only run about 40 or 45 mph down hill. My father had a 1978 Chevrolet C-30 that he used to pull a 36’ stock trailer for several years. He eventually bought a Kenworth to haul the cattle and the ton truck was sold to my uncle. My uncle put only about 5000 miles on the rebuilt 454 in the eight years he had it. I decided to buy the truck from my uncle and use it for the donor frame, motor, trans, rear, basically the entire running gear. Since then I have removed the 78’ cab and installed the 51’. The way I had to do it was to keep the finders in tact with the cab while I fitted the cab to the frame. My main concern was for the wheels to be center under the fenders. I measured and measured to make sure everything lined up, then built the cab and radiator supports. The 454 is rather large and the way the motor and transmission are mounted in the newer model frame in relation to the wheels made the motor further towards the front of the truck than the original frame would have. This is not a real big problem since there are electric fans and short shaft water pumps (which the engine already had). The face of the water pump pulley ended up being about ¾” from the backside of the radiator. I currently have the original radiator in the truck and I am looking for a new one. I want to make sure the 454 stays cool. I have been calling several different vendors about the radiators and everyone says that theirs will keep it cool. I don’t know how much I trust their salesmen. I have asked for flow and cooling data but they don’t understand. I will continue the search.
One of the good things about using the 78’ running gear is the fact that you have power steering and power brakes. The pedal system also works great on the AD trucks because of the distance the dash is away from the fire wall the whole assembly will just basically bolt in. I am using the hydra-boost braking system from the 78’ truck and the power steering. I have had a difficult time with the power steering which come not from the pieces fitting together but from a lack of knowledge and experience. I was connecting the steering linkage and decided to drill a hole through the input shaft off the power steering gear box to the hold the u-joint. This is a bad idea the input shaft is a two piece shaft that holds the guts to the rotary valve inside the gear box. This hole I drilled allowed the fluid to be pumped out. I found another rotary valve but now I only have ps to the left. I am going to have to buy a new gear box. The fuel tank that I am using is from an S-10 Blazer, I have it installed inside the frame behind the rear wheels. I have run new fuel lines and the motor starts and runs great. I do not have glass so I cannot get the truck on the road yet so I just putt around in the yard. Right now I am sanding all the paint and rust off the body and just piddling with it here and there. Once I get the paint off and the new radiator then I will determine the color and get started painting. I am thinking of a dark midnight blue.
I am a little new to the forum world and have done most of my research through the trail and error method. I think this is a great place to get a lot of experience and knowledge at your disposal in a relatively short amount of time. I hope I will have a little to add to the site. The information I have read in the forums thus far and the gallery stories are great. Keep up the good work.
The link below has photos of my 51 and my father's 46 we started these things together.
http://rides.webshots.com/album/567461654mqrReu
