Kind of depends on what you want to do with it. Are you planning a full restoration, hot rod, or do you just want to drive it for a while? When I bought my '46 in 1985 I figured I'd drive it as it was and gradually work my way up to restoring it. I'm still driving it with the same paint that was on it in '85 and I've never taken it out of service for more than a month or two during that time. I'm just saying time can sneak up on you. I did get all the mechanical work finished over the years and I really enjoy the truck. I've just started on a '51 GMC that's been sitting for over 30 years, guess you could say I'm hooked.
If you've not driven a truck of that vintage much, drive it some if it's capable of it. Personally, I don't mind slow acceleration and a lower top speed, but you may find you do, especially if you're used to bopping down the blacktop on a Harley. If that's the case, you may want to modify it some. You've got a 4:11 rear end that will really limit your top speed. Also the babbit pounder doesn't like high revs. I went with a Patrick's 3:55 and am running 7.00 x 16 tires. With that combo I can cruise at 62 pretty much all day. I've also got a '54 235 insert bearing engine (my original block was cracked so the decision was made for me to change out the motor). These are either concealed changes (the ring and pinion) or period changes (lots of people switched out the babbit pounders for insert bearing engines in the '50s and '60s). They make the truck much more drivable on a daily basis, but don't alter it too far away from what it originally was. Personally, I'm not a hot rod fan, but it's your truck and you can do with it what you want. Different strokes, you know.
Good luck with it. This is a great forum for questions as is oldgmctrucks.com. Much of your truck will interchange with GMC, except engine, grille and a few other things.
David Bush
