The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre New guy from Mn

Hi all,. I am picking up a 1950 GMC half ton long box this week.
It is a partially restored truck that needs finishing.

The needs are: a carb rebuild, brakes rebuilt, new rubber.
The wants are: interior redone, and a frame mount gas tank relocation.

The carb is no problem, the rubber is no problem,. But I can't find brake parts to save my life. I can find cylinders and shoes, but no drums or spring kits. Any suggestions?

Drtheo, welcome to the Stovebolt. We have several GMC members here so you should feel right at home. Quite a few bolters from around your area too. Watch for them.
I haven't checked for the parts mentioned but one vendor comes to mind and that is JimCarter. He carries parts for Chevy and GMC....and he also has a basement full of use parts and his outside yard is/was quite extensive at one time. A phone call is all it takes to find out if he can help.

....another way it so post your needs on the Swap Meet area in the PARTS WANTED FORUM.
****but be aware, you cannot send or receive PM's until you have made at least 4 post. So while posting in the forum remember that members will have to contact you within the post, or by email, if its in your profile, until after the 4 needed post are made.

...Chevy and GMC had a few things in common. Could the drums be one of them??

......AND a bolter, Barry Weeks, is a MN. bolter and has some parts. Look him up and give him a call.

Welcome to the Stovebolt madness. Be sure to ask your questions in the appropriate forum. Parts wanted requests go in the Swap Meet Forum. Repair questions go in the various help sections. Sounds like you’ve got a fun project on your hands.

welcome to the site!! Good advice from Alvin and Martin!

Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate it. I have not heard of Jim Carter before. Thanks for all the tips. I will try to post pictures as soon as I get it home.

Welcome! Whereabouts in our fair state are you located?

I am just outside of stillwater

Well no truck for me. The seller had mis represented the truck,. He told me me it was solid with no Bondo, well the cab corners were made of Bondo,. The running boards had flat sheet metal welded in, the box and rear fenders had a bunch of rough patches in them. So I am back on the hunt for another new design GMC.

Smart man. Wait for a solid start. Have you figured out how to set up a search on craigslist for multiple large cities in your region. Can even check on your phone if so inclined. Really handy. Good luck.

It is depressing though. Been looking for a truck for 3 years now.

As for cl searches I have a few that are active all over the country.

Welcome and sorry to hear about your experience there. I've seen a few GMC trucks around W. TX and South and Central NM. In fact there is or was a really nice and straight 51 or 52 half ton GMC pickup for sale at a shop on hwy 70 a few weeks ago. Less rust out that way.

For many years I have seen a GMC from the early 50s - maybe bigger than a half-ton - sitting outside of St. Peter not far from the new hospital. Pale blue, might have been a flatbed. It looked to be in not too bad shape. I wonder what has become of that truck.
Karl

As fate would have it the guy called me up and offered it to me for 2 grand under his original price on Saturday. It is running albeit running a bit rough, and yard driving. Now it is in my garage. I did a little initial tune up type stuff, mostly getting some of the wiring sorted out and and fooling around a bit with the carb, bleeding the brakes and so forth.

I have ordered up the majority of parts that I need for it. Mostly small interior parts, and then all the parts needed for a full tune up and carb rebuild. It has smoothed out running for the most part however there is the slightest bit of lifter noise so I am sure the valves need to be adjusted.

For the money I have into it, I don't think it can be beat for a non show truck.

The majority of the work will be in finnishing up the wiring, and going through every nut and bolt in the body / bed as there are quite a few missing nuts, and a few missing bolts.

I took your advice and have sent an email to Barry Weeks. As it turns out, according to his profile his town is only around 10 minutes away from my town.