I have a 49 GMC FC101 pick up truck that I bought completely disassembled and in raw metal. I now have it in primer and want to dry fit the entire body together before I paint it (I plan on disassembling it and painting it in pieces later this fall).
Does anyone know what the assemble sequence is if the truck is frame off?
I have tried to assemble it one part at a time on the frame but am having a difficult time getting it to fit properly. Many areas are not lining up at all (some bolt holes over 1" out of allignment) on the front clip. I'm wondering if I should be assembling the clip off frame starting with the radiator support and working out from there. Trying to keep everything as square and uniform from side to side as I go.
Try to assemble the clip together (except the radiator. install it afterwards) before you attempt to mount it on the frame. Since you've had it fully apart don't tighten anything totally down so you can have a little wiggle room to line everything up. Good luck Dave
Make sure that you have the cab-to-frame gaps shimmed to specs before you put the pre-assembled front clip on. I like to bolt the inner fenders to the fenders and put them on the truck as a unit one side at a time. I am a one man show most of the time, so I have never attempted pre-assembling the entire clip and then put that on the truck. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
If you have a few brews and pals hanging around I prefer to hang the whole clip at one time. Make sure they lift for you first and then crack the brews. 😉 Make sure things are loose when attempting to line up. Get a drift pin to help muscle things ( very gently if painted!!!!) where they need to be. Here’s the process in reverse as I removed the clip off my 1950 a couple summers ago. Take the tires off first and block the truck from moving. It’s much easier if you do.
1970 Chevrolet C10 Grandpa's -- My first truck -- In progress to shiny Follow the build in the Project Journal 1950 Chevrolet 1-Ton Dually "Ole Red Girl" In the Stovebolt Gallery More pictures here 1951 GMC 9430 1 ton dually--Shiny! | 1972 Chevrolet C20- Rusty- the puzzle box lid for the C10 | 1962 AMC Rambler American- my wife's Parts trucks- 1951 GMC 9300 | 1951-GMC 9430 | 1951- Chevrolet 1300
I just put mine together; here is the assembly sequence:
Install the hood on the cowl, springs and all. It's easier to do it first before the fenders are in the way. Leave hood in the up position. Mount the radiator support loosely onto its frame crossmember. Start out with about 1/4" rubber shims under the feet. Bolt the inner and outer fenders together OFF THE TRUCK. Install the inner and outer fenders onto the truck AS A UNIT. It will go lots easier (as I discovered the hard way). Install the large brackets between the radiator support and the outer edge of the fenders Install the lower front splash shield. Connect the rods between it and the radiator support. Install the grille. Install the hood latch panel between the grille and the radiator support. Install the radiator. Install front bumper and valance filler panel.
Mostly leave all bolts loose until you get everything assembled and adjusted. It almost seems as though Chevy designed these parts to fit under tension to prevent vibration. It helps to use several Phillips screwdrivers as pry bars to coax the various holes into alignment. Put a screwdriver through the mis-aligned holes and reef hard until you can get a bolt through or clamp with vice grips. Body bolts with threaded points are easier to get started too. Don't be afraid to enlarge or elongate holes to match up - after all, the factory did. And lastly: treat this information like gold: like you, I once searched extensively for this same question and never actually found the step-by-step answer so had to learn by trial and error ;-)
