Hello forum ,I have a 55 GMC 2nd series ,The cab and doors are quite rusty and needing lots.I found a 59 GMC 9380 with a very good cab and doors ,the whole truck is way better than my 55 so wondering if the cabs are the same Id like to use the cab from the 9380 on my 55 9300 I have measured everyway I can think of and all seems the same.Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Since you're referring to Canadian model numbers, most guys here won't know the answer, but since I happen to have a 59 9310, in Cochrane, I'm able to help.
Short answer is yes, you can use the cab. Longer answer is there's some differences to be aware of. The hood hinges are different so some minor mods will be needed. Same goes for the battery tray.
I'd welcome a phone call, we could chat or meet since we're practically neighbors! I'll send you a private message.
Hello FootStomper, ,Just had a quick look at your rebuild journal of the 59.Wow!!! seems too small a word ,what a job!!!.Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
After speaking to FootStomper today I am more aware of what to look for in the condition of these trucks.My 59 cab is in very good shape rust wise cept round the front windshield.Needing lots of work Im thinking . My 55 cab is quite rusty cept round the front windshield,That part is in very good condition.Go Figure!!!.Athabs
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
My thoughts are without knowing the extent or actual locations of rust. Offered only as discussion material. Your only question has already been answered.
The area above windshield can be a bit of a challenge to fix. So the question is what exactly is rusted on the 55 bare cab? Sounds like it is just a generic 1/2T. Same cab as a 55.2-59 Chevy. In my world, in the USA, my decision would include which has a VIN matching Title. Which rust is easier and has patch panels available that I could do myself. Avoiding the windshield opening geometry would be a plus.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
Hi Bartamos,Firstly I have title (bill of sale ) for both.The 55 is rusted badly ,floors, A posts, steps, corners ,rockers, fire wall above the pedals and the corners where the front floor meets the sides..the windshield area is perfect, no rust ,still has the primer and paint ( factory) I think.The captured nuts that hold the inner fender to the firewall shoulder are both gone with holes there,the fenders were welded on at that point,This truck was driven into the spot where it sat since 72.Gauges all work ,horn .etc' starts and drives.. The 59 has NO serious rust any where cept the windshield surround the cab mount bolts turn easily.Had mouse nests and hornet hives there also..Im gonna try to get some better pics to show the extent of the rot.It is only in the inner piece not the outer metal that forms the front of the roof .That bit is good.. Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Sounds like the 59 then, using the 55.2 surround patch.. Seems like a 9380 is a 1T designation. Cabs seem to be the same. Member 3B is a Canadian Truck expert.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
posting some pics of the damage at the windshield upper surround on the 59 and the very good bit on the 55 Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
That's some serious rust on the windshield header. Interesting that it's the only real bad spot.
Since you have the other cab to get a patch panel from, that wouldn't be a bad repair. Carefully grind away the inner panel on the rusted cab, leaving as much as the outer layer of the pinch weld as you can, and do the opposite on the cab with the good header. Clean up any remaining rust in the roof panel (media blast or whatever) and weld in the patch panel. Should be able to do it so the repair is invisible.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Thanks Kevin, thats the stuff I need to hear. Gonna take the cab off the 59 and put it on some kinda rotisserie so I can get at the weld easier..Would you just cut as much as needed from the good header?Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Cut the bad one out till you get to good solid metal, then cut the good one to match.
I built a rotisserie for my cab that pivots around the centers of the doors, but you'll probably want to go the "normal" way, pivoting around the front to back centerline. I think for that repair, I'd consider standing the cab on one side.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
started the cab removal from the 55 frame,rear fenders first then box I think.Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
looking at cutting the front upper windshield frame {,surround,} at the seam just below the overhang.Then across and over to the head liner .Wondering if this bit of inner roof is attached any where else Gonna cut the rotten bit out from the inside first.Going slow as dont want to end up with 2 ruined cabs. Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
got box off frame and taking it apart,Cant figure out how to get the tailgate off Turning a larger nut on the pivot piece but it turns and wont come out.Athab3
Last edited by Athab3; 09/01/201912:11 AM. Reason: spelling
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
got the tailgate off .Just had to get one box side off and the gate was off.Terry
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
still stripping the cab down in prep for removal.Got doors off today .Very heavy.Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
got the cab lifted a bit ,Took lots of work ,no easy task today.PO had welded the body bolts to the floors and after cutting them away found more spots where floor was welded to frame and braces Still have steering shaft fitted and need to undo the brake mechanism .Will the cab lift off with steering shaft still on?? .Hoping to lift and move the cab rearward to clear the shaft ,Any advice would be appreciated.was hesitant to take the piece from the windshield surround to repair my other cab as that would be completely ruining a cab, but this one is so rusted it would take too much fix it. Athab3
Last edited by Athab3; 09/07/20192:52 AM. Reason: grammar error
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
It is possible to remove the cab with the steering mast on the truck. As you lift the cab, you will need to gradually roll the chassis forward at the same time. I would not try to do that unless you have a way to lift the cab straight up without it wobbling all over the place.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Thanks 52 Carl.I will have a chain block hanging from the rafters Then I will lift and move the chassis forward. Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
removed engine from frame,built a temp stand to hold the engine and tranns.Gonna clean up the frame and paint before anything goes back on.Putting the 59 cab on and am seriously looking at using all the 59 front body ,fenders hood etc as the 55 is quite wonky.Will put the 55 box on and it will still be a short bed step side.
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir "When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me Some TF series details & TF heater pics
Thanks Bill,So can I just weld an extension onto the front of my frame?Is the frame a bit longer just for front bumper attachment ? Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir "When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me Some TF series details & TF heater pics
got the frame back on its wheels.Lots easier to handle .Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
well after lots of hesitation finally cut the cab in half,The upper bit is very good and the lower was very poor. Didnt want to store the old parts cab outside in the winter weather and the whole thing was taking too much room in my garage.,It has a good windscreen surround and a perfect dash so will have all the metal parts I need .Just getting it all together is the hard part .Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
Looking at removing the front clip from my 59 donor truck.? After removing the hood will it all come off as a unit ? Can I leave all of the grille etc attached to the fenders and such.???.Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
hello forum ,looks like I answered my question,YES the whole thing comes off .12 bolts total counting the one on the after brace.I took the bumper off first but it could have stayed .No bother as Its getting moved to the other frame anyway.I have the clip sitting on the 55 frame and it looks a little high to my eye .Not gonna worry about that til I get the cab on ,.The frame is shorter as I was told but think I can weld a bit on for the bumper mounting.,Athab3
Have 55 GMC 9300 short box step side .Needs restoring but starts and drives ,no brakes, also have 59 GMC 9380 with very good cab for parts.have been doing MGA's all mjy life so this is new to me
