The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 54 GMC 350 questions HELP!

hi guys brand new to the forum,
just picked up my old 1954 gmc 350 truck. originally i bought it with plans for great things and then sold it after i didnt touch it for a few years.. recently i bought it back!
so i have a few questions for you guys while i browse this forum and try and find everything i need:

Q1: trying to somehow contact griggs about his p30 spindle swap, since im brand new i cant pm him. knowing literally nothing about these trucks and reading that thread made my head hurt i need front disk brakes but other than finding p30 spindles i have no clue what else to do. so thats step 1 of this part. next is the steering linkage are we using stock steering linkage with these spindles? and if so where are we getting parts to replace the old worn out stuff thats in the truck.

Q2: rear ends mine has the stock 2 speed rear in it is there any other gear sets to keep the rear end just have a numerically lower ratio? also rear brakes are you guys updating them or just getting replacement parts for the stock ones? changing them? while keeping the stock rear or does everyone just swap out the factory rear for something else, in which case what are you replacing it with?

Q3: steering column, is there a shorter one available? i love my steering wheel and column but the wheel is in my gut if i could find some way to shorten it 2-3" that would be perfect or is there a tilt column everyone is using? etc.

Q4: power steering / brakes. what are we using for master cylinders? i want to ditch the single master and go for a dual with hydroboost, where do we get the right steering box since mine is currently manual, any hydroboost kits?

Q5: pedals anyone found a way to change the fact the pedals are at a 90 degree angle from my foot at rest? im keeping it a standard so this basically just applies to clutch and brake, what have you done? my ankle doesnt bend like that to get my feet comfortably on those 2 pedals.

Q6: heat/ vintage air a/c anyone done this swap? since ill be working just as hard as the truck id like to be able to hop in and cool off ill be making my own brackets for a condenser etc just curious how its worked for you guys. do they even sell a way to connect the vintage air a/c box to the defroster i dont have the factory tube that even runs from the header to the defrost no idea where it went.

Q7: anyone know where to get round saddle tanks? id like to find 2 30-40 gal saddle tanks for right behind the cab/ under the flatbed so i have the range to go basically anywhere without having to fill up often.

Q8: wheels? what are we doing for wheels with the 5/10 lug pattern id like to keep the dually but i dont want the split rims.


theres going to be alot of custom stuff done to the truck but dont let it fool you its going to be a worked hard, so comfy bucket seats are a plus, custom console,
changing out the stock gauges but keeping the stock gauge panel, lots of lights so i can work at night and see what im doing. ll be custom building my own bed, routing for pipes, lines, wiring, custom 4 piece drop in bed sides for when i need it to be more like a pickup, im dropping in a poncho motor i have that builds enough torque to pull anything i want but keeping it mainly stock looking and hiding everything i can, its going to remain rusty and crusty like it is now on the outside. the underneath is getting rot repair frame is going to be painted and so will the underside to keep it from rotting i gotta make sure it stays in good shape just looks ugly. hence the name "BIG UGLY" which ill have hand painted on it i cant wait to go through the forum and find new ideas find answers and learn 2 tons (hahah dont hate me) of info about the truck and be able to share my progress, issues and solutions with all of you!

THANKS!!!!!

Hy BigUglyv1, welcome, I think it would be well past my bedtime if I even tried to answer all those questions. Look around at the various forums to familiarize yourself with how we separate subjects, read posts that seem to be asking the same questions. Try and limit yourself to one subject per post in the appropriate forum. I see you want to swap in a V8 engine, these trucks are notorious for steering column/steering box interference's with V8 engines, just a warning. Good luck with your project, check in often and let us know how it's going, pictures are always welcome

P-30 spindle swap requires 2 ton axle, hunt around 'till you find Griggs info.

No higher rear ratios than 3.55 for light trucks are available, get a Brownie or modern axle(single speed only) from the P-30 you get the spindles from, get power steering box there too.

I raised the seat 1.5" on my '54 which helped with legroom.

All your answers are here if one reads back through old posts, lock on refrigerator door.

Ed

i figured but i had to get my 5 posts in so ill be seperating them and searching more and more on the forum what sort of issues are guys running into with a v8 swap? like headers being too close to the steering box? or physically the engine being too close like cyl heads? thanks!

hi ed, isnt a 350 a 2 ton truck? it has the 5/10lug axles 26000 lb/ 16000lb gvwr

its got the 2 speed rear end so it wouldnt be a light duty truck plus i plan on working it hard so ill need higher gears but not so high its screaming on the highway. id even go with 4.88's or low 5.x:1 gears if possible since they are tall tires like 35" or so. worst case scenario is i rob the tremec tko500 5 speed out of my chevelle which will probably be more than enough to keep me going on the highway with the stock 6.X high ratio in the rear end.

thanks for commenting!!