I am doing a similar project with 1950 1 Ton C&C Dually. Was a hydraulic lift flatbed/stake bed farm truck but I've since discarded the stake bed sides (horrible condition) and removed the wood decking from the remaining flatbed. I just removed the entire hydraulic lift this past week (sitting on trailer in pic) and am now in the process of locating a gas tank to mount between bed rails...I'm looking to do an LS swap in the future, so the gas tank will also be replaced at that time unless I go with a current fuel injected tank/pump combo and add a fuel pressure regulator for the current 6 cyl engine. I plan on disc brakes all the way around but I intend to keep the front and rear suspensions. Interior will be mild custom and body will remain as is for rat rod appeal. I like the GMC truck as you don't see many...compared to the Chevy's. Good luck on your project !
'50 GMC 1 Ton Dually - Barn Find (sort of...no barn)
This is really cool! Very similar to my project for sure! Always happy to chat about it. I just pulled and sold my 216 yesterday to make room in the shop. I have an L92 V8 sitting beside my truck which will take a back seat to the frame work and rear end stuff that’s on my list of things to do next.
Got any plans for the lift? I might be interested in having a conversation with you about it. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Sounds like a slick project. A couple of notes though:
I think boxing the frame is overkill. These use the same frame as a short wheelbase 1-1/2 ton, 137". They *can* get loose rivets in the front cross members when run overloaded over rough ground beyond the limits of the suspension, in which case one can burn off the rivets and drill the holes to take 7/16 bolts. I know this from personal experience. Fixed 25 yrs ago and all is well since.
Because of the heavy frame and long wheelbase in my opinion these make lousy hot rods. I've not seen any suspension kits specifically for 1-tons, either front or rear. That said, you could take the front cross member and independent suspension, hubs, steering linkage, etc from a IFS 3/4 or 1-ton. I don't recall which era those trucks were, maybe post 66 for a few years. I have looked at them in wrecking yards and they're always missing the sheet metal so I didn't pay attention to the model year. Doing that would give you IFS, a steering box (likely power), motor mounts for a V8 and some frame stability for when you eliminate cross member no. 2 to clear the V8 bell housing and transmission. It wouldn't be a bolt-in but a good welder should have no trouble. I've seen this swap done to 66 and earlier pickups to get the better IFS. I have few suggestions for the rear suspension and axle but if money is no object maybe you could use independent rear suspension from a late Suburban. I think the usual hot-rod stuff is too light duty.
1951 3800 1-ton "Earning its keep from the get-go" In the DITY Gallery 1962 261 (w/cam, Fenton headers, 2 carbs, MSD ign.), SM420 & Brown-Lipe 6231A 3spd aux. trans, stock axles & brakes. Owned since 1971.
I'd say find a little sturdier rear end than the puny 10 bolt out of an S10. Perhaps something from a modern day 3/4 ton, as in the kind of truck the LS came out of. I've read of guys taking the front of the frame from an '80s 2wd pickup and it slides into the frame rails of the oldster pretty slick, then you get modern IFS, power steering, disc brakes etc. and if you use a 1 ton pickup then you get the bigger discs and ball joints.
