The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk have a 1944 GMC 1/2 ton looking to restore

Hi

I am glad I found your website. I have finally seen some picture of a truck that looks similar to mine. I have a 1944, GMC ½ ton Serial Number: 4931400047, Engine K2707, Trim: 359 Body 6949 Paint: FC112. My Grandfather bought it off of a neighbor, in the 50’s and he used it as a make shift grain truck, in the mid 60’s it got parked in the Barn, were it was parked under cover till I took an interest in it about 10 years ago. I had a lot of trouble finding parts for it, and took it mostly apart and it has been sitting in pieces in my garage ever since. Now I am curious if it is worth wile keeping it original, or adding things like fiberglass fenders (the original fenders are in terrible shape) and do I put the original engine back in it. My Grandfather put a larger engine in the truck because to original was lacking power for hauling grain.

I would like to hear any information you might have as far as if you know how many were made, or if there is any value other the sedimetle value to this Old truck.



Thanks for your time

David Doyle

1/2 tonners in the '41 thru '46 range are a popular breed, in both the Chevrolet and GMC camps.. many parts are interchangable between the two, so keep that in mind when looking for parts.. they don't always have to be 'GMC' to fit.

If the fenders are rotted out that bad, i'd go with either new reproduction fenders, or try and find some better condition old ones. Fenders full of patches and bondo aren't going to help resale value at all, and unless you're skilled in that area, would probably cost more to pay someone to fix than just buying the repros.

Of course, a vehicle with original or 'period correct' metal is worth more than one made of fiberglass.. but only if that metal is solid and bondo free.

How the engine being changed effects value can go either way.. folks seem to be split about 50/50 on the subject.. some are staunch 'keep it 100% stock original' guys.. while others are all about slapping a small block V8 in there.

Modest engine updates.. like replacing the engine with a full pressure 261 or 235 from a 50's era GM product tend to ruffle the least feathers in the 'purist' camp.. the fact that the engine was replaced in the 50's makes it less harsh of a concept to the purists out there.

1/2 tons are worth the most money when they have the original factory bed, fenders, and running boards on them. While we can all stand back and admire grandpas ingenuity at putting a grain bed on a 1/2 ton truck in the 50's.. for todays truck collector, the factory box with fenders is what they gravitate to.

In the end, it's all about what YOU want to do with your truck. Do to it what YOU like, and what makes YOU happy.

If your thinking of fixing it up for resale.. don't bother.. because whatever you do to it will be wrong to somebody out there.. just get the engine running, make it go forward and backward, then stick it on eBay.

Welcome to the Stovebolt Page!

Hi David
Welcome to Stovebolts. There is a guy in your neck of the wood, around Lethbridge I think, My friend has his adress I'll e-mail you it when I talk ot him and you can get his catalogue.
Fiberglass fenders are sum times hard to work with, they just don't want to line up.
Jeff

David,

Welcome to the Bolt!

Fumblin has covered quite a bit there, and gave you some good information, based upon his experience. He's had a few of these Art-Deco's (more Chevies) in various stages of deterioration. He's done well, both, in getting them to run, and with the E-Bay thing.

I'm of a lil different opinion on the fenders. I've got "glass" fenders on the rear of my 46, and don't believe it would make but a minimal difference in the value of my truck if any at all. It may turn out that's all you'll find.

You don't say what engine your grandfather used, when he replaced the original, so it would be difficult to comment on that aspect of the truck. However, I think you really need to determine what you want to do with the truck (long-term) and make a decision based upon that.

If this is gonna be a weekend toy, I'd get it running and safe and enjoy it. If it's something you plan on spending extended time in and putting some miles on, I'd consider upgrading the drive train to a newer pressurized engine, and perhaps a different tranny and rear end set-up.

At any rate, I would try and locate the best parts I could afford, old or repop, and use them. Since it is a 1/2 ton, the truck would be more valuable to you and a future owner with a standard box, if you don't already have one.

Here's a web site that you might gain some information from. It's designed for Chevies vs. GMC, but alot of the information and parts would be the same. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any production data for the GMC's.

http://www.brads41-46chevys.com

Good Luck with the project, and post us some pictures. We love pictures.

Oh yeah, as for your last question, and I'm reading between the lines here... Yes, they're worth some bucks!

I think you'd get the least "purist" squaking with a GMC 270 or 302, but that's just me.

INDEED! While Chevy guys don't generally tend to care about engine make, since it's all out of the Momma GM fold.. GMC folks tend to be a little more marquee specific in their tastes!

Today I don't see a whole lot of difference between GMC and Chevy trucks.. but back in the 'old days' a GMC truck really did have a pretty advanced engine over it's Chevrolet bretheren and they were build to work and work hard.

And in regards to glass fenders...
No slight intended to by pal Jed.. even if he IS directly responcible for my recent Fjord convertible itch.. (ok, more like a RASH)

In all fairness, there are a number of folks in the market for an old truck who probably won't care if the fenders are original steel or fiberglass.. but it is my experience that on the secondary (used/eBay) market, steel rules the roost by a price difference of close to 100% when we're talking straight parts. Often a pair of never installed glass rear fenders will sell for what a single quasi-solid & straight steel original will bring.

Of course, that's for just the parts.. when you compare two nearly identical restored trucks, one with glass fenders all the way around, the other with steel, the final sales price difference is likely to be far less.. but i'd still give the edge to the steel garnished truck in the 15% to 20% range.

Fumblin,

You give me far too much credit.

You know you were born with an itch. Fjord or chebbie, or even some other oddball design, you gotta scratch, when the chance for some relief comes along.

I would agree with you (and no slight taken) glass parts will never match the going rate for
original steel. IF...you can find them! But, that's PARTS.

I'm not sure I'd agree with you on the substantial price difference you quoted on a finished truck, it seems a lil high for a couple of glass fenders, but there would be an edge for the steel.

If it meant my truck were on the road or not, I'd go with a GOOD Quality glass fender without a second thought.

But then again, I've instructed my son that upon my demise, he's to place me in the bed of the 46, drive me to the cemetary, and dump us both in the first open hole he comes across.

I sure as hell aint leaving it for her next husband.

I'm in 100% agreement.. you can spend the next 5 years haunting swapmeets and trolling eBay looking for orginal used or NOS parts, or you can bag repro stuff, manangle it on, and DRIVE the truck and enjoy it! The vast majority of 'everyday' folks won't even notice.

I'm taking a simular approach with my Fjord.. it didn't have much for an interior when I got it.. rather than hunt down original '63 500XL seats & interior stuff all summer (and the next, and the next) I picked up some really nice black leather buckets out of a later model Lincoln for $50 a whack, and once the UPS man brings the new top, i'm going to get to work building a whole new custom interior.

Sure, seeing a '63 500XL interior 'modernised' will be enough to send purists running to the bathroom like I was recently after my bad chicken episode.. but i'm the one who has to drive it.. and while I wouldn't expect it to sell as high as a 100 point restoration would, i'd guess when it's all said and done, it'll be worth close to it.

There are plenty of old 40's and 50's trucks on eBay all the time with all kinds of crazy mods and 'custom' additions and while the guys probably aren't getting nearly their investment back, they're still selling for a pretty penny.

I'm restoring a 42 1/2 ton pick up and am getting a great deal of satisfaction repairing as many panels on the truck as I can(not to metion a very limited budget).I don't plan on selling my truck it means too much to me.It will never be a show truck just something I worked very hard at and did my best.I personally like truck as origional as possible.If all you want to do is sell it then I would not put to much time and effort in it.If it's in running condtion and stops and goes it's probally worth more that way instead of spending a lot of time and money to just sell it.If you have the space I would hang on to it because more times than not when someone sells their truck years later they regret it.

Well i Thank you all for your input thus far. The box on the truck is the origonal box, it just has a hole cut out of the center of the tail gate. the engine in a Pontiac, 271 straight 6. I don't have plans to sell the truck that was never my intention I just wanted to see if there is any " Value" to keep it origiaonal. As far as fenders, if I can find a pair of origianl fenders that are in good shape then I would put them on the rest of the body is in generaly good shape, there is relitively no rust damage with the exception of the Door panels, mice managed to get in them rotted away alot of the metal away. I will take some pics of what I have and post them some time, I hope in the spring somtime. So to date, I have replaced all the breaks, rebuiult the clutch, got the engine running, tore of the box, removed the front fenders, the hood, depateing removeoing the cab, the hole dash board, wiring and so on has me a little concered.
thanks again everyone.
David

since you have it all tore apart... I'd get the frame and running gear as clean and serviceable as possible... along with the bottom of the cab.. Hose the whole thing with a decent quality rust resistant paint, put it together and drive it.... collect as many extra parts as you can, and as you get the time and motivation, continue to make improvements to the truck.... it should only take 15 or 20 years to get it looking new again...

Hello Dave I'm a proud owner of a 45 GMC in the finishing stages of restoration and I'm just north of you in Red Deer. Also know of another guy in Red Deer that also has a GMC both trucks are from the USA. As for parts you can get some locally also just north of you @ Scotts Super Trucks in Penhold.

Welcome aboard Dave!

Welcome David, sounds like you have a really cool truck to play with. Everything that you do to it is gonna be well worth your time and effort. Ya got any pictures that you want to share? I love those old GMC's.

Don't forget http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/ as another great resource of information.

Steve

David,

We're ready for those pictures to set up a Gallery page whenever you get a chance to send them!

Thanks,
Peggy