The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk HELP! Stock or Resto-Mod?????????

Ok guys & gals I need some opinions. I have a 1939 GMC AC-102 1/2-Ton Long Bed Pickup that I have owned for 15 years or so. It is in my shop torn down to bare frame. I continue to wrestle back and forth on whether to build it back original or modify it. The only thing I do know is I want the truck to look stock from the outside; no lowering, custom wheels, etc. I drive about 44 miles each day to and from work and would really like to drive the truck once it is done on a regular basis. I have considered bone stock or replacing the 228 with a 270 or 302 along with a T5 and late rear end or go with a 4.3L V6 or small block with the T5 & rear end. The only problems with the stock 6 cylinder engine is the cost of the parts. It would be much cheaper to build a V8 and I have a few of those sitting around. Currently I am leaning more toward the V8, T5, late rear, Vintage Air, straight axle with disc brakes and a few other convenience type items. Could some of you who have some experience or opinions give me the pros & cons so I can either remain confused or decide on a direction. Thanks for your help!

Since you asked I prefer restoration over anything else. Having said that I understand wanting driveability. I believe Patricks sells a rear gear set that will allow you to drive highway speeds. If I'm wrong someone will correct me. I have a 38 HB Master Business Coupe and am doing a rolling restoration on it, keeping it as original as I can. It's easy to hot rod an antique. It takes dedication to restore one.

I believe in restoration rather than rodding but that's just me. The more original the better.

I'll take the "rodding" side. After owning my truck for almost 20 years, and having it sitting in the garage most of that time because I could'nt keep it running for more than a couple of hundred miles before breaking down, I finally broke down and changed to pretty much what you are leaning to; V8, automatic trans, disc brakes in front, power steering, and highway gears in the back, and I left the stock straight axle.
I'm sure I've driven it more in the last 6 months than I did in the last 10 years. Besides being easier and more fun to drive, I don't have the anxiety of wondering if it will make it home or not.
And besides driving it more, I'm enjoying working on all of the things that are within my ability to fix.
I think 200 or 300 miles a week is a lot of miles on that old of an engine, and most of us are too spoiled by todays maintenance free engines to want to do all of the oil changes, valve adjusting, etc that go with a 70 year old motor.

This is just what I would do If I had that truck. A hopped up 302 "jimmy" with the top of the line tremec 5 speed(or something with an overdrive), duals and broken glasspacks. Have the wheels remade to accept good radials and original hubcaps. Front disks, power steering and a front sway bar. Of course, that's if I had your truck AND a lot of money You asked. I like keeping the stock look (including the motor)with modern and retro upgrades.

yup I feel the same.


Cliff59

For daily driveability I would vote for a more modern drive train. Get that original rear end outta' there.

It doesn't sound like you're really wanting to "hot rod" it... sounds more like you want to ressurect the old gal so you can drive it daily but keep it looking like an old bolt to the passersby. If you go the full resto route then your daily driving will be somewhat limited. But if you upgrade the drive train, front end, steering and brakes then you'll feel a lot safer on the road for your daily commute.

I agree it's a big fork in the road and deciding which way to go is a huge decision with costly and time-consuming implications. I've gone the ressurection route... still have the 235 (with electronic ignition), rewired, but still have brakes, drivetrain and steering as was. I'm comfortable driving her every day but highways are for occassional use (50-55mph).

Having said all of that... it's a trip having her look original... the thumbs up and comments are constant. My vote is for a happy medium.

Do it and enjoy her!

Mothball the tranny and torque tube, put in a T-5, open drive line, disc brakes, tube shocks, modern tie rod ends, electronic ignition, and radial tires- and if you, or a future owner, ever wants to go back it'll be easy to do. In the meanwhile, the few hundred you save not rebuilding the original engine in favor of a v-8 won't make that much of a difference to you drivability wise. Upgrading your suspension to deal with the extra V-8 power would make up for the difference in cost pretty quickly.

Rodstorate it...

Personally, I went the resto route, but that probably has a lot to do with he memories associated with the truck. That being said, I don't have problems keeping the 235 in my '58 running. I did do a Petronix conversion to an electronic ignition with a higher output coil. I can certainly understand the desire for improved suspension, power disc brakes, and (depending on where you live) AC. If you need/plan to do much highway driving, I can also see changing the rearend gearing to improve speed at the sacrifice of low end pulling power. The main difference in maintenance and trouble that I can see between the old Chevy and a new one has nothing to do with the engine and drive train, it's all the lubing that you need to do .

If you are going to drive it that much then I would "Resto-Mod" it. Make it look totally stock in outside apearance, and update everything else for safety, comfort and convenience.

I would go with a restoration instead of rodding. One thing I miss seeing at car/truck shows are nicely restored stock trucks. Everything is always lowered and tricked out and I just don't like that, but that's just me.

Thumbs up Tiny. I also am a restore man. It used to be cool to change those old cars into somthing fast and sleek, but I grew up. The older I get the more I want things the way thay were.

Stay with the I6, put in a T5, and keep the suspension/steering original. This isn't my opinion, its just the RIGHT thing to do! (It just happens to be what I'm doing to my '54). I'm not looking for Concours d'elegance but I want to blend original mechanical with streetability.

Its a very hard decision. Just sell me the truck and I will ease the burden on ya!

I'm working on a 1940 gmc 3/4 ton long bed. I also have the stock 228, torque tube, and a low gear rear end.

I am putting a hopped up 302 in mine. Bolt in from the front, but everything rear of the motor is going. I just don't think that torque tube will stand up to that kind of power...about 250 hp and 350 lbs torque. I plan on adding disc brakes up front on the straight axle. I also plan to rebuild the entire front steering parts. I'm not sure about tube shocks just yet, we'll see how it all handels first.

I haven't been able to drive my truck over 25 mph since I got it. Soon I hope to be cruizing at 75mph

i have a 54. I DID IT MY WAY. RON

Listen to YOUR gut. As you can see there are a lot of opinions. No one is right, no one is wrong. If you truly want a daily driver, make it safe AND comfortable for the conditions you "daily drive". But that is my opinion.

Might as well toss in my $02. I went after 3 things when I redid my 54 pickup. I wanted it to be fun to drive, easy on the eyes and safe on the road. T5, open drive, discs, shocks, sway bars, turn signals, halegon head lights, LED brake/tail lights and 3 point belts are a must.

I've had numerous folks comment about the truck...."Gotta small block?" and when you tell them "no" I wind up opening the hood while they tell me about their old Chevy Six. Then they've gotta hear it! When they walk away, you know that you've really touched on the "human side" of our love of old iron.

If you're looking for an easier fix the SBC is going to simplify your build. But if you want something that is unique, safe, and most importantly, fun to drive, than you might consider spending a few more bucks, wrestling with a few more issues and keeping the "Heartbeat of America" alive with a 6 cylinder.

Save yerself some time and turn it into a shootin truck. First one to hit the gas tank, WINS!

The decision to rod or restore is a very subjective one. I had no doubt about my intention to rod my '37 when I bought it, but the question was - how much? I listed my desires and priorities and they went something like this:

It has to be reliable and able to keep up on the road
It needs to pay tribute to its original styling by keeping the body lines as stock as possible - no chop, no channel, no Monte Carlo headlights!
It needs to be comfortable to drive - I'm not getting any younger!
It needs to have an edge - some sort of something that sets it off from its neighbor.

Here's what I've done and what I'm planning:

Chassis & Engine

Boxed frame - full length
Tubular IFS front suspension (all polished SS)
Custom X-members (home fabricated)
Jag XJ-12 IRS with a healthy dose of chrome
Camaro Z-28 350 W/MPI Fuel Injection (rebuilt to stock specs)
700R/4 transmission (same)

Body

Like I said, no chop or other modifications that change the basic shape but...
Joined the front sheet metal together and created a tilt-front.
Restored the bed, but shortened it six inches.
Custom fabbed an inner frame for the bed and added electro-hydraulic actuated rams to make it a tilt-bed.

I can't afford to build and keep a museum piece. Almost all of what I've done so far has been done under a carport! I need something that I can drive and enjoy (and show off!) before the bureaucrats and enviro-nazis outlaw them all. I want something that looks old (because it is!) but drives like something new.

I get as much enjoyment checking out full restorations as I do rat rods, and I'm definitely a part of the "to each his own" crowd. That's part of what makes this sport (how can you spend this much money on just a hobby?!) so fun.

Thanks,

~rocker~

I like the original look but if you want to make it more "driveable" for today's roads, then I say go for it. I'm planning to keep the old 216 in mine but then I won't be driving it but a few times a month (mostly weekends) and not going very far when it is driven. Probably to Lowe's, the grocery store and to the local cruise in. It's yours, have fun, and make some memories with it.

You have to do what's right for you. I am going to build one truck and use an S-10 frame and another completely stock except for dual exhaust. I have a 50 and 51 and then will have the best of both worlds. Personally if it were me, I would upgrade the suspension and brake system and just drive it. You can always drop in a sbc later.

My advice to you is to decide before you start and then make a plan and follow it. If you start and then get wishy washy about what direction you're going, you'll end up spending more money than you need to.

If this is your first restoration, I'd suggest a plan that has you doing small things one at a time. Drive the truck and restore a piece then drive it and then restore something else. To many people get their projects apart and then run out of money or energy and then the project turns into a pile of parts that end up getting lost or given away. Enjoy the project while you do it.

Thanks for all of your replies. Gives me a lot to think about. Right now I am leaning toward going back pure stock. It was only made that way once and I don't think I can justify making the change. I need to get my plan together and jump in as this will be my winter project this year.

Alkay3
1939 GMC 1/2 Ton Pickup
1940 Chevy 1 1/2 Ton Truck
1948 GMC 970 Series Tandem Axle
1949 GMC 970 Series Tandem Axle