The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1941 GMC possible purchase - Help. What things to look for?

Next tuesday I'm going to look at the 41 gmc pickup I have talked about, any help with specific things I should look at would be helpful. I know it has a 216 chevy engine and needs quite a lot of attention. Are there any certain areas that I should pay particular attention to? Dave

Dave, pay close attention to your wallet.

They all need quite a bit of attention. Are you planning on keeping the same engine? If not all you have to look at is the body, You haven't given us much to work with but if you like it just offer him less than his asking price, You can always increase your offer later.

here are some pictures. I'd like to put a GMC engine back in but would be satisfied with a 235/261. [img]http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560246111uZEMJN[/img] http://good-times.webshots.com/album/560246111uZEMJN

Ive noticed they seem to rust where the 2 halves of the cab meet under the rear window, so give it a good push to make sure its solid there. Also at the kickpanels where the front fenders bolt up is a problem sometimes, and you cant tell unless you crawl under it.

Good luck! Jeff

The body is much the same as the 41-46 Chevy's so the problem area are most likely also the same.

Look at the lower part of the cowl area where the front fenders meet the cowl most look like swiss cheese. If you can lift out the back of the front seat so that you can see the area under the rear window they all rusted in this area. As rustednuts noted above,the area where the fenders meet the running boards front and rear. Door bottoms and under the fuel tank under the seat. Another bad area is in the windshield post where it is joined to the roof section. The dash just screws so they are replaceable without to much work. Get all the parts you can find with the truck. An let us know how you proceed. If you need some pictures of some of these areas and what to look for let me know and I will email you some of my donor cab and also the one I am working on (It's a 41 Chevy)

Thanks for the help, I'm off to look at the truck tomorrow, I'll let you know what happens. Dave

Dave i belieave that you will find that the bed is not orginal its most likely a home built job.
also here is another site just for GMC Trucks www.oldgmctrucks.com
i think you will find alot of infor for your truck there. good luck Earl

Not a bad looking truck. Expect to do some sheet metal work, maybe a lot of work but it certainly is in better shape than some I've see. Worth is difficult to tell even in the lower 48, but being in Alaska with prices historically high you must be the judge.
Good luck, let us know what you decide.

Well, I looked at the truck and didn't buy it, I'm having second thoughts now. It didn't look to bad, just thought it might be more than I wanted to get into. The 216 sits right up against the firewall,could there be a motor mount issue. Dave

How much trouble is it to repair rusted out areas on the beltline. Dave

I have a 46 which is the same cab. There was some rust behind the seat in the back corners and I know you won't be able to see it unless you take the cab off the frame but where the rear cab mounts join the frame, stress cracks developed that I had to weld up. The cab mount bolts are spring loaded and this was a farm truck so I guess it was driven on pretty rough roads in it's life time and the pounding of the rear cab on the frame probably caused it. Just welded up the cracks and it's like new again. Bob T