The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Help plan my truck!

Or, just help answer a few questions... thanks in advance!

I will soon be getting a 1953 GMC half-ton longbed. It's an old farm truck, which is good because that means it is still mostly stock, and hasn't been hacked up. But, it will need a lot of work and parts!

Here's what I know about the truck:

The torque tube is gone, it's an open driveline now.
It has a four-speed on the floor (don't know the type)
Floor mounted starter
5-window
I think it has the original engine. It is, at least, a six-cylinder.
I think it has been upgraded to 12 volt, negative ground.

Here's what I don't know:

Does it use tubed tires?
Are they split rims?
Does it have Huck or Bendix brakes?
Longbed was an option for half-ton's, right? The owner told me it's a half-ton.
Will disc brakes stick out too far?

Anyhow, when I get the truck, my first concern will be the front brakes and front suspension. I don't want to do a fancy modern steering column or anything like that, but I do want front non-power disc brakes, and if that means I must ditch the kingpins, so be it. Or, if kingpins are a nightmare at higher, modern speeds, I'll get rid of them anyway. My goal is not a street rod or hangar queen, but a drivable, mostly original truck. I won't drive it a lot but I'll take it to Home Depot when I need to.

What would you do to the front end? Whose disc upgrade would you use? Does it require new rims? Other parts I should upgrade because the factory didn't know better in 1953?

I'm not new at this... I have been working on my '56 210 for twenty years. But what a difference three years makes! (What's a "Huck"? haha)

Thanks!

56chev

Hy 56chev, answers to some of your questions
Tubed tires? Yes probably, unless someone updated the wheels/tires
Are they split rims? They could be, but most of the 1/2 tons I've seen are not.
Does it have Huck or Bendix brakes? If the year is correct it should have Bendix brakes
Will disc brakes stick out too far? No they don't stick out any farther than any other brake.
If the kingpins, tie rod ends, drag link are in good shape, and the axle is setup with the correct caster it should be fine to use on todays roads.
Most old wheels will not clear a disc brake caliper, so chances are you will have to change wheels, hope that helps.

Not sure, but I thought the GMCs didn't have torque tubes in 1953. My 53 Chevy does though.

The easiest way to tell if it has tubes is to look at the valve stems. Originally it would have tubes but someone may have changed it over the years....even farmers will change a few things!!

EDIT: hope you enjoy your stay here at the bolt. Lots of knowledge and nice folks.

Put a link to pictures, that would help. Also any numbers, VIN castings etc...

Welcome to the bolt.

1953 1/2 ton GMC & Chevy trucks had torque-tube drive-shaft/rear-ends. The 1/2 ton, long-bed GMC still had (at the least) a short, enclosed extension for the extended drive-shaft (Chevy did not have a longbed 1/2 ton).

If your not planning on driving at super-duper high speeds, why bother with disk brakes? As long as the truck isn't overloaded, I don't see that the original brakes will be a problem. Plus, leaving them on for a while to see if you like them is free. You can change them later. That being said, my truck never sees speeds over 50 mph. Which I suppose isn't that fast!

Are you, and the truck in Germany? I hear they drive a little faster over there.
Good luck on the truck!

Thanks guys! I am learning more already. I looked at the Tech Tips on this website and saw that Chevy's didn't come in a longbed in '53, so I was afraid that the GMC might be incorrectly described. But, now I know it is accurately described.

No, I'm not in Germany anymore. I was stationed there a couple of years back. I'm in Baghdad right now. I'll be back in Kansas (Ft Riley) in June, and I hope to pick up the truck around that time. Hopefully, and I have my fingers crossed, our old family friend in OK still has it for sale, AND can find the title. I sent him a letter with an offer yesterday (snail-mail). I think it's still there though. My friend was in no hurry to sell. It had been in a barn for 6 years the last time I inquired about it. Only my move to Germany prevented me from buying it. I told him I would be back for it.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures here. I first saw the truck in person about 20 years ago. My buddy sent me a few pictures a couple of years ago, but they are back in Kansas. I remember it has an original radio, a sunscreen over the windshield, and it's white.

Use... 4-wheel... drum... brakes? I figure I should take the money I would spend on new front wheel cylinders and a new master cylinder and just apply it towards disc brakes. When I had front drums on my '56, they would act up at times. Hard braking could cause the car to jerk to one side or the other unless the shoes were perfectly adjusted just right. I never had that problem with discs. But, it would be quicker and easier to stay with drum brakes... Hmmmm...

I do miss the Autobahn in Germany. I would cruise at 110 mph in my American Ford Focus. It never felt unsafe. After driving over there, I'm convinced we need to re-examine our speed limits in the US.

56chev