The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What can you tell me about my 53 GMC Hydramatic

Wife just inherited this 1953 GMC hydramatic, getting ready to pull the cab and dog house off and start the restoration... Here is a link to the pictures of the 53 http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/jkwidener/1953%20GMC/

Welcome to stovebolt. That much rust would scare me. You got your work cut out for you.

Want some inspiration? http://www.53gmc.com/

The '53 GMC Hydra-Matic was the first GM pickup with an automatic. Chevy didn't get the auto until '54. They are somewhat rare but not impossible to find.

Your toe board is very rusty and that is a Hydra-Matic only piece so you may have to find a donor cab to repair that. The other rust I see in the pictures can be fixed with readily available patch panels.

Of course there is no telling what the pictures don't show.

If the truck has sentimental value, you said your wife inherited it, I'd say its worth fixing. But don't go into a full restoration expecting to make money or even to recover what you spend.

Yes, i do have my work cut out for me. This was my father inlaws truck and was left to my wife when he passed. This truck is a short bed and also has the spare tire rack option "first offered in 53" on the bedside. I recently learned that a fire destroyed the Hydramatic plant in Michigan in 1953. So, since the fire happened in 1953, how many 53 hydramatic models made it out that year with this transmission option?

GMC's records back that far have also been destroyed,and its my understanding that no one has actual records that say.

I've seen enough '53 Hydra-Matics to believe anyone who wants one should be able to find one, but they are not nearly as common as the manual transmission trucks.

I can remember a few Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs, and possibly some Cadillacs that got Buick Dynaflow transmissions in 53 because of the shortage of Hydramatics. Dad's shop was one of the few independents in the Nashville, Tennessee area that did automatic transmission work in the late 40's-early 50's era. His primary competition was another WW II vet, an Army mechanic who learned his trade working on the Cadillac engine-Hydramatic equipped medium duty tanks during the war.
Jerry

Ok, time to bring up this thread again since i have some room now to start tackling it. Because of all the rust, would this be a good canidate for a rat rod build? Or would it be better in the long run to buy something and save this one because of its rarity??

Only you can answer your question. It is your truck and your choice.

You most likely know that you have an is historically interesting, and relatively rare, vehicle.

If you change the drive train and irrevocably modify the chassis, consider selling (or giving away for the price of shipping) the drive train, shift linkages/indicators, and support members.

Hello,

I am a true believer in preserving history.

The truck you have, there isn't many of and if you did decide to restore it to original condition and enter it into car shows, would be a treat to young and old.

Many people don't even know these old trucks came factory equipped with automatic transmission.

So go for it and let us here at Stovebolt track your progress.

Thanks,

I would strenuously object to your rat roding or hot rodding it.

Its a pretty rare truck, your father in law kept it for a good reason,

Over on the OldGMCTruck web site you will find alot of information and support, especially for the hydro's

dont go there if your going to rat/hot rod it.

Its too rare to ruin it, better to sell it off and cobble together some junker nobody will miss.

these were some of the best trucks made, and dont be fooled by the auto trans, properly carred for they will last easily 100K

get a master parts catolog
get a service manual
get a hydromatic manual

the literature investment will be the best money you ever spent