Post by colttx on Sept 28, 2016 13:47:26 GMT -6
My son bought a 1954 GMC 3100 Short bed truck. (Serial No. 101-24 S Z3317) It has been sitting for awhile and now I want to surprise him with a running/driving project truck that he can drive (and we can work on) when he comes home for visits from the Navy. (He just enlisted)
First order of business, figure out what he got. It is a bit of a Frankenstein truck with a '55-'63 GMC 270 CID motor (Casting number GMC4 2324003, seller said it came from a '59) and what I think is a '55-64 passenger car rear end. The front end has the original 6 lug tires on it. I have some of the shifting linkage, I think, but may need some guidance, really haven't looked into that. Wiring is a mess but body seems to be in decent shape. I have worked and restored several cars but none this old or this pieced together. I have always bought original cars so parts are easy to match. My son had great intentions but I also need to understand how rebuildable the truck is and if it is worth it?
Here is my plan of attack:
1) Started by sanding the truck down to metal, banging out some of the big dents, epoxy primer and then high build primer to seal the metal up.
2) Next install the windows and weather-stripping to stop water entry into the cab.
3) Get motor running. Seller said it was running about a year ago before it was put into this truck.
4) Get rear brakes fixed. Need help identifying what parts I need to order. Was going to order all new parts from Rock auto but since I don't have exact year/make/model of vehicle not exactly sure how to go about this.
5) Get shifter and tranny setup
6) Get front axle dropped and converted to 5 lug
7) get electrical stuff working
8) Interior fixed
9) ready to drive
Rear end is casting number/ID:
L46
3725899 GM18
I could find no other markings on the axle tubes.
I also need to find a 1954 GMC Grill Surround. Seems as though they are a single year specific and not reproductions are made.
I have started to get all the catalogs I could find for parts etc.
