Leave it the way it is. Its a good looking truck

 

Awesome truck. I wanted to get one a few years back, love those old 60s GM trucks with the wraparound windshield. When I first met my wife, her parents had a cleanish GMC cab from that era of truck just sitting in the weeds - I wanted to splice it in on a project truck and make a 4-dr, 4wd version of your truck. I guess I should have said something because one day a few years ago when I vaguely knew they were having someone begin working around the property - it was one of the first things to go and the guy just cashed it in for scrap metal
I might have to speak up about these other two 50s Chevy pickups I've seen at a family member's property and another 50s GMC truck I saw at a neighbor's place. I could get the GMC for sure, but it's been outdoors for decades and the Chevy looks complete and has been under a roof.

 

Here's my other project. It's a 1968 Oldsmobile Delmont 88 convertible. It was my dad's project car he got over 20 years ago and I inherited it last year when he passed. I had this 18ft long boat (AND the parts car) transported to my inlaws so I could store it inside a shop, but I haven't been able to bring myself to work on it yet; I will when I'm ready. Not even sure why my wife let me buy my project Hilux last fall when I already had this, maybe because the truck currently runs and drives and will be used regularly. I'll finish it eventually, this car will never leave the family at this point. Maybe it'll be MY father-son project since it never happened with my dad.

Dad had a neighbor/retired GM restorer begin working on the car a couple years ago, I've had it for a year. He was supposed to do all mechanical work and get it running/driving, and did a lot of work...but he kinda back burner'd the project because he wasn't making money off the build and then became impossible to get in contact with. Then my dad passed unexpectedly and when the guy tried to pull the same BS on me, I took the car away. Unfortunately all communication about the car was verbal between he and my dad, so I have no idea what the guy did to the car other than what he told me verbally during one of the few times I got hold of him. Couldn't get the guy to write it down on paper or give me a build sheet, receipts or anything when I'd call, email, leave notes on his front door, etc. it was ridiculous.

From what he told me: built custom disc brake system (came with 4 wheel drums and there were no kits at the time), restored the suspension, restored the fuel system and gas tank, went through the transmission and rear axle, then did a bunch of engine work -- instead of an engine swap they kept the original Olds 350 and put 455 heads on (some old school tech vs modern aftermarket parts). I know this immediately reduced compression so supposedly they installed flat racing pistons to bring comp back up and did some other upgrades I don't really know about -- who knows, there's no receipts or build sheet to back up his claims and aside from opening it up I won't know for sure. Anyways, I've seen it run and it idles ok, but it doesn't really "drive" because it's got a major issue with "tip-in" and wants to die when you give it gas in gear, but I did drive it maybe 0.5 mile before parking it in its current spot inside the shop. I think it's got an intake leak and carb tinkering issues, but I don't really know engines and the battery is dead right now. Planning to meet up with a family friend who knows a bit about older GMs so I can get his opinion, just haven't found time.

The car also needs some metal work to fix rust areas. Field of the body panels is good for the most part, but down at the bottom behind trim pieces its got some rot. The worst area and area to deal with is both A-pillars are rotted out at the bottom. I think I'm going to have to do this one myself if I'm going to afford the repair. Looked into cut A-pillars from one of the few yards in the country with one of these cars and they want around $600 for both sides, before shipping, ouch. Don't want to cut this structural part from the parts car, which is complete and could be built into another one...it's got a 455, air conditioning and power windows! Zero aftermarket parts for the older GM B-body vehicles.




the fun part:


parts car:

 

Man i like all of yalls projects! Wish me my dad still had ours. It was a 71 chevelle ss. 53k ORIGINAL miles!!

 

Now me n my daughter have ours custom powerwheels!!