55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here is my project, i will post lots of pictures (i think pictures are worth a thousand words) because i dont like typing. If anyone has any question please ask. I started this project about 5 years ago so the first bunch of pictures are going to be from way back. Bought the truck from a friend of mine who had it in is back yard for six or seven years but never rely did anything with it. This story actualy started 40 years ago. First picture shows me siting on the fender of my dad 55 GMC.

Here it show the truck where i found it and when i first got it home.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

looks like a decent truck, good luck with the build and kep us posted

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Oh Yea, It looks a lot better than what most guys get to start with lately.

+1 on the keep us posted and up to date on the build and redo.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here are a few more pictures. First thing i did was to replace the roof. Upper edge of windshield was pretty rusty. Put in a gas door into the drv side rear fender to go with under bed gas tank.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

always looks better until you start taking things apart.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here are some pictures of the flip hood kit i installed last winter. Yes the hood is of a 57 Chevrolet.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

cool keep the pic's coming.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Nice project, keep the pics coming.
Why did you go with a Chevy hood?
Where did you get that gas filler door from?

Tri5

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I didn't like the big hole in the front of the GMC hood. The gas door is out of a Dakota truck , don't remember what year.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Next pictures are from the box side that I modified. The box sides that came with my truck were somewhat rusty and have a lot of dents. So I bought a decent set of 3/4 ton truck sides that I shrunk to 1/2 ton size. I found out to keep the fenders at the right place the sides had to be cut at both ends. I cut about 9 inchs of the front and 2 inches of the rear. The last pictures shows the rear bumper mod. 1980 Malibu wagon rear bumper with 10 inches cut out of the centre.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Good work. Check your bed rail location in relation to the tank filler spout. I have the same gas tank and on my 59 short fleetside the bed rail lands on the filler. Bed rail can't be moved it supports the wheel well. I think they designed it for step sides and didn't mock it up on the later fleet sides. I had to notch the rail and reinforce the side that was left with steel angle.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Pictures are informative and entertaining,,and much appreciated,,,keep them coming-THANKS !!-KB

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Welcome aboard and glad to see another canuck and close by, i really like the work that you have done so far on the truck, out of curiousity, i was wondering where you found the visor for your truck , i have been looking for one all over the place here and can not find one, great build, would love to see apic of your 55? in the background there, thanks

James

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thank you. I was lucky the sun visor came with the truck. Keep an eye on ebay I see them on there every now and then for sale. I like like your project nice truck. Here a pic of my 55 Belair.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

what is the color of your 55 called i want to paint my 54 gmc that color.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

The 55 Belair color is Regal Turquoise and India Ivory.

Thanks, JM

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

You had me worry for a second and half . But no the step side floor crossmember doesn't hit the tank filler. see picture attached.
Thanks, JM

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

71 firebirb Front clip work was done about 5 years ago

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

More front clip work

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

thanks i love that color Regal Turquoise.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

nice belair, how long have you had that, nice work on the clip, i just finished doin that to the 58, works great and drops it nice. what kind of tank is that?

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Had the Belair for about 25 years now. The tank is aluminum 19 gal, i bought it of ebay ,came from CPP.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here the front frame extension.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Where did you get the four link and panhard bar from? More pics of it?

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I bought it of ebay but it came from Heidt's Hot Rod Shop. It comes as a bolt on kit with a little welding required. The diff bracket and panhard bar bracket need welding. Here some pics of the install i did last winter.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks for the pics. Been looking for a four link kit that uses a panhard bar designed for a 10 or 12 bolt rearend. Is that rear disc brake setup aftermarket?

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Do you have a close up pic of where panhard bar attaches to axle housing?

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

I think, if i remember right that the kit i got came with a universal panhard bar and brackets. I would say that when ordering a kit you should be able to request the panhard bar that will fit your type of rear diff. Check their web site it shows the different types of bars. (www.heidts.com ) .

For the rear brakes i bought the caliper brackets of ebay , it comes with instruction to what other parts you need to buy to put it together. Calipers are from a 85 Cadillac Seville rear disc brake and the rotors are from 80 Camaro rear disc if i remember correctly , i would have to dig out into my paperworks to be 100% sure. I will go to the garage now and take a couple pics of the panhard bar for you and be back a little later.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Good, if you look at your photo the short fleetside cross rail mounts one bolt hole towards the rear to allow for the tub location.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Simlar tank a little cheaper (when I bought mine, saved about $50) is availible from Online Performance.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here is a closeup of the panhard bar brackets for chevy rear end.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here are some pics of modification that personify this project to me. High mounted third brake light. Steering column out of a 85 Chevy van. Brake booster and pedal setup out of 99 Chevy van and a custom aluminum rad.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Nice work...thanks for the pics.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks for the quick pics! Just the setup i have been looking for.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Nice looking project man! I really like the fuel door on the fender! I also used the same tilt hood kit, man I really like it way better then the factory hinged hood.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Thanks Cal 58, I appreciate the positive comments. I found that the flip hood kit took a lot of fine tunning to get it work right with my truck. The Canadien GMC truck are not built quite the same has the American ones. It also won't open as much as the Chevy one because the front of the hood hits the bumper grill bar.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here is the dash. Still haven't figured out where to put high beam and signal light indicators.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here some more body panel repairs.

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here is where i'm at now, setting up the 5.3 into my clip. Is there anyone out with this setup . 55 GMC frame with 71 Firebird clip. I need advice on engine mounts and engine location with in the clip. My fist concerns are oil pan clearance with ground, the oil pan sits about 3 inches below the crossmember, exhaust manifold touching frame rail, heater hoses outlet too close to the upper control arm. Anyone with good pictures of their engine setup. Thanks

Re: 55 2nd serie GMC
 

Here's what I had done with my setup.
I wanted to use the original LS1 motor mounts, thus my friend made me some based on the LS1 mounts, they're the same height and width as the LS1 and welded them as far back on the K-member, what that did for me was to raise the motor up a couple inches to allow the LS1 pan to clear and also gave me more room for hearder clearance, the drawback is that I had to notch the K-member for my AC compressor but it worked out great.



Tri5