Duramax Task Force Panel
 

Well, to start at the beginning . . . I was in NZ and Australia on a work term and came upon this 1958 GMC Panel 3800 for sale back home in BC to which I sent my daughter who was local to view and purchase.
It waited patiently in my shop for a full year before I returned.
It has a really nice 1955 Chevy front clip on it. The experienced here will see the longer '58 frame horns.

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I was unsure of the single headlight and the Chev clip. So I placed a few ads in the local online sites looking to trade even or buy outright an actual GMC 1958 double headlight or even Chev double. No real prospects after a few months searching.
When I returned to BC, I quickly set upon tearing it apart and checking out the condition.

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More photos

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i like where this is going

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The patina on the hubcaps is beautiful.

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that truck is crazy clean, good find!

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I thought long and hard about which direction to go - modified stock frame hotrod style or custom more modern chassis swap? I've read every Task Force and Advanced Design post on this forum to help form an opinion.
Just look how straight those frame rails are !

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Then removed the oiled tar coated plywood floor from underneath - carefully 'cause its really heavy - to clean up the rockers and inner rears.

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Plywood floor leaning up, a little rust in random locations - driver side rocker bottom 2 inches a bit rough, but with no aftermarket pieces available, bent some metal up on the brake. Its an easy match. Pass side really clean, but a few small holes in the step well - thats an inexpensive part, $80 CAD at KMS Tools.

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More photos

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fisrtly, where the heck did you find a pretty rust free truck in BC?
secondly, nice work. have you decided on what to do with the frame yet? it may come down to what you wanna use for power as well, what the frame you choose can handle, what it will have for brakes, axle, etc.
there is a thread on here that shows a fella who put a '58 panel on top of a gmc envoy or chevy trailblazer frame (actually, a saab frame) and some of the body was used I think. there are a couple of other builds using the chevy trailblazer or gmc envoy as a donor as well. maybe it takes away some of the value of the finished unit, compared to an original frame, but if you modify the original frame then, for me, it is 6 of one and a half dozen of the other.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=823156
another on a trailblazer but not a panel truck
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=517183
if you google

55-59 chevy truck factory asembly manual

and pick the trifive site, the assembly manual is a free download. I suggest doing that and downloading to a thumb drive so you have access to where all the spot welds are, how things were assembled at the factory and, more importantly for you and a frame dilemma, it has frame dimensional drawings.

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here is a tahoe swap
https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...d.php?t=775165

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here is a 55 on a trailblazer ss frame and floor/firewall
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=782939

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Yes, the far northern parts of Canada, ie Yukon and Northwest Territories are salt free due to their extreme cold temps. The trucks up there and Alaska as well are mostly rust free.
This is an ex-mining truck with a PTO and had a drill rig installed on the front frame horns. U can see the custom hole in the front crossmember for the PTO shaft and the welds on the front horns which held the drill rig. There were long metal framed and Fir wood bench seats in the back on either side for carrying mining folks.

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Thanks for that - yes I have scoured over those threads spending countless hours scheming . . . you can see the 9-7X Aero in the driveway almost stalking the progress . . . and the security crew !

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would you make it a 58-59 if you could come up with the parts? not that I know of any for sure, but there is a guy in Calgary who seems to have a few of these old trucks laying around, and he sells stuff. the later models are just a little longer out front so a little more room for engines, rads, a/c, cooling fans etc. the fenders also lend themselves to being made a little wider. check this thread that has extensive customs done, including widening the front fenders to fit the wider stance.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...766016&page=11
the calgary guy is on kijiji selling trucks last time I looked in the classic cars section. check his other ads or simply message him.
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...ide/1651162320

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i'm sure you already know then, but the trailblazer frames are a lip together unit-front to rear, so they can be made shorter, or longer, as required.

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Yes - I've had the LS2 Aero up the lift a few times to assess with a tape measure - I'm starting to lean towards the 2003 Duramax 2500 chassis - its built the same way but shortening is always easier than lengthening. The tape measuring looks promising - and the truck will live up to the weight rating that way.
I own both potential donor trucks already - both are great, reliable daily use trucks. I really intend on daily working this truck when complete with building materials and towing.
While down unda waiting to get my hands on the project - i drew some inspiration. Actually its acrylic paint on canvas 20'x36"

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Wow...what a great find..!!!!

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maybe something in here with a frame drawing, dunno. they have updated the site and dropped some of the early years.

https://www.gmupfitter.com/light-dut...prior-to-2013/

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[QUOTE=dsraven;9181379]maybe something in here with a frame drawing, dunno. they have updated the site and dropped some of the early years.

Thanks, that GMUpFitter site is a great service to all of us hot-rodder types.
These are what I was examining . . .
'03 Dually 3500 (1-Ton) has a 167" wheelbase.
'55-'59 3800 Series (1-Ton) has a 135" wheelbase.
There is a nice flat spot in the frame rails approx 48" long in front of the fuel tank just looking to be sectioned.

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Hi-light of frame rails of '03 GMC Crew Cab Dually

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Bellos Kustoms over on da UToob does an amazing job of shortening a Chev single cab dually for under a '50 GMC COE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-CohK2_Q0U

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hi finndiesel the biggest problem you will run into is the with of the stance. i put a 2005 dmax under a 55-2 chevy truck short box took 39 inches out of the frame. but had to do a lot of searching to find wheels that would tuck inside of fenders . I ended up getting after market dodge wheels with a +54 offset and they just fit inside the back fenders about 3/8 clearance. another problem is getting the rad (not oem) and air to air to fit in front had to move motor back 1 inch just to get enough room in the front. had to get a different air to air. had to put trans and ac condenser under the box with some fan setups. was not an easy build but can be done. you will also have to have a raised bed as the frame goes up in the back. hope this helps

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also, check the bbeep build on here. he put an AD panel on a trailblazer frame. anyway, I think he used fenders from a bigger truck for the extra width and tire diameter. I was wondering about the track width as well, especially if you aren't gonna lift it way up off the ground.
https://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vbo...=348244&page=8

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make sure you keep that serial plate attached and the rivets just as they are. I had to go through the whole deal of getting a new vin. now it is classified as a vehicle made of parts. the model is 1957. and it ain't cheap to get that done.

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Yes agree - i'm partially through the messy ICBC process for out of province thanks to a new process for hot rodders implemented apparently by someone in the provincial ranks with a soft spot for classics. Had to get approval from head office to apply. The rego is BC now, just need the actual inspection after complete.

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on mine, it was a good thing I kept the original bill of sales for both trucks and I had lots of pics showing the completed trucks before tear down, with pics of the vin plates attached, and also during teardown as the inspector wanted to see those. I guess it is a good thing they are thorough, they make sure you didn't just steal a truck from a farmers field or steal parts or a vin plate from something else. do your best to keep the vin plate and rivets intact, the rivets were actually pretty flimsy on mine abd one nearly fell off by itself. there is no way it needs to be as pricey as it is though, here in Alberta anyways. the system is for cars, trailers etc etc, anything that needs a plate. it used to be you could fab up a utility trailer and just go get a plate for it. 50 bucks or something. no vin required for a utility trailer. now they need a vin like a car and it costs you 1500 bucks for the dude to come and inspect it, oh well, it keeps us honest I guess.

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Looks like a very clean panel, You can focus on making it yours instead of rust repair. You will love a diesel in there.

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Yes I agree - look for the best condition for sure. I also agree to the diesel. I can't wait. At least I get to daily drive my 02 Duramax Silverado in the meantime.
This Welderup '58 build really got me thinking.

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while thats cool it would suck, in my opinion, for a daily driver or work style truck. too high off the ground and probably a leg burner getting in and out. gotta be a grab handle someplace or the steering column gets pulled out all the time (tilt steering wheel column really takes a licking). the wife would def not be coming for the ride without a step of some sort, great idea, just modify it a bit for what you want. I wonder how the little dirt bike gets on the roof rack, lol.
something closer to the ground would suit me better and would be totally doable but would need smaller tires or bigger wheel openings. for a work truck the deck height about like a stock chevy truck bed works better, especially at the end of a hard construction day when you just don't see your butt climbing up to pull a sheet of plywood off the top of the pile in the back. for a weekend warrior, the height may be ok because you don't get in and out that much probably. nothing against welderup stuff, they just aren't usually practical. more like show vehicles for the rat rod and patina crew with soot belching coolness.

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We're not all old guys yet ;)

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yeah, I get it. I've been called mr practical before. haha. have fun gettin in, my knees don't allow that kinda movement anymore, too much dirtbiking, sledding and other sports when I was YOUNG! haha

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Cool project and I am tagging along!

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Got the courage and chopped the firewall out ready for the 03 Duramax swap

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couple more pics

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looks like a big parking spot for that diesel. I highly suggest some cross bracing in the opening but it is your truck so keep plugging away at it with your plan. good idea to keep those hood hinge mount holes intact.