56 GMC Aussie Style

[Red Foreman]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

I hope I don't come across as the dumb american but aren't there any cool Holden or Ford tidbits that can be salvaged at a yard there? I've pulled stuff off of chevy, ford, volvo, BMW, and even one porsche part in the process of getting mine together. There have been a couple of aussie cars I've dreamed about having here.

Yeh we do have heaps of salvage yards that wreck locally made late model Holden, Ford as well as Japanese, European & Korean vehicles. There are some parts that i'll be using, as an example, the tailshaft & trans crossmember out of a early 70s Holden Monaro(you won't find at salvage yards) which ran Aussie built 253, 308ci & 350 sbc with T400 transmissions.
Just as matter of interest what type of Aussie cars were you interested in?? There were some Holden & Ford Aussie muscle cars built in the late 60s early 70s that are very desirable. Here is a pic of a 1973 Holden 'HQ' Monaro,apart from obvious (wheels) can you tell that its a GM vehicle?

[OrrieG]

Looks Chevelle/Pontiac-ish. Lots of those Aussie muscle cars in the early Mad Max movies.

[Rods57]

"Little GTO...."

[Red Foreman]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Looks Chevelle/Pontiac-ish. Lots of those Aussie muscle cars in the early Mad Max movies.

Yes I agree, I thought there was alot of Pontiac & Chevy influence in the design of the mid 71 on 'HQ' Holden that basic chassis/platform lasted around ten years.
The subframe looks like a 70s Chevelle type, Holden V8s were Aussie designed but kinda resemble Olds engines, here's a rear shot of a HQ coupe with factory opt stripes. Also an engine pic.

[OKGMC4]

Yep, I like the Monaro and the Falcons too. I know it's like a Torino but there sure aren't any of them in my neck of the woods! I'd love to chop up an old FJ and do sort of an EFIJY look alike (but home built). I really love El Caminos and you guys are known for the utes. There are some really cool ones that would stand out here. I even like the new Ute SS. Tons of power and big brakes with a six speed and a bed in the back - very cool. I just like anything different. These tri five GMC trucks are hard to find here compared to the chevys. I'd also like a canadian Mercury pickup or one of the brazilian chevy pickups. Take one to a car show here and nobody would know what to make of it!

[Red Foreman]

Hey fellas I'm back with a little update on the GMC, still have the cab sitting on a trolley & I was contemplating starting on filling the swiss cheese firewall??....................................................................................... Nah got into some "W" action instead, so I started putting the 348 together, yeh heaps more fun!!!

I ended up having to bore up 0.30", I purchased a set of 11:1cr pistons which by my calculations should net 9.5:1 being a 63 truck engine, due to decomp notch in the block, also has 333 casting heads which have a slight combustion chamber compared to passenger car heads.

Camshaft is a baby hyd Comp Cams 206@50/495 lift, my objective on building this engine was that I just wanted something smooth/torquey for use as a daily shop truck. I will now drown you guys with some pictures

[Red Foreman]

Once I got the heads & oil pan on I masked it up & gave it a couple of coats of VHT Chevy orange, if the wife let me half the house would be painted in this color!

By the way I had my brother in law Angelo modify the oil pan, it needed to be cut down to fit in the Camaro subframe.

[Red Foreman]

Ok this group of pictures are my favourite, so I left the best till last!
This is what what I've been doing over the last two days.

[Red Foreman]

Here's a couple more "just for the road" By the way, I bought this complete rebuilt Tri Power set up from "Rons Tripower" I kinda like the idea of being able to cruise around all day on two barrels untill you need to open them all up

[AUSSIE54]

G'day Red,

Your engine looks fantastic!! I'm also a big fan of the chevy orange paint. Great looking colour indeed. I bet you can't wait to see that bueaty nestled into the engine bay. You should watch out on doing all the fun jobs first though eh?

Regards,

Trently.
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[Kim57]

That looks great. I think the 348/409s are some sweet looking engines.
Kim

[Red Foreman]

Originally Posted by AUSSIE54

G'day Red,

Your engine looks fantastic!! I'm also a big fan of the chevy orange paint. Great looking colour indeed. I bet you can't wait to see that bueaty nestled into the engine bay. You should watch out on doing all the fun jobs first though eh?

Regards,

Trently.
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeh, I should really get a move on the firewall but I don't know where to start, I wish there was somewhere I could go & by round discs to weld in & fill holes instead of cutting them out myself?

Originally Posted by Kim57

That looks great. I think the 348/409s are some sweet looking engines.
Kim

Thanks Kim, I'm just a little nervous whether it will be a tight fit in the Camaro frame, as in steering column/shaft clearance, compared to a BBC they are about 1/2" wider, maybe I should have trial fitted it before hand??

[Kabwe]

Looking really good man.

[Mr Pops]

Nicest looking motor I've seen in a long time!

[oldcouple]

I kinda like the idea of being able to cruise around all day on two barrels untill you need to open them all up

[Mr Pops]

Originally Posted by oldcouple

I kinda like the idea of being able to cruise around all day on two barrels untill you need to open them all up

[1985-GMC]

Sweet engine!

[AUSSIE54]

G'day Red,

What about giving a few laser cutting premises a call and see if you could grab some discs out of their scrap? Or some sheetmetal shops have CNC turret punches but I wouldn't be sure about the variety in sizes that they would run.
Just a thought, but a quick couple of phone calls would give you the answer to see if the idea is worth persuing.

Regards,

Trently.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Red Foreman]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Looking really good man.

Cheers Bam, its an honour coming from you, you have a fair bit of rock star status on this board!

Originally Posted by Mr Pops

Nicest looking motor I've seen in a long time!

Originally Posted by 1985-GMC

Sweet engine!

Thanks fellas, I can't walk past it without looking at it atm.... Geez aren't we all big kids when it comes to our hobby's

[Red Foreman]

Originally Posted by AUSSIE54

G'day Red,

What about giving a few laser cutting premises a call and see if you could grab some discs out of their scrap? Or some sheetmetal shops have CNC turret punches but I wouldn't be sure about the variety in sizes that they would run.
Just a thought, but a quick couple of phone calls would give you the answer to see if the idea is worth persuing.

Regards,

Trently.
Posted via Mobile Device

Not a bad idea Trent but the way our country is going atm with manufacture closing down all over the place I maybe better off calling China or India for scrap discs Seriously though, I'm 10min out of Dandenong, I might do a little research & see if anyone down that way has anything.

[Denee007]

Hi! I know what you mean about the holes! you have a really neat shop and I love your dog!! ; ) What I've kind of tried in making plugs, my trial was using a hole saw; first I used about a 1.25" hole saw, made a hole in a piece of wood, then used that as a template over the metal secured the piece of wood with large welding vice grips. removed the pilot bit so I wouldn't have another hole to fill, and drilled out a nice plug! However, I don't have a great variety of hole saws, as there are so many sizes of holes to fill, so I guess it's time to purchase a hole saw kit! ; ) It's a pesky job easily put off to do more fun things! lol

Melbourne~ I sold a '57 Chevy Bel-air to a really neat man in Melbourne about 6 months ago! His name is Tony and he is also an Elvis impersonator and others celebrities. I kind of miss his phone calls, he was fun to talk with and do business with!
You and your friends are remarkable and you truck is fabulous! However, even with my tenny shoes on, when using a torch, I'm amazed how those little sparks find their way into my shoes!! I can't imagine cutting in flips!
; ) Dne'

Originally Posted by Red Foreman

Yeh, I should really get a move on the firewall but I don't know where to start, I wish there was somewhere I could go & by round discs to weld in & fill holes instead of cutting them out myself?

Thanks Kim, I'm just a little nervous whether it will be a tight fit in the Camaro frame, as in steering column/shaft clearance, compared to a BBC they are about 1/2" wider, maybe I should have trial fitted it before hand??

[Red Foreman]

Thanks Denee, Looks like there maybe a race on who can fill their firewall holes up first

Did a bit of painting on friday afternoon before locking up shop for the weekend. Carmen was at it again, he was happy to stay back after work & help out with a little painting. We cracked out the LIC semi gloss again & managed to paint the diff, backing plates, drums, U'bolts & spring plates that I scored from a Holden Crewman which is basically a current dual cab ute "only expect aussies to know this".

We also masked up the fenders & went over the rad support & inner fender walls that I had previously painted in supposedly matt black.... well it looked like crap, it was flat & resembled more like an old school black board, I didn't like it so it had to be done again!

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[AUSSIE54]

Great looking stuff there Red! There's no holding you back is there? They way you're going I think you'll be tripping down the road in no time!!

Regards,

Trent.
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[JML55]

Nice work.