GM 1956 GMC gets an upgrade or two! (1 Viewer)

[Michael B]

I brought this little jewel home two weeks ago. A fellow mudder thought it would look good sitting in my 45. It’s a 71’ Rokon RT-140.

 

[PAToyota]

Then I bought an EZ Chassis Swap kit (second hand, 2 months old and never installed) to mount the 56’ body on the 76’ chassis.

Had to look them up. Too bad they only go to '87 C10 chassis kits. It would be pretty cool to swap an old body onto my 1993 K2500.

E-Z Chassis Swaps

www.e-zchassisswaps.com

 

[Michael B]

@PAToyota I think the track width might be too wide for the older bodies. The square body axles will be slightly wider than my body now.

 

[PAToyota]

Yeah, I put GMT800 seats into my Yukon (GMT400) and they're a tight fit. Along with the horsepower wars, they keep making them bigger as well.

 

[dad4x4]

Awesome project. I’m a little late to your thread but got caught up this morning. This is a project I’ve wanted to do for years. Definitely following along.

 

[Michael B]

I’m supposed to be in Ouray right now for SAS#4. @POTATO LAUNCHER But my 45 is still in the process of having a custom radiator built. So I am taking out my frustrations on some old sheet metal.

This was the end of the day Saturday. I started by grinding the rivets holding the body mount brackets off of the 76’ chassis. After that I mounted the “EZ Chassis Swap” cab mounts. Then I started dismantling the 55’ and transferring body parts to the new chassis. This is all to test and measure for the frame shorting the 76’ frame will need.

 

[Michael B]

This was 3:00 Sunday afternoon.

 

[Michael B]

This was 2:00 today.

 

[Michael B]

In this picture you can see how much the frame needs to be shortened, roughly 10”.

 

[BILT4ME]

In this picture you can see how much the frame needs to be shortened, roughly 10”.

View attachment 2392705

Pick up another bed and extend the bed to the front to make it a "Longhorn!"

 

[Michael B]

It’s already a 8’ 6” long bed!

 

[Michael B]

A week ago Saturday the 76’ chassis with the 55’ body parts attached were delivered to the fabricators shop for the frame adjustment.

This weekend I chopped the remaining 55’ chassis up for scrap.

 

[Michael B]

@BILT4ME I had it advertised for 3 weeks with no interest so it had to go.

 

[BILT4ME]

@BILT4ME I had it advertised for 3 weeks with no interest so it had to go.

I get it. After my Dad passed away in 1992, we had to sell the farm. That meant I had to get rid of all my parts cars for my Studebaker. 13 went to the scrapper. I know it's necessary, but it still makes me sad.

 

[Michael B]

Just so you guys no I haven’t shelved this project, I am still waiting on my fabricator to “nip n tuck” the chassis. He is a very busy fellow, running 3 businesses and having a toddler in the house. I have been gathering parts and adding a few bling items to the 56’. Right now I’m laser focused on finding a NP205 divorced t case. If anyone knows where I can acquire one please drop me a note. It needs to be a passenger side drop so either a GM or Dodge will work but not a Ford.

Thanks and I hope you all will have a blessed holiday season!

 

[Michael B]

I added another a piece to the puzzle this week. I drove up to Chattanooga and picked up this divorced NP205. It’s in good condition but I will need to find the cross member and a shifter.

 

[dad4x4]

Nice score!

 

[BILT4ME]

I added another a piece to the puzzle this week. I drove up to Chattanooga and picked up this divorced NP205. It’s in good condition but I will need to find the cross member and a shifter.

View attachment 2540361

Looks like you'll need a new rail too.

 

[Michael B]

@BILT4ME yes it has a broken shifter shaft, but if I use a twin stick shifter those shafts will be replaced anyway. Good eye!

 

[BILT4ME]

@BILT4ME yes it has a broken shifter shaft, but if I use a twin stick shifter those shafts will be replaced anyway. Good eye!

We've got a 70 K2500 GMC with a NP205 and the shift are is worn as well as the pins. There is a vendor you can buy a lot of replacement parts. I don;t recall the name right now.

Also, I watched a guy show something brief doing a crawler that they pulled the rails, ground off an area, then reassembled. The point was they could have 4H, 4L, Front Drive only or RWD only. I have not found any details anywhere yet. I though this would be interesting to allow using just the front to pull you through something or just the rear to slide it sideways if needed.