54' GMC rat rod project.

[JPistheman]

so my gramps has had this 54' under a cover for years now and ive always said im ganna get it running and im ganna do this and that.
well now is the time.
i want something big.
and as fiftyfordfloored said. i dont want to throw a 350 in like everyone else.
i want it to be unique.
i want me and my gramps to be able to cruise down to shows in it. so i want it to be street legal. but bad ass.
im open to all ideas. i wanna hear what you guys think and i wanna get this thing on the road once again.

Grill

pass rear wheel well only body damage. pic looks worse. it can be hit out and a lil bondo.
the bed is full of **** now, ive got a 4 day weeken coming up and im planning on taking her out and cleaning her up.

the question is, what cant i fit under that hood

 

[JPistheman]

sorry the pics are so big if someone could size those down it would be great..

nevermind there good.

 

[fiftyfordfloored]

That thing's in nice shape ...

Options I think would be bad to the bone include but are not limited to:

- 472/500 Cadillac with old school Hillborn injection
- 401 Buick Nailhead with maybe a tri-power setup
- 350-455 Buick
- 425 Oldsmobile
- 326-455 Pontiac with a Weiand blower of some sort...
- 305/351/401 GMC V6. Not real powerful but lots of torque, and interesting
- 250 Pontiac OHC 6 w/turbo(s)

Most of the above (Buick, Olds, Pontiac and Caddy) bolt up to the 200R4 automatic if you want an automatic trans with OD. If you want 5-6 speed manual, I have no idea what fits. Richmond?

A nice 9 inch Ford or GM 12 bolt would be nice too. I know on my '50, the rear end can only hold about 200 HP before it will blow up. The old '50s trucks were never really designed to take huge amounts of big block power, just reliable "around the farm" 4's, 6's and a low low low output V8s. Pretty much means your gonna do a complete drive train update.

 

[JPistheman]

so ive decided to go with a 500 caddy motor,

figuring about 400hp 550torque

this weeken im going to pull it out and do a lil body work, clean her up and get some more pics.

 

[Bruces expo]

that's a sweet project truck , i have a 1953 ford f 100 that im building with my dad as a father son project , it has a 1969 boss 302 mustang motor with a 4 speed in the floor ,im planing to shave the door handles and tailgate smooth !! , with 78 ltd steering components and a 9" ford rear end with posi and disc brake's all the way around !! and also a custom fabed air ride susp !!!

 

[JPistheman]

thanks

very nice. gata love the father son projects. im not as into looks as performance. as you are shaving the handles and all id rather be fabbing up a new bed to shed 500pounds off.
haha.. kinda red neck i guess.
anyways, good luck on your project!

 

[Bruces expo]

thanx same to you , im planing a motor and trans swap for a 429 cobra jet , and a c6 trans , and also a lil juice too lol

 

[JPistheman]

alcohol is always good

what kinda 0-60 are you getting with the 302?

 

[Bruces expo]

nothing special . ive never took it to the track so i cant get a acurate reading for my 0-60 times , or anything , and also i wasnt talking about alcohol , i was thinking NoS

 

[JPistheman]

oh i know. same thing. different names. slang..

lol