As with most older GM trucks in our Feature Truck Series, this month’s special was a vehicle bought new for hauling. The ¾-tons were more heavy-duty than a ½-ton, so often these rural trucks were used until their repair needs finally overcame the price of just buying another, often a used truck. In rural areas, these were sometimes parked beside a back pasture fence for an unknown future. The time it took for a farmer to haul them to a town salvage yard was not financially practical.
This month’s 1950 ¾-ton GMC with deluxe cab was also left forgotten until discovered by John Harrigan of Prairie Village, Kansas. He grew up on a family farm near Girard, Kansas. It is still owned as the family farm of several generations (where John grew up through his school years).
His first vehicle was an older 1949 Ford ½-ton pickup with an original flat head V-8 engine. When you are on a high school budget (as John was), you are often thankful for a nearby salvage yard to keep it going! He would not have sold it several years later, but a few bills needed to be paid all about the same time.
Several years later John enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and stayed with them until he retired 21 years later. Then he moved back to Girard. NOTE: In the Marines he was a pilot of a large helicopter with a crew of five. Two of the years, he flew in the Gulf War (1990-1991). What an unsafe place to be during an active war flying over enemy territory in a helicopter!
During these many years, one’s thoughts often go back to earlier years and also what might be planned after returning to the states. This is how this Feature Truck began!
Being acquainted with the area surrounding Girard, John began to sometimes watch for a small pickup that he could drive again as in his early years. No rush! If he found one locally, he would store it until the time a restoration was practical.
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Surprise, John found this abandoned GMC Pickup beside a farm back pasture fence. NOTE: What was even more of a surprise was a truck found in the same way as our Feature Truck for September 2023. A forgotten out-of-sight pickup by a farm fence was discovered by a retired career Navy person with many years in the military before he retired. He too waited until the restoration time was right. Check that article!
Even though he found that special truck to restore, he was not ready to take on the big undertaking. He had full time employment and a young, active family.
Therefore, the GMC was placed in one of the storage barns on his family farm. John’s family now lives over 115 miles away near Kansas City. With dry storage, he was not concerned with the time available for this project.
He certainly had time to study all things to expect in the coming restoration as well as the GMC parts stores in the Midwest. The truck had been in storage out of the weather for over 20 years before he decided how this project would proceed!
The Restoration Person
He finally made a wise decision for himself. As much as it sounded nice, the big fact remained. He had never attempted a major restoration of this size. It was time to change course! He found a person in Girard, Kansas that had this talent. Mr. Paul Totman had been through this a few times, and was willing to start and finish the job. John would supply the parts and some guidance. Paul did the labor. Great combination.
John reserved one of the jobs for himself. A 1903 grade school was torn down in Girard and he salvaged enough of the 125-year-old yellow pine boards to be used for the 9-board bed floor. Nice touch!
It required John and Paul 1½ years to create a new 1950 GMC. Then it was open for public viewing!
The Driving Mechanicals
Now details on the extras John and Paul added to this chosen GMC to make it more highway friendly.
This original 1950 GMC six-cylinder was in need of a major overhaul. Probably why it was set by the back pasture fence! Paul had a connection with one very good running 235 Chevy six-cylinder and it fit a GMC very well.
The original differential came with a lower geared ratio of 4.57. Great for hauling heavy loads on non-high speed highways. Doing this hauling is not what a 70-year-old pickup does in today’s world. John updated to a 3.73 ratio unit from a different truck. What a difference!
While the differential was being replaced, Paul’s suggestion was to replace the original 4-speed transmission with a later model Muncie 4-speed (about 1989-1990) and thus a traditional one-piece drive shaft could be used.
In regards to the GMC’s original split rim 8-bolt wheels, John wanted, if at all possible, a more modern one-piece rim. Changing the drums to non 8-bolt would be a major undertaking. Surprise, he found newer 6-bolt 15” wheels and drilled a small screw hole for each hub cap securing clip fastener. Placement of the clips was important so the ¾-ton larger hub caps could fit perfectly. See attached photos. Good job!
The Final
The restored 1950 GMC is a ¾-ton. Wheel base of 125”, gross weight 5,800 pounds, and 8-foot long, 9-board wood bed. Color is Narva Green on a 5-window deluxe cab.
Just a final note: John was successful with postponing the restoration of his 1950 GMC until the three children were older. He and his wife (a retired middle school teacher) have two daughters; a nurse practitioner and a school teacher. Their son will soon finish medical school and begin his residency as a family practice doctor.
John can be reached at: jharrigan403@gmail.com
