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1951 GMC Bookmobile

Hello everyone

Thought that I would share a metal working and metal shaping project that we are building. Its a 1951 GMC Bookmobile that was from Atchison County, Rock Port, Missouri. In 2000 I found this beast on ebay, it was the first thing I had ever bought off there. I had it shipped up to Vancouver BC, Canada, where it sat for several years while I dreamed up what to do the big girl. After several cold pops and bs sesions a master plan was devised.

So this is what I started with.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010395.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010403.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010397.jpg

As you can see it has little patina, Intially I thought that I could repair what I had...... oh boy!! the further I looked the worse it got. The original 6cyl was stuck and full of water. Good thing cus that little motor was not going to keep up with highway speeds. As I stripped the Interior I exposed the wood structure and that was rotten from end to end.

So a new plan had to be devised!!!

As browsing the interweb I found a wrecking yard in Michigan that had a chassis that would work perfect for what I wanted to build.
The had a brand new workhorse chassis that was destined for a shuttle bus, with a "Front Wheel" drive Duramax Allison combo.....just perfect.

Had the frame shipped up and cut it all up to my specifications, shortend 6' off the back, shortened the wheel base 4' and removed everything else that was in my way.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010525.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010420.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010417.jpg

So with chassis cut down to size I had a rendering done of what I would like to see it look like.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...ront_09red.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...le_Rear_10.jpg

Now the process of tearing it down, We squeesed it in the shop and started cutting, the hoist is going to have to come down to get it back out.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010690.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010688.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010698.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010719.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010723.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010738.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1010745.jpg

We placed the Front section that was left over from the original body, over the chassis. Its way narrower than what the wheel base is on the chassis. The front end is going to have to grow 25%, well every thing on this beast is growing by 25%

We thought it would make more sense to work back to front. So up went the jail cell.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020097.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020100.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020099.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020102.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020103.jpg

After getting the back section all tacked together, we moved on to the front section. First we removed some of the lead to expose the seams.
We are going to do a bit better than this I hope.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020142.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020145.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020146.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020155.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020149.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020132.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020152.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020134.jpg

Taking off the 60 year old running lights it became clear that I had made the right choice to go down this path.

Sema Approved stamped on the light, Awesome!! The world best car show is where its headed then....

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020124.jpg

Very cool project, can't wait to see it finished.

Wow .....now that is an ambitious project , makins of somethin very KOOOL

Man that looks like some heavy duty stuff you are putting under that thing. The rendering is cool.

Thanks Guys, it kinda meets the Protouring Ideals, Bigger Brakes, More power, better handling, may be I can go for a few rounds at the Optima Challenge......lol

That is just straight up bad ass. Lookin good guys:thumbsup: . Great work.

Subd

There's a Divco running around the Northwest -- bright red - with an LS motor I think -- and it's just the coolest hot rod ever! Super flat and straight!

Kool job on this! I'd be interested in how it's going so keep us up to date please!!

My goodness that is all kinds of cool and bad ass! :thumbsup:

Very cool! What size tubing are you using in that jail cell?

Now THIS is a build I'm really lookin forward to...

We have been busy working on some of the other projects in the shop for the last couple of weeks, so progress is a bit slow. I have fabbed up most of the upper front windsheild structures. They look like a pile of pieces on the floor right now, but I will post some pictures in the next few days.

Awesome project I love it!

I may have some stuff you can use..ck your msg's

Since I figured that nothing on the original body would work, we moved the left overs into the belly of the beast for reference. Getting the Imaginary pieces to be in the right proportions and proper locations is tough.
This is where I wish that I was a little bit taller with longer arms. Shes big and awkward, I need a ladder to reach everything. And since I do my best work once everyone has gone home for the day, its been a bit harder.

Note to self: Do not stand or hold onto any bars that are only tack welded or clamped together. Took the first spill the other night, thankfully no one was here to see my fat ass clinging on for dear life!! No Injuries so far.......

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020251.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020246.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020248.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020251.jpg

Here you can see that the fenders are going to need ....... Replacing!!

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020255.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020256.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020261.jpg

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...e/P1020266.jpg

Nice work!

Build yourself some scaffolding before you're crippled.... :D

I need someone tall like Rodger from Ironworks to help out, or you could stand on my shoulders.....Lol

Just a bunch of over sized Midget haters out there... My seat will have lots of adjustment too Greg.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlameBroiled (Post 390007)

I need someone tall like Roger from Ironworks to help out, or you could stand on my shoulders.....Lol

Just a bunch of over sized Midget haters out there... My seat will have lots of adjustment too Greg.

Rodgers shoulders would work - personally HE has no talent... so you'd just use him for a lift.... I was thinking maybe you could get some of those strap on stilts like the sheet rockers use. I've got a couple pair... :willy: :cheers:

Thanks Greg, I may have to take you up on that when it comes time for the roof.

Rodger sorry to hear you have no talent..... thats kinda sad:( :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlameBroiled (Post 390182)

Thanks Greg, I may have to take you up on that when it comes time for the roof.

Rodger sorry to hear you have no talent..... thats kinda sad:( :(

I'm not that far away! But I am the one with no talent! I could hand you tools though... as long as you're not the high up.

Rodger will now beat me up when we're at GNRS next week... :>(

Wow

this is a beast of a project. lOVE THE IDEA Keep posting ..:thumbsup:

Tom

Awesome project. The rendering looks killer