This 1948 GMC 100 pickup is a half-ton short bed that originally saw use as a logging mill truck in Felton, California. It was hot-rodded in the late 1950s and early 1960s before being put away in a shop building, where it largely sat parked until the seller’s acquisition from the original owner two years ago. It has since been disassembled and modified with a 350ci small-block V8, dropped front axle, four-link rear suspension, custom interior work, a T5 5-speed manual transmission, and much more as detailed below. The truck is sold with receipts for the recent work, several spare parts, and a Washington state collector vehicle title.

The body was removed from the chassis to correct earlier welding work and perform the chassis modifications listed below. Exterior sheet metal wears substantial wear, fading, and surface corrosion, but no rust-through according to the seller. Wood slats in the short step-side bed were milled from reclaimed VG fir and finished with six coats of teak oil, as well as stainless bed rails and hardware.

This 15-minute video includes an exterior walk-around and tours of the interior and engine bay. Custom powder coated 15×6.5″ and 15×8″ wheels were sourced from Wheelsmith and wear Baby Moon caps as well as Coker Classic wide whitewall radials with 2016 date codes. Lighting is from Hella H4 headlamps up front, Chevrolet reproduction items in the rear, and a working spotlight on the driver’s side. Rubber weather stripping, cowl vent seals, and wind lacing were replaced throughout.

Interior sheet metal was stripped and refinished with epoxy primer and a single-stage acrylic enamel top coat. Insulation was added to the floor, firewall, and roof before installation of the seating, trim, carpet kit, and rubber firewall pad. A 1956 GMC bench seat was reupholstered in caramel vinyl with plaid Pendleton wool, which was also used as a headliner material. Door panels were fabricated from Douglas fir plywood and finished with teak oil. Three-point seat belts were added for the driver and passenger along with a lap belt for the middle passenger. A recirculating heater includes a defroster and new copper core and features adjustments for heat and fan speed.

A new wiring harness was installed with a modern blade-type fuse box and signal flashers. Windshield wipers were converted to multi-speed electric operation. A Retrosound Motor 2 radio features Bluetooth and is linked to JL Audio and Infinity speakers in the dash and under the seat. The door lock, glove box, and fresh ignition cylinder are operated with the same key, and four copies are provided. NVU gauges include a tachometer, oil pressure gauge, and an odometer that currently shows 1,200 miles. Additional upgrades include a Signal Stat 900 turn signal switch, an air horn, and replacement of all interior trim fasteners with stainless screws.

The Chevrolet 350ci small-block V8 replaced a seized Oldsmobile 371 and was built by the seller with a low-mile 4-bolt bottom end with moly rings as well as a Comp Cams camshaft and double-row timing gear. Pro Comp aluminum cylinder heads use 190cc intake runners and 64cc chambers with 2.02″ and 1.60″ valves. Additional upgrades include Isky Superlifters, hardened pushrods and guide plates, and stainless roller rockers. A late October compression test reportedly yielded readings of 164-171 psi across all eight cylinders.

Induction is from a Holley 650cfm carburetor and Weiand dual-plane aluminum intake manifold. Exhaust is via stainless block-hugger headers and mandrel-bent 2.5” piping through an X-pipe and Magnaflow mufflers. An HEI distributor handles ignition, and cooling duties are filled by a 3-row aluminum radiator with a 16” pusher fan. A new 18-gallon fuel tank was mounted under the bed. A small oil leak is noted from the rear main seal.

The freshly rebuilt T5 5-speed manual gearbox was fitted with a new 11” clutch and pressure plate as well as a Lokar shift lever and Pro 5.0 short shifter. Power is sent to through a new driveshaft to a Ford 8.8” differential with 3.73 gears, Ford Performance carbon limited-slip discs, and fresh outer axle bearings. Braking is from a dual master cylinder and power booster actuating discs at all four wheels, and new tapered roller bearings were fitted up front.

The frame was stripped, crossmembers were welded in along with rear fuel tank supports, and the chassis was finished in two-part epoxy primer and single-stage urethane paint. Rear suspension is a triangulated four-link system using coilovers with 250 lb springs. The stock front axle was dropped 3″ by Nostalgia Sid’s and received new kingpins, steering arms, and ball joint-converted tie rods. Further handling upgrades include a power steering conversion and a Classic Parts front sway bar.

This video shows the truck being driven on surface streets, back roads, and highways. The seller has added approximately 2,000 miles of mixed driving since completion of the work.

A burnout video is provided above. Hundreds of additional photos are available upon request, and all receipts for the recent work are included along with a set of factory hubcaps, a second pair of side windows, a spare 1948 grille with surface rust but no damage, and black California license plates.