1940 GMC Rat Rod

It's a GMC

Dennis McFarlane

Around ten years ago, I had just finished a 1929 Ford Tudor high boy. Rat rods were becoming popular and I just wanted to build something form scratch. Something different and unique. Growing up, I built model cars from scratch. As time progressed, my interest in creating and building did as well. I'm building my 3rd rat rod truck now.

I would say it took about a year and a half to build the Forty GMC aka Jimmy The Rat.

I have been building hot rods and rat rods for 10years. I am sixty-eight years old and a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to building hot rods. But I have been dreaming about them al my life.

I am a lone wolf.

In the future, I plan to continue building hot rods and customs. My forty-nine Chevy coupe is next and then 1931 Chevy four door sedan street rod is next. Following that, a 1937 Plymouth four door sedan lowrider bomb will round out my stable.

My 40 GMC began as a body and frame. I found a GMC grille at a junkyard and that is how it became a Jimmy. I didn't use the grill at the time and instead decided to build my own. However, a few years later, I found a Mercedes grill that I forgot I had during the build and I switched up again. But there was no title for the truck. It took four trips to the DMV in Springfield IL, to get the title. Now it is officially titled a "Specially Constructed Vehicle" instead of a "1940 GMC". I bought the frame from the same guy I bought the cab from. I bought the suspension pieces from Speedway and he welded every thing for me. After that, I read magazines and went to car shows to get additional ideas. I have not seen another painted rat rad similar to mine at a show yet.

Thanks to the high school administration where I worked for allowing me to build the truck in the metal shop classroom.

The first build was a 1929 Ford Tudor High Boy. I sold this car to my buddy Dre who turned it into a rat rod.

Chevrolet 1980's small block

v-8

350

It's stock, came out of pickup-truck in Arkansas. Has been running strong, have not done any work on it.

Edelbrock intake and carburator.

A little here and there

Yes it has one

Got it out of a Chevy truck at the junkyard

School where I worked as a Dean of Students and at home.

I think 2x3 tubing, built by Grahm's Garage in Windfall, Indiana. He also welded on all of the suspension components.

Zeed in the front and slanted kick up in the back.

Grahm's Garage, Windfall, Indiana

All static drop, it's about 4 inches off the ground, which means swerving around man hole covers and pot holes.

Chrome Speedways

Coil overs

Speedways

Front transverse from Speedway

In the rear

Some chrome, polish when I take it to the shows, and it's painted New Holland Red.

Chrome reverse rims in the front.

Chrome reverse rims in the rear.

15 inches

15 inches

Don't know, but they have whitewalls

Don't know that either, but big whitewalls in the back

New Holland Red from Farm and Fleet

Don't know, but I mixed it up and poured it in a Wagner electric spray painter and painted it in the metal shop driveway.

No graphics, pin striping by "Skully" of Bradley, Illinois

Owner

No

No, but I carry a tarp to cover up engine bay

70's Mercedes

No way, I cruise nice and slow

A lot of gingerbread, see pics

No mods to cab. Shortened 60's Chevy bed. Homebuilt stepsides and rear roll pan.

Owner

Stock

Sunpro w a stock speedo out of a 49 Chevy car.

red glitter from Speedway

Homebuilt with a shifter boot made from a toaster

Pioneer

I don't know that, but I can crank it up enough to turn heads

Got 4 Pioneers in the cab, two in the kick panels and two behind the seats.

Nope, too high tech for me

My buddy Steve Taylor

Lokar with extend chrome shaft with a clear crystal knob.

Junkyard buckets

No tint, I want people to see who's driving this rat rod

Shortened bed, the battery and toolbox is located under the bed floor. The gas tank is housed in a 1920's trunk in the bed under the read window.

Seats are tuck and roll.

See pics

Mike's Upholstery in Olny, Illinois