GMC winch installing on a gmc original without winch

[gerardsrik]

Hello,

I have a question about installing a winch on a gmc that has original no winch. Is it possible to install a winch that is compleet with chasis peaces without drilling in the original chasis? Wath must i change on my truck witout winch to install the winch?

Why i ask this is that i can buy a complete winch only as said our truck has original no winch but i like the idea of one on our truck.

Thanks a lot,

Rik

[John V Cliche]

Hi Gerardsrik,
Anything is possible if you are willing to put enough money and effort towards it.
How original do you want the installation to appear?
Do you have access to the entire frame ?
Compare your frame and parts to the winch frame and parts .
The original brackets are riveted on, can you install the new parts with rivets? If not you run the risk of diminishing the value of your original truck.
I believe the front spring hangers are different as well , they are also riveted .
The front springs may also need one more leaf to be original.
You will also need to cut your floor for the control lever, and you will need the frame bracket and linkage for the PTO.
I contemplated a swap such as yours before , my interest was in originality so I rebuilt my truck on the winch frame instead.
But this is your vehicle so only you can decide which way to go.
Good luck Hope this helps.

[thierryb]

Hi Rik,

To install the winch you will have to cut the front part of the chassis, and as John said, you will have to change many parts included the left spring bracket + bolt. The chassis extensions and spring brackets should be riveted but on all modified truck I saw until now, they were screwed. A friend of mine made the modification and it was a hard job. If you want to do it, be sure to have all the needed parts before you start cutting your chassis.

Thierry.

[gerardsrik]

Thanks for your input. I think i go for original we love our truck to much to mess with the chassis. And the chanches you named are not easy to do. A original truck seems to me from more value than a winch on it. So maybe there will be a day that we can buy a gmc with winch and keep our first truck original.

Rik

[thierryb]

Good Idea XXXX . If you do not really need a winch it ios better to keep your truck original…


Thierry.

[42cckw]

Hi Rik
I found this article on Gordon's WW2 Army Truck Forum the author is Ranger , maybe this will help you. JIM 42 CCKW

Many collectors but a CCKW w/o winch, and decide later that they want to mount a winch. There are a lot of details that have to be considered when mounting the winch as it is not a simple bolt on conversion. There are front spring shackles for trucks with winch, and front spring shackles for trucks without winch, split and Banjo also have their differences. There are Frame extensions for Split Axle CCKW, and frame extensions for Banjo Axle CCKW. There are Lower Fender Aprons for trucks with Winch, and fender aprons for trucks without winch. The Frame extensions were originally riveted on, and holes will have to be drilled to precisely locate both extensions in the same plane or the Winch, Bumper, and the Brackets, for the Winch and bumper will never line up. Careful attention must be paid to proper location of the mounted winch, or the Winch Drive Shaft may have problems with the Exhaust ipe. Further back there are two style PTOs, early, and late, both require a reenforcement bracket that goes from the Transmission cover to the PTO, and there are two style brackets. The control lever is specific to the style PTO and thert are parts necessary to install the lever on the transmission. The floorboard for a CCKW w/wn has a precise hole for the control lever and the lock. Oh, and there is a spacer and shim that is necessary to precisely install the PTO.

I wonder how many have actually ended up with a correctly installed winch that works as intended.

[dr deuce]

I believe that there are 2 rivets (one per side) that you cannot get at. The 1st part riveted to the frame is the extension.

Also, you have to cut the end of the frame off. You cannot go back.....

[gerardsrik]

I think you all have me safed from making a big mistake. It all looked to well but reading your input on this subject brrrrrrr. Well again thanks for the advice.

Rik