Starting on the 39 Chevy Truck

After 11 or 12 years of sitting behind the garage, I decided it's now or never since I'm not getting any younger. At this point I don't think anything I would do to it would make it any worst then sitting and rusting away. First step was air up the rear tires and see if it would move. I'm going to give it a good cleaning first then spray everything with WD 40 so the hinges will work freely.

The Wife is not afraid to get her hands dirty either, the smell was something after all of those years, and even the cats could only take so much!!!

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Richard

More Truck pictures, if I can make progress I'll get some good pictures, these were with the cell phone. I think Buddy (the Cat) has already decided it's a Rat Rod or at least it smells like a Rats house.

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Richard

Richard The truck besides surface rust doesn't seem to bad of shape. Are you planning to restore or hot rod it?

Cool old truck, what are your plans?

Richard I have been waiting for this! Good to see you jump in! The body looks great, as does that old engine! What are you thinking to do to the old beauty?:D Steve.

Chevy 37, and Steve
It's been way too long, and I have many things going on but I figured what the heck. The wife is pretty willing to pitch in also. I'm going to put a few more pictures on to show what the mice will do.

I'm hoping to put it on an S 10 or try to follow what Don did with building the frame. The truck was really in good shape when I bought it but that sitting will take a toll. I don't think the term Rat Rod was around when I bought it. So my plans were to make a Street Rod Truck, later model pickup bed but now times have changed so it may just be a rat rod, it sure smells like one. I tried to clean it out the best I could today, sprayed the hinges and the doors shut good as does the hood. I even cranked the window out but broke the knob on the crank.

I'm going to try to figure out how to remove the cab from the frame, leave the drive train, maybe sell it or with the high price of junk today that might be the way to go.
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Richard

Looks like it's in too good a shape to turn into a rat-rod. If it was me, I'd keep it a flat bed, just to be different............but then, I'm into big "utility" type trucks.

If I had a lot of money to spend, it would make a nice car hauler. I messed up letting it sit outside. The last time it was plated was 1968 then it set in a barn until I got it.

Richard

Anything you don't want or info on the truck you may need, you may want to wonder over to Stovebolt.com. You may find that is someone wanting any of drivetrain you're want to get rid of plus any info you can't find....joe

Good to know you are doing even a little better. I was thinking about your username yesterday when I was messing with the truck, I have too many also, projects if that what your name means. If it's surgeries again I've also had too many too count!!!!!!!!

I was hoping if I could get the body off with the drive train still together someone wanting to do one original would be interested.

Thanks for the tip, and we all hope you get back to the garage soon.

Richard

Well Richard years ago even before I came on the BIGG W.W.W. the name started out as a play on the number of cars/trucks I had over the years. At one time it was over 300. Then it was a play on the number of projects I had going at one time. Now it seems it includes everything from the number of vehicles I've owned to the number of surgeries I have had which now something like 25 give or take one or two.

On your project, IF its like the 47-55 Chevy's the front clip is different then the 1/2ton ones, longer & wider & as you can see the wheelwell opening are HUGE. Like I said go on over the Stovebolt & roam around you'll be surprised w/the info you will find, plus I do believe there is a member or two w/trucks like yours that have done the S10 frame swap. Look through the photo gallery of the member trucks & you may find them faster....joe

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Originally Posted by TooMany2count

Well Richard years ago even before I came on the BIGG W.W.W. the name started out as a play on the number of cars/trucks I had over the years. At one time it was over 300. Then it was a play on the number of projects I had going at one time. Now it seems it includes everything from the number of vehicles I've owned to the number of surgeries I have had which now something like 25 give or take one or two.

On your project, IF its like the 47-55 Chevy's the front clip is different then the 1/2ton ones, longer & wider & as you can see the wheelwell opening are HUGE. Like I said go on over the Stovebolt & roam around you'll be surprised w/the info you will find, plus I do believe there is a member or two w/trucks like yours that have done the S10 frame swap. Look through the photo gallery of the member trucks & you may find them faster....joe

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Joe, I did get over to the stovebolt site while I was still up last night/early this morning. I found a guy that put a truck like mine on a 4X4 78 frame. I have an 86 Chevy 4X4 that has a 1976- 454, the body is rusted pretty bad, at one time I thought about that swap. I too have had 20 surgeries give or take and need four more surgeries. I'm leaning for something a little bit more in the comfort area now like (Chevy 37's) truck. I lost count of the cars I had 20 years ago. I could remember each one and it was over 100 since then I've probably had another 100. I have some property in the country, no close neighbors, I have counting the projects 19 now. I would like to reduce that down to about three. My wife still lets me know when she see's an old car so what can I do but go get it!!!!!!! Some of the cars I have are worth more in scrap by today's prices.

Richard

Does she cook too? You are a lucky guy!:3dSMILE:

cool truck

I say keep the flatbed.

Here is my 48 chevy flatbed on a 91 extended cab S-10 (122" wheelbase). The rear is a camaro. Wheels are 20x8.5 Centerlines on all four corners (255/35 front 275/55 rear tires)


http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMG_0307.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMG_0318.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/IMG_0288.jpg

Cape Cod Bob
She can cook but she lets me do a lot of it these days, she say’s I do a better job. I get proud and I’m not the wiser when she tells me how good it is.

Jarred Hodges

If I had tried doing it when I first got it, it wouldn’t be so much work today but if I can put it on an S10 or something smaller it would be kind of nice.

Flipper 1938

Your truck looks good, stance is really nice plus the wheels, if you have a build section on this site I wouldn’t mind getting some tips. At first I wanted to put a modern bed on it, and make it a street rod truck. I’m just trying to get it cleaned up for now and get the rotted bed off, they go fast sitting outside in are location.

Richard

Richard, employing the white cat is a good start. Cats scare the mice and rats off, so once the nests are cleaned out no worries about reinfestation!:D
I think it would be cool if it fit on the s10 frame. Lots of guys here seem to use them, and there are a lot of inexpensive s10's to be had. It would simplify a lot of stuff mechanically. She sure looks like a big truck though! Maybe a beefier frame from a 1500 or 2500 might be in order. Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by ford2custom

Flipper 1938

Your truck looks good, stance is really nice plus the wheels, if you have a build section on this site I wouldn’t mind getting some tips. At first I wanted to put a modern bed on it, and make it a street rod truck. I’m just trying to get it cleaned up for now and get the rotted bed off, they go fast sitting outside in are location.

Richard

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http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28959

Steve, the cats love that truck. I hope they are not too disappointed by me cleaning it out. I have a 76 Chevy 1/2 ton short wheel base truck in my collection. I wonder if it would work but other people seemed to think the S10would be better. As soon as I can get the bed off I'll have a better idea.

I forgot to mention that I have a 76 Nova 10 bolt rear end, Do you think it would work since the Camaro worked for you? I had one under my last 55 Checy.


Flipper 1938 Thanks for the link I will check it out.

My 4 year old grandson gave it a paint job over the weeken.
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Richard

I made a little progress today. I got the rotted bed off in pieces. I'm going to tackle the cab next I hope!!!!!!!



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Richard

That'll make a reeaall nice truck! I've got a neighbor with 3. It'll take all 3 to make one though. :D Yours looks to be in real good shape. Keep us updated.

Dave G

Thanks, if I could get mine to look half as good as yours I would be happy. I will try to stay with it. After all of these years of having the truck it's kind of getting exciting. That bed was a mess, and the back of the cab has two little spots that the rust has broken through.

Richard

Richard looking good. The little pin hole aren't too bad. I just filled them in with the mig welder(hard with thin metal), or backed them with another piece of steel, if the patch spot waould be covered bu interior trim(much easier) and then body filled them. I like the metal to metal badoy putty for stuff like that. It gets in there rock hard!
That drive shaft looks to be 20feet long! Big truck! Now that you started, just go with it, and do a little each day!:D

Thanks, I'm going to try to stay with it even though I have other projects I started before this one, and stopped. I think waiting for the Rat Rod scene to come along has helped me, as I won't have to chrome and polish so much. Primer will work if I can get it up and running.

Richard

I say either leave the finish as is or go all the way to straight and painted.....anything in between looks halfway done.

just my $.02

FYI....not messing up rusty parts is harder than it sounds. I had to do the frame swap without ever removing the front cap because I didn't think I could put it back the way it was without it looking tampered with (especially the grill). ......Yeah, I know that was a stupid concept. :)

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/...321/garage.jpg

What about the area's on the backside of the cab, is there anyway to keep it from getting worst and still look natural?

Another question: To take the cab off could I just cut the floor so I wouldn't have to take the trans shifter, e-brake, clutch out, just take the steering column out since I would be sitting it on another frame?

Richard

My guess is that the rust through is from the inside where debris got trapped.

Clean out the debris and maybe glue a sheetmetal patch over the holes (from the inside) should stop it from getting any worse and keep water out of the truck and you won't have any burnt paint from welding in a patch.

How's the truck coming?

falconvan, It started out doing pretty good but with winter coming fast I had to stop. It seems like every year no matter hard I try to be prepared I always end up out in the cold. With propane so high these days I'm trying to stop some of the heat loss in the garage. I will say I'm at least happy that we got the rotted bed off so it looks better, and I hope I can get the cab off the frame maybe before too long.

I wish I could be making progress like you, you’re really hitting your's fast and furious. Keep up the good job, thanks for asking.


Richard

Richard do you have room in the garage to work on the truck? Some of my friends who hace fairly big shop spaces have put wood stoves in there to heat them during winter work times. You can pick up an old wood stove for cheap or even build one using 55 gallon drums and a kit here at Lehman's.
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/prod...iProductID=199
Now that you got some momentum would love to have some fellow truck builders to inspire me on!:D

I've heard some good things about this S10 conversion kit as far as ease and quality of the installation, I think I'm gonna order one for my '51 Chev and put it on an S10 chassis as well. I realize they only list to 1941 but they have a picture of a 1940 using the universal swap kit. Even if you don't buy it they have some info on wheelbase and such as well as a cutaway pic to give you some idea of what's needed to put it on the S10.

http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/index.htm

Like they said the body looks great and I've seen lots of truck boxes going for cheap around here from guys building the Rat Rods using only the cab. As far as fixing the pinholes someone here gave me the idea of using a small piece of copper sheet held in some vice grips. I bend it to fit in behind the hole then hit it with the Mig, it takes some of the heat and keeps it from burning a big hole. Works great.

Keep plugging away, I love seeing these old trucks.

Sean

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Originally Posted by stovens

Richard do you have room in the garage to work on the truck? Some of my friends who hace fairly big shop spaces have put wood stoves in there to heat them during winter work times. You can pick up an old wood stove for cheap or even build one using 55 gallon drums and a kit here at Lehman's.
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/prod...iProductID=199
Now that you got some momentum would love to have some fellow truck builders to inspire me on!:D

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Steve, my garage is pretty full of junk, I have an area I try to keep open for things I have to work on to keep the daily drivers running. I had the two-barrel stove at my last house before running a gas line. I did some bodywork with it in some pretty cold weather. Until I can do it right I just use tarps to block off the area’s I’m not working in.

If I can get the cab off outside then I could bring it in the garage, I see a lot of guys using a wood frame with wheels too move the cab around.

Richard

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Originally Posted by sgo70

I've heard some good things about this S10 conversion kit as far as ease and quality of the installation, I think I'm gonna order one for my '51 Chev and put it on an S10 chassis as well. I realize they only list to 1941 but they have a picture of a 1940 using the universal swap kit. Even if you don't buy it they have some info on wheelbase and such as well as a cutaway pic to give you some idea of what's needed to put it on the S10.

http://www.e-zchassisswaps.com/index.htm

Like they said the body looks great and I've seen lots of truck boxes going for cheap around here from guys building the Rat Rods using only the cab. As far as fixing the pinholes someone here gave me the idea of using a small piece of copper sheet held in some vice grips. I bend it to fit in behind the hole then hit it with the Mig, it takes some of the heat and keeps it from burning a big hole. Works great.

Keep plugging away, I love seeing these old trucks.

Sean

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Sean, I checked out the link, that is what I'm hoping I can do, as it would be the least expensive way to go. Trying to do everything from scratch frame, suspension, and so on.

Thanks for the link.

Richard