Thread: My First Project: 52 Chevy Pickup

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Been waiting for years to get a vehicle like this, and finally have found one, a 52 Chevy. Wanting to put a 350 in place of the 6, but just thinking where to start right now, what do you guys think??

OK, sit down and figure out what you want the truck to be when finished. How do you want it to drive? Automatic or stick? All street or some drag race? What percentage? Power brakes or reasonable manual brakes? Armstrong steering or power steering? Stock suspension or different? If different, do you want to buy something ready to install and bolt in or weld in or do you want to do a clip swap yourself or a frame swap or whatever? How much of this work can you do yourself? Do you have a place to work on the truck? Do you have tools? Do you have time? Do you have money?

If you have time, place, money, knowledge and tools, start at the rear of the truck. Either buy a pre-engineered 4-link rear suspension or design and build your own using coilovers or coils and shocks. If you know nothing about designing a suspension, don't let that stop you. I, along with others on this site, can point you in the right direction. It ain't rocket surgery. It's just plain old hot rodding and a little geometry. Oftentimes it's just as simple as swapping in another rear clip, like maybe one from a '78-'86 GM G body (Malibu, Monte Carlo, El Camino, Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal). The track on these cars is very close to the track of the old truck, so it wouldn't look goofy like some swaps do. If this idea appeals to you, begin searching around your area for a derelict donor car. You may decide you'd like to use the front clip out of it also for the power steering and power disc brakes. Motor mounts would already be in place to accept the small block Chevy.

The rear that's in the truck now will not hold up very long with a modern V8 up front, so you'll have to change out the rear anyway. May as well get it over with first. If you lose interest in the old truck, it will be more saleable with the rear done and no motor than it would be with a hot rod motor and stock rear. Anyway, that's how I see it.

Here's an article I wrote for the Crankshaft Coalition Wiki. It was for the benefit of one of the members on this forum who was frame swapping an International pickup....Read through it and see if it sounds like something you would like to tackle...with help of course.
http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Frame_Swap

I'll only add to what Richard said, Plan your work, Work your plan!!! A build always goes best when you decide on a "theme" for the truck!!!! If you're artistically inclined or have a friend that is work through some sketches of the look you want when it's done.

As this is your first build of such a project, take a lot of pics before and during the dissassembly process--it's a great help when prepping things for paint and for assembly to know what parts you'll need.

Also, not meaning to put a stick in your spokes but just a couple things we've all found to be true through the course of a build:
1. It's going to take longer then you thought.
2. It's going to cost more then you thought.

Finally, remember the build isn't a race. Take your time and enjoy the process!!!!! The only things that separates a first rate build from just another truck is fit, finish, and detail!

Thanks a lot fellas. I know I will definitely be returning for Q&A's and ideas! I'm soon to be 21 years old, so I have plenty of time to turn this ole' metal heap into my masterpiece. My senior year should fly by, which will leave more time to work on her. But will make due for the summer while I'm home. Thanks again for direction and support, will keep ya fellas updated

Its great being 21, and having older wiser heads to keep you on track. And what the guys have written above is wisdom that I wish I had at 21.

From my many hot rodding failures I have learned the following:

Buying shine stuff makes your bedroom look cool, but doesnt get the hot rod finished any quicker
Borrowing money at 21 to build your hot rod isnt so wise
Having a 'mechanical mate" is a godsend
Start with the end in mind (and dont change the plan)
Making the hot rod nice and driveable is a good idea
Making a hot rod that looks way cool but is a dog to drive is not a good idea
Drag racing is great fun and very addictive
And addictive costs plenty

If I was 21 and building that truck, I would look doing a frame swap. And dont rule out the Jappa utes from the early 90s either.

Down here they are common, and often rusty and usually cheap. A few of them even have the 5 on 4 1/2 Ford stud pattern, disc brakes and a diff that okay for a mild sbc. If your truck needs floors anyhow, then its not a major to fabricate one to fit a new frame.

All the best with your project.

Todd

Originally Posted by Hot Rod Todd

Its great being 21, and having older wiser heads to keep you on track. And what the guys have written above is wisdom that I wish I had at 21.

From my many hot rodding failures I have learned the following:

Buying shine stuff makes your bedroom look cool, but doesnt get the hot rod finished any quicker
Borrowing money at 21 to build your hot rod isnt so wise
Having a 'mechanical mate" is a godsend
Start with the end in mind (and dont change the plan)
Making the hot rod nice and driveable is a good idea
Making a hot rod that looks way cool but is a dog to drive is not a good idea
Drag racing is great fun and very addictive
And addictive costs plenty

If I was 21 and building that truck, I would look doing a frame swap. And dont rule out the Jappa utes from the early 90s either.

Down here they are common, and often rusty and usually cheap. A few of them even have the 5 on 4 1/2 Ford stud pattern, disc brakes and a diff that okay for a mild sbc. If your truck needs floors anyhow, then its not a major to fabricate one to fit a new frame.

All the best with your project.

Todd

What is a Jappa utes?

Jappa Utes are vehicles from those little islands to the west of Hawaii that lost the second world war but got the last laugh when they started flooding the world with there little recircled tin can cars...
Utes are what you fellas call trucks,we and our Aussie mates refer to our light commercial vehicles as utilities and you folk call them either trucks or pickups.

I have done 4 of these trucks and love them. I can help as well just ask

Thanks again for the advice fellas, its always welcome and greatly appreciated. will definitely be asking a lot of questions, about what fits what doesnt and what works and what doesnt. the less experimenting i have to do will allow my creativity to flourish with the guidance and direction of my "mentors". Thanks again guys, and happy hot roddin'

Can I ask? What is it that YOU WANT to build? What's the look that pushes your buttons?

why do you say the 366 is a turd? it still has a lot of room to be bored out another 180. any suggestions then?

Nice truck Partner! Just about a year ago I was in your same position, Listen to techinspector1, he has been the upmost helpful to me in my build. I wanted to put my truck on a new frame and do exactally what your talking about. Everyone told me to put a IFS on it and leave everything else alone. Looking back at all the issues I have had and all the added cost putting a whole new chassis under it, I would have come out leaps and bounds ahead with a IFS frontend and good 9" rear or whatever your choice of rear axle. These guys on here will steer you in the right direction becuase Im sure they have already done it:-) you can check out my build been over a year and just have it mechanically finished and have not even touched the cosmetics. Enjoy the build, thats a sweet truck!!!

Lance

Originally Posted by TylerZ07

any suggestions then?

Yeah, slow down. Examine all your options. Talk with some more people. Attend some car shows. Talk to other builders who have done what you intend to do. Find out why they did what they did and if they are happy with it.

There will come a day when the truck is all done and you want to sell it and move on. If it isn't done properly and with appeal to the masses, it's gonna be tough to get any money back out of it. Of course you have to please yourself, but you also have to please others when it's time to sell.

The 366 is the redheaded stepchild of Chevy motors. I don't think in the entire lineup of bowtie horsepower, has there ever been a motor that is more undesireable from a hotrodding standpoint. Pat McCarthy is the resident BBC expert on this forum. Ask his opinion. Send him a PM if you don't want to ask on the open forum. Chevrolet put them in dump trucks and buses for a reason, because that's where they will do the best job. If you're gonna go to a big block, start with a 4.250" or larger bore block. Anyway, you now have my opinion. I'm just trying to look out for your best interests.

I do appreciate the great advice. I will avoid the 366 now. ill be looking on craiglist and the local bulletin board to find me something im fond, of course running it by you guys first. haha. I have decided the look and color i want though.

I want this exact color, the prettiest color ive ever seen on a vehicle

and im pretty positive i want to chop the top a little.

I also want to convert it to 4WD..so there's a start

Okay so you have a vision of what your truck can look like. Thats great.

Im guessing that you want 4wd as in SUV/truck type and sitting high with big wheels all round. And not a canyon burner with a car based 4wd system (tho that would be pretty cool)

Then I would suggest you get the chassis specs of your truck - wheelbase, track width etc and figuring that a chassis swap will be easier than fitting all the 4wd stuff to your old chassis, start comparing it to whats out there.

Buying a complete wreck will be much cheaper than buying the bits one at a time.