1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Hi there. I'm Richard and own a 1949, 3100 Chevrolet pickup since 1996.
I read a lot of posts, asked a few questions and followed build treads, learned a lot from you all.
It's fun to help each other, The 1947 - Present Chevrolet GMC Truck Message Board Network is great.
So I thought maybe is time for me to start my own build thread.

Here is a little History.

In 1996 I bought the truck in Holland, I had asked a dealer to look out for a Chevrolet truck, equipped with V8, auto trans, power brakes and power steering. I wanted a daily driver.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/B-...w345-h225-p-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p-...w345-h225-p-no

Got the truck ready for dutch DMV. Drove it for a few weeks and started a optical restoration. Added new front power brakes, kingpins, fresh paint, new GM Goodwrench 350 and overhauled the transmission. Visited in 1999 en 2000 the US for parts.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u6...w149-h225-p-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zP...w346-h225-p-no

In 2000 the fun starts, driving the truck to work and planning trips to Europe, but never drove more than 50 miles, because the truck never handled like I would like to. Steering was worse, needed the whole road to drive in a straight line.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Hc...w317-h207-p-nohttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lO...w317-h207-p-no

In 2001 planned another trip to the US for holiday and truck parts, Visit Pomona Swap meet (fun..!!).
Bought a TCI Mustang II front IFS. Back home started disassemble the truck, a local shop welded the cross member in, chassis send for a media blast and powder coat. Bought several other parts and.....stored the truck.

Then I met my wife, bought a House and now I'm a proud father of two daughters.
In the mean time bought a lot of parts and done a few things to the truck.
Currently I can spend more and more time on the truck, kids are growing fast...

Plans:

- TCI front mustang II IFS
- TCI 4 link rear suspension
- TCI chassis mount power brake booster
- Iditit steering colom
- Vintage Air Heater (no airco)
- Bench seat
- New bed
- EZ-wiring
- Ron Francis switches (head light, wiper)
- Mar-k hidden hinges / latch
- Doc's Custom fuel tank under bed
- Dakota Digital dash (bought in 1999)
- Hidden stereo set / speakers /amplifiers etc.
- Clean firewall
- Rear disk brakes
- New chrome front and rear bumpers / grille / door handles etc.
- SS trim in front windows
- New color
- New green tinted glass ??
- New floor and toe board, and other typical rust.....

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Sounds like a great history. I don't see the photo's.

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

I can see the pics, you've made it alot better, plan sounds great, ready to watch the progress. You've got some great products to use. Best of luck...Jim

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

The Cab needs a lot of work. I would like to do all the work on the truck myself, except paint. So looked out to buy a welder, but thanks to my neighbor I can use his machine. Trying my first welds on the firewall, started good, but need to learn to be patient. Got too much heat so the firewall wrapped a little.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ha...w276-h206-p-no

Started all over again with new sheetmetal, welded some braces in to mount vintage air heater and fuse box.
Also made a small recces for the engine.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ah...w259-h194-p-no

Trying to fill some holes in the dash.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aD...w277-h206-p-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ko...w259-h194-p-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ha...w276-h207-p-nohttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Mv...w259-h194-p-no

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

A daily driver needs wipers.
Next, where to mount the switch?
First idea is to mount it underneath the Head light switch, but I'm not sure.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fn...w260-h194-p-no

Do you have another idea?

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Wiper switch is in, had to turn the head light switch 180 degrees to make room for wiper switch.
Test fit the Dakota dash as well, no problems here.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Lt...w276-h207-p-nohttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dC...w276-h207-p-no

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Looks nice...Jim

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Good choice on wiper switch placement. Looks good!

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Today finally dissembled the glove box hinges, bolts where rusted, had to drill em out.
The starter button gets in, did not try it together with the digital dash. Also get some 'juice' on it.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...o/P1020181.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b5...w276-h207-p-no https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...w276-h207-p-no

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Nice project, great plans too!!
Where in Holland are you?

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Hi Kees, small city named Losser. Read your posts too, like your project, Is the American dinner named 'Caddy's 'still in Pumerend?

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Caddy's is demolished a few years back, unfurtunately.
There is a Burger King now....
Very sad :-(

Losser is quite a few miles away...but I'll keep an eye on you!!

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Found some pictures (crashed server) to share. Can't wait to start the engine.
This summer I want to have chassis out off the storage and turn the key....
(thought to do it last summer, but time flies...)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...067%5B1%5D.JPGhttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...076%5B1%5D.JPG

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Last weekend cleaned the inside of the dash, firewall is out now there room to do that.
Spayed brunox epoxy to stop the rust, next is to spray a primer.

Next weekend start to weld the firewall in and maybe to start with the floor panels.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/P1020200.JPG

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Chassis looks good! I did a double take on the dash...looking at it from the front I realized.

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Dash in primer, hoping all the holes are correct.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...o/P1020202.JPG

Firewall tacked in, I'm satisfied how it looks, finishing welding later.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...o/P1020203.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...o/P1020206.JPG

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

A member asked questions about heaters, so test fit the vintage heater today.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B...o/P1020209.JPG

Welded two braces on the inside of the firewall.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R...o/P1020210.JPG

Mounted the heater

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-O...o/P1020213.JPG

Picture taken thru glove box.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...o/P1020214.JPG

I do not use the top vent, picture taken from above.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a...o/P1020211.JPG

Heater is hidden behind the dash.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...o/P1020215.JPG

I'm also trying to post a video, have to find out how....

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Here are the video's links:

https://youtu.be/3fV476aN_vY

https://youtu.be/F3KuwH6wb5Y

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Nice work. Looks like you have a helper in the first video.

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

I had not see those heat only units before, they look like a nice little unit. My original heater core is about trashed, I think I might go with one of those not seeing it mounted up, thanks for sharing!

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Just like Hussey, I hadn't seen these before, nice unit!

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Hi thanks for your reply.

Removed the inner cowl panel.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...o/P1020235.JPG

Trimmed the path panel

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...o/P1020218.JPG

Started to replace the floor panels, first a welded a floor reinforcement tube in (came with the floor panel kit)

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z...o/P1020240.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u...o/P1020241.JPG

Also welded an extra reinforcement tube in, followed by the left floorpan

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b...o/P1020252.JPG

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Looking good!

Could you give dimensions for that center reinforcement tube? I didn't use the front floor kit, but it definitely needs to be reinforced without the seat riser and I want to know what metal I should be looking at adding.

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Tube is 3'' x 1'' and approx. 55'' wide

Richard

Re: 1949 AD truck 'Chevy-49'
 

Perfect, thanks! :metal: