Project Funeral - 47'

[Funeral]

Hey guys, I'm new here, I'm about to start a full frame off restoration of a 1947 Chevy Thriftmaster, I bought the truck for 2k, it runs and drives, has some rust on the cowl but other than that its in pretty good shape. I'm going to use this forum to kinda keep tabs on my progress, I'm going for a mostly stock look, not lowering or replacing the straight 6. I am however going to black it out completely.

I look forward to rebuilding the motor, and flipping to a 12v system. Frame off scares me, but what the hell, you only live once. This will be my first frame off project and I expect it to move smoothly, I have 3 friends working with me, each one the best I know at something, J is my electrical genius, Spencer is my motor / trans guru, Otis is my body Specialist. And in this Mix... well I become the grab a wrench guy, lol. I really look forward to this project and I look forward to being able to ask questions on here, and getting advice from some of you guys.

Well thats enough typing for me, Here are some pics.

Say hello to Funeral.



And her Gutz



And her interior... Or lack there of.



Thanks for looking, the project starts in about a week, I am going to be taking extensive pictures of everything!

[thirdstreettito]

Good luck man!

[OrrieG]

Looks like a nice solid project. Before you start go through the build threads here on similar trucks so you will know what surprises to look for. Good luck.

[Funeral]

Yeah I have been doing that, as I plan to not put it on an S10 frame like so many others and keeping it as stock as possible my biggest fear is the frame breaking at the moment.

[Daniel U]

I will offer one bit of advice to you as your truck is a driver. Enjoy the truck a while before you tear it down. It may give you a better idea of how stock you want it. I wish I would've enjoyed my stock truck longer than 2 years. However, in that 2 years I learned that I wanted to remove the fuel tank and lines from the cab(as I grew tired of headaches from the fumes), upgrade the brakes(as they would lock up from time to time), I needed more gears(as 50mph doesn't cut it on the freeway today), replace the door latches with the newer Bearclaw style(as the doors would pop open from time to time when I hit bumps in the road), and finally as a speed junky, a fuel injected V-8 was in it's future. Just my .02
I still think the stock idea is a cool one. I've seen it done well many times in many different levels and directions. I personally decided I wanted mine to appear fairly stock from the outside with an updated GM powertrain/brakes/suspension. With the economy the way it is an my truck not finished, you might have the right idea! Looking FWD to watching The Funeral!

[Funeral]

Hey man, great advice Daniel!

I think the best way to explain my vision at this point is a stock exterior, keeping the original functionally of the truck. But I will also stay aware that this is the year 2008 and we have come a long way in the ways of dependability and comfort, I would like to incorporate some of the things you said as far as fuel lines etc, Not sure how much they stink but I have has fuel headaches before, not something I would look forward too... Thanks for your insight on the breaks and door latches, I had planned front disk breaks, Good heads up man, cant thank you enough!

[Daniel U]

No problem. I really miss driving my '54, that's the other reason I'd enjoy it while it's a driver and not a pile of parts in the garage. Keep the pics coming! Another thing I just remembered seeing on here was a T-5 behind the stock I-6 motor. The guy even used his original shift knob and made a shifter to resemble the stock one. He drove it on the freeway that way and loved it.

[THE CUT MASTER]

if u dont mind going 50mph max, vacume wipers, 6 volt, bias ply tires, drum brakes leave it stock.

[Funeral]

Well cut master, I dont mind going 50mph, I live in a pretty small town and have no use for the interstate, 6v I mind, I will be switching 12v, I'll also be upgrading the distributor to avoid adjusting points in summer and winter, Although I dont mind going 50 I have been trying to look into some transmissions only in the case that this one takes a crap on me, I'm not sure what can bolt to the 216 and fit, but I am sure its not too hard to find out!

Keep the ideas coming, its getting into crunch time and just did a full garage clean up getting everything in order. as much as I would like to drive this truck more the itch is killing me.

[watahyahknow]

get a good digital camera a notebook plenty of pencils and a bunch of zipbags and crates and some paper tape , fotograph everything you take off on how its positioned and mark the crate in sections like grille / front ds / cab ds/ bed ds and try to keep it in the propper crate until you put it back together . on the truck mark all the wiring on front back ds or ps and if possible where its for with the paper tape just write on it tear the piece off and wrap it around the wire so it leaves a tab .
remember that it might take 2 years before you have to get the part and see where it goes .
i've done my share of damage repair when someone else removed everything for the repair and paint and i needed to put it back together and drill new holes for it .
it takes a lot more trail and error that way

[texascowboy593]

Thats a great find...Welcome to the board!

[neolowrider]

nice.... good luck.... if you need anything for that motor let me know... i have a running one.

[watahyahknow]

there is a stovebolt website too with people that used to race those line 6's in the past
http://www.stovebolt.com/

[pgf545]

Funeral, Don't be afraid of the frame off on one of these old trucks. They are pretty straight forward and you shouldn't have any problems. Take a look at the truck that I am building with my dad...it is stripped all the way down. I have done a ton of work on it but still have a bunch to do. My biggest problem so far has been time. I have been working it for 2 years now and still have at least a year to go before we get it running again. You might want to do what Daniel said and fix what needs to be fixed and drive it for a while before you get crazy with it. My advice also would be to take lots of pictures and label things as you take them off. This will make this easier when you start putting it back together. If you have any questions let me know.

Bernie

[Funeral]

About to post up my collection of before pictures I have started some pretty extensive list as far as parts etc, I still have to convert to 12v and I was curious if I could keep the original harness and just exchange the generator with an internal regulator alternator and install maybe just the harness for the alternator?


My job will go in this order...

Body Off
Drive Line & Frame
Body Repair
Together
Interior.

Its best for me to plan the entire project always keeping in mind "surprises" will happen. But right up front there are things I need to figure out as far as electrical.

[Funeral]

Its picture time.... Now this is not like normal pics, I posted some of my bigger problems hoping you guys could throw some solutions at me. thinkj of it like an online shop! Thanks in advance guys.


One of the truck...




interior... its gonna need some work I think, lol



This stuff scares me the most, a bit of rust through where the fender meets the cab, any tips would be GREATLY appreciated.



Old hinges, don't henge I took the pick to figure out what I could do about replacements / repair in the future.




Ok so, this I fear is going to be a hard find and I have yet to see the extent of the damage. But the lower seal placement strip is rusted out pretty bad.



Ok so the running board has some holes, repair or replace? why and how! You guys rock!



Oh look a patch!!!



I mean.... Oh look..... a patch.....



Back glass




Ok so for now this is kinda a collection of my issues via body etc. I will be taking many more pics as pregorss moves forward, I would have taken some pics tonight but one bolt with an air hammer is not very impressive, lol.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Funeral]

OH MAN I ALMOST FORGOT....

what are these screws that look like 2 triangles tip to tip? where can I find a screwdriver to fit these, this is going to be a must.


EDIT*****

NM, I'm dumb, Clutch Head. I should have remembered that.

[watahyahknow]

luckily there are hardly any compound curves in the bits you showed on the foto , any sheetmetal shop with a beadroller and a bend brake should be able to make replacement parts for the truck if you give them a cardboard template or the actual piece you took out of the truck .

i realy like that truck as mush as i do the 57

[Bishops Trucks]

Nice project. Welcome to the board.

[72BlckButy]

Welcome to the board and best of luck on your project!

[1956cameo]

That is a great looking project. Personally I think it is refreshing that someone is going to make one of these trucks their own yet still keep the mechanicals and suspension stock. I think it is funny that many customizers (and rightfully so) get annoyed when stock people say they ruined a vehicle by customizing it. Yet some (a small percentage) customizers like one so rudely did on this thread think they can put you down for going original. Trust me if 80 year old ladies back in the day could drive these vehicles I am sure we can today. Keep us posted on the progress cant wait to see more. Just for the record I like to do both customs and original restos.

[mylow53]

clutch head screws! you can still get these screwdrivers. i would replace them with modern screws, unless you are doing an original restore. running boards are cheaper to replace than fix due to the ribbing. its real hard to do the ribs with bondo once the repair is done. i would have spent more for a pro to fix than the replacement cost. most of the parts you need are easy to order and are patch panels. they don't cost as much as you might think.
good luck

[Funeral]

Hey guys thanks for the feed back. Doing some more work tonight so I will have more pictures. Any ideas on the door henge assembly? I found some replacements at classic parts and at LMC but was just curious the smarter option as far as keeping the door closed might be an upgraded more modern claw henge...

cameo, I have caught a lot of flack due to the fact I'm not lowering it or dropping a v8 in it. But in reality the draw for mne in these trucks is the body style put put motors and the loud tranny, lol I'm glad you can see it my way!

and Mylow, grats on the build man it looks great. and I am 100% sure you are correct about replacement. I plan on replacing the running boards and both rear fenders. Unless I can get my fenders rolled for cheap.

Heres my worst fender.



Looks like someone welded a patch and forgot the last couple of steps, it also has quite a bit of crinkle.

and to whatyahknow, I think the 47 model is one of the best trucks style wise, they look plunky as well as dark, and nothing like looking like a rum runner!

[Funeral]

Ok starting off on the fenders. everything on the font is coming apart like a charm only had to cut one bolt...



But I do have what I would call a serious body rust problem.



And



And



I guess Ill need to look into a patch, I imagine I will have the same on the other side but not as bad. I sure wish some of you guys lived near me, lol.

[B17CRX]

well the rust looks pretty standard, patch panels are available for your trouble spots. bookmark this they have pretty much everything you will need to finish up your truck.

http://www.lmctruck.com/ICATALOG/CA/full.aspx?Page=20

-Joel