Got a new truck!!

[Ratical]

Hey guys, after looking for months I finally found an AD truck. It is a 1949 that has had a lot of work done to it but still needs some work. The 235 engine has been rebuilt and is super clean and starts right up every time. It is a 4 speed with all original suspension.
Funny story, I found this truck on Craigslist and the guy was asking $2350 for it. I e-mailed him and got more details and it sounded exactly like what I was looking for. The truck was located about 2 and a half hours away from me and I was working and could not get down there to look at it. He said he had had a lot of calls but because of the weather no one has been able to come look at it. Well, long story short, my brother lives 5 miles from where the truck was and he went over and video conferenced me in with his iPhone. I purchased the truck over video conferencing for $2,000! I think that was a steel for a running driving solid truck!
I don't know if anyone is interested but thought that I would put pictures up of my progress. My goals are to get it a little prettier and then drive the snot out of it.
My question for you guys is that it is a 1949 truck and the doors have wing windows in it. I know the wing windows didn't come in these trucks till 1952. The door latches and strike plates are the correct 1949. I am looking for an inner stainless original trim piece for around the window on the drivers door. Do I get one from a 47-51, or a 52-54?

Thanks for bearing with me!

[Maximus]

very nice truck! although its worth whatever someone will pay, i think its easy to say you didn't get burned!

Great find!

[Rusty Hooker]

Nice truck. Wanna trade? Kidding, sounds like a fun project

[Ratical]

Thanks guys, I just got all new weather stripping for it, new headliner, glove box, gauge bezels, and carpet for it. I also painted the floor of the cab with KBS frame coater kit. I don't endorse many products but this one is AWESOME! really goes on well and is tough as nails. I will post pics when I take some more.

[hottrodd1]

It looks like you have a 49 with 51 doors on it. The 51 still had the turn down handles and the first year for the wing windows. Then in 52 they got the push button handles. But with the left side vent door on the cowl it won't be a 51 as they did not have that vent door.

To the best of my knowledge I think this is correct.

Hope this helps,
Jerry

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by hottrodd1

It looks like you have a 49 with 51 doors on it. The 51 still had the turn down handles and the first year for the wing windows. Then in 52 they got the push button handles. But with the left side vent door on the cowl it won't be a 51 as they did not have that vent door.

To the best of my knowledge I think this is correct.

Hope this helps,
Jerry

Jerry nailed it. It looks like someone put 51 doors on the 49. Probably who knows when, when it needed new doors. The right hand fill gas filler is one tell tale sign it is a 49 as both my 51 cabs have the filler on the left side of the cab.

You can hunt down a pair of 49 doors and swap them and then sell the 51 doors to someone who needs them if you don't like or want the vent wings.

I think you did great on the price.

[Ratical]

Thanks Jerry! I think thats what I needed to know!! anyone have a drivers door glass garnish moulding they woud like to sell?

[entourageguy]

You sound like a kid on christmas day.
Nice truck from the pictures. The help on this site is great.
Just watch about trying to buy,sell looking for parts without being a paying member ... may get your wrist slapped. It's worth the $25 to join up.
good luck with your purchase and keep the pictures coming.

[53GMC]

i love the truck....for $2000 thats not bad for a running classic...considering ive put $2000 into mine with an S10 swap and lots of other things with it....

[1ATony]

I like that,that's a sweet ride.

[OrrieG]

Looks good, and if its relatively rust free a good deal. Guys are buying rusted out frames and bodys for half that.

[Kabwe]

That looks to be a really solid truck. Congrats on your purchase.

[Ratical]

So I got a little work done today, I purchased a 3rd row seat from a 2001 Suburban because it has the shoulder belt style seat belts already installed. I paid $100 for it, which I feel is worth it since I don't have to purchase seat belts or upholster anything. I need to fab up some mounts but it doesn't seem like it will be that hard. Then I will make some fiberglass filler panels for between the seat box and the seat. It fits really nice, the steering wheel is centered on the drivers seat and the shifter is centered on the middle seat.

[Ratical]

I also made a door panel for my drivers door. Didn't want to do a full panel and didn't want to go with cardboard like the originals. So I made these out of aluminum, just brushed it down with a scotch brite pad. then wrapped it up with some chrome door edge molding that I had laying around. Not sure how it will hold up, it shows a lot of finger prints. Now I need to make the other one!

[Indian113]

SWEEEEET!!!! Lookin Good

[55dude]

nice truck! get that gas tank relocated and you will be surprised how much more room you have in the cab.

[51 okie]

The right hand fill gas filler is one tell tale sign it is a 49 as both my 51 cabs have the filler on the left side of the cab.

I have a 51 and the gas filler is on the pass side.
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[51 okie]

But yeah, nice find fOr 2G. I have way more in to mine and not as good condition by far.
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[Dan Bowles]

I never would have paid that much for it. I would have bought a pile of crap for $500 that needed tons more to make it complete. Spent another $500 on a motor that really wasn't that good. Then I would have blown $500 on a trans, $250 on a wiring harness, $200 more on a door that didn't match. In the end, I'd have about $2850 in it and it still wouldn't look as nice as what you have. Nor would it run.

I have 5 more of those stories at my house...

Nice job. I like the truck and I really like the Firebird.

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Dan Bowles

I never would have paid that much for it. I would have bought a pile of crap for $500 that needed tons more to make it complete. Spent another $500 on a motor that really wasn't that good. Then I would have blown $500 on a trans, $250 on a wiring harness, $200 more on a door that didn't match. In the end, I'd have about $2850 in it and it still wouldn't look as nice as what you have. Nor would it run.

I have 5 more of those stories at my house...

Nice job. I like the truck and I really like the Firebird.

What I like about this forum, we seem to have all made the same mistakes, LOL. I think I'm in the middle of one of those mistakes now.

Ratical: Nice truck, looks like a good deal to me. I like your plan, do a few things to it and "drive the snot out of it."

[Dan Bowles]

Jerry is right, those doors are '51. They have the vent windows and the turn down handles. The trim you'll need is 51-54. There is a little notch cut out for the vent wing. There are painted and chrome. Chrome is harder to find. I don't think they are stainless because they are inside pieces.

[Ratical]

I never would have paid that much for it. I would have bought a pile of crap for $500 that needed tons more to make it complete. Spent another $500 on a motor that really wasn't that good. Then I would have blown $500 on a trans, $250 on a wiring harness, $200 more on a door that didn't match. In the end, I'd have about $2850 in it and it still wouldn't look as nice as what you have. Nor would it run.

I have 5 more of those stories at my house...

HaHa! I think we have all had one or two of those in our lives!!

Nice job. I like the truck and I really like the Firebird.

Thanks, It's one of the reasons I am building this truck to drive, it's all restored and so pretty I don't like to drive it unless it's sunny out. And I thought this truck would look good in the garage next to it

[Ratical]

I was able to get a little done today. I put the new decals, bezel and speedo needle on my gauges today. I think they look good, and the price was right!

[Dan Bowles]

Nice! Stock is purdy.

[IndyBowtie]

I too think you did good. I have $4500 in my '48 including the stock, running 216, t5, GM 10 bolt, new everything, a stock 235 sitting in the shop, and I think it looks pretty good, but twice the money you have invested.