47-55.1 Before and after - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**1957 Chief** · 10-20-2019, 09:42 PM

Ok folks, gonna try and describe/show a lil timeline here of when I first started the suspension mods on my 1949 truck.

A lil history... My grandfather bought this truck in 1951 and back when I was a kid we used to hunt out of it (notice spotlight

), haul trash with it and just toodle around in it. Back in 1997/98, my grandfather (and I) restored it to his liking. Soon after it was finished he died of a heart attack. After he died the truck sat in their heated/cooled shop. I would drive it as often as I could, but a few years later it became harder because 9/11 happened, my son was born and I was going to school to get my degree. In 2003 my grandmother sold the truck without telling anyone. I found out when I got a call from my cousin and my grandmother wouldnt tell anyone who she sold it to. Needless to say this caused alot of pain with the family and with me. My grandfather pretty much raised me and I knew that truck in and out (I even had a 1953 truck in high school.) As time went on I realized that the truck was gone and I would most likely never see it again. In 2013/2014 I started looking for a 1949 again. My son was getting to the age where he was interested in tinkering with these trucks. I turned down many a trucks looking for the right one.
In 2015 I was deployed to Afghanistan and I was at the USO just looking around on craigslist. Well low and behold I found the truck. When I got back from the deployment I went down and picked the truck up. First time I opened the door I made a comment to my wife that it still smelled like the my grandfather. When I got it home, It sat in my trailer for about 2 months before I really started messing with it. I was still mad about the whole situation and in my mind I still thought I had lost the truck. When I finally started to work on the truck I realized that the PO basically put gas in it and drove it. Absolutely zero routine maintenance was done on it the whole time he had it. I had alot of work to do.

So the first pic is of when I unloaded it from my trailer. Thats pretty much how it was when my granddad had it. Stock height and all that.

Second pic is of the truck after I put a 3-inch drop axle under it, 3 inch Posie's super slider springs, 3 inch drop blocks under the rear, new shackles/bushings/shocks and all new brakes.

Third pic is with the wheels painted blood red and with a borg-warner r10 overdrive under it.

Fourth pic is with new wheels/tires and a 4-inch drop axle up front and a factory 1949 panel van swaybar and new halogen headlights.

I try and drive the truck once a week, if not more, and I enjoy the heck out of it. The paint isnt perfect because my grand dad painted it in a barn..and thats the way it will stay.

MARTINSR · 10-20-2019, 11:23 PM

OMG that's a beauty, either way, it's a beauty!

Brian

**mongocanfly** · 10-21-2019, 12:56 AM

Love it...especially that 2nd pic...!!
Glad you got back the family truck as well....I know how that feels...my grandad sold his 72 k10 without telling anyone in the family..he passed soon after....I dont know who bought it and have never seen it since...

**mr48chev** · 10-21-2019, 02:43 AM

I like the before a hundred times better. I have just flat never been a fan of those things. Especially when you don't have the other lowrider bomba pieces to go with them. No wide whites no hubcaps =no visor.

MiraclePieCo · 10-21-2019, 03:30 AM

Amazing story. A second chance. That truck has always been one of my favorites.

Dachshund · 10-21-2019, 08:50 AM

Nice!

58pan · 10-21-2019, 09:18 AM

Really nice truck.

MIKESAD50 · 10-21-2019, 09:49 AM

Cool truck and very cool story.

**1957 Chief** · 10-21-2019, 02:17 PM

Thanks folks. My son and I will be taking a road trip in it this weekend. He leaves for the military in 2 weeks.

Bubba

GreasyLikeaBurger · 10-21-2019, 10:49 PM

Nice to see it back in the same family.

**youngrodder** · 10-21-2019, 10:50 PM

Nice truck and cool story....Thank you and your son for your service.

Marc

lv2tri2 · 10-22-2019, 09:50 AM

[QUOTE=youngrodder;8613809]Nice truck and cool story....Thank you and your son for your service.

I like your truck and the changes you have made. Beautiful.

davidh · 04-13-2021, 03:33 PM

What is the tire size in the hubcap pictures? I am glad you were able to find it. 216 or 235 in it?

10-20-2019, 09:42 PM	#1
1957 Chief Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Beebe, AR Posts: 462	Before and after Ok folks, gonna try and describe/show a lil timeline here of when I first started the suspension mods on my 1949 truck. A lil history... My grandfather bought this truck in 1951 and back when I was a kid we used to hunt out of it (notice spotlight ), haul trash with it and just toodle around in it. Back in 1997/98, my grandfather (and I) restored it to his liking. Soon after it was finished he died of a heart attack. After he died the truck sat in their heated/cooled shop. I would drive it as often as I could, but a few years later it became harder because 9/11 happened, my son was born and I was going to school to get my degree. In 2003 my grandmother sold the truck without telling anyone. I found out when I got a call from my cousin and my grandmother wouldnt tell anyone who she sold it to. Needless to say this caused alot of pain with the family and with me. My grandfather pretty much raised me and I knew that truck in and out (I even had a 1953 truck in high school.) As time went on I realized that the truck was gone and I would most likely never see it again. In 2013/2014 I started looking for a 1949 again. My son was getting to the age where he was interested in tinkering with these trucks. I turned down many a trucks looking for the right one. In 2015 I was deployed to Afghanistan and I was at the USO just looking around on craigslist. Well low and behold I found the truck. When I got back from the deployment I went down and picked the truck up. First time I opened the door I made a comment to my wife that it still smelled like the my grandfather. When I got it home, It sat in my trailer for about 2 months before I really started messing with it. I was still mad about the whole situation and in my mind I still thought I had lost the truck. When I finally started to work on the truck I realized that the PO basically put gas in it and drove it. Absolutely zero routine maintenance was done on it the whole time he had it. I had alot of work to do. So the first pic is of when I unloaded it from my trailer. Thats pretty much how it was when my granddad had it. Stock height and all that. Second pic is of the truck after I put a 3-inch drop axle under it, 3 inch Posie's super slider springs, 3 inch drop blocks under the rear, new shackles/bushings/shocks and all new brakes. Third pic is with the wheels painted blood red and with a borg-warner r10 overdrive under it. Fourth pic is with new wheels/tires and a 4-inch drop axle up front and a factory 1949 panel van swaybar and new halogen headlights. I try and drive the truck once a week, if not more, and I enjoy the heck out of it. The paint isnt perfect because my grand dad painted it in a barn..and thats the way it will stay. Attached Images

10-20-2019, 11:23 PM	#2
MARTINSR Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 6,003	Re: Before and after OMG that's a beauty, either way, it's a beauty! Brian __________________ 1948 Chevy pickup Chopped, Sectioned, 1953 Corvette 235 powered. Once was even 401 Buick mid engined with the carburetor right between the seats! Bought with paper route money in 1973 when I was 15. "Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

10-21-2019, 12:56 AM	#3
mongocanfly Post Whore Join Date: May 2015 Location: Alabama Posts: 14,674	Re: Before and after Love it...especially that 2nd pic...!! Glad you got back the family truck as well....I know how that feels...my grandad sold his 72 k10 without telling anyone in the family..he passed soon after....I dont know who bought it and have never seen it since... __________________ Mongo...aka Greg RIP Dad RIP Jesse 1981 C30 LQ9 NV4500..http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=753598 Mongos AD- LS3 TR6060...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...34#post8522334 Columbus..the 1957 IH 4x4...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...63#post8082563 2023 Chevy Z71..daily driver

10-21-2019, 02:43 AM	#4
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,718	Re: Before and after I like the before a hundred times better. I have just flat never been a fan of those things. Especially when you don't have the other lowrider bomba pieces to go with them. No wide whites no hubcaps =no visor. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

10-21-2019, 03:30 AM	#5
MiraclePieCo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: USA Posts: 2,249	Re: Before and after Amazing story. A second chance. That truck has always been one of my favorites. __________________ 1951 Chevy Panel Truck

10-21-2019, 08:50 AM	#6
Dachshund Registered User Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Trenton MO Posts: 201	Re: Before and after Nice!

10-21-2019, 09:18 AM	#7
58pan Registered User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Sandpoint Idaho Posts: 47	Re: Before and after Really nice truck.

10-21-2019, 09:49 AM	#8
MIKESAD50 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 605	Re: Before and after Cool truck and very cool story. __________________ 1950 3100 5 window

10-21-2019, 02:17 PM	#9
1957 Chief Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Beebe, AR Posts: 462	Re: Before and after Thanks folks. My son and I will be taking a road trip in it this weekend. He leaves for the military in 2 weeks. Bubba

10-21-2019, 10:49 PM	#10
GreasyLikeaBurger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 190	Re: Before and after Nice to see it back in the same family.

10-21-2019, 10:50 PM	#11
youngrodder Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotts, Michigan Posts: 3,774	Re: Before and after Nice truck and cool story....Thank you and your son for your service. Marc __________________ …………...........__________ .................. ((__\|__\|\|___\____ ..;.;;.:;:;.,;..;((_(O))____ (_(O)) 1948 Chevy Truck - Finished SOLD!! 1953 Chevy Suburban "Family Truckster" Completed: Spring of 2021 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=605484 1994 4x4 Blazer - "Field Find" https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...ferrerid=30857

10-22-2019, 09:50 AM	#12
lv2tri2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Fallbrook California Posts: 250	Re: Before and after [QUOTE=youngrodder;8613809]Nice truck and cool story....Thank you and your son for your service. I like your truck and the changes you have made. Beautiful.

04-13-2021, 03:33 PM	#13
davidh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ponca city now kingfisher Oklahoma Posts: 1,220	Re: Before and after What is the tire size in the hubcap pictures? I am glad you were able to find it. 216 or 235 in it? __________________ Even the nicest dodge-chrysler is only 2years away from being parked outside of Section 8 housing.



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