48 5 Window air ride driver

[oldnslow]

As I bought this truck as a basket case, I didn't know how poorly the original worn out door latches worked. After reading about the "quality" of the available repop replacement parts I purchased a pair of Altman latches. They work perfectly, other than the fact that you can only lock the passenger door. A pair of 1942-1948 Chevy car (keyed alike) door locks, a template taken from the passenger side and some drilling, cutting and filing and now I have functional locks on both sides. The amount of time that I spent on making the doors latch, lock and the windows roll up and down properly seemed like an eternity, but it's done now and I hope that I won't have to reach into the doors again for a while.

[99 to Life]

yeah I feel you man. I wanted to keep original 51' handles that turned down and opened the doors, yet have locks. Cheapest way was I left them alone (though would like some bear claws) but I built a separate keyless lock that will lock the door and has nothing to do with the latches. I like what you did though, nothing wrong with having a lock on the drivers side, looks good.

[oldnslow]

All of the glass is now installed so is the cab windlace, I left off the glue on door weatherstrip until paint is done. Getting it ready for the interior, the seat will be upholstered like a 55 Chevy convertible in red and white vinyl. The door panels will be as similar to a 55 Chevy as possible. I tried to use the metal "moulded" looking BelAir arm rests, but they are way too big and wouldn't look right if I cut them down as much as they needed. Found a neat pair of old Pontiac (1955 ?) arm rests at a swap meet that are small enough to fit well and they are upholstered so the interior guy can re-cover them to match. Red "loop" style carpet will be used and I got a ABS moulded headliner which will be covered with white vinyl I will post some new pictures soon.

[oldnslow]

The truck is going to the upholstry shop in a couple weeks, man there's a bunch of details that need to be done first! Gaining on it though, heres a pictire as it looks today.

[oldnslow]

Made the kick panel pods for the 6.5" speakers utilizing the "strech a T shirt and add resin" method, worked great. You gotta love the internet!

[oldnslow]

The interior guy sent me a cell phone shot of the under construction door panel, should look great with the handles and arm rest. I wanted the interior to look like a 55 Chevy convertible, while the truck proportions aren't the same as a car (the stainless trim had to be shortened about 5") I like it.

[youngrodder]

Looks really good. I always look forward to your updates...
You should be crusing down the this spring...(sorry I don't mean to jinx you)

Keep up the progress.

Marc

[ChuckDriver]

That looks nice!!

[Kabwe]

Great looking truck, great fab work what more is there to say. It wasa pleasure to checkout the build thread.

[oldnslow]

Thank you for the kind words, I stopped by the interior shop yesterday for a look at the truck. Man, it's great to see my idea of a 55 Chevy guts in a 48 pickup starting to come together. It should be finished tomorrow, if we don't get the snowstorm (yes, that does suck) that they are predicting, I will bring it home.

[Chevette]

That is awesome! Good choice on the interior. Works great.

[ratty 46]

That's looking very sparkey. Finished product will be kick ass.

[Wheelie]

Dont know how I missed this build. AWESOME!!

[jmsaunders]

Awesome work you're doing on there!!!!

[99 to Life]

coming to together really nice. Can't wait to see this one out.

[Fountain]

Oldnslow

Awesome job! Everything is spot on and it looks great. I have a 56 car dash I want to install and was wondering if you have any photos of the installation? Or could you post some close ups. Thanks
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[53 292]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

Made the kick panel pods for the 6.5" speakers utilizing the "strech a T shirt and add resin" method, worked great. You gotta love the internet!

Love those! What did you use as the base to get the curve to match the door?
Posted via Mobile Device

[oldnslow]

I don't have any pictures of the dash installation, it is not sectioned, just cut down at the ends. I left about 2" of the original dash to keep the windshield moulding fit and defrost duct locations. I didn't keep any measurements just go slow and don't cut too much at one time, Good luck with the 56 dash, Fountain. 53 292, I think you are asking about the speaker pods, I made a paper template of the curvature of the kick panel shape and cut 2 pieces of plywood to the same curve as the kick panel. I cut 1/8 Masonite to the shape of the kick panel and stapled the Masonite to the plywood to form the curve. After 2 coats of resin on the T shirt and a layer of mat and 2 more coats of resin I let it harden over night and cut it at the seam with a cut off wheel in a Dremel, pried off the plywood, ground the edges and the shape fit the curve of the kick panel area well. I hope this helps. I picked up the truck from the Interior guy today and I love it, can't wait to get it on the road.

[oldnslow]

Fountain, here's the best (only) picture I have of the dash install.

[Fountain]

Originally Posted by oldnslow

Fountain, here's the best (only) picture I have of the dash install.

oldnslow thank you for posting pics. This board is awesome and the guys on here are really willing to help. Thank you. Again your truck is sweet.

[4DSEVEN]

Build and interior look great!

[xpickup]

oldnslow, Looks great. I love the look of the dash. Great job on the kick panels. I am going to do the same thing on my panel. Also want to do the door panels some how with an arm rest and add some dimension to them when ever I get some time. Keep up the great work.

Shannon

[53 292]

Thanks for the info oldnsnow. Definitely one of the nicest interiors I've seen in these trucks
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[oldnslow]

Got the audio equipment mounted under the seat, sounds great and the only visible parts are the kick panel speakers. The seat frame and skirts are painted and the steering wheel is two toned. Gotta polish the shift knob and brake pedal and the interior is finished.

[broey]

looking good!! looks like you may be park illegally according to the last pic though!!